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Mechanical keyboards

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David JENNI edited this page Jul 27, 2015 · 4 revisions

Mechanical Keyboards

A word of warning: The ownership and use of mechanical keyboards can be addictive!! It starts harmless with one single keyboard, but before you know it, you own several mech. keyboards, you'll start modding them with different key caps, debate the merits of Dvorak vs. Coleman vs. QWERTY and get curious about exotic layouts like Infinity 60%, ErgoDox, Kinesis, OrthoLinear, e.g. Planck, etc. You have been warned :-) !

Why mechanical keyboards?

There's a small but active and vocal internet community of keyboard aficionados who can give you a better idea:

Switches

The key distinction of a mechanical keyboard are, duh, its mechanical keys... While some might argue about the exact definition of a "mechanical keyboard", what most aficionados imply with "mechanical keys": high quality key switches that have a predictable activation, are usually electromechanical and provide a tactile feedback when the key activation occurs. Common brand names, in order of popularity, not necessarily in order of quality:

  • Cherry MX: CherryCorp, a German company that has been producing computer key switches for the past 4+ decades is still the most prominent supplier of keys for mechanical keyboards. Different key switch types with different actuation forces and feedback, see the overview of CherryMX keys. There are now some Asian clones of the same design, e.g. Gateron, Kailh by Kaihua Electronics
  • Alps: Introduced to the market by a Japanese company, Alps Electric but is no longer manufactured. A licensed clone is nowadays produced by a Canadian keyboard company, Matias.
  • Topre: Another Japanese manufacturer, Topre Corp with key switches in a distinctly different mechanical design. RealForce keyboards are their flagship keyboard implementation.
  • Buckling springs: The very clicky switches from the early days in computing, e.g. popularized by IBM's Model M keyboard.

More details in keyboard aficionado web sites:

Types of keyboards

  • full size: sports all alpha-numeric keys, function keys, arrow/page keys and a numeric keypad (usually at the right side of the keyboard)
  • Ten-Key-less (TKL): lacks the numeric keypad to the right, easier to reach for mouse (if right-handed); many laptops have in effect a TKL layout (albeit usually not with mechanical keys)
  • 60% keyboards: minimalistic, only has the 4 rows for the alphanumerics, no function keys nor any separate cursor keys

Key caps

With all the individuality and modding, it's no surprise that many keyboard addicts eventually also collect key cap sets and rotate them through their different keyboards. One limit is imposed that each of the different key switch manufacturers unfortunately also has their own and incompatible stems.

Key cap sets for CherryMX are the easiest to come by; getting key sets for Alps or Topre switches is much harder. Most key sets are offered in form of group buys, either on the keyboard fora or some of the commercial group buy sites:

Where to buy mechanical keyboards?

Other lists of source:

More exotic keyboards:

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