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Comment by jsvaughan | Hacker News Reader

But the MS 4000 is the absolute best feeling keyboard, ergo or not (allowing for the fact that you can't in a normal situation use a model m or variant because of the noise). I defy anyone to name a better non buckling spring keyboard. Logitech? don't even suggest it.

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I feel better on my Typematrix (EZReach 2030). Best would be a combination of the two concepts, of course. Like the Kinesis Contoured, or http://trulyergonomic.com (if you can stand the mechanical keys).

My two Rosewill keyboards, and my Das Keyboard, will happily stand up to that challenge.

The key is the switches, and anything that uses mechanical switches will almost automatically feel better to type on than keyboards that do not.

you may have got me there; i was under the impression that the das was a buckling spring, but googling reveals that it isnt. But how does it compare for noise?

<EDIT> Ah, according to Ars "How loud is this product? Very loud". So for my situation (quiet open plan offices usually), probably no good.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2010/02/office-warfare-our-mo...

Yup, it's fairly loud - though a lot of the noise comes from old habits of pushing the key all the way to the bottom of its travel - required for membrane switches, but not for mechanical switches.

Also, if you want a quieter keyboard but still want mechanical switches, you can go for the Rosewill keyboards with Cherry MX Brown switches - it gives you a tactile bump, but no associated "click". You'll still make a lot of noise if you bottom out, however. If you get out of that habit (easier on your fingers, by the way), they're quiet as a mouse.

on that recommendation, i'm getting one :)

Good luck! If you find you still have issues with bottoming out after awhile, you can look into getting rubber washers to cushion the landing of the keys at the bottom of their travel.

See this for an example: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/cherry-mx-rubber-swit...

Have you had actual objection to using a Model M? I've used my Unicomp Customizer (sort of like a Model M replica) at least four different developer jobs and not had any complaints.

I suppose it depends on your work environment, but yes, one at a previous employer ended up being the server room keyboard because of the noise.

The noisy space bar is the worst part of the MS keyboard. The other keys are fine. Seems like such an obvious problem that they'd fix it.

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