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My keyboard is rather old and haggard, so I'm thinking about a replacement. I'm currently using an MS Curve keyboard, but wondered if anyone had any suggestions for a keyboard suitable for many hours of coding? I run Windows pretty much all the time and use a UK layout.

I'm not overly concerned about budget, but would rather not spend a fortune if possible :)

Previously, I had one of those 'natural' keyboards with the keyboard split down the middle. It was pretty good, but I couldn't type very fast with it and it became a bit of a nightmare using a standard keyboard from time to time, after getting used to that.

Any suggestions or advice would be most welcome. Thanks.

I've always preferred the ancient Keytronic keyboards (had one at work until it finally broke down recently), but now I am using a full-size Apple keyboard. I love the feel. This is a very personal preference though, maybe you should go to a store and try some out?

The cheapest you can get.

I really like the apple keyboard too. Not the mini bluetooth one, the full size wired one. The key layout isn't great, but the feel of it is really good. It takes a little time to get used to the flatness of it though.

Second choice would be one of the olden-style cherry keyboards, the mechanical ones that are noisy as hell but put a smile on my face when I type on them.

Anything cheap: well, it's cheap and replaceable, but they're pretty horrible to type on.

One with no missing keys

Depends on if you have fingernails or if you bite them off. If you have, any normal one, if you don't, you can think of those awful flat keyboards. :P

Anyways, on my PC8801, the keyboard is really nice to type on.

As a fan of mechanical keyboards:

IBM Model M - ( Get one of the many versions at ebay or somewhere, but buy one the spring switch ones) Many models have changable key caps.

Focus FK-3002 (I am using that one. They are quite rare, often Escom labeled. Really nice feeling, very clicky, simple layout (No windows key), integrated calculator (which is broken here)).

Focus FK-2001 - Clicky, great feeling, comes with dust cover (which you can remove if you don't like it).

You could also ask scamp about keyboards. His one is very famous

mmh. searching for comfort? pff. i'm with gargaj. take the cheapest and flatest as possible with a standard layout. or go into a shop and try out some ergonomics. it will take time anyway to adjust your hands and to notice if it's good or bad over a long time. every advice is kinda pointless.

currently coding with a ducky shine 2
kinda nice

Spending more than $20 on a keyboard is just showing off.

this is what i'm using for last couple of years. i'm pretty happy using it.

Logitech Wave

After several keyboards, my favorite are those old fashioned cherry keyboards, the dell L 100 keyboard, which i'm using a lot and those flat keyboards any brand but cheap, if you like them...

Cherry eVolution STREAM XT. 20€ , thinkpad like typing.

How many hours a day do you spend on a keyboard?
High end keyboards do make a difference, and when you spend a lot of time on it, it's not a question of showing off but a question of health.

Currently using that one as a replacement which I lent from a friend and the layout (insert key next to printscreen, wtf!) is just horrible. :) So yeah, keyboards are something very personal, you should try a few different ones at a store and pick the one you like most. I personally like the Sidewinder X4, mostly because it has 26-key rollover which is awesome for tracking, but its layout is also not the best (missing second Windows key so things are a bit shifted - ironically it's a Microsoft keyboard), but you get that with many of the "modern" keyboards.

Gargaj: I used to think like you. then bought a mechanical keyboard. I won't pretend I find it revolutionary. But I spend enough time using it and it's pleasing enough so that I don't regret it.

Also, the sum of 4-5 random useless objects one can buy around a corner easily reaches 100$. As Zavie said, I'm using that keyboard a lot on a daily basis since I brought it to my workplace

Apple's european keyboard layouts are fucking horrible -don't settle for anything less than the US keyboard layout. I'm hoarding korean keyboards (1:1 US layout with some additional squiggly signs on a few keys) because of that.

Model M here as well, but I got a new one (USB) from here: http://www.pckeyboard.com/

When I saw the subject, i just *knew* scamp's keyboard would be in here :)

The UK layout is ok-ish, but you should try a US layout. Makes a difference!

Thanks for the replies so far. Kusma's one does look very nice, but I also like a good clicking sound too, so a little torn stiill :)

Zavie, I'd say between 8 and 12 hours per day. So yeah, that amount of time does warrant some spending.

I'll look up everything suggested. I'm kinda sad that I'll probably never be able to own a keyboard quite as lovely as Scamps's though ;)

Skate: the logitech wave looks really good too. Do you find the curve helps reduce strain?

http://www.daskeyboard.com/