Getting strong audiophile equipment review vibes :)
Did anyone do a blinded mechanical switch ABX test? I bet most would fail to differentiate except between the major categories - linear, buckle, dome, ...
Did anyone do a blinded mechanical switch ABX test? I bet most would fail to differentiate except between the major categories - linear, buckle, dome, ...
Feel is subjective, but it does matter, and it's something worth exploring for people who spend 8+ hours every day using a keyboard. It can also have important impacts on ergonomics.
Does this level of detail regarding feel really matter? I mean, all keyboards are usable and people do adapt to new/unfamiliar input devices, and it's not like laptops ship with high-action mechanical keyboards.
And regarding ergonomics, the standard keyboard layout is renowned for not being stellar ergonomics-wise, so I'm skeptical regarding how relevant ergonomics is in this field. In fact, isn't a standard Microsoft Natural ergonomics keyboard way better than your typical mechanical switch keyboard?
The switch type does not control the shape. In fact, one of the oldest and most respected ergonomic keyboard designs (Kinesis Advantage) uses mechanical switches. I use an IV-Works AV3 mechanical keyboard, which uses the Arisu layout, which is a modified Alice layout, which was modeled on the Microsoft Natural keyboard.
Many people use split keyboards for ergonomics since they provide the ability to adjust the angle, and these are quite common in the mechanical keyboard world, with some of the better known designs being the ErgoDox and the ZSA Moonlander.
Ergonomics is both a function of layout, as you point out, but also the key design because the key design determines key travel, weight, and whether or not you bottom out when typing, which can effect impact on your fingertips and finger joints, in addition to the impacts of layout on your wrists.
Except for Topre.
Not that I'm mad or anything.
Mostly among people who sell alternative keyboards. What little scientific research has looked into this, has, as far as I've seen, failed to find any measurable ergonomic problems with standard keyboards or the qwerty layout.
Which isn't to say that there can't be any adaptive value for people with specific needs. Years ago, I had to switch to a split tented keyboard after I broke my wrist and temporarily lost the ability to pronate it enough to use a standard keyboard. Now that I'm all healed up, though, I mostly stick with it as a matter of taste. I also use my laptop's built-in keyboard when I'm away from home, and it doesn't give me any problems. If anything, I would guess I'm getting some benefit from regularly switching between a split column staggered keyboard and a standard keyboard, since it exposes my hands to a wider variety of movements.
To whom?
This is a very subjective thing and the answer is that it matters to some people more than to others. The point is, that even spending 200 Euros on a thing that you use for hours every day can be justified if this is the thing you spend your life with if it feels better.
Note: it must not be objectively better, it just needs to feel better.
To everyone.
My point is that no one was born with an optimal keyboard feel and a crave for a particular type of clickiness. Most of the talk around mechanical keyboards always refer to acquired tastes, without any consideration that people can and do adapt to sub-milimiter differences in key layouts and range.
And that's perfectly fine.
Just don't try to justify buying grossly overpriced luxury goods due to whimsical personal tastes as a health and safety requirement.
Disclaimer: I own and use a mid-range mechanical keyboard as my main worktool.
Well, the existence proof that it does matter is the shitty Apple laptop keyboard that had no travel and broke if you got micron-sized dust particles in it.
In addition, I pound keyboards. So, the force of the spring absorbs force more gradually before the key bottoms out. That's probably better for my fingers.
Also I wonder how much of the preference is like old running shoes - I don't care how ratty my old shoes are or how nice the new ones are, the new ones will feel wrong compared with the old ones for a while.
Yes, newer Cherry switches are different from older switches. You'll see people in the community refer to older switches as "Vintage".
Also, if you use MX Browns, you might find you enjoy some other tactile switches more for newer boards. Browns these days generally feel a bit squishy/loose and somewhat scratchy due to the nylon components. I find I like POM stems, with minimal lubrication, and slow springs with a mid-weight (62g). Of course, all this is a matter of preference, but I'd encourage you to try some POM stem tactiles like Holy Pandas.
Edit: Glorious makes pre-made "Holy Pandas" under their own branding using the original INVYR tooling: https://www.pcgamingrace.com/products/glorious-panda-mechani...
Check out high end electric pianos at your local music shop, and compare to $100 Wal-Mart kid keyboards. The resistance and smoothness and feedback from the keys integrate with muscle memory better (and in the case of pianos, graduated activation helps determine the volume of a note and sustain.)
I don't know if typing with good switches helps with rsi, but it certainly helps with comfort and satisfaction.
A good clarinet or trumpet or saxophone will have similar features to the feel of different types of mechanical keyboard switches. Sure, you can play decent music on cheap mass produced elementary school instruments, but it's going to objectively feel better playing a high end bespoke instrument. No jarring or disruptive aspects in the motion to interfere with the process of putting characters on the screen.
While a for a PC keyboard, a basic membrane keyboard will do the job outside of maybe some very niche highest levels of competitive esports
Mech keyboards and obsession with them are purely a luxury, hobby thing
I agree. The fact that your typical keycap set typically sells for more than some full blown keyboards is already a clear tell.
However, I'd add that some properties of your typical mechanical keyboard are indeed very convenient. For instance, easily removable key caps and hotswappable switches do bring in the nice consequence of making keyboards easy to clean, maintain, and repair.
Some mechanical keyboards offer a symmetrical layout, and allow the thumb to use more than one key switch. Those are significant advantages for a keyboard user. (Since these are niche keyboards, they incidentally happen to have mechanical switches).
Though, I think most people interested in mechanical keyboards stick to a keyboard with the same layout as the basic membrane keyboard. (Each to their own, I guess).
And I am not a mechanical keyboard afficionado. I own one mechanical keyboard for well over a decade. But I had to do with cherry switches on a non-keyboard related electronics project.
From the OP, or from the discussion here? Serious question. Because it's genuinely not clear which you mean (for me it's the latter).
OP is fine, he's measuring things. The audiophile industry also always includes "frequency response" graphs and all kinds of other measurements in their reviews, yet the whole field is still a bit of a sham.