Someone enlighten me...what do I need to know and why are these superior to typical keyboard?

Any way to find one that isn't nearly as noisy? I kind of want to try one out but don't want it to sound like I am hammering away at a typewriter all day.

There are different switches you can get on mechanical keyboards that change not only the feel but the sound as well. I personally like blue style switches that have a noticeable click sound but also feel oh so wonderful to type with. I also like backlit PBT key caps the best as they resist wear the most.

Try https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/

I think it's kinda funny that we left "click land" to finally go to softer keyboards with softer keys, and some people want the 1980's back....

Ugh. Not for me.

Anyone have any experience with any ergonomic style mechanical keyboard? I really like the feel of the ergonomic design, but there just don't seem to be many mechcanical options for that style.

satexas said:

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I think it's kinda funny that we left "click land" to finally go to softer keyboards with softer keys, and some people want the 1980's back....

Ugh. Not for me.

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What you get with progress isn't always better than what we had. In this case you got smaller and cheaper, but not better. I write code for a living and when you type a lot and especially a lot of non-alpha characters a mechanical keyboard is the best option for not only speed but also hand/wrist comfort.

The reason a lot of people like mechanical (including me) is the soft-style keypads don't give a great tactile response and when I'm at work sometimes I can barely even tell that I've typed a character. I can actually work faster.

I have MX Brown on my Corsair. I had a blue CLICKY one. However, the wife deep sixed that. When I am typing up contracts in the office, she can hear me banging away in the Kitchen while on the phone and she said "that's gotta go'. So, I had to compromise on the Brown. For me, I like to hear it click and feel it click. It makes me happy. The brown are still a bit loud, but they have a physical bump where you can feel the key register.

II have a backlit keyboard from Corsair that I can modify key colors. I like to work nearly in the dark and always have so the backlight helps if I need to see something. Generally, I don't even look at the keyboard.

Jason_Roofer said:

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I have MX Brown on my Corsair. I had a blue CLICKY one. However, the wife deep sixed that. When I am typing up contracts in the office, she can hear me banging away in the Kitchen while on the phone and she said "that's gotta go'. So, I had to compromise on the Brown. For me, I like to hear it click and feel it click. It makes me happy. The brown are still a bit loud, but they have a physical bump where you can feel the key register.

II have a backlit keyboard from Corsair that I can modify key colors. I like to work nearly in the dark and always have so the backlight helps if I need to see something. Generally, I don't even look at the keyboard.

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I am in the silent camp with your wife. I have an Logitech mechanical keyboard and really like it; the flimsy keyboards that exist today suck for fast typists.

Can't go wrong with Keychron for entry level.

I have the K4 96% with Gateron Browns. Tactile so you can feel the switch activate, but not clicky sounding at all.

aa4136 said:

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Someone enlighten me...what do I need to know and why are these superior to typical keyboard?

Any way to find one that isn't nearly as noisy? I kind of want to try one out but don't want it to sound like I am hammering away at a typewriter all day.

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The feel and sound of the mechanical switches behind the keys allows a touch-typer have a better experience, leading to faster typing.

I like the low profile mechanical boards. Currently using a K3 Pro.

If you're going to spring for a mechanical board, go ahead and get one that is compatible with VIA/QMK so you can easily map keys and set layers directly on the board.

I work in finance and get by without a separate number pad by using a layer that's active on the right hand side of the board when I'm holding caps lock.

boy09 said:

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That makes me want to go to a store that sells keyboards and try them all out.

HeavyMetalAg said:

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Anyone have any experience with any ergonomic style mechanical keyboard? I really like the feel of the ergonomic design, but there just don't seem to be many mechcanical options for that style.

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the microsoft natural win 95 is the best. you'll likely need a ps2 to usb adapter

the modern microsoft ergo usb is a membrane key piece of junk.

I too have recently gone down the rabbit hole. I ended up purchasing a keychron for work with gaetron red switches. I'll build my own at some point because it sounds fun and I enjoy doing stuff like that.

YouTube is a wealth of information on the topic. Hipyo tech is an odd cat and his videos aren't my style but once you get over that I found them quite informative.

If you're truly curious and serious, buy a key tester. Almost all custom keyboard shops have them. Keychron has been mentioned several times here and this is theirs Keychron Switch Tester although you can get them in different configurations and numbers of switches.

I have a custom built and it's all my personal preferences which won't suit a lot of people. You kind of have to jump in the hole a bit to find how far you want to go. Keychron is a good start as they are reliable, not too expensive, fairly customizable even with hot-swap switch options as well as Bluetooth and Mac/windows switching. However there are many more. It can be a dark hole if you go too deep though…

I analyze sales data for a living when I'm not destroying puny humans, I wouldn't be without without brown switches. Currently still using Cherry MX Brown, but looking at crawling down the aforementioned dark hole. Didn't care for optical brown switches.