Laptop Keyboards

Buying a laptop keyboard

There are several things to consider. Most important is how you plan to use your keyboard. There are different keyboards available to suit different usage types. A keyboard designed for office work is considerably different from a gaming keyboard for example. Office users will do a lot of typing whereas gamers typically only need to use a specific set of keys and need better feedback and response times from each keystroke.

Connectivity

You can choose between wired and wireless keyboards. Wired keyboards typically connect to your computer via a USB cable and are plug and play which means you simply connect the cable and your PC will detect the keyboard and you can start using it straight away. Wireless keyboards connect either via an RF connection using a USB receiver or via Bluetooth. If you want to reduce cabling and work at a distance away from your PC, a wireless keyboard gives you more freedom but can lag so are no good for serious gamers. Wireless keyboards are battery powered whereas wired keyboards take their power via the USB connection.

Mechanism

One of the key differentiators between budget keyboards and their more expensive counterparts is the type of switches used for the individual keys. The switch is the mechanism that makes the keys respond when pressed and there are three main types; rubber dome, scissor and mechanical. budget or entry level keyboards typically use rubber dome switches which gives a softer, mushier feel and requires keys to be pressed down further for the keystroke to be detected. These keyboards tend to lose their responsiveness over time.

Scissor switch keyboards add a plastic, mechanical stabiliser to allow a more precise, crisper key stroke feel and shorter key travel. Scissor switches are more durable and are often used in laptop keyboards and low profile PC keyboards.

Mechanical switch keyboards provide the most precise responses and the best tactile feedback. A favourite with gamers, each key is spring loaded and key presses require very little travel which makes them perfect for touch typists. Mechanical keyboards are the most intricate and robustly designed keyboards and are generally priced at a premium.

Layout

Keyboards vary by layout as well. Pretty much all keyboards include the basic set of character, editing and navigation keys but some feature a dedicated numeric keypad - great if you work with numeric data or spreadsheets. Extra keys for other functions such as multimedia, power and dedicated Windows keys are also included in some keyboard models. The layout of these extra keys can vary so check you're happy with the arrangement of the keys before buying. There are also ergonomic keyboards designed to force typists hands into a neutral position for improved typing comfort and reduced stress on fingers and joints.

Region

Most of the keyboards we sell are UK models designed for use in the United Kingdom. We can also source and supply regional keyboards intended for use in other countries. Please contact our sales team for assistance.