Super Keyboard Steal!!!

[TheBilgeRat]

Don't like the linear reds.  I much prefer browns.

Even better would be torpe.  But those are $$$.

Rosewill are ok.  Whatever you do DO NOT BUY LEOPOLD!  They are crap.

My favorite mechy keyboard company at the moment:

http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/

This will be my replacement keyboard for my awful leo tenkeyless.

[TheBilgeRat]

Topre sux.  They psychotically hate PS/2 and won't allow their keyboards to work on any PS/2 computer.  Such as my A1200T, A3000, etc.

If that is your only beef, then you obviously haven't typed on  one

use a ps2 to usb adapter.

What is your specific complaint against Leopold?

This:  I have replaced about 1/2 of the keycaps and 2 spacebars.  The spacebar is elmers glued down.  They are absolute crap caps.  The colored caps are from WASD and they are awesome.  Should have bought WASD to start with.

[TheBilgeRat]

I am trying to understand what was wrong with the Leopold keycaps?

As for the spacebar, are you saying the Leopold spacebar was glued onto the switch so it could not be removed?

I had to glue the spacebar down as the stems stretch/crack with use.

If you look at the picture, the cap that is out has no stem - they crack and break.  That cap lasted maybe 2-3 months of typical use.  One after the other started breaking out of the blue.

Also, the LEDs don't work anymore either.  Its a Leo FC200.

[TheBilgeRat]

If you are serious about getting a mechy keyboard, take some time - check out keyboardauthority, or geekhack, and spend some time reading the reviews.

For those buckling spring aficionados out there, you can still buy them.  

http://www.pckeyboard.com/

Unicomp makes the original designs on the original equipment, although the plastic quality is not the original .  Bonus - they will do custom key layout as well (for those amiga key ppl).  Bonus bonus - they don't cost 100+ dollars off ebay and they come with either a PS2 or USB cable.

[TheBilgeRat]

I totally disagree with your comment about the Omnikey.  It has by far one of the easiest key depress ever made.  The white alp switches give way extremely easily.  Especially the older they get, the smoother they get.  The older Model M keyboard on the other hand does have that problem.  The springs were so damn stiff from the late 80's to the early 90's, my hands got dead tired.  Once Lexmark took over operation, It seemed to me the keys were easier to press.

Alps can be great switches, and some people prefer them over the cherrys.

I would avoid the hunt for a quality used keyboard, however, when there are wonderful new equivalents (with guarantees and warranties), unless that is your thing