Mechanical Keyboard Switches

[Jack Foz]

If you have a mechanical Keyboard which switches do you have/like the most?


I have Cherry MX Blacks and I love them for gaming but for long typing they can be tiring.

[acluacs]

Buckling springs from an original IBM Model M keyboard

You can tell if I'm working from several rooms away though.

[Willzzz]

Are only people with 9 posts allowed to vote?

[Crhis]

MX Blues, love the tactile bump.

Really want to try Topres (though technically not mechanical, I know)

[holysquid]

I think cherry MX reds are a nice middle ground, I had MX blacks before that and I agree for long essay work they can be tiring.

[RyanS2H]

Cherry MX Blues feel so good.

[Wanyal]

I wasnt sure what to go with for my first mech, and then I used my friend's Filco Majestouch that had browns in, and it felt just right, so thats what I went with.

[sam0]

I've had blue in the past and loved it, I'm currently using red and not much of a fan. I'm definitely missing the tactile response of the blues, but the blues are just so loud. I want to get brown in my next keyboard, hopefully that'll be the best of both worlds.

There's also Kailh switches, which are a clone of Cherry MX, and about half the price. Never used them though.

[MrRockliffe]

Blues and don't like them. They're extremely linear, meaning if you don't press vertically down on them the force required to press them dramatically increases (at least on my keyboard anyway). I've since developed RSI, something I never had with a membrane keyboard. A real waste of money for me.

[DeludedGuy]

I have the reds, haven't tried the other colours but I do like typing on them.

[Biscuit]

On my gaming rig I have had blues, then i switched to browns. My work keyboard is on blacks.

Blues are awesome, the audible and tactile feedback really makes a difference, but they are VERY noisy. Blacks are lovely and smooth but with enough resistance to still feel comfortable. Browns are somewhere in the middle and i really, really like them. Took a while to get over the fact they don't have that satisfying click, but once you do they are perfect IMO.

Different types of mechanical keyboard is a great example of people having differing tastes, the only way you can really know which is best for you is by testing them. Even testing them, i personally think you need to give it a couple of days of proper use before you really know if its right for you and/or better than other switch types. This is part of the reason mechanical keyboards are quite an expensive addiction!

I was quite lucky to get my cherry black keyboard for a bargain price via this thread:
http://forums.hexus.net/retail-thera...0-11900-a.html

I was planning on using it for temporarily whilst I save up a bit of cash to by a proper mechanical one with an OSX layout, but the compact layout has proved to be incredibly comfortable AND the convenience of having a little touchpad in such a close proximity has proved very ergonomic for some tasks. I think im going to splash some cash out on this one and get a custom key-set created for it so it matches up with OSX a litte better.

Blues and don't like them. They're extremely linear, meaning if you don't press vertically down on them the force required to press them dramatically increases (at least on my keyboard anyway). I've since developed RSI, something I never had with a membrane keyboard. A real waste of money for me.

Sounds like you need to sell that sucker and buy one with Reds! All cherry switches are pretty linear though, perhaps try adjusting your wrist position and avoid bottoming out the switches.

[Noxia]

I'm going to venture into the world of mechanical keyboards soon, from what I've read I think Red will suit me best but I also think (as I've not experienced one yet) that far too much is being made of the differences and the real life differences will not be big.

[Biscuit]

I'm going to venture into the world of mechanical keyboards soon, from what I've read I think Red will suit me best but I also think (as I've not experienced one yet) that far too much is being made of the differences and the real life differences will not be big.

Some people just dont get it, they try and it dont understand why its so popular. If you do get one, give it a couple of days and let us know what you think.

[directhex]

walk into a decent-sized PC World, they have mechanical keyboards you can stab for yourself, alongside what the consumer market thinks is a decent rubber dome

[Spreadie]

MX Browns on my work board, but Panda Clears* on my main board at home - solid tactile bump, but without the increasing resistance of the standard Clear spring.

*MX Clear with the spring from a MX Black.

[Biscuit]

As I failed to agree on price/possibilities with the various companies that make custom keycaps, I have just ordered a keyboard with Alps switches and a UK Mac layout. Literally the only mechanical one with this layout on the market i could find!

http://matias.ca/tactilepro/