I don’t get mechanical keyboards. Every time I have tried one I find them to have too much key travel and to be way too noisy. I’ve always considered Apple’s keyboard the gold standard. I’m sure there is something to mechanical keyboards as they’re clearly really popular but I guess I’m just ignorant about that.
It’s true they are noisier. Even the quietest switches (reds) are noisier than rubber domes. That took me a bit to get used to.
As for key travel, 4mm is standard for most keys unless we’re talking about laptop keyboards. The difference is the force required at each point of depression.
I don’t like that big ‘hump’ membrane keys have to get started moving (lower left). My keyboard is linear (lower right) and it just makes more sense to my fingers. I also like that I can actuate keys halfway to bottoming out. Rubber domes usually bottom out right after actuation.
There are actually extremely silent mechanical keyboards now, much quieter than reds/blacks/browns. The silenced Realforce Topre keyboards (if you consider Topre “mechanical”) are much quieter than typical dome keyboards.
I don’t get mechanical keyboards. Every time I have tried one I find them to have too much key travel and to be way too noisy. I’ve always considered Apple’s keyboard the gold standard. I’m sure there is something to mechanical keyboards as they’re clearly really popular but I guess I’m just ignorant about that.
They do make short travel ones, and there are many different types, even quiet ones with dampers.
If you’re happy with your keyboard then it’s the best keyboard.
It’s true they are noisier. Even the quietest switches (reds) are noisier than rubber domes. That took me a bit to get used to.
As for key travel, 4mm is standard for most keys unless we’re talking about laptop keyboards. The difference is the force required at each point of depression.
I don’t like that big ‘hump’ membrane keys have to get started moving (lower left). My keyboard is linear (lower right) and it just makes more sense to my fingers. I also like that I can actuate keys halfway to bottoming out. Rubber domes usually bottom out right after actuation.
There are actually extremely silent mechanical keyboards now, much quieter than reds/blacks/browns. The silenced Realforce Topre keyboards (if you consider Topre “mechanical”) are much quieter than typical dome keyboards.