Keyboard rage

Mike Lewis · 2013-05-23T23:34:39

Lately I've been wanting to set my keyboard on fire.I type pretty fast - a natural side effect of having whiled away a lot of hours in front of a computer - but the keyboard I use at work can't cope.I'm not sure if it's a hardware issue or a software problem, but when I start typing full speed, the keyboard just stops registering about a third of the keys I press. The easiest way to reproduce the problem is to hit Backspace about 10 times as fast as I can; maybe 6 of the hits will actually register on the computer.Is this because my keyboard is a cheap piece of crap, or is it some kind of OS stupidity? I've fiddled around with all the key repeat/key delay options in Windows to no avail. Haven't checked the BIOS yet but if this gets any worse I'll happily reboot a few times to get it sorted.TL;DR I'm faster than my keyboard and getting really pissed off at it.

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Started by ApochPiQ January 16, 2013 12:28 AM

15 comments, last by ApochPiQ 10 years, 11 months ago

BeanDog

1,065

January 16, 2013 09:02 PM

I have this keyboard and freaking love it (bought one on my own dime for work, and another for home): http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Solar-Keyboard-K750/dp/B004MF11MU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358370111&sr=8-1&keywords=k750

oliii

2,202

January 16, 2013 09:52 PM

Mechanical keyboard, I say.

Everything is better with Metal.

irreversible

2,900

January 18, 2013 05:47 AM

Got imba APM and skills?

">Get a better controller! ;)

3Ddreamer

3,826

May 16, 2013 08:05 PM

Hi,

Old or new keyboards work well in old or late model computers - just a fact.

1) Try other keyboards with the same computer:

If the problem persists with another keyboard then the likely issue is a system driver. If you ever have a keyboard problem like this, then you should immediately plug another keyboard into your rig for testing. If the problem persists with the next keyboard, then it is not the keyboard, but a hardware device interface driver problem, so your computer needs a driver update or reinstallation.

2) Plug the suspect keyboard into other computers:

A way to see if it is an operating system which is causing this is to take the problem keyboard to the same OS on another computer in the same office and several other OS versions as well. If you have the same problem only with the same OS version, then you know it is the OS at fault. If the problem continues on varies versions of the OS, then it likely indicates a faulty keyboard driver.

3) Problem only occurs with this keyboard and this computer:

Keyboard manufacturers offer driver updates and sometimes bug-fixes which are worth downloading and applying, but simply plugging the keyboard into several other computers to test it is the quickest way to determine if the problem originates in your computer. Sometimes an OS update and/or a computer manufacturer update will solve the problem.

4) Nothing seems to fix the problem:

If the problem continues after OS, computer manufacturer, and keyboard manufacturer drivers are downloaded and installed, then the physical keyboard is at fault.

Clinton

Personal life and your private thoughts always effect your career. Research is the intellectual backbone of game development and the first order. Version Control is crucial for full management of applications and software. The better the workflow pipeline, then the greater the potential output for a quality game. Completing projects is the last but finest order.

by Clinton, 3Ddreamer

Bruno Sofiato

407

May 23, 2013 03:50 PM

It's an USB keyboard ? If so, have you attached a new peripheral lately ? AFAIK the usb bus is shared between all attached peripherals so it could be a timing issue between them (just a guess).

BeanDog

1,065

May 23, 2013 05:42 PM

The solution to any keyboard woes is to buy this keyboard: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Solar-Keyboard-K750/dp/B004MF11MU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369330691&sr=8-1&keywords=logitech+solar+keyboard

I bought one for home. I loved it so much, I bought one on my own dime for work. Now every desk in the office has one. It's wireless, and I've never had a single hiccup, even with dozens of closeby identical wireless keyboards. And no batteries to replace, since it charges based on ambient light much faster than it uses power. The key action is nice, with a good tactile click, but it isn't too loud. It's got a full number pad, and the insert/home/delete/etc. keys are all in the correct layout. On longevity, I'm not sure, but I type all day at work on one that's now about two years old, and it shows no signs of wear except that the keys I use most (especially spacebar) are completely smooth now (they come very mildly textured). There's even a Mac layout version, if you're into that.