quest for a nice compact keyboard ?

[Leeloo]

searching for "small keyboard" and having trouble finding exactly what I want, wondering if someone has some suggestions that maybe easy to get hold of ?

needing it to be
*around 15cm wide (problem most' small' thin keyboards seem to be just wide as regular sized ones without the cursor/numpad)
*wired (though I can live with wireless if everything else checks out)
*without a built in mouse/trackpad type device
*related to above want to avoid unnecessary bezel
*preferably normal looking keys/layout.
*slim is also good


I saw one on a youtube video but I couldn't see any branding to identify who makes/sells it, screen is around 3 inch so the keyboard has to be around 6inch? (15cm) https://media.discordapp.net/attachment ... nknown.png

any suggestions ?

[RossDv8]

Just to confirm, you are looking for a keyboard with dimensions approximately 15cm x 5cm (6 inches x 2 inches) ?

[Ernst]

any suggestions ?

https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/offici ... ard-mouse/

[PiGraham]

any suggestions ?

https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/offici ... ard-mouse/

If target size is 150 x 50mm the official keyboard is much too big at ~ 280 x 120 mm

All the very small keyboards I have seen are wireless.

This one from Pimoroni is smaller yet at 115mm x 60mm x 8.6mm (4.5" x 2.4" x 0.3")
https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/mini ... oard-black

[bjtheone]

Most computer stores here carry compact keyboards for media setups. They would meet your size requirements, but would be wireless. Another area to explore would be small keyboards intended for tablets. I used to have a folding keyboard for a PDA that fits in your size range but they are long discontinued.

If you are willing to go slightly larger there are a bunch of offerings like:

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Ultra- ... 00R0I71S4

Another option would be the folding keyboards like:


https://plugable.com/products/bt-key3/


I have a number of the tiny media ones and while they work for entering the odd search string or starting a program, they really are not comfortable to type on. I tend to use a Logitech K400 or Microsoft media keyboard with my settop boxes.

[W. H. Heydt]

There is a requirements conflict between "nice" and "compact". Compact keyboards are, generally, not nice and nice keyboards are, generally, not compact.

[DougieLawson]

There is a requirements conflict between "nice" and "compact". Compact keyboards are, generally, not nice and nice keyboards are, generally, not compact.

If you like the retro feel of ZX Spectrum dead-men's fingers
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flexible-Folda ... B005AILVFK
it rolls up small enought to fit in a poacher's pocket in a coat.

I struggle to see why that roll-up keyboard is tenner while this silly expensive keyboard is a 150 sovereigns (unless it makes tea and answers the front door bell).

[Atari2020]

I have the Canakit oval mini keyboard and pad, not the rectangular one they have. It is great, very ergonomic and comfortable with rubber coating that is tough, had it a year, and you can thumb type with it easily. It has direction pads that work with a lot of apps. I love it, it is always on my coffee table like a remote. I have other keyboards, this is my quick go to one and wonderfull for media, which is why I got it.

[bjtheone]

There is a requirements conflict between "nice" and "compact". Compact keyboards are, generally, not nice and nice keyboards are, generally, not compact.

Very true. I am a huge fan of the Logitech K840 series and it definitely ticks the "nice" box. Is also wired. Sadly I doubt it would tick the "compact" box, nor the quiet box that some folks seem to require. I do find it somewhat ironic that I have a $85 mouse and a $80 keyboard connected to a $65 SBC computer.

The compact keyboards for the Psion line were surprisingly decent to type on.

[PiGraham]

There is a requirements conflict between "nice" and "compact". Compact keyboards are, generally, not nice and nice keyboards are, generally, not compact.

If you like the retro feel of ZX Spectrum dead-men's fingers
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flexible-Folda ... B005AILVFK
it rolls up small enought to fit in a poacher's pocket in a coat.

I struggle to see why that roll-up keyboard is tenner while this silly expensive keyboard is a 150 sovereigns (unless it makes tea and answers the front door bell).

They hardy seem comparable keyboards. Rubber and conductive pads are about the cheapest way to make a keyboard. The Huntsman uses unusual mechanical keys which are surely a lot more expensive that a sheet of silicone.

Of course you are right that £150 is a ridiculous amount to spend on a keyboard but it has company for quality mechanical keyboards in the £100 - £200 bracket.

[DougieLawson]

Of course you are right that £150 is a ridiculous amount to spend on a keyboard but it has company for quality mechanical keyboards in the £100 - £200 bracket.

The only keyboard worth any sort of silly money is the IBM M-series. They are still being made by Unicomp Inc.
https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/UltraClassic https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/Classic
Their keyboards come in at under USD$100.

That's a step on from the IBM Selectric golfball typewriter (which is quite simply the best keyboard in history).

[W. H. Heydt]

Of course you are right that £150 is a ridiculous amount to spend on a keyboard but it has company for quality mechanical keyboards in the £100 - £200 bracket.

The only keyboard worth any sort of silly money is the IBM M-series. They are still being made by Unicomp Inc.
https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/UltraClassic https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/Classic
Their keyboards come in at under USD$100.

That's a step on from the IBM Selectric golfball typewriter (which is quite simply the best keyboard in history).

Seconded. Unicomp keyboards are what my wife and I use at home.