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I want a comfortable, responsive mechanical switch keyboard. My only concern about mechanical switch keyboards is the noise. Boards based off of the Cherry MX Blue seem to be the loudest, but apparently offer increased tactility. I don't mind a clicky noise (I would actually prefer a bit of noise), I just don't want anything overpowering. What are the different types of Cherry mechanical switches are out there, and what separates one from the other? Also, where would I be able to test one out?
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I'd REALLY suggest trying the keyboard before trying it if you can, since there's a lot of variation.Unfortunately, the best way to test a keyboard really, is to find someone with one, or hope for a demo model. The one i bought had a window to press the arrow keys, and felt good. I do think mechanical keyboards are the bees knees (and often quite well made to boot), so, as long as you do your homework, you probably will find the right keyboard. That said, i use a black widow ultimate , and the major issue i have with it is it makes every other keyboard i have feel crappy- mechanical keyboards are AWESOME in my opinion . In addition to OCN, i've found geekhack has a really good guide to mechanical keyboards. My experience with cherry blues is, as with any mechanical keyboard, you need to unlearn some membrane keyboard bad habits, such as bottoming out keys, but once you do, its fast. They arn't also mushy, which to me, even the best laptop and membrane keyboards are in comparison. The loudest,supposedly best keyboards are based on the model M keyboard and use buckling springs. Only unicomp makes them, and they use a buckling spring design. These need quite a bit of actuation force Cherry makes 4 different types of switches, and most mechanical keyboards seem based on "Click Tactile" is Blue or "Ergonomic" which is brown. There are three other types - "Soft Tactile" which is clear is Clear as well as "Linear" is Black and Red. "Ergonomic" is Brown. Tactile keyboards don't have a linear force curve - you feel a point where the force of the key you press changes, and you can release the key then. The keyboard i have is loud and clacky, but there's a stealth version with cherry browns. With most smaller keyboard makers, you can probably specify which switch type you want, apparently - so if you're going for a quieter mechanical keyboard, cherry browns are a good bet. I like the clackyness, since i often touchtype, and its oddly reassuring. Once you've gotten used to it, the low actuation weight and the activation point being midway through the stroke, least to me makes a big difference. Practically most mechanical keyboards I've seen tend to be cherry mx blue (clicky) or brown (silent), though there's some alps and topre ones - for example the happy hacking keyboard uses Topre capacitive keys iirc, which are nicer than your standard membrane keyboard, and are worth looking at for silent keys. I prefer clicky keyboards since, well, i use the noise to tell when i hit the actuation point - and as such its better for the first timer. Silent keyboards may be better in work environments. While the key types determine noise levels, its also a matter of design - geekhack has a forum full of sound clips if you want a rough idea of how they sound - two keyboards of the same switch type may sound different based off physical design. You can also retrofit a keyboard with rubber o rings, or by other means to quieten it apparently, if its too loud. I don't find my specific keyboard ( a razer blackwidow ultimate) to be that much louder than a cheap membrane keyboard (and there's differences there. I have a extremely horrible mushy silent perx keyboard, and a slightly louder, but decent logitech - both membrane based), but it apparently seems to be built with good sound damping. I also have a video here, comparing a utterly cheap mushy membrane keyboard (apparently a'perx windows keyboard' )a generic logitech, and a standard blackwidow ultimate with cherry mx keys - your compaq should be similar to the logitech Some folk also consider being able to press more than x keys at once (NKRO) essential for a good keyboard. Its less of a factor in typing IMO, but something that's mentioned a lot on keyboard sites. | |||||||||||
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First, be warned: all mechanical keyboards are going to be substantially louder than typical rubber dome keyboards you may be familiar with. However there are "quieter" mechanical switches. I've attempted to summarize the most common Cherry switch information in the below diagrams derived from the original overclock.net thread. That thread has a lot more detailed information about each switch, so definitely click through to learn more..
No tactile bump when key actuates. Considered by some to be better for "gaming" than typing for that reason, but I think it's personal preference.
Very commonly used on "clicky" mechanical keyboards. For example the Das Keyboard and Razer BlackWidow use this switch. It's a fine switch but quite loud in my opinion, so be careful! My wife complained when I had keyboards using this switch in the house..
I've tried this switch and IMO it is basically a Blue without the extra noise. For example the Das Keyboard S (silent) uses this switch.
This one, for what it's worth, is my personal favorite. Considered a "stiffer, slightly more tactile brown". It is not a huge difference but I prefer it over the brown.
Rare variant of Cherry Black, also no tactile bump but with different parameters. Available on the Corsair Vengeance K60 and K90, though. | ||||
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There is an in-depth guide to mechanical keyboards with diagrams, animations, and more information that you could ask for. Click the Search This Thread link and enter “noise” to view the posts discussing noise levels. | |||||||
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In a universe that contains the IBM model-m (see unicomp for modern versions of the same keyboard) with the buckling spring technology, all of these other switch technologies are simply pointless redundancy. Just get a model-m. | |||||||
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