[geeks] new keyboard goodness

[Shannon]

On 19-Apr-2011 01:30, Jonathan Groll wrote:
> On Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:39:14 -0400, Shannon <shannon at widomaker.com> wrote:
>> Before getting one though, I would consider a few negatives noticed in
>> reviews:
>>
>> - glossy surfaces fingerprint like crazy
>> - it does not have NKEY or 6KEY rollover
>> - its got an odd design and physical format that may bother some
>>
>> Otherwise it got decent reviews. The manufacturer claims it does not need
>> rollover because they arranged the key matrix so it can deliver multiple key
>> presses.
> 
> Is Nkey rollover important though? 

Yes, very.

I can type fast enough to outrun any keyboard without it. Keyboards have
a delay in reporting key positions, and even though its small a fast
typist can blow past that easily.

> Most of us connect keyboards via
> USB don't we? And when playing games I've never personally felt at a
> disadvantage using a USB connected keyboard, but then again I'm no
> longer a big gamer.

USB and PS2 ports both have NKEY rollover btw, you seem to think USB
does not. A lot of people don't realize USB does too.

The only difference is that USB can only support 6 keys, so that mode is
usually called 6KRO.

> Has anyone here been able to discern (or even been able to detect)
> that the keyboard they're using supports NKEY rollover? Perhaps it is
> just me and NKEY rollover is actually important!

There is a lot of software there requires more than 1 key and 2
modifiers, which is all you get without rollover on most keyboard matrices.

If you type fast you will easily outrun that, and any non-trivial game
can requires it frequently.

Just for example, in an MMO I play sometimes there is a combat sequence
that requires 5 keys. Without NKEY if I hit them in order, not even very
fast, 2-3 will not register. I'm not even doing it that fast, just about
like a fast typist might roll off a common word.