Low-width keyboards?

November 1, 2007 2:39 PM

Can you recommend a nice-to-use keyboard with a relatively low width?

Hey Gang! My job involves working shifts at a shared workstation that I don't have much (any) freedom to change, but which is kinda aggravating to me in its layout. The keyboard and mouse sit on one of those typical retractable shelf things under the desk's surface, and the 18.5"-wide keyboard only leaves the mouse a wee space to move in. There is no room on the desk itself to put the keyboard and mouse together, because the obnoxious PC tower and CRT take up all the room not required for work supplies.

Other users of the station leave the keyboard on the shelf and use the mouse on the desk, but this is just so foreign and discordant an idea to me that I can't abide it.

So I've decided to grab my own hardware to use at the station, because I can easily swap out the USB connections while I'm there. I've looked in a few stores and on Amazon, where at least some products have listed dimensions, and now I'm seeking some recommendations to enrich my decision-making process.

Have you enjoyed using any USB keyboard with a width of around 16" or less or a keyboard/trackpad device with a width of 19" or less? I use a Macbook, so I'm thinking Apple's new keyboard might be a nice way to keep things familiar, but I haven't seen one in the wild yet.

posted by chudmonkey to computers & internet (16 comments total)

I like the Happy Hacking keyboard.
posted by mphuie at 2:49 PM on November 1, 2007 [1 favorite]

I haven't seen one in the wild yet.

Apple Store? The Bluetooth one is missing the number pad, so it's pretty much as narrow as you can get while still having full-size keys.
posted by trevyn at 2:55 PM on November 1, 2007

A friend of mine just got one of Apple's new Bluetooth keyboards. It is tiny, comfortable, and very, very elegant.
posted by Mars Saxman at 2:57 PM on November 1, 2007

Apple Store?

In the wilds of Canadia, we are not so blessed. The best we have are specialty stores, but I haven't visited one recently.
posted by chudmonkey at 3:01 PM on November 1, 2007

Ah. A subject near and dear to my heart. Here are some numberpadless keyboards I have owned and used, along with my impressions:

SMK-88 - Full-height, full-travel keys; mechanical keyswitches. Mac-specific. I like this one quite a bit, though I normally prefer short-travel scissor-action notebook keys. A bit pricey. I use this one at home and I wrote my thesis on it.

ThinkPad Travel Keyboard - Integrated pointing stick and touchpad. Decent action. No "Windows" key so it will have very limited use on a Mac. Quite pricey. Currently sitting in a closet, stored in its beautiful leatherette carrying case.

Logitech DiNovo - Fantastic, quick short-throw action. Comes with a number pad but you can put it anywhere you like. Also comes with a mouse. Very pricey. I sold it on eBay.

BTC 6100C - Action is just as good as the DiNovo. The bezel around the keys is a bit high. Cheap and cheerful. My current keyboard of choice at work.

posted by zsazsa at 3:07 PM on November 1, 2007 [2 favorites]

If you have a macbook, the apple bluetooth keyboard is nearly identical in layout to it.

You will have to pickup a bluetooth dongle for the pc if it doesn't have it already, so it will be a little bit more complicated to install than the Happy Hacking keyboard.
posted by mrzarquon at 3:12 PM on November 1, 2007

Thirding the new Apple bluetooth keyboard. It's essentially a MacBook keyboard with the enter key on the bottom row replaced by an option key. Very narrow, very light, very thin, very aluminum-sexy. It's also only been available for a couple of weeks, so if they all start melting in 6 months, don't blame me.
posted by mumkin at 3:13 PM on November 1, 2007

I can second the praises of the new aluminum keyboards from apple (or third, since I am singing the praises over here http://ask.metafilter.com/75201/Biincurious-Keyboard-Sought also )

an addendum: the key action also *feels* the same, if not a little more solid, than the macbook keyboard, so if you are happy with what you are using on that, and can get bluetooth at work, you are already demoing it in a way.
posted by mrzarquon at 3:16 PM on November 1, 2007

The Adesso SlimTouch is a great combo keyboard. It combines the lack of number pad with a track pad. It makes a great living room keyboard.


The Zippy Wk610 Mini Keyboard is the smallest keyboard I was ever able to find. It is not for everyone. The keys are narrower than on standard keyboard. It has 5 inches between Q and P instead of the standard 6 inches. The whole keyboard is 11 1/2 inches wide. It takes a while to get used to it, and people with large fingers never will. But it sure is small.

I've own both. Both have a good key feel, and both are they decently made, though you have to expect plastic. The Adesso keyboard died after a year of me mistreating it.
posted by gmarceau at 3:30 PM on November 1, 2007

Hey, gmarceu (and chudmonkey), a Datalux is about 10.8" wide. Expensive ($130) but durable. I don't know if they're available on the street for less.
posted by Dave 9 at 3:46 PM on November 1, 2007

I'll have to throw my weight behind the Happy Hacking Lite keyboard. It's not the most attractive thing out there, but if you like full-sized keys (versus shallower laptop ones), it can't be beat. Mine's going on five years old, and still works wonderfully.
posted by SemiSophos at 3:47 PM on November 1, 2007

Remember that you'll need to be a local administrator on the PC in question to add a Bluetooth dongle to it (unless one has already been installed and uses the same drivers, which is unlikely, although your IT department might play ball with you. I would if it were my network.)
posted by mysterious1der at 4:10 PM on November 1, 2007

Much depends on whether or not you need normal key spacing or if it can be shrunk a bit. If you are touch typist, then normal spacing is advisable. I believe normal spacing is about 1.9 cm left to right (e.g, from center to center or edge to edge between "h" and "j" key).

I have this normally spaced kb-3300. It is sturdy enough and has a quality feel. However, the keys are a bit stiff and the edges seem a little sharp. I say this in comparison to my thinkpad keyboard which is my preferences, but as zsazsa points out rather expensive as a standalone device.
posted by Kevin S at 4:29 PM on November 1, 2007

As zsazsa said, if you can deal with the price, the Logitech DiNovo is a pretty nifty small keyboard. I tossed out the number keypad, and have been using the remainder (standard QWERTY layout plus arrow/home/etc. keys) for about 6 months. I love the reduced footprint.

I opted for the USB (as opposed to Bluetooth) wireless version, since I need to use a USB switch to swap between my Mac and a utility Windows box occasionally.

It works well with both, as long as you throw away the Logitech mac drivers and use something like Steermouse instead.
posted by nonliteral at 8:52 PM on November 1, 2007

Sorry, brain fade -- you only need Steermouse if you're doing one of the fancier Logitech mice also. The keyboard works just fine without anything.
posted by nonliteral at 8:53 PM on November 1, 2007

FrogPad have a few that are REALLY thin.
posted by wackybrit at 12:01 AM on November 2, 2007