These days, mechanical keyboards are all the rage. They are so popular, in fact, that it's easy to feel as if you're missing out if you don't have one of your own. And, to tell you the truth, what is most surprising is not that they have become so pervasive, but rather the speed at which it all occurred. They "spread" like wildfire. Why did this happen, one might ask? It's a night and day difference, especially if you take the time to perform certain modifications. A mechanical keyboard is sort of a playground, a peripheral that can be both inspiring to look at and use. The explanation for this is rather simple: they are an incredible tool for one's creative and professional endeavors and offer a far superior typing experience when compared to regular membrane keyboards. They offer a far superior typing experience when compared to regular membrane keyboards. Therefore, their popularity shouldn't come as much of a surprise. At the beginning, this was nothing but a somewhat obscure niche, a well-kept secret "reserved" only for those of us who were the most passionate about it. That, however, is no longer the case; mechanical keyboards are now used by people from all possible walks of life.
There is one problem, however: the market itself is incredibly saturated, and with so many options to choose from, picking the "right" keyboard can easily turn into a nightmare experience. There are so many buzzwords being thrown around: PCB this, keycap that, tape mods, screw-in stabs, various kinds of profiles and types of lube, plates, foams, and whateverThe world of mechanical keyboards is a rabbit hole; you can learn these things over time if you so desire, but it is in no way required by any stretch of the imagination. Because of this, the best way to go about it is to take small, simple steps in your exploration and gradually, over time, become an aficionado (assuming that's something you're interested in). Don't Buy Into the HypeA mechanical keyboard will not magically transform you into a better creative, architect, gamer, or whatever else. It is a tool — nothing more, nothing less. Still, this luxury — no matter how alluring it may be — shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg. You can, by all means, get the "core experience" for around $100, and even have ample room to experiment, perform numerous mods, swap out switches, keycaps, and whatever else you want to change.
You can spend (a lot) more than that, but you'd be reaching the point of diminishing returns a lot sooner than you'd expect to do so. Mechanical Keyboards — Where Should You Start? The first question that needs to be answered is "what kind of switch do you want?"Which one is it: clicky, tactile, or linear? They don't have a lot in common, and that holds true for both the feel and the sound signature of each one. Their nomenclature explains it all: linear switches don't provide any concrete feedback when they are depressed. Tactile switches, on the other hand, have a bump around their actuation point and, as a result, provide just the right kind of feedback to let you know when a keystroke has been registered. Last but certainly not least, we have clicky switches, which are the most audible (and polarizing) of the bunch. They require a consistent amount of force to actuate and are, as a result, incredibly smooth (especially when lubricated). They are the kind that you either adore with the entirety of your being or, on the other hand, despise with the utmost intensity.
So, which will it be
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Your entire experience of typing will be determined by this single decision
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It is not the only thing that matters, but it ranks near the very top
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TIP: If you've never typed on any of these switches, the best course of action would be to simply visit your local IT/hardware shop and try out every keyboard that happens to be on display
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It is not the only thing that matters, but it does rank near the very top
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That will give you a fairly solid sample size, although it is still limited
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There are a lot of different factors that determine how a keyboard sounds and how it feels to play
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Too many, in point of fact
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It is enjoyable, don't get us wrong, but it can, at times, get a bit overwhelming
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Fortunately, there are many phenomenal resources online (reviews, sound tests, comparisons, tutorials, etc
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), so don't fret — you can explore everything at your own leisure
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Are You a Devoted Gamer
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In general, one can type on virtually any type of mechanical switch and still have a decently enjoyable experience no matter what type of switch they use
Gaming, on the other hand, has its own specific requirements. If you want to be successful in competitive gaming, you absolutely need fast, linear switches. It takes some practice, but the sooner your switch can actuate and follow through on your command or input, the quicker your in-game character will respond. Your keys and switches need to react to your inputs at blazing-fast speed, but ironically, they should not be too sensitive. It is important to keep in mind that faster mechanical switches are not going to make you a better gamer in and of themselves; rather, they are the proverbial icing on the proverbial cake. A fast switch will shorten this time frame as much as possible. The rest of it will be up to you. Nothing more, nothing less. If you already have an incredible amount of talent, then they'll only further empower your skills, but they cannot and will not compensate for an innate lack of talent. The best switch for gaming probably won't fit the bill for writing and vice versa, so this is definitely something that you need to keep in mind. To our good fortune, finding a reasonable compromise shouldn't be too challenging.