Thank you everyone for taking time to help out. While looking for keyboards, I’ve found a great deal on a new Keychron C3 Pro at Amazon for around $30. It’s a wired keyboard, but it’s got hot swappable brown switches and I figured there’s no way I’d find something better to dip my toes in this hobby.

And I’m really glad I did! The feel and sound of it is just so much better from my regular keyboard it’s not even funny.

I’ve got some sample switches and o-rings in the mail to further dampen the sound but I’m very happy with my purchase.

Original text below:

All those really sweet compact keyboards are super sexy and I want one. But the ones I like are both:

  • very expensive
  • have windows exclusive software

I’m not even sure mechanical keyboards are for me, to be honest. I don’t type that much, and the keyboard I have - a Logitech wave ergonomic keyboard - suits me, except for the humongous size and the noise (I do a lot of video calls and it gets distracting to my interlocutors).

From my research, a QMK/VIA 65% keyboard would be ideal. The VIA part would allow me to configure the few extra keys and layouts so I can make the most of the keys I’ll have. And it’s Linux compatible. However, it seems the controllers for VIA keyboards make them significantly more expensive. Then there’s the noise issue. The click clack, while tactile satisfying, is a no go for me.

I went down the rabbit hole and to find something that has a chance of suiting me, the cost quickly balloons above $200, and for something which I don’t know if I’ll like. If at least I knew it wouldn’t be too loud I might justify forking that kind of money.

Is there a keyboard for me? How can I tell if it’s going to be too loud? Or should I just give up that search and go for a normie tenkeyless keyboard?

  • Shareni@programming.dev
    9·
    7 months ago

    You can use kmonad to configure keys, layers, layouts, etc. on any keyboard. AFAIK unless you’re going to use the keyboard on random computers, it can replicate all of the functionality you’d want.

    For sound:

    • find a physical model to try out
    • order one of those switch samplers
    • find info from reviewers

    Additional food for thought: get a keyboard with hot-swappable switches to possibly replace them with quieter ones. Also there are tricks to make it quieter like adding o-rings and a shock absorber for the bottom plate.

    • acockworkorangeOP
      21·
      7 months ago

      unless you’re going to use the keyboard on random computers

      That’s great! The keyboard is meant to be stationary, indeed.

      • find a physical model to try out

      I’d love to, but where? Are there stores that stock them?

      replace them with quieter ones.

      Hoping to avoid buying something I won’t use, but I’ll keep that in mind.

      Thanks a lot for the tips!

      • Shareni@programming.dev
        2·
        7 months ago

        That’s great! The keyboard is meant to be stationary, indeed.

        Try it with your current one first. I’ve only installed it through nix and guix, so it might be a possible issue for you if it’s not easily available.

        I’d love to, but where? Are there stores that stock them?

        No clue. If you can’t find that keyboard in the area, look for keyboards using the same switches. It’s not the only factor, but probably the most relevant.

      • thejevans@lemmy.ml
        2·
        7 months ago

        If you’re in the US and have a microcenter nearby, they tend to have a lot on display