#1 ·
Honestly, I’m starting to think decent keyboards have gone extinct. I’m just looking for a standard wired membrane board—something with actual multimedia keys and classic keycaps, not those ultra-flat modern ones. It used to be that companies like Logitech or Microsoft churned these out by the truckload, but now? Looking at the current market...
It’s a joke. There’s nothing.
If a keyboard has dedicated multimedia buttons, it’s instantly wireless and low-profile. If it isn't low-profile and it is wired, then it’s some overpriced mechanical beast with RGB lighting and macros costing upwards of $150—or it looks like absolute trash, like some tacky, overdesigned eyesore. And if it actually checks all my boxes? It’s usually some cheap, creaky no-name garbage.
Mechanical isn't for me; they’re too loud (even Cherry red or brown switches feel noisy to my ears). I need those dedicated controls because I run a passive 2.1 audio monitor setup, and I adjust the volume via the keyboard. It works perfectly for me, and I don't want to deal with the hassle of hunting for a separate mini controller or extra knob somewhere on my desk.
I’ve been using my beat-up, seven-year-old logitech media keyboard forever. The closest thing I’ve found to what I actually want is a Steelseries Apex, but even that feels way too bulky. As for everything else... good grief. Look, I enjoy gaming, but I don't need a keyboard with that aggressive "Fast & Furious" aesthetic.
Does an alternative even exist? 🕺
It’s a joke. There’s nothing.
If a keyboard has dedicated multimedia buttons, it’s instantly wireless and low-profile. If it isn't low-profile and it is wired, then it’s some overpriced mechanical beast with RGB lighting and macros costing upwards of $150—or it looks like absolute trash, like some tacky, overdesigned eyesore. And if it actually checks all my boxes? It’s usually some cheap, creaky no-name garbage.
Mechanical isn't for me; they’re too loud (even Cherry red or brown switches feel noisy to my ears). I need those dedicated controls because I run a passive 2.1 audio monitor setup, and I adjust the volume via the keyboard. It works perfectly for me, and I don't want to deal with the hassle of hunting for a separate mini controller or extra knob somewhere on my desk.
I’ve been using my beat-up, seven-year-old logitech media keyboard forever. The closest thing I’ve found to what I actually want is a Steelseries Apex, but even that feels way too bulky. As for everything else... good grief. Look, I enjoy gaming, but I don't need a keyboard with that aggressive "Fast & Furious" aesthetic.
Does an alternative even exist? 🕺