Keyboard
=========

I'm  still  searching the  ideal  keyboard  for  me.  For some  reasons  the
full-sized keyboard  is not what I  want. Also I  need Win key at  the work.
Thus my  favorite SGI  is out of  question (but  I still use  it as  my only
keyboard at home - I have different needs there).

Once I used the  Das Keyboard but its too clicky for me  (and also too big).
Surprisingly, it uses  cheap-looking glossy plastics so it  also looks dirty
all the time.

Then I tried the  Happy Hacking Keyboard. I got a used one  for cheap and it
was one  of the  problems: some  keys (the  Space, the  Ctrl) are  no longer
reliable.  The second  problem  was the  lack  of F1-F12  keys  (there is  a
modifier but  it's use  is too  annoying for some  keys combinations).  So I
decided not to get a new one .

Then I  tried the  Lenovo Thinkpad  Compact keyboard (it  was near  the same
layout as my work Thinkpad has). But  I quickly learned than a keyboard with
low keys is nothing that I can use  daily. For a notebook keyboard it is not
that bad but for a daily driver  it's simply useless. The second problem was
in its F1-F12  keys. They have special functions by  default (volume up/down
and so) and they  need a modifier to work normally. For  the Thinkpad it can
be changed in  the BIOS (and it  works for both integrated  and the external
keyboard). But it does not work for a non-Lenovo machines...

So the current attempt is to use something called Vertex 75% keyboard [1]: a
minimal thing  with an  aluminum case,  with Cherry  MX gray  switches, with
cursor keys AND with  a proper F1-F12 line (including the  Esc on its proper
place). The switches  are not stiff enough  (for me) but the  whole thing is
better that anything  mentioned above. The only sacrifice is  the Insert key
(Fn+something). So I am curious how long is survives on my desk.

Reference(s):
[1] https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vortex-75-Grey-CNC-Case-PBT-DSA-Keycaps-Cherry-Mx-Brown-CNC-Aluminium-Ca/192434719973?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649