The Glorious Mechanical Keyboard
According to my Amazon records, I’ve owned my mechanical keyboard since September 12, 2014. I type a lot. I probably use the keyboard more than any other electronic in my life. I use it for my job, for blogging, for writing. To give myself a break (and to save my wrists), I dictate from time to time which often results in hilarious typos that I miss when I blog. But for the most part, there’s a portion of my brain that is attached to my fingertips.
It was my husband who sent me a post from Lifehacker about mechanical keyboards. I had never heard of them before.
My husband, the enabler. I did go to a local BestBuy but they did not have any of these so-called mechanical keyboards. I was going to have to buy one on faith. After much research, I went ahead and bought the one my husband had recommended to me initially–The Model S Professional for Mac.
Mechanical keyboards aren’t quiet things. They are loud, probably a little obnoxious to any one who is not using them. But the auditory feedback is one of the great things about the mechanical keyboard in addition to the physical travel (how far you have to push to make the key engage) along with the swift response to the pressure. The sound is so important that manufacturers like DAS has audio clips.
Despite the longer travel between a membrane keyboard and a mechanical one, you can actually type faster because with a mechanical keyboard each key has it’s own switch. I love the sound of my keyboard and each clickety-click of the key is an auditory affirmation that I’m working! I’m creating! I’m getting shit done!
But there are other benefits to the mechanical keyboard:
1) Long lasting.
According to Das, the mechanical keyboard is more durable. Each key is laser etched which means that the lettering on the top of the keys will remain there forever whereas membrane keyboards such as the ones that come on your laptop or keyboards shipped with a PC are merely painted on. They easily fade or wipe away. (The S on one of my old MacBooks is nearly gone). Further, the mechanical switch can last 50 million keystrokes whereas a membrane one is designed to last only 5-10 million keystrokes.
2) Easy to repair.
The switch keys pop off and to replace it, you simply press it back into place. There are many places that sell replacement parts for your keyboard.
3) Great for fast typists.
The response time for a mechanical keyboard is faster than that with a membrane keyboard. It is also assert that prolonged use of a mechanical keyboard will reduce keyboarding fatigue. The way that this happens is that you learn to stop depressing a key when you hear a click, not when the button can’t go down faster. That way you aren’t using as much force with your fingers when you type. Additionally, you are less likely to inadvertently hit the wrong key. If you are a touch typist, you can hit the wrong key accidentally–the A instead of the S or the F instead of the R. This doesn’t happen as much with the mechanical keyboard because of the longer travel. You hit exactly the key you intend, with no slippage.
Cons
1) Not as attractive
My Das keyboard is bulky, requires TWO! USB ports (although the newer versions only take up one USB port), and it’s a behemoth black thing. If asthetics are important, mechanical keyboards are not going to fit into the style of your office. (As you can see by my email exchange with my husband, aesthetics are important to me.)
2) Expensive
Mechanical keyboards run around $100 and up for a decent one. When you consider that most keyboards are free (or shipped with your computer), the mechanical ones appear expensive.
3) Loud
If you work in an open area or if you type at a coffee shop, people might not be thrilled by the sound of your keyboard. You might find it soothing but they probably will not. This PC World article has a Peak Sound level measurement for several of the top selling mechanical keyboards.
Here’s an Amazon link to various mechanical keyboards and this is the specific Das Keyboard I purchased with the Cherry MX Blue key switch with Mac keys. I use this keyboard with a PC all of the time. The only drawback is that there is no Windows Start button.
I’ve been looking at the mechanical keyboards for over a year now. I have an old Microsoft one I bought a long time ago, but it’s past its prime sadly. I really want a wireless one though and there aren’t many to chose from. Either Das or Logitech would be my choice, but unfortunately, nothing yet. I’ll pay the price, they just need to make one! Because they truly are a wonderful thing.
I’d never heard of mechanical keyboards before, but now I’m really interested. I’ve had so many keyboard problems in the past with various computers, so having one that’s more durable would probably be a huge benefit.
Which mechanical keyboard would you guys recommend for someone who types a lot, doesn’t game much, and uses a PC rather than a Mac?
I just got an Apple desktop computer for the first time this year and I hate the keyboard more than words can express. I replaced it with a nice, small wireless Logitech light-up keyboard (only lights up when your fingers come near. It’s fantastic in a dark room.) It’s a vast improvement over the Apple keyboard, but I’m interested in getting an old-fashioned sturdy mechanical keyboard (looking at the smaller Matias Secure Pro wireless because my work space is tiny. Expensive but sounds like it’s worth it.)
Your post reminds me of all the reasons I want to go mechanical. Thank you.
What does “with a mechanical keyboard each key has it’s own switch” mean?
I miss banging on an electric typewriter…
I recently got the das keyboard with the blue switches (it only requires one USB port, plus it has extra ports in the keyboard itself, so I can charge my phone/iPad through the keyboard if I need to).
I love it. The sound is definitely louder, but the typing experience itself is better than the mushy feel of my previous full-size keyboard (a Logitech ergonomic keyboard) and miles beyond the flat keyboard on my laptop.
I have the Mac keyboard rather than the Windows one — I knew that both keyboards can work with either operating system, but looking at the photo above, I almost wish I’d gotten the Windows version. There are function keys for the volume controls but that dial would be nicer.
Oh, wait — that is the Mac version pictured above. Mine doesn’t have a dial! Boo.
I’ve had a mechanical keyboard for three years – a CM Storm Quickfire. Since my husband and I have his and hers offices, any extra noise isn’t an issue and, as you said, the auditory feedback is reassuring. He would have one, too, except he can’t find one with a French layout.
@Meljean: The new versions have a dial.
@Francesca: I think they are totally customizable so maybe he could order keys and make his own?
@Janine: The Das makes one for the PC but the links I included have reviews to several others.
@LML: It means that instead of the key striking the membrane and then sending the connection to the computer, each key has its own nerve straight to the computer brain so to speak. It means it can be faster and you can press more keys at one time.
I have to say, I think my Corsair Vengeance K70 mechanical keyboard is one very attractive beastie. Plus, it has also has the bonus of a built-in USB port, and three levels of backlighting… you know, in case you want to type at night with the lights out :) I thought the “click” of the keys (I chose Cherry MX Blues) would end up driving me batty, but within a day I was fine with the noise. No more sore wrists and the odd numb fingertip or two. A much higher degree of accuracy. And a really nice looking keyboard that DS’s friends are super-impressed by. Yep. Epic win for me :)
Granted, it didn’t come cheap, but for me, the extra price is worth it; I went through 2 very nice to use Logitech keyboards in a year because the letters kept rubbing off :(
Here’s a link to the range of Corsairs if anyone’s wondering what they’d like for Christmas this year — prices range from $90 to $229.00:
http://www.corsair.com/en/gaming-keyboards/vengeance-gaming-keyboards
Thank you for this article, this was great! I have been using a Logitech Wave k350 for about 5 years now (and was using an earlier generation one before that) and it’s kind of a weird mix — the switches aren’t mechanical, but the keys are raised to give a semi-mechanical feel (while still staying fairly quiet). I love it — it’s responsive, it’s great for gaming, and despite the letters being painted on they’re glazed over in such a way that even after 5 years only my C, V and Shift keys have any visible wear (and my WASD none!). I think I’d like to try a full mechanical keyboard when it’s time to look again, and I really would like the opportunity to try typing with each kind. At work I use two keyboards, one stock Microsoft and one slim-profile with no clicks, and I don’t like either honestly, even though the stock MS has raised keys. I’m pretty sure my co-workers would be well justified in murdering me if I brought in a super-loud keyboard, as it’s an open office space.
At home, though, hmm. Hmmmm. I’m like you and am not sure as happy about wired, especially as I occasionally hook up to my TV to play big-screen, but I think that’s a solvable problem.
I don’t NEED a new keyboard yet (thank goodness, I hate buying keyboards, and I hate buying headsets, so my Plantronics will hopefully live another 5+ years too) but it’s very nice to have something else in mind. Well, and, shiny new tech, oooh, aaah. :)
@Lindsay:
Lindsay, if you’re worried about clicky sounds annoying your co-workers, then you could try the Cherry Red keys — DS uses them for gaming. They have no click and are super-smooth and responsive. Personally I find the Reds a little too responsive, but I’m sure I’d get used to them!
If you remember the IBM Model M keyboard with any fondness, you can acquire an upgraded version from Kentucky-based Unicomp with the same look, feel, and heft.
I have three of their Classic 104s. If their life expectancy is anything like my poor dead 20+ year old Model M they might actually outlive me.
@Jane: Thanks!
@Maree Anderson: Oh that’s very good to know, thank you! I could definitely give it a shot at home, too, and if I liked it take it in to work. Or maybe convince work that the PC team really needs mechanical keyboards for Reasons and I could borrow one…
I have four, because mechanical keyboards have different “switches” (keys to us) which feel very different, and I switch between them. The best switches are Cherry MX ones, but there are others, like the Chinese kailhs, and they can be as good. But in the description, if it doesn’t say Cherry MX, then it probably isn’t. and if it doesn’t say “mechanical,” then it probably isn’t, either.
Do not be fooled by “mechanical feel” or “mechanical sense.” They’re membranes made to look like mechanicals. With a mechanical, you should be able to pop the keycap off easily and see the switch underneath. There are a lot of videos on youtube,
The keys are color coded, but they don’t make any difference to the final appearance of the keyboard. I have a Logitech G710+ which has brown keys and is backlit, a Ducky Zero with blue keys, a Corsair K65 with red keys and a CM Storm Quickfire with red keys. Oh, and a Dell 101 keyboard with complex black alps, which I use when I’m in the BIOS.
These things have saved my hands. I have lifelong arthritis, and last year I had a very bad attack, so I couldn’t type on my old membrane board. Every keystroke hurt. An ergonomist suggested a mechanical keyboard, as well as a few other changes, and it’s done the trick.
The keyboards are wonderful to type on. No way would I go back.
As a general guide, Blue keys are the really clicky ones, which have a “bump” when you hit the “actuation point,” brown keys are a halfway house, not so noisy, but with a bump, red keys are smooth all the way down, and black keys are harder red keys. You really don’t know which you want until you try them. Most are made for gamers, who love them. Hint – if you want great equipment, always go to the gaming section, where the high end mice, keyboards and computers are stocked.
Order from somewhere like Amazon, where you can send it back if it doesn’t suit, because these keyboards cost significantly more than membranes.
Brands to look out for: Ducky, DAS, Rosewill, Logitech, CoolerMaster, Corsair (these are gorgeous, keys set on a slab of aluminum), Roccat.
I personally don’t like the Razer ones, but you might.
An added bonus – these things are heavy. They would be effective weapons in the zombie apocalypse.