I prefer to have my nightmares with open eyes.
Hello, this is a brief introduction to mechanical keyboards. It is intended for people who have never used or owned one. I'll provide a brief FAQ and other resources.
FAQ:
What is a mechanical keyboard?
Essentially a mechanical keyboard is a keyboard with individual switches beneath every key.
Why would I want one?
Most keyboards these days have rubber domes under the keys and generally poor build quality. The key kind of collapses under your fingers and provides a mushy and overall unsatisfying experience. They're what you're probably used to, so you can't really notice the difference until you try mechanical.
Mechanical keyboards are usually sturdier with an overall higher build quality. There are many different types of switches to choose from, leading to a lot a more customized experience.
You're able to choose how much resistance you feel when pressing down on a key. This is referred to as 'actuation force' and later in this guide it'll be referring to it as such. You can choose between very light, moderate, heavy, or very heavy.
Whether you want tactile feedback during a key press. Basically tactile feedback lets you feel a tiny 'bump' when pressing down a key to let you know you've activated it without pushing it all the way to the bottom. 'Bottoming out' can fatigue you faster and slow down your typing speed. You can opt for tactile feedback or none.
Whether you want to hear an audible click upon key activation. This is really personal preference, but typing can become quite loud. So don't choose this option if you're in a place where you might annoy others like an office or a dorm room.
They often come with options such as adjustable back lighting, programmable macro shortcuts, different cable routing options, faster detection of key presses, and registering many key presses at the same time. You can also switch out the keys easily to clean, replace, or use custom ones in certain areas.
Who are they for?
They're for anyone who spends more than at least a couple hours a day at a desk. Typing, or gaming.
If you're only at a desk for less than an hour to stream media or check your emails, its probably not worth it for you.
Price?
Mechanical keyboards are more costly than regular keyboards.
While a regular keyboard usually costs $20-40. A mechanical keyboard will usually run you between $75 - $200. They can be found for cheaper in some cases.
Are they worth it?
I definitely think so!
Your keyboard can last you for years and many millions of key presses. They don't wear out for a long time.
Choosing a keyboard:
Before you pick a keyboard, you'll need to pick the type of switch that you want. This is really the hardest part.
In this guide I'll only be focusing on cherry MX key switches, although there are other brands of switches.
Red
*Low actuation force.
*No tactical feedback
*No audible click
Pro: Can be very good for gaming as you'll be able to press the key down very quickly over and over. Can be good for people who type lightly.
Subjective con: May not be as good as other switches for programming, or typing for long periods of time. This is due to lack of tactile or audible feedback. Still can be used for that if you like them enough
Black
*High actuation force
*no tactical feedback
*no audible click
Pro: Also good for gaming as the stiff spring will reset the key quickly. Its usually used as a stiffer alternative to red for gaming, or in enterprise environments to lower any accidental key presses.
Subjective con: May not be as good as other switches for programming, or typing for long periods of time. This is due to lack of audible or tactile feedback, as well as high actuation force. Still can be used for that if you like them though.
Brown
*Medium actuation force
*Has tactile feedback, you'll feel a slight bump when pressing down.
*No audible click
Pro: Good middle of the road keyboard. Good for typing long things or 95% of gaming.
Subjective con: May not be as great as reds or blacks for certain games where you have to press the same key quickly over and over. No audible feedback.
Blue
*Medium to high actuation force
*Has tactile feedback, you'll feel a slight bump when pressing down
*Has audible click when activated
Pro: Great for typing a lot or programming.
Subjective con: Not suitable for shared spaces if you're worried about annoying people with your typing. Not very suitable for gaming, as double tapping a key can be more difficult than other switches
Other
There are also less common ones that I'll only mention briefly, but may be worth looking into if they appeal to you.
"Clear switches are a stiffer version of Brown switches, with a tactile bump and weighting of 65 cN.
Grey switches are used for space bars on Clear keyboards, with a weighting of 80 cN.
Green switches are a stiffer version of Blue switches, with a tactile bump and audible click, weighted at 80 cN. It is primarily used for space bars.
White switches are very similar to green switches, with modern versions being weighted the same (80 cN) but being slightly quieter.
Super Black switches are extra stiff (150 cN) linear switches designed for space bars on keyboards with Black switches.
Dark Grey switches are moderately more stiff linear (80 cN) switches designed for use as space bars on keyboards with Cherry MX Black switches.
Cherry MX Lock switches are locking linear switches that stay down until pressed again, typically used for Caps Lock and TTY lock in keyboards before the 1980s."
There are also many non-cherry MX switches out there.
Razer switches: The Razer Keyboard Technology
Topre switches: Topre switch - Deskthority wiki
List of many others: Category:List of all keyboard switches - Deskthority wiki
Can't decide?
That's a common problem, its hard to make a choice when money is involved.
Usually you can go into computer shops and sample some. There are also kits that you can order online that have one of each key for you to try out.
Where to order?
Up to you, there are plenty of places online and in retail stores to choose from. A quick google search will get you what you're looking for.
What brand?
Also up to you. Consider the switch type, look, features, and warranty. What's available is always changing, so exhaustively reviewing certain brands wouldn't be worth it.
What do you use?
I use a ducky shine 3 with cherry mx browns.
I'm not specifically recommending it, but that's what I settled on when I decided to purchase my first.
I'll be working on the layout and typos. If you have any questions feel free to contact me!
Last edited:
