After five years with the Kinesis Advantage 2, I realized my typing speed used to be faster when I had a traditional keyboard, so I switched to a cheap Redragon keyboard with blue-style switches and I am much happier.
Ask HN: How is your experience with a mechanical keyboard?
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Re: Ask HN: How is your experience with a mechanical keyboard?
#42After five years with the Kinesis Advantage 2, I realized my typing speed used to be faster when I had a traditional keyboard, so I switched to a cheap Redragon keyboard with blue-style switches and I am much happier.
I swapped to an advantage last year after feeling some wrist soreness and cold hands. I type slower, so I type less and more thoughtfully. Not sure if it’s the reduced typing + the ergo that helps, but the soreness has gone away.
I had a Das Keyboard (blank keys to switch between OSX and Windows) that I really liked, and another smaller mechanical keyboard I keep in my garage. They are nice, but you’ve got to be all over the mute button if you want to type / take a note on a call. Again, I rarely type and talk at the same time, so it’s not a big deal.
Re: Ask HN: How is your experience with a mechanical keyboard?
#43Kinesis Advantage 2, Cherry MX Brown switches. I have it since September, so 3 months now. It takes some time getting used to it. People say it's at least 2 weeks, but my experience is at least 2 months. I didn't know how to touch type before although I typed with 10 fingers. So in parallel I'm learning touch typing and getting used to a different layout (i.e. thumb cluster). When I passed 30 WPM threshold I finally…
It’s expensive, but a lot cheaper than future surgery.
Re: Ask HN: How is your experience with a mechanical keyboard?
#44IBM Model M. I have two, the 1st one I'm using right now and the 2nd one that I will use when the 1st one breaks, which probably means never. I believe this one is dated 1993, but might be older as it still carries a Lotus 1-2-3 v2.2 sticker on it. Yes, it's loud, but that's not a problem in my case.
Re: Ask HN: How is your experience with a mechanical keyboard?
#45With respect to productivity - any gains you save from moving to a mechanical keyboard will not make up for the time you spend researching, purchasing, and thinking about the mechanical keyboard.
I replied to other comments, but I like my Kinesis Advantage 2 for the ergonomics. I liked my Das Keyboard because it felt like I was interacting with a premium device, and was just a nice, solid way to use a computer. Yes it would make me more productive than a broken keyboard, but no, I don’t think it’s a huge gain (I also use laptop keyboards from time to time).
Investing money in what goes between you and the ground makes sense. Another thing to consider spending money on is what you touch throughout the day.
Re: Ask HN: How is your experience with a mechanical keyboard?
#46I ordered one with blue switches but they came brown by mistake. Very cheap keyboard, from the brand RedDragon. It was my first, and I really like the feel. I was actually glad for the mixup, because the brown is pretty noise already. I'm afraid I'll wakeup my wife when I type during the night, or even the neighbors! Blue switches would be a nightmare.
To be clear, I haven't bought it expecting a gain in performance and I didn't get any. The purchase was motivated by my desire to have a more pleasant feel while typing, and that I most certainly got.
Re: Ask HN: How is your experience with a mechanical keyboard?
#47Using Ergodox and Moonlander on daily basis. I think most of gain in my case comes from the the keyboard being split, staggered layout, programmable etc.
Mechanical switches are just nice bonus. Of course it's fun to try different switches, keycaps, o-ring and pimp the keyboard in some way but I don't think it boosts my productivity in any way or helps with RSI....
Re: Ask HN: How is your experience with a mechanical keyboard?
#48I never got the attraction of mechanical keyboards until somebody wrote that they see a mechanical keyboard as a sign that they invest in their craft by having quality tools. And that every time they sit down and start tipping this thought gives them joy.
I liked this idea so much that I got myself Moonlander and haven't looked back since.
Re: Ask HN: How is your experience with a mechanical keyboard?
#49I used to have an MX brown keyboard and one day I got the MX keys at work. I ended up buying another one for home. For some reason I like it much better and I don’t feel any strain. I type faster too.
Long story short, I think it’s all personal preference, but if you get yourself in the world of mech keyboards, the environment might change you into thinking that’s what’s good and what you should be using.
Re: Ask HN: How is your experience with a mechanical keyboard?
#50I don't own one. Haven't given it a serious thought. But as a non user, it annoys me. I can't work next to a person who is banging away on the mechanical keyboard. I don't know the benefits he is gaining but it definitely affects my ability to concentrate. I am pretty much on my headphones when ever I am sitting next to a mechanical keyboarder.
I use a loud mechanical keyboard at home since the start of the pandemic. If I ever have to go back to the office I plan to bring it there to convince my boss to let me work from home indefinitely.
LOL. "Sounds" like a plan. See what I did there ? :P