wp@iddth.id.dk (Wiesiek Pawlowski (900415#GUEST)) (04/18/91)
Hello Netters, Some two weeks ago I've posted a question about the quality of PC keyboards. Here is the summary of responses I've got. Thank you very much all of you. I decided to buy Northgate OmniKey/102. In the responses I've got there were only two other brands mentioned - Key Tronic and Zeos. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In article <wp.671187822@iddth2> you write: > >Hello, > >I would like to get some input on the quality of keyboards for PC's. >Which are the best? What does a *good* keyboard mean? Should I buy >one of the Northgate keyboards? I've seen many Northgate's ads saying >that "... you can't find a better quality anywhere else ...". Is it >true? > >Thank you very much in advance. >Wiesiek Pawlowski > >my email: wp@id.dth.dk > >I will post a summary if the subject is of any interest. Northgate feels great, but the clicks are on the noisy side. My OmniKey 102 (older model) has worked perfectly. They seem to have problems with the newer ones, though. At least two people have complained on the net before, and my cousin is having problem with his. I just sent a letter to Norgate a few days ago. If I get any response, I will post it to the net. Northgate does offer 5 year warranty and 60-day money back, but since you are overseas, I don't think you want to deal with shipping the stuff back and forth. -- Chia-Chi Chao chao@cs.ucla.edu ..!ucbvax!cs.ucla.edu!chao ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I bought a Northgate 102-key with the F-keys on the left a couple of years ago to replace a tired AST keyboard on an AST machine. Love it. Good and solid, well-built,easy to type on. I only wish that Northgate built a replacement for the DEC LK-201. There is some "religion" in keyboard choices---if you like the feel of an IBM keyboard and dislike the Keytronic, you will like the feel of the Northgate. I use my machine for everything from programming to writing a Ph.D. dissertation. -- Hank van Cleef vancleef@iastate.edu Iowa State University, Ames. Ia. tmn!vancleef The Union Institute, Cincinnati, Oh. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: K.Buck@bull.com (Ken Buck) Organization: Bull HN Information Systems Inc. In article <wp.671187822@iddth2> you write: >I would like to get some input on the quality of keyboards for PC's. >Which are the best? What does a *good* keyboard mean? Should I buy >one of the Northgate keyboards? I've seen many Northgate's ads saying >that "... you can't find a better quality anywhere else ...". Is it >true? Well, I think the _quality_ of the Northgate keyboard is great, but it's just not made for me. I know it has a lot of devotees, it has good (and flexible) key layouts, and I like the _ideas_ that went into it, but the "positive tactile feedback" feature drives me up a wall. When you press a key, there's a mechanical click which you can both hear and feel; it happens both when you depress and release the key. This results is a lot of extra clicking, and as a result, it slows me down and makes the whole thing louder than I like. If it didn't do that, I'd like it a lot better. You may or may not feel the same way. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A good keyboard is one that will withstand use, has the keys in the places you want them and feels good to the touch. The first is true of any reputable keyboard manufacturer. The other two items are subjective--you have to decide them for yourself. So the answer to your question about what makes for a good keyboard depends on what you want in one. What I wanted in a keyboard was one with the function keys on the left so I could use WordPerfect at home and at work without impeding my touch typing--my fingers automatically move to press Shift-F7 when I want to print, for example. I also wanted a keyboard with good tactile response; that is, without the mushy feel of so many generic keyboards. So I ordered a Northgate. I arrived yesterday. It seems like a fine keyboard. The touch is not quite as firm as I would like (being used to an IBM), and there is a very slight movement from the top before any resistance is felt, which I find somewhat annoying, but I think I'll be able to get used to it. What is more annoying is the keyclick sound. The manual says that it can be turned off, but it doesn't say how, so I'm going to have to call Northgate. Hope this helps! Joe Herl School of Music University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign herl@uiuc.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: "Brian K. W. Hook" <jdb@reef.cis.ufl.edu> Organization: UF CIS Dept. I've used Northgate keyboards for 2 years. They kick ass, and I refuse to use anything else. For space saving, use the Omnikey/101....for F-keys on the left, try the Omnikey/102...the one with two keypads is kind of overkill (the Omnikey/102) but some need it. Brian PS Zeos are good. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: "Ed Russell" <ESR@SLACVM.bitnet> Keyboards are very subjective but I really like the feel of my Northgate. I would suggest you visit your local computer store and try several keyboards. Hopefully, there is on nearby that also stocks Northgates. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have used about a dozen different keyboards over the past few years ranging from cheap to IBM's. I love my Northgate Keyboard the best. the ZEOS keyboards are also as good, but I do not like the key placement as well. But Northgate is great and you have a choice of different keyboards also. mike benedik benedik@uh.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a touchy question because every has their own opinions as to what make a good keyboard. Many people love the keytronics. For MY money there is only ONE keyboard company to consider. That is Northgate. I have two of their keyboards on my computers and would not consider buying anything else. Northgate keyboards are twice (or more) the cost of some other companies but they are worth the cost. No. I am not affiliated with Northgate in any way. Mike Michael Johnston id8rld06@serss0.fiu.edu or 26793271x@servax.fiu.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In article <3294@kluge.fiu.edu> id8rld06@serss0.fiu.edu (Michael N Johnston) writes: >This is a touchy question because every has their own opinions as to what >make a good keyboard. Many people love the keytronics. For MY money there >is only ONE keyboard company to consider. That is Northgate. I have two >of their keyboards on my computers and would not consider buying anything >else. Northgate keyboards are twice (or more) the cost of some other >companies but they are worth the cost. > No. I am not affiliated with Northgate in any way. > I would also highly recommend the Northgate keyboard. The feel to them just cannot be beaten. After using a Northgate, everything else just doesn't seem worth it. This could have a bad affect, since most of my time is spent on a terminal doing work for classes. Even a terminal with a new keyboard just doesn't cut it anymore. They are wonderful, and coming down in price. You can probably pick one up for under $80 now. Derek Jewhurst djewhurs@Cosmos.CalPoly.EDU ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thanks, Wiesiek.
smsmith@hpuxa.acs.ohio-state.edu (Stephen M. Smith) (04/18/91)
I just had the opportunity to compare a Fujitsu 4700 with a Northgate 101i. I accidentally ended up with both because I thought I wasn't getting a keyboard with my system. I am VERY picky about keyboards, and so I had done a lot of research and had narrowed down my choices to these two boards (I like the function keys on top--that's why I ordered the 101i not 102). Having been an IBM terminal user from way back, I was disappointed in the feel of both of these boards. Neither felt very solid, nor did they have as much "click" to them as I wanted. This of course is purely subjective as was pointed out several times in the summary. The reason I am noting this here is in case someone else out there is looking for a very solid "clicky" board to replace their original IBM keyboard. If this is you, you will probably be disappointed in anything other than an IBM (IBM keyboard that is ;). As for comparing these two boards, I actually liked the Fujitsu better. I think the Northgate was a little louder, but it sounded cheaper. That is, it "clacked" and rattled rather than firmly clicking. It also felt much more plastic than the Fujitsu. For example, when I flicked the space bar with my fingernail the Northgate rattled and sounded loose, whereas the Fujitsu went "thunk". (The IBM when I did this would go "thud".) So I ended up keeping the Fujitsu and sending the Northgate back. Please note that this is a Fujitsu 4700 model and not the cheaper 4800 model. I'm not trying to argue that one is better than another here. I'm just trying to provide some comparison between two very popular keyboards since most people will not have the opportunity to compare them side-by-side like I did. The Fujitsu is still too soft, quiet, and "plasticky" when compared with my IBM keyboard tank, but I've learned to bang away just as hard on it as I did on the old IBM brick. BTW, the 101i has been discontinued. I don't know whether the various Northgate models have different feels to them or not. Steve Smith smsmith@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu