Any Good Multimedia Keyboard

Hi Guys,

Are there any cheap good multimedia keyboard with volume control available in Delhi...

My local dealer showed me iBall powerkey designer, but its layout was different from normal keyboard(for some wired reason, they made the right shift key short and placed "\" key with it ), so decided not to buy it..Please suggest something which follows the normal layout...

Budget wise I can go up to 1K. So before I head to Nehru Place, any particular brand/model to look for ? If something's available online, please let me know of that also, as that would save trouble of going to NP...

Regards,

DELL > all the way ........

I got this one - Samsung Pleomax with MM keys for around 400/- ... its NICE!!! ....I cannot rememeber exact price as I got some other stuff at same time

The Trution/Pleomax got my vote for years but recently I switched to this new brand in the market, Farassoo... here's the model I currently use.

hey Rio any idea if the model you are suggesting is available in Delhi/NCR?

If you've got a budget of 1K, better go in for a quality Logitech or MS multimedia keyboard.

It possibly is, you'd have to go looking for it though
Dude, I've used more expensive keyboards too... just because a keyboard is more expensive, doesn't mean it's better - that's a very wrong notion You have to use keyboards to know if it's better, and I've tested many.

Yes, Rio.. expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. However, logitech and MS do make some good multimedia keyboards. I've also used many keyboards Rio . My favourite is my still working MS Natural (been 7 years !)

YES it does..... YES .. YES... I have used many keyboards and the one I found best is my old original IBM clickity clack keyboard which I got about 10 years back for over 5000/- .... it was way better then any other keyboard I have used

Then one day I dropped a heavy plier from 10 feet onto the keyboard and it smashed the plier.... J/K .... the plier smashed 4 keys and that was the end of one of my longest love affairs

THAT IBM keyboard is no longer made and it is still in demand and sells for exhobitant prices.

I am fed up with bad Logitech keyboards... I have a problem with sticky keys with all their keyboards (tried 5 so far) including the one I am typing this message on - the MX3000 cordless. Need to drop the plier from 10 feet on the Caps Lock and LEFT SHIFT and LEFT CTRL keys to press them

LOL... sorry to hear that, but these days putting down 5k for keyboard is no guarantee that you're getting something great

Apparently quality is very varied. What happens is, if there's any dust between the two membranes, the key will not work properly. This happened with my cousin's Logitech as well (it was out of warranty by then). Opened it up and some isopropyl alcohol solved the problem!

Also, my MS natural is going strong - it did need cleaning up once (when I'd spilled tea all over it!!) . It refused to work, I opened it up as well, cleaned it, and it was good as new!

@Rio - right you are.
BTW, one good thing about logitech is that they have a great replacement policy (within warranty).

The problem as I see it is that the plastic of the key tops developes some friction with the keys socket and it does not get depressed easily.... I have cleaned the plastic of both with alcohol and also used vaseline to reduce friction and there is no difference. The problem is that the keys seem to get deformed in some way and develope massive friction and there is nothing I can do about it. Sadly the only other keyboard that has this problem is my old original MS Natural keyboard - the original all White Natural model - its keys have become hard to press too - not usable. As you like this keyboard I will give it to you for FREE but you will have to collect it. I also have the second model of the Natural - the MM one which I still use and like a lot.

Be careful about using Alcohol on membranes and rubbers as I understand Alcohol hardens these materials and it can crumble away. Correct me if this info is wrong.

As per me and my friends experience you never need to Claim Warranty with logitech mouse and KB.

Wow...so many options...
I've been using Logitech and MS Keyboards all through my life, the current one bieng MS Basic one...the quality has been ok for me, it still works althogh keys have become a little hard, but its more than 3 yrs i think with this kbd...

I'll guess the deciding factor would be availability and price then .. though I think Pleomax would be easily available, i'll have to check Farassoo (lol funny name) and Dell are available or not...

Regards,

Hmm I used mild soap water and then IP Alcohol to clean up - never had a problem. Also, Eazy, I cleaned the individual keys by removing them, and giving them all a good wash in soap water, and then cleaning them thoroughly. About removing the keys - they will pop out easily enough. The only problem area might be the spacebar. The MS natural has such a neat layout though, that disassembling and reassembling it is not an issue at all.

Here's a link that I found that also suggests alcohol to clean the membrane.
Uh.. the other link too.
Disassembly of an Apple Pro (M7803) Keyboard
Clean Keyboard ~ Windows Fanatics

Edit : I wouldn't suggest getting your keyboard wet or putting it into the dishwasher at all!

Btw, you should use white grease (meant for electronics) to eliminate friction. Vaseline is a definite no-no.
I don't think you need to use much alcohol on the membrane - just a dab on a cotton swab and rub it fast to remove any dirt, that should do the trick.

IF you're removing the keys, do it after opening the keyboard, from the other side, it will avoid any damage to the keys. Many tend to remove the keys with a screwdriver or so directly, it damages them.

Thank you so much for offering me the keyboard Eazy. I really appreciate it. Unfortunately, I'm in Ahmedabad, so it'll have to wait .