Compact Keyboard Recommendations?

Question

Any recommendations for a high-quality compact (no number pad) keyboard, preferably $50 or less?

Criteria:

• $50 or less
• Preferably with laptop-style keys (scissor switches instead of rubber membranes ala cheap desktop keyboards)
• Quiet (I'm a Model-M kind of guy, but this isn't a good environment for a noisy keyboard)
• Don't care too much about media keys, USB ports, etc

I like the Apple Wireless Keyboard, and have heard the Happy Hacking keyboards recommended by others, but they're both a bit outside our budget.

There have been several questions about keyboards (check the "peripherals" tag) but none about compact keyboards as far as I can tell. Nobody demands more from their keyboards than programmers, so while it's a somewhat subjective question, I figured this is the best place to ask.

Answer 1

What about those roll-up keyboards? They're definitely rubber membranes, but they're also extremely quiet and extremely portable. I'd be surprised if you can find a keyboard that fits ALL of the criteria you specified, but the roll-up keyboard at least hits all but one of them.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/5a7f/?cpg=ab

Answer 2

When I went through this drill I found there are a bunch of options (with user reviews) on Amazon.

Answer 3

I bought the logitech newtouch keyboard which has a smaller footprint than a regular keyboard and it's great. Nice and quiet, no "multimedia keys" and has a nice feel. It's also great as a programming keyboard because the function keys aren't hijacked by those ridiculous "shortcuts" that are so common on other keyboards. You hit F5 and you get a build in visual studio. I bought it after buying the ultra flat which had a good feel to it, but the key layout was just awful.