Category: Testing

I write a lot at work.  I try to put out two to three reports a week that tend to be between 50-200 pages per report.  I’m using my keyboard constantly.  If its not typing, editing, retyping, its researching.  I’ve been at my current position for just over five years.  In that time frame I’ve burned through four keyboards.  Years ago I found a basic keyboard layout and design I like and I’ve just gone back to that well constantly. 

For me its been some general variation of the Logitech k550.  I’ve tried their solar powered version but I didn’t really like the shallow keys.  I settled back in for their middle of the road option.  The best part was its was cheap.  I could get a keyboard and a mouse combo at Costco for around $60.  I’ve purchased said combo probably twenty times for myself and other people within our office.  When Costco changes the keyboard then I change.  People within my office like those solar boards so we’ve been buying them online because they are no longer offered at our local Costco.  Buying those keyboards online ends up running closer to $75 per board.  Last week my K560’s left shift key quit working consitently.  I’m left handed I have a hard time using the right shift key.  Then control started working in a more spotty fashion.  I looked to see what keyboard was at Costco, they had moved to a more ergonomic design and it was $10 more for the set.  I decided to look elsewhere.  

Being mindful that I’ve replaced my keyboard roughly every 1.25 years I decided the status quo should change.  A keyboard is a tool that just has to work accurately on a daily basis.  I don’t need frills or added features.  I just need quality.  The typing experience isn’t something that I generally worry about.  Does the keyboard work is the first priority.  Does it have a few media keys so I can turn the volume up, down or mute it quickly.  My keyboard didn’t have backlit keys and this wasn’t a must.  My keyboard needs to have a tenkey and it needs to have function keys.  Otherwise, I’m not that picky.  

Once you open the pandora’s box of keyboards you will be amazed.    I think that is part of the reason I had constatly just gone with the cheap and easy solution.  I don’t want to spend time oiling my keyboard.  If I need to replace keys that usually means I’m getting a new board.  I’d seen the Code Keyboard since its inception.  I had always thought wow that’s cool but I’m not dropping $150+ for a keyboard when I can get the keyboard/mouse combo for less than half that figure.  Now, I’m looking at the four dead keyboards totalling roughly twice what the Code runs and I’m thinking okay maybe it makes sense.  I read some reviews, look around for other options and decided I’d give it a shot.  I’m sure there are better values to be found.  I was able to get the Cherry MX Clear keyswitches.  I don’t want to announce to the world how much I’m typing or how amazingly hard I hit my keys.  I just want to type.  I wanted to sort of get into mechanical keyboards but I didn’t want to build one I just wanted to buy one that was set-up and ready to rock out of the box.  

Today, it arrived.  The board is amazing in its minimalistic spendor.  Just a black appearance.  Most people are going to come into my office and be like cool you’ve got a cheap keyboard on your desk.  I’m banking on that “cheap” keyboard lasting 5+ years, really hoping for 10.  Not just because I spent closer to $180 to get it to my desk but because I also don’t want to be throwing stuff in the landfills constantly.  I like the idea that if the shift key goes out on this one I can possibly just replace it.  I also like the idea that if the slight noise (sounds more like a type-writer than a keyboard) gets old I could spend $20-30 for key dampeners.  By changing my personal perspective on the keyboard I’m hoping to extend the life of the device.  Possibly I’ll get more out of the keyboard too.  Instead of just a thing I mindlessly punch at maybe it’ll become more of a three-dimensional tool.  Even if it doesn’t I’ll be able to find it at night.  

After typing on it for a few hours I had to write this post.  The keyboard is smooth, it is buttery, and it feels more relaxed on my fingers.  The downside would be it is loader than i had expected.  Its pretty quiet but the keys bounce back up and there is audible noise from that.  The keys have this really satisfying pressure when you press them.  The feedback is great.  Part of that feedback is wanting to then kit the keys in a satisfying fashion.  That satisfying attack leads to them being slightly louder.  Its a type-writer on my desktop.  I feel like I’ve been fooling myself with a different experience.  I legit enjoy typing on this thing.  As long as its duribilty holds I can see using it for years and I’m less than two hours in.  The keys are a little more spread out or have more travel between than my previous keyboard or than the small form factor one I’ve been using while I waited for this beauty.  The quick review is its worth it.  The long-play we’ll see.  The added features we’ll see but right now they are gravy to me.