The keyboard is the most used physical thing attached to your computer. It is very difficult (but not impossible) to operate your operating system without one.
When it comes to keyboards there are four basic types of users:
From-OEM
This is not a bad option as OEMs typically provide decent keyboards. Even the cheapest Dell box comes provided with a better-than-average offering.
Ergonomic
Known by many as the "curvy" ‘board, this style is used by many to alleviate wrist pain. And it works.
Old school
The click-clack IBM Model M style. ‘Nuff said.
Laptop
All laptop computers have short profile keys. Being the laptop is the best selling computer right now, people who use and like them instantly fall in love with the keyboards laptops have.
In fact, laptops are so common that many prefer to get rid of their PC keyboards with standard height keys in favor of the short profile style.
Let’s say for the moment you wanted to locate a standard layout USB-wired keyboard with short profile keys. How do you find them?
The answer, at least on NewEgg, is to sort by the slim category.
Many of you out there have probably never heard of this category when it comes to keyboards. This is because it’s a relatively recent thing to come on the scene. Slims weren’t generally available for a decent price until around 2008. Before that point it would have cost you at least $80 just to buy one – but now they can be had for as little as $25. And even for that price, you get a pretty good keyboard.
Things to watch out for with slim keyboards
Non-standard placement of keys
Always check where the arrow, PgUp/PgDn, Enter and Backspace keys are. They’re probably not in the locations you’re used to.
Elimination of certain keys
Some have two "Win" keys, others just one. Some may eliminate the ALT on the right side of the spacebar.
Is it for a Mac?
If the title of the product has "Mac" in it, like this one, it is designed for Mac use and not Windows or Linux. The key layout is distinctively different.
Is there one with an "absolute" complete standard layout?
Yes. Gigabyte makes one. It’s $40, but worth it if you require the standard layout (a must for coders). What this means is that every key is in the traditional position, including the PgUp/PgDn cluster, the number pad and everything else.
If you like the short profile style but hated wireless and wanted a standard layout, they’re available right now without breaking the bank like they did two years ago.
On a final note: If you can deal with reprogramming the keys in a Windows or Linux environment, be sure to also check out Apple’s standard keyboard. Windows users can use SharpKeys for easy keyboard reprogramming at the registry level if you want to use a Mac keyboard in Windows (which I’ve done before, it works fine).
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