Has anyone ever used a mechanical keyboard?

[ManBearPig]

Whats so great about these things? I've been looking for keyboards and reading the reviews it's like people have been having revelations after they use one for the first time. Should i get one? They're like $100-200. I heard they're loud which i dont like though.

 

[sdifox]

IBM Model M ftw.

 

[LookBehindYou]

Das Keyboard Ultimate.

Look it up.

 

[Corporate Thug]

this is the one I use at home:

http://www.abs.com/Products/ProductDetail.aspx?ID=9

 

[Wyndru]

To better improve the response time, M1 is equipped with gold-plated USB connector and high quality braided cable for enhanced connectivity.

Really? Is this like monster cable's version of the keyboard?

Reduced latency because of a gold connector? I've never even noticed latency on a kb.

 

[bignateyk]

What's a mechanical keyboard?

 

[Born2bwire]

Yeah, I had a Model M way back when. I definitely do not miss the noise but it's been way too long to remember if the experience would be worth the price and inconveniences.

 

[sdifox]

Yeah, I had a Model M way back when. I definitely do not miss the noise but it's been way too long to remember if the experience would be worth the price and inconveniences.

Blasphemy!

 

[BurnItDwn]

I only use mechanical keyboards.
You can find them for less than $100. I believe $80 or so will get you a new one. Dunno if it's true any more, but you used to find Model M's on ebay for like $20 or so...

I own a total of 5 Model M's.
I also have a Das Keyboard 2.

 

[ManBearPig]

i would probably buy the das keyboard if i bought one...

are these things really really loud? id get one with the mx brown switches.

 

[Zenmervolt]

IBM Model M ftw.

This.

Yes, it's loud, but the tactile feedback really helps my typing.

ZV

 

[lxskllr]

Better tactile feel. You can get model Ms at thrift shops for a few bucks if you keep your eyes open. They're great keyboards, and what I use on my primary box.

 

[gorb]

browns are not loud. blues are fairly loud. reds and blacks are not loud either. i have no experience with other cherry mx switches. i haven't used a buckling spring keyboard in a really long time either so i can't comment on those.

obviously the term "loud" is relative.

for anybody interested in learning about mech boards I suggest reading this:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?ti...+Keyboard+Guide+-+Includes+Glossary+and+Links

 

[abaez]

Razr makes some nice "gaming" ones, including ones that are quiet so they don't drive you insane.

 

[ussfletcher]

I prefer 'membrane' keyboards. Our Engineering college computer labs use mechanical keyboards and they are extremely loud and obnoxious. Think 80's hacker movie keyboard sound effect loud. I suppose they have a somewhat 'gratifying' keystroke.

 

[DaveSimmons]

My typing was better when I had the old mechanical keyboards, but yes they were loud.

 

[ManBearPig]

seems like the black switches are the quietest. i will try to find one thats not insanely priced with those. damn, i remember when finding a keyboard was a lot less difficult. SO much more choice for every component nowadays...when i built my first PC 8-10 years ago it was so much easier.

 

[oogabooga]

I can see it being really annoying being in a room full of people typing on mechanical switch keyboards. I work in an office alone and am alone in my room at home so it hasn't been a concern for me.

We had a thread in our peripherals subforum about it but I can't locate it at the moment.

For a quick yet indepth intro I like the overclocker's guide: http://www.overclock.net/t/491752/mechanical-keyboard-guide If you do decide to buy a keyboard, geekhack is a good place to look. It's like Head-Fi, a lot of information, maybe even way tooo much. Wade carefully.

I have been happy with my upgrade to mechanical keyboards. I was using the microsoft natural 4000 multimedia keyboard which I loved. But I was replacing it ever 12-18months cause the keys would get all mushy and not type as well and it would be a pain. I decided to invest in a mechanical keyboard instead to get a more consistent typing experience since I write documentation for a living. I miss the ergonomic shape, but the typing experience is better overall.

I have two keyboards. A Filco with brown switches, and a Rosewill with blue switches. I like them both and could probably be happy with either one. I prefer gaming with the brown and typing with the blue.

The blues are significantly louder than the browns, If noise is a concern the browns might be a better choice. The browns are still louder than my MS Natural Multimedia (or any rubber dome keyboard) though. you can watch youtube videos to get an idea of what kind of noise you might expect. People also have bought and placed rubber o-rings on the switches/keys of the keyboards to reduce noise which works for the browns, the blues actually have something in them that click so it doesn't reduce that noise.

For my main concern (durability/quality over time) my brown types pretty much like the day I bought it 8 months ago. My blues are the same way though I've only had it for maybe a month.

If you're typing a lot at all I'd go for either the brown or the blue switches. I didn't like the way the blacks felt at all.

If you want to try it out go to a store and feel them: you're best bets in store would probably be:
Razer Blackwidow (uses cherry blues)
Steel Series 6gv2 (uses cherry black switches)

 

[gorb]

seems like the black switches are the quietest. i will try to find one thats not insanely priced with those. damn, i remember when finding a keyboard was a lot less difficult. SO much more choice for every component nowadays...when i built my first PC 8-10 years ago it was so much easier.

I'd recommend looking at wasd keyboard for a fullsize board or leopold for a tenkeyless from elitekeyboards.

 

[ManBearPig]

Thanks guys! Looks like the blacks are pretty much strictly for gaming. I think I may go with the brown...unless...has anyone heard the reds?

Check this video out: Cherry switch noise comparison.

 

[FelixDeCat]

We used these at my jobs from 1989 until about 2001. I had one at home up until about 2003. It was a lot of fun at work to hear everybody typing very loudly when you were tyring to concentrate.

This is why I HATE the win key and disable in my modern wireless MS 3000 keboard.

 

[lxskllr]

Thanks guys! Looks like the blacks are pretty much strictly for gaming. I think I may go with the brown...unless...has anyone heard the reds?

Check this video out: Cherry switch noise comparison.

You should seriously hit up some local used stores. You can find the old model Ms cheap as hell, and it'll give you a good idea of what they're about. You may even decide you don't need anything else. My keyboards are 20+ years old, and they still work great for my uses.

 

[Vic Vega]

Do you know how many model Ms I've thrown away? Hundreds - maybe THOUSANDS.

I believe Keytronics still makes an "IBM Style" keyboard...

 

[Vic Vega]

The greatest keyboard ever devised:

 

[gorcorps]

There's like 5 different mechanical switches inside of the mechanical keyboard product line, and each one feels and sounds different. There's one you're bound to like.