Oh, I see, but the basic functions you mention for VLC, media player, short cuts to things like calculator etc are built into almost every modern keyboard these days, even my cheap keyboard (with the flashy LED lighting which can be disabled) has those.
Indeed. The difficulty is finding one that has those features and uniform keys and layout as well as non horrible key switches. If I pick the first 10 on amazon:
1. Logitech K120 - no media keys
2. pictek ultra slim - key caps too high, unknown keybed
3. Kensington valuKeyboard - tiny F keys
4. RK100 - key caps too high, unknown keybed
5. Logitech G213 - horrible to typo on (tried one)
6. Q Connect - weird ass edit keys layout
7. Microsoft wired keyboard 600 - pissy little F keys
8. VicTsing ultra slim - fucked up keyboard layout
9. Havit Gaming Keyboard - IE button. Seriously? On a fucking gaming keyboard. Are you having a laugh?
10. Dell KB216 - Fucked up overlaid break /print screen keys. Chiclets. Tiny F keys. Kill me with a spoon.
What the hell happened to people not selling a pile of wank for lack of a better phrase.
If someone produced a keyboard that had a proper layout, half decent (not even 100% decent) switches, media keys that weren't a ball ache, no wanky LED lighting, with windows key and menu key for around £40 I reckon they would KILL everything on the market instantly.
Yep, keyboards are very personal as you pointed out, so many think that they are being trendy with smaller key caps, smaller formats etc. I used to enjoy going round to Comets, PC World, Curry's, Staples, Staples, Computer World etc and having a little play on their assorted keyboards. You could always pick out the ones that had poor ergonomics, they would be the ones that had missing key caps because they got knocked off. There was a time that I had Logitech keyboards and thought they were great but then it suddenly dawned on me that they didn't last very long, and then they went really stupid with odd sized keys. Since I switched to mechanical switches I have not had any issues with them breaking and the Corsair keyboards, although mechanical and Cherry switches, each row was a different height and keys get knocked of easily as a result. The keys on my current, Zero keyboard are just right, form a nice gentle curve from the space bar to the function keys and feels about right.
Here's something to whet your appetite with.