The 25 Coolest (and Most Unconventional) Keyboards

Keyboards come in all shapes and sizes, from the standard ten dollar gray board to something straight out of a science fiction movie. Here’s a list of some of the coolest and strangest keyboards out there.

  1. The WristPC Keyboard: This keyboard is designed for “portable and wearable” computer applications, whatever that means.
  2. The Comfort Keyboard: This ergonomic keyboard can be split into three separate sections, supposedly for added comfort. It also features key reprogramming and a programmable “rest period indicator.”

    comfortkeyboard.jpg

  3. Orbitouch keyless keyboard: This one is a little hard to explain. It was designed for people with “repetitive stress injuries” like carpal tunnel. As you can see, there are no keys.
  4. The Roll-Up Keyboard: This standard 104 key keyboard takes portability to a new level while providing surprisingly good tactile feedback.
  5. The Optimus Maximus keyboard: Little OLED displays on each key let you customize the layout. Probably the most talked about keyboard ever.
    Optimus Maximus
  6. DataHand Professional II: Another Keyboard focused on ergonomics. Is the normal keyboard really that uncomfortable?
  7. The Apple Adjustable Keyboard: A pretty creative keyboard considering the 1992 release date. It was designed to minimize carpal tunnel syndrome.
  8. Saitek Eclipse Keyboard: This illuminated keyboard should turn a few heads at the LAN Parties.Saitek
  9. The Frogpad: A keyboard meant to be used with one hand. Supposedly you could reach 40 words per minute with a days practice.
  10. The Twiddler 2: This is a one handed, hand held, keyboard. It wins the prize for most uncomfortable keyboard to use.
  11. The Tablecloth Keyboard: Designed by German designer Tonia Welter. Ideal for those who take every meal in front of the computer.
  12. The Combimouse Keyboard: This Australian company decided to do the impossible: Combine the keyboard and the mouse!
  13. The Apple Keyboard: Quite possibly the most beautiful keyboard ever crafted. Comes in wired and wireless varieties.
  14. The Virtual Laser Keyboard: You’ll definitely turns a few heads with this one. This “keyboard” allows the user to type on almost any flat surface.
  15. The Washable Waterproof Keyboard: Do you ever get the sudden urge to type underwater? If so, this keyboard is for you!
  16. The Kinesis Freestyle Solo Keyboard: Basically, the fine people at Kinesis decided to split a keyboard in half and sell if for twice as much. Well Done!
  17. The SafeType Keyboard: This one is supposedly more comfortable to use than a regular keyboard. However, it’ll probably take a long time getting used to.
  18. Maltron’s Ergonomic Keyboard: This keyboard fits the shape of the hands to reduce tension. This may take some getting used to.
  19. The Maltron Executive Keyboard: Are you rediculously rich and want a heavy stainless steel keyboard? Well then this is the keyboard for you!
  20. Logitech diNovo Edge: This one’s up there with the Apple Keyboard. Sleek, Stylish, and with a touch of practicality..
  21. Fingerworks Keyboard: Strange Keyboard that originally retailed at $340. The keys are in fact a flat surface, making them awkward to type on.
  22. The Stealth Computer Keyboard: Made of strong component, this keyboard will function in even the most hazardous areas, or so they say.
  23. Happy Hacking Keyboard: This one is also a little hard to explain. It is supposedly coated using a special brush made from the hair of virgins and sprinkled with gold dust. And it’ll cost you 525,000 yen.
  24. ElekTex Fabric Keyboard: Similar to the Roll-Up Keyboard above, but a little more flexible and made of a different material. Good for people always on the go.
  25. The EZ Reach Keyboard: Another variation of the keyboard. Why do people feel they must repeatedly reinvent the wheel?
    EZ Reach

Update: A lot of our readers suggested the following keyboards and we responded. Enjoy.

  1. Das Keyboard: This keyboard features highly responsive tactile feedback, and the keys are completely blank.
    Das Keyboard
  2. The AlphaGrip: A controller style hand held USB ‘keyboard’ and trackball. Supposedly the “worlds most comfortable computing experience”
    The Alphagrip Keyboard Trackball
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  • Published in Computers on 12/10/07
  • By David

Reader Comments (Add Yours Here)

  • jeff said:
  • On 12/10/07

You forgot the Das Keyboard

  • Calyth said:
  • On 12/10/07

Where’s the Das Keyboard?
Yes, it’s not very unconventional, but it does force the user to learn the keys better, and the key feel is definitely better than most keyboards that I’ve used.

Is it a bit gimmicky, yeah, but it’s sweet if you tend to type a long time. Bonus point for learning your symbol keys right to speed up programming ;)

  • Nancy M. said:
  • On 12/10/07

Why do people act like only looks matter?

Many of these are DESIGNED for people with disabilities.

Yet you act like they are just weird and uncomfortable and not shiny enough.

Some of these make it possible to communicate with with the outside world!

  • Fayez Butts said:
  • On 12/10/07

Why isn’t the Das Keyboard on this list? $100 for unlabeled, individually weighted keys.

  • greg said:
  • On 12/11/07

i have keyboard #22 (Happy Hacking Keyboard). it’s great.

  • Frys said:
  • On 12/11/07

The comfort keyboard looks very uncomfortable!

  • mike said:
  • On 12/11/07

#20, the Fingerworks, is also a multi-touch sensitive surface… more that meets the eye.

  • Kyle said:
  • On 12/11/07

Great, original post! #13 and #25 are my favorites. Time for an upgrade I think :).

  • Pasz said:
  • On 12/11/07

Where’s “Das Keyboard”?!?

  • Jón said:
  • On 12/11/07

Yes, I vote for Das Keyboard too… It actually works.

  • Gregor said:
  • On 12/11/07

Das Keyboard is missing! daskeyboard.com

I love the Australian mouse and keyboard combo but how the heck are you suposed to use it?

And as has been said - why keep reinventing the wheel?

  • Dan said:
  • On 12/11/07

The Zboard deserves mention. Great for gamers.

  • Gunnar Bruun said:
  • On 12/11/07

I was expecting to find the Alphagrip here.

  • rdas7 said:
  • On 12/11/07

What, no Das Keyboard? :-o (good list though!)

i’d like to try the The Virtual Laser Keyboard …
it sounds and looks futuristic …

  • asdf said:
  • On 12/11/07

saitek has an eclipse 2 version that is much better then the 1st one.

  • Cem said:
  • On 12/11/07

I’ve got that #25 keyboard.very nice not only to show off

  • very said:
  • On 12/11/07

kool

  • Adam said:
  • On 12/11/07

I can’t even begin to fathom how to use that SafeType keyboard (#16)… Thing looks like a model space station or something (did NASA design it?)

  • JT said:
  • On 12/11/07

Something from Ideazon should have been on this list, at least the zboard.

  • DrFierce said:
  • On 12/11/07

I’ll pass on each and everyone of them. I’ve got one of those old-fashioned AT-style keyboards where the keys go click-click-click. The tactile feel is better than any other keyboard that has been produced and it’s was built almost 20 years ago. It’s taken a few drops, the keys have been washed in the dishwasher (after being taken off the keyboard) and I can’t begin to count the thousands of keystrokes I’ve typed with it.

Ah, and one more thing. Repetitive stress injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome? Don’t put your fingers in the home position, just let them fly over the keyboard and you’ll never suffer a strain, not even a full 10 hours on the keyboard programming or writing a report.

Sometimes, in life, the best things have long been invented and shouldn’t be “improved” upon. ’nuff said.

  • Red said:
  • On 12/11/07

You missed the classic, IBM Model M.

It’s so solid that I drive my truck over it and it still keeps on tapping away.

(I own 6 of them) :-)

  • Sean said:
  • On 12/11/07

I have been using the Maltron (#17) since I got very very severe RSI in both hands, arms, and shoulders 7 years ago. I can now code for 18 hours a day with no pain. If I have to use a normal keyboard, then pain sets in within only 5 minutes.

For me, worth the expensive price-tag.

  • josh said:
  • On 12/11/07

the blue gummy/foldable keyboard looks the best!

The FingerWorks TouchStream should be number one.

The reason it’s flat is so that you can perform any number of Minority Report-style gestures on it.

Two fingers work like a laptop touchpad (no going back+forth between keyboard and mouse. Four fingers is the scroll wheel, three fingers tapped is the double-click, three fingers dragged is drag, etc.

The keyboard also supports chording (holding your left hand in a certain position turns the right half into a “programmer pad” for symbols).

It also has an on-board spell-checker and autocorrect.

All of this is completely configurable, of course.

Sadly, Apple bought the company to own the gesture IP for the iPhone, and you can’t even buy one anymore unless you are quick and lucky enough to find one on eBay for $500 or more.

  • Jeff said:
  • On 12/11/07

Apple keyboard the most beautiful ever crafted?

Maybe - as long as you never have to type on one. Absolutely flat, no keystroke depth, odd key spacing, no weight. They should have spent some of the money they paid the designer on the product itself.

Laptop keyboards are better.

  • Anonimouse said:
  • On 12/11/07

You list the Saitech Illuminated but missed the Deck Legend?

I own both and can assure you the Deck is by far the better keyboard. Each key is illuminated with its own LED for a much more even backlight. And the keys are much much higher quality.

deckkeyboards.com

  • Mike said:
  • On 12/11/07

What about the Ergodex DX1? I had serious technolust for this one when I first read about it. I’d still love to play with one, but the setup time required seems a bit daunting (particularly if you want different button configs for different apps / games).

I’m very surprised by the variety.

I wonder if any of these companies really checked the market, to see how many unusual keyboards were already out there.

  • Karl said:
  • On 12/12/07

The ‘Das’ in ‘Das Keyboard’ is German for ‘the’.

No need to call it The Das Keyboard, you might as well be saying ‘The The Keyboard’.

  • mike said:
  • On 12/13/07

You should call the “Das Keyboard” simply Das Keyboard because Das means just “the” so its doubled … Das Keyboard = The Keyboard… in German it looks stupid that way.

  • Markstar said:
  • On 12/13/07

Hmm, I miss the Logitech G11/G15 here. Its key illumination is much better than the Saitek (it’s similar to the Deck), plus it has 3*18=54 (!) configurable keys (which can execute macros) and the G15 even has a LCD screen. :p

Alpha Grip and the Apple designed keyboard looks awesome to me.

  • Chris said:
  • On 12/13/07

Where the heck is the Kinesis contoured? I have two and wouldn’t work a computer without them!

  • eek said:
  • On 12/13/07

you forgot the FROG Keyboard, which eyes turn on you when you hit space or Enter…

  • Tim said:
  • On 12/14/07

The Saitek keyboards’ keys wear out quickly.. I did many hours of research and settled on Logitech’s G15 (the G11) was just as nice, however, I opted for the extra flip up screen on the G15 for only $15 more (when I price comparason shopped. The backlighting and custom keypad make this one a no brainer..although the large size could be a problem for some desks (or drawers).

  • Henry said:
  • On 12/18/07

I use the Merc Stealth board by Ideazon. It’s the greatest gaming keyboard I’ve ever encountered. The Zboard should be on this list simply for ingenuity.

great going !

I like the The Roll-Up Keyboard. :)

  • JeeJoo said:
  • On 12/19/07

You forgot SteelSeries 7G keyboard =D

  • Bryan said:
  • On 12/22/07

I never knew there were keyboards shaped like some of these… how odd.

nice collections nice keyboards
can i have it

i like the laser keyboard ;-)

I wouldn’t be without my Microsoft natural (original version, not the ‘let’s relocate the keys for no apparent reason’ version). My shoulders are too wide to type on most straight-line keyboards. In just hours my speed shot up from a furious 35 wpm (hunt & peck) to a rather steady 70 wpm touch typing with that keyboard. Sadly, MSFT dropped the keyboard and released Vista instead. Bad move.

  • shawn said:
  • On 12/29/07

Cool site u have here!

  • HP said:
  • On 01/01/08

How about the Velotype, a truly different keyboard allowing you to type in syllables instead of letters. Dutch invention, used still live subtitling, since it’s much faster then conventional keyboards.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velotype

The kinesis freestyle with the VIP attachment is the best keyboard I’ve ever used. I cost me about $160 total, and it allows me to do my job and go home a play guitar, which is very important for me.

And as for why… if you’ve got carpal tunnel with a regular keyboard, you damn well use something else. I mean, really. It’s not that ridiculous. Plus, if you make your living typing, what’s a $300 keyboard, really?

  • ErgoPro said:
  • On 01/15/08

This is a great list! I came across another resource of some of the weirdest keyboards developed. Check it out! gadgets.fosfor.se/the-top-10-weirdest-keyboards-ever

  • Kim said:
  • On 01/15/08

Awesome list!
What about the IntelliKeys keyboard? It looks kind of like the computer toys I had as a kid- you know, with hangman and letter games… more useful though. And you can use it for Mac or PC. :)

I especially like the illuminated keyboard and the Orbitouch Keyboard on this list because they are particularly useful for individuals with disabilities or mobility and visual impairments.

I would also suggest the “Mini” which is a colorful and ergonomic device that can control all keyboard and mousing functions for the computer. It is especially useful for those with limited mobility on more standard mice and keyboards because it provides all the mouse and keyboarding functions together in one, easy to use, standard Qwerty format.

nice work, man

  • Jamie said:
  • On 04/15/08

What about the Razer Tarantula? Surely that should get a mention, simply because it looks so good in glossy black … or what about its little brother, the Lycosa?

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