Mechanical Keyboards

Maybe just go back to the print press
Wheels full scale printing press into Coffee shop:rofl:

2 Likes

The Anne Pro mech keyboard is a good starting point:

Most of the time you will see them adcertised as ‘gaming keyboards’ because they allow for n-key roll over and have more noticable audible and tactile feedback when you press one of the keys. I think they are great for typing though and are much less fatiguing for long periods of use.

If you want to try them out, I’d go for one off Amazon, that way you can send it back if it’s not to your liking.

I haven’t had a chance to read through the rest of this thread yet but the feel and sound of the board depends on the swtich type you get, that the bit that the keys sit on.
The most popular switch type among enthusiasts are Cherry MX switches. The main 2 are blues and browns. Blues are very clicky feeling and are very loud whereas browns are a bit quiter but have the same tactile feeling.

You can buy switch testers to try out all the different switches and figure out what ones are best for you.

You also get different layouts in boards, the main ones being 60%, ten-keyless and full size. The most popular would be ten-keyless which is a full size keyboard with no number pad.

If you want to learn more I’d say take a look on Youtube for guides and reviews. I’ll check back in on this thread when I’m back from work.

If you just want to look at cool keyboard that cost way too much, here’s a good subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/top/

1 Like

I got the Apple wireless keyboard with incorporated numeric keypad about a year ago. Can’t fault it. Mechanical seems retro to me on many levels. R-

Yeah, it does seem retro (I was surprised they were so popular).

But the more I’ve looked into it, the more I can appreciate the bigger keys, feedback and less likelihood of hitting the wrong keys.

I might hate it… But we’ll soon know!

I got one of these because I thought that I had to have one to be a Cool Nerd and join other Cool Nerds down the impossibly deep rabbit hole of switch colours, key layouts, base shapes/materials, massdrops etc etc

But even though I got the quietest one and got some little damping grommets to go under the keys, it is so loud that my housemate left me and my cat somehow finds earplugs everytime I start using it. My neighbours have filed a noise complaint too. Worst decision of my life.

Haha - Did you go for the blue switches?

My Apple keyboard isn’t silent - The brown or red switches sound similar from what I’ve heard (a bit louder, but not much).

My order says brown switches - I can’t exactly remember what the decision process was that come to that. There’s very few ISO-UK layout small keyboards so I may have been limited to only a few colours available. And I’m not far enough down the rabbit hole to be replacing switches.

Honestly, my mind was blown it was such a big thing.

Maybe there’s a thread somewhere on a mechanical keyboards forum that says…

“Found a forum where people talk about banking apps… Nerds…”

2 Likes

Hire an amanuensis.

1 Like

I have a Corsair K70 both at work and at home.

There’s nothing “retro” about a mechanical keyboard, they’re just generally tend to be better. A mechanical keyboard is just a more expensive, higher quality regular keyboard.

2 Likes

That’s a bit noisier. Not arguing, each to their own. :grinning: R-

This is my work keyboard :stuck_out_tongue: was only about £20 when I bought it. So much more comfortable when I really get into the flow than the standard keyboard I used to have.

I get the occasional comment about noise but most people seem to do so in good humour and don’t really mind too much. The only issue I have typing with it is that I sometimes don’t push hard enough on shift with my pinky and therefore get a lowercase letter where I needed an uppercase.

1 Like

Have you tried writing in a while?! My god it hurts your wrist. How did we do it!?

4 Likes

I’m actually re learning how to write old school style… ya know, like a pirate would :joy:

The world of fountain pens is more intense than the world of mechanical keyboards! :joy::joy:

It depends how many words you are typing.

This is my current favourite

https://keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-filco-ninja-majestouch-2-tenkeyless-nkr-tactile-action-keyboard.asp

I’m tempted by this

https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/ergo-pro-quiet-pc-ergonomic-keyboards.asp

Your hands will thank you, even if your wallet won’t.

Lots of mechanicals are aimed at gamers and are commensurately loud.

The above are really for professionals who type a lot, so are typically a lot quieter, but are also a bit more challenging to get used to.

1 Like

Windows specific though?

One of the reviewers is using the Ninja on an iMac…

Tbh, I’ve been on Linux for so long, I don’t even understand what would make a keyboard OS-specific.

I assume it’s little things like the windows key and ctrl instead of cmd, stuff like that… not to say that a “windows” style keyboard wouldn’t work perfectly fine on mac, but there is the whole what you’re used to thing.

But being a windows user myself, that’s all assumption lol.

1 Like

Pretty much this.

Also some of the function keys, media keys etc.

Plus, I’d like it to look semi decent! :joy:

Ha! A true Apple fan.

I bow out on function keys.

If they’re really a priority, I imagine you’re not typing thousands and thousands of words a day - but that’s where mechanicals really come into their own, IMO.

You probably want something like this

https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/uk-matias-bluetooth-aluminum-keyboard-silver.asp

Matias is a solid brand, but can’t vouch for this keyboard specifically