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Is there somewhere I can find keyboard models which do not have

  1. The F Lock (aargh!)
  2. The Windows key
  3. Multimedia buttons
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this doesn't really seem to be a programming question... but I must say it's been over 10 years since I saw a keyboard for a PC (not Mac) without a windows (or meta) key! – Michael Butler Aug 22 '10 at 19:21
Why not the Winkey ? I can understand the reasons for not having the others but Winkey ? – Sathya♦ Aug 23 '10 at 0:24
@Sathya: Because it's AFAIK unused in GNOME, so it's essentially wasting space. – l0b0 Aug 24 '10 at 11:48
The winkey is mapped as/to Super key in Gnome/Linux – Sathya♦ Aug 24 '10 at 12:08

migrated from stackoverflow.com Aug 22 '10 at 21:29

3 Answers

up vote 5 down vote accepted

F lock key - pretty much all unbranded / non multimedia ones come like this.

Windows key - I haven't seen a keyboard for years without one, I advise a white keyboard + tippex!

Multimedia keys - again, loads of the cheaper keyboards do not come with them.

I would personally advise either getting a Das Keyboard S - which does not technically have a Windows key button! or even better, get an old IBM AT (or similar) keyboard from eBay + a converter - the old keyboards are amazing, and if you can live without the Windows key, I would advise getting one!

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+1 for old keyboards. IBM continued making windows-key-less keyboards right into early 2000s if I remember correctly, o surely some can be found. – AndrejaKo Aug 22 '10 at 22:08
+1 for Das keyboard S. – JFW Aug 23 '10 at 2:44
Isn't Das Keyboard noisy? Edit: Sorry, saw the link to the silent versions. – l0b0 Aug 24 '10 at 11:49
up vote 1 down vote

Any reason why you shouldn't just get a Mac USB keyboard? For instance, here's the layout of the standard Apple wired keyboard. Yes, the function keys do double-duty as multimedia keys, but if you don't want to use the multimedia keys, ignore them (i.e., think of them as just function keys).

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The reason for no multimedia buttons was more to keep that stuff out of the way and minimize the space used by the keyboard. If the function keys on a Mac USB keyboard work as such (and not as multimedia buttons) with little or no configuration on Linux, this would indeed fit the request. Too bad the ergonomics of the keyboard is gruesome (I've used it for a while). – l0b0 Aug 29 '11 at 9:05
@l0b0 - On the other hand, this was the only answer with an off-the-shelf product that fit all your criteria… – Dori Aug 29 '11 at 9:11
up vote 0 down vote

I was able to find some vintage IBM PS/2 keyboards at the sale-barn at the state university which I happen to live near to. They don't have any "new" keys, they're heavy and solid (wonderful key-clicks), and they were cheap ($5 each). Downside? They use the old connector, rather than USB. As William Hilsum mentions above, they would need a converter to plug in via USB. My point is that if eBay doesn't have any, check schools or universities that may be selling their outdated equipment - if you are within distance of any.

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By "old connector" did you mean PS/2 or AT? Also, IBM Model M style keyboards are still being manufactured. – grawity Aug 28 '11 at 19:38
Sorry, I should have been specific. The ones I have use the old, larger AT connector. 5 pins, DIN5. – eigor40 Aug 29 '11 at 5:23

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