Does anyone have any suggestions on good, wired, GNU/Linux keyboards?

[Tharthan]

I am about ready to begin setting up my GNU/Linux computer.

However, I would like to have a black, wired, GNU/Linux keyboard. Or, in any case, a black wired keyboard with no "Windows" button.

Does anyone have any recommendations for such a keyboard?

If a black keyboard that meets that description is a no-go for whatever reason, a keyboard in another colour would be fine, though I would have to then get a matching mouse to go with it. For the record, the new computer is in black—as is the mouse that comes with it—which is why I would ideally like the keyboard to be black.

I am not used to buying things yet for GNU/Linux computers, so I was very surprised to discover that it was not particularly easy to find wired keyboards specially tailored to GNU/Linux.

[vannilla]

For the most part there is nothing "tailored" at Linux because traditionally it's Linux that tailors to different setups (although this is becoming less true for a variety of reasons).
Basically, as long as it's a keyboard you can just plug it in and it will work, regardless of button placement and whether a certain button is present or not.

I think the fastest way is to simply search for keyboards with no "Windows" button and see if there any in your preferred color(s).
There is a relatively large market on custom keyboards so it shouldn't be too hard, but I'm not an expert so I can't really give you any particular resource.

[andyprough]

Most desktop environments and window managers make use of the Windows/super key if it's available with various keyboard shortcuts, so it's useful to have one physically present. You can buy Tux stickers and Tux replacement keycaps online if you simply want to avoid having the appearance of the Windows logo.

You can find either a Tux sticker or a high quality $200 mechanical GNU/Linux keyboard at https://www.thinkpenguin.com/catalog/ke ... -gnu-linux

[moonbat]

The Windows key is useful, every distro uses it the same way as Windows does - to activate the application menu without having to reach for the mouse, as well as combo shortcuts with other keys (I have win+L mapped to lock screen just as it is in Windows). Dunno why you wouldn't want it around.

[Tharthan]

You can find [...] a high quality $200 mechanical GNU/Linux keyboard at https://www.thinkpenguin.com/catalog/ke ... -gnu-linux

Thank you very much, Mr. Prough.

I think that I might end up going for this one that they have on offer∶



They call it the IBM Stealth Black Quiet Touch Keyboard.

It's a tad bulky-looking, but the other keyboards that are listed on that website look like they ought to be preceded by a "Made in Technicolor" message or something. I don't know what's going on there, but it's not something that I am familiar with.

Is it some sort of power user customisation that is particularly popular amongst many GNU/Linux users?

Dunno why you wouldn't want it around.

If it is simply a Super key with generic labelling (and, thus, not a Windows key), or if it is a Penguin key instead, then I am fine with that.

But if that is too much of a hassle to find, then I don't mind going without, either.

I saw this keyboard on eBay when I was first starting to look for GNU/Linux keyboards. If it came in black, I would have ordered it.

[andyprough]

the other keyboards that are listed on that website look like they ought to be preceded by a "Made in Technicolor" message or something. I don't know what's going on there, but it's not something that I am familiar with.

Is it some sort of power user customisation that is particularly popular amongst many GNU/Linux users?

My kids got me some RGB lit up keyboard for Christmas last year. Seems like all the keyboards with good mechanical switches have those lights these days, because it's mostly gamers that like the mechanical feel. Anyway, I'm no gamer at all, but that keyboard with all its funky lighting is probably the best one I've had in many years, because the keys are so perfectly clickety clicking. Getting the right switches can make your hands and wrists and fingers feel so much better.

[RealityRipple]

[Night Wing]

Since I'm not a gamer, I do not care for the clickety sound of mechanical keyboards. Too loud for my taste. I like a full sized wired keyboard, backlit (white color light with three brightness settings) and with laptop type flat keys. I type better and faster with these types of keyboards. And I like the soft muted sound the keys make when pressed.

With that said, I started using linux distros back in 2013 because I absolutely hated Windows 8 when it came out in October of 2012 where I played around with it at the computer shop where I volunteer at. Back then I was using Windows 7 and I prefer a nice 105 key with numeric pad keyboard along the lines of a Logitech K740.

At that time, the price of this keyboard was ($79.95). I liked it so much that I bought two more for a total of three of them. I still have them today which I use and which I am typing this post with. I don't think Logitech makes this keyboard anymore and I was smart to pick up three of them.

All all of them still work without any problems. Also, when I type, I have a soft touch. I do not "pound the keys" so they do not get worn out and break. And all of them work with all of the linux distros I have used which include Linux Mint, MX Linux, Debian, Manjaro, Linux Lite, Xubuntu and Zorin. Currently, I'm using two linux distros, Mint and MX Linux which you can see in my signature.

If one goes on Amazon, you will pay a steep price for this old keyboard along the lines of around ($300). You can see this keyboard at the link below. Once on the page, you can see six photos of it. Hover over the small thumbnail photos with your cursor and the photos will enlarge.

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Illumin ... 858&sr=8-6

[Pentium4User]

However, I would like to have a black, wired, GNU/Linux keyboard. Or, in any case, a black wired keyboard with no "Windows" button.

Look for IBM Model M. They are still made by Unicomp, very reliable.

Available with USB and PS/2.

[BenFenner]

Das Keyboard rebranded the left Windows key and converted the right Windows key on their main boards a while back (much to my annoyance). I had to get an new-old-stock unit to match my other one. But it sounds like this is a plus for you, so I can highly recommend their Model S Pro unit for your needs.

It is black. It is wired (USB and PS/2). It is also mechanical, and quite hefty. It has a built-in USB hub as well if that's something you're interested in. It is probably USB 3.0 by now?

Choose the blue switches for that tactile feel and loud clicking sound. Choose the brown switches for the same tactile feel but a more subdued clacking sound (but still sort of loud) if you share an office or need to keep the noise level down for other reasons. Add rubber o-rings purchased aftermarket to nearly silence them.

https://www.daskeyboard.com/model-s-professional



There are certainly cheaper, and higher quality (and probably both) mechanical keyboards out there, but Das Keyboard is sort of the OG of the modern mechanical keyboard renascence and are the only ones I have extended experience with enough to recommend.

[therube]

Off-topic:
IMO, there is no better keyboard then this (TI990), https://www.old-computers.com/museum/ph ... ard_s1.jpg.
(It has no Winkey.) Great layout & feel.

The first time I set hands on a "Windows" keyboard, I was like, bla!
(Though some of the old ones were actually pretty good.
Current keyboards are trash. [I've not used a "gaming", "mechanical" keyboard.])

[THX-1139]

Personally I opted for a conventional looking KB (nothing fancy) but something with durability, so after searching some I went with this: http://www.i-rocksusa.com/products/IRK32W-BK.html This is what really sold me at first: "Hand-washable with water, easy to clean and dry."
As Montana air is naturally dusty, and Coffee and even animal hair can sometimes be an issue for me. I have washed it once so far-just a nice sponging, no full immersion- air dry and all was well have had it since 2012 and wishing I had bought 2! Also has a minimal footprint and surprisingly light, Keystroke feed back is minimal (light click yet you know you hit the key)

As for the No Windoze key, well as already mentioned, works brilliantly with Linux and if not mistaken can be reassigned.
In conclusion: Even if I had little problems with dust and such, I would still buy this one.
*From a quick search it seems they are still available at a Few places-(CDW had for $40 in stock, Newegg was out of)
Just my recommendation from my personal experience, and sadly I think this KB will be my last (probably outlive me:)
And best of luck to you and your search and whichever you choose

[Lucio Chiappetti]

For both my (HP) desktop, and more recent (also HP) laptop I kept whatever keyboard was bundled with the PC (I bought PCs with freedos, which I junked and overwrote with Linux). In both cases I insisted in having an USASCII kbd (not an Italian one), unfortunately in the case of the desktop I did not think about the kbd colour, so I got a black one, while I was used to a white-grey one. For the ely in the case of the desktop I did not think about the kbd colour, so I got a black one, while I was used to a white-grey one. For the laptop is only black, but retroilluminated.
In all cases I was able to reprogram functional keys and numeric keypad according to my (quite picky) tastes.

[Tharthan]

Thank you, everyone, for the suggestions. I really appreciate it.

I tried to take Pentium4User's advice and search around for a good wired, black, Unicomp Model M keyboard.

Unfortunately out of stock or otherwise unavailable were a couple that I found to genuinely fit what I was looking for.

All of the ones that I found that were ready for order were either∶

A. White and/or non-USB keyboards.

B. Keyboards that were, on the one hand, in a 1990s style design but, on the other hand, had a jarring Windows 10 button where the Super key goes.

C. Medical keyboards.

Additionally, on Unicomp's official online distribution website, they note that they have a large backlog of orders caused by insufficient workers and materials during the pandemic period that has yet to be taken care of.

Mr. Fenner's suggestion of a Das Keyboard keyboard is a possibility, although I am currently still leaning more towards the IBM Stealth Black Quiet Touch Keyboard from the website that Mr. Prough suggested earlier.

[athenian200]

Not really a Linux-specific keyboard, but there is a Sun Unix based keyboard from Unicomp here:

https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/40PSA

I'm pretty sure it works with Linux too, as people have run Linux on Sun hardware before. It's based on this design (though I would not recommend buying this keyboard sight unseen):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/385530811520?m ... 7a811af936

Here's an example of a WASD keyboard configured to have Linux keys instead of Windows keys:

https://www.wasdkeyboards.com/customize ... 001a8bac44

And honestly most mechanical keyboards that use something like Cherry MX switches can have their keycaps swapped out. So you could buy almost any mechanical keyboard that uses standard switches, pull off the Windows keys and put on keys with a Tux logo or something, a lot of people do that for sure.

[BenFenner]

This is what really sold me at first: "Hand-washable with water, easy to clean and dry."

That is the case for nearly every keyboard, heck nearly all electronics in general.

[Tharthan]

Here's an example of a WASD keyboard configured to have Linux keys instead of Windows keys:

https://www.wasdkeyboards.com/customize ... 001a8bac44

I think that I'll just go with that. It's a pretty standard design, but for GNU/Linux instead of Windows.

In all honesty, the new computer's appearance is pretty modern looking (or at least quasi-modern). It's new from Dell, as you might remember (since you were the one to suggest it), and comes with GNU/Linux from the get-go—although I am going to switch over the distribution from Ubuntu to Linux Mint XFCE upon setup. It has a compact computer tower, and I got a good-sized Dell monitor to go with it.

I wasn't able to order from them a computer with both a built-in CD/DVD drive and a built-in SD card slot, so I ended up opting for the CD/DVD drive and will cross my fingers that an old SD card reader from RadioShack that I still have will not have any problems working with GNU/Linux.

And that keyboard that you linked to looks as if it would fit with the setup quite well.

[athenian200]

I think that I'll just go with that. It's a pretty standard design, but for GNU/Linux instead of Windows.
And that keyboard that you linked to looks as if it would fit with the setup quite well.

Yeah, I thought you might appreciate that.

The Unicomp stuff may or may not still be backordered, it seems like a lot of smaller sites are just leaving their COVID notifications up and never taking them down. I think it's wise to go with the WASD keyboard instead, as you say it's a more standard design and that means you can swap keycaps easily, etc. It's a little pricier than some other mechanical keyboards, but the fact that it's so easy to customize makes it kind of worth it if you don't want a Windows logo staring you in the face.

I actually made the mistake of buying a 102-key keyboard with no Windows keys once... that was fine at first, but it seemed like as time went on more and more software started to use the keys even in Linux, calling it "Super" or "Meta" or something, and basically treating it as a fourth modifier key like Shift/Ctrl/Alt. Apparently there was a fourth modifier key on some systems before called that, and the Windows key just wound up filling that niche. So in order to keep using that nice keyboard I got so long ago, I have to setup alternate shortcuts to do various things without a Windows key.

But yeah, WASD Keyboard has a more modern look and I have been tempted to buy one before, but the sticker shock is a little too much even though I know I would like it. It's a very standard and usable mechanical keyboard, with good quality switches that can be customized any way you like. I do know for sure that the keycaps are swapable, and the Cherry MX switches are some of the better switches, some people even like them better than Unicomp buckling springs or ALPS switches nowadays.

[BenFenner]

Those WASD keyboards really do look enticing. Certainly a choice I could get behind if I ever need another.

I am going to switch over the distribution from Ubuntu to Linux Mint XFCE upon setup.

I know everyone is pushing their own Linux flavor preferences around here, so here goes another.
I know the next time I setup Linux Mint for myself (I prefer MATE), it's going to be Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE). No need to keep riding the Ubuntu train that has long since derailed. I assume 5-10 years from now LMDE will be the default Mint install for most as they move away from Ubuntu and drink more directly from the source.

[Moonchild]

Off-topic:

No need to keep riding the Ubuntu train that has long since derailed.

From my own experience, it took a few wrong turns, -then- derailed ;P