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New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

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Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#231

Post by meepmorp »

slibhb wrote: post #186
benlumen wrote: post #10

I told myself this would be my next keyboard years ago. So know this about mechanical keyboards in general - choose wisely, because you'll be stuck with it. First, you won't ever go back to rubber dome like everyone always says, but second, the damn things don't seem to wear out. I'm still using the original Razer Blackwidow that I bought in first year uni - 2010. I thought I'd managed to kill it with beer in the fir…

I used a mechanical keyboard for 2 years. In my opinion they're like record players. The appeal is the retro factor. Chiclet keyboards are better in every measurable way and I'm using one of those now, some $25 keyboard from Dell. I can type faster on this one, more accurately, it gets dirty much slower, and it's significantly smaller. Of course there's nothing wrong with using something because it's cool.

I've used both chiclet and mechanical keyboards both for far longer than 2 years, and I feel the exact opposite to you.

Mechanical keyboards are better in every measurable way, particularly typing accuracy and speed.

Of course there's nothing wrong with being contrarian because it's cool.

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#232

Post by fratajcz »

mprovost wrote: post #136
jonathanstrange wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep, function keys and mostly also the arrow keys. A full keyboard is too large but I need the extra arrow keys. (Ironically, I work in Emacs most of the time but I need the arrow keys in other applications.)

I just noticed that they've taken the arrow keys off the HHKB! It always had an inverted T.

The japanese layout HHKB does have arrow keys, but the original (QWERTY) design never had them.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/36n5cl...

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#233

Post by chasil »

mamcx wrote: post #165
mewse wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> They can be loud, depending on the switches you get. It’s worth noting that for folks who don’t know proper typing technique (which is probably nearly everybody under the age of 40, as nobody really teaches it any more, at least in the countries where I’ve lived) it almost doesn’t matter what sort of mechanical switch you’re using, in terms of noise. In my experience, the majority of mechanical keyboard noise for m…

> and so everyone’s just typing with much more force than necessary This is interesting!. I learn typing in a VERY old mechanical typewriter, then in an electronic one, then in a computer keyboard. You need to hammer the keys in the old typewriter, like hitting with all the force in the world. But in the electronic it was so soft! Then the computers come and was like in the middle. I made my own mechanical keyboard,…

I took my typing class in 1983 junior high.

There were two IBM Selectrics in the back of the room, and everything else was manual. There was a schedule for the lucky two.

I think we had more than one Apple ][ for after-school signup at that point, but I'm not sure.

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#234

Post by smilekzs »

I do own a Model M but I find it vastly inferior to the modern Cherry-like keyboards in terms of ergonomics. That is if I gloss over the lack of Win/Super key (autohotkey on Windows is not realiable enough for this).

Yes this is all preferences, but the ubiquity of Cherry-likes has also driven further optimization in terms of materials, keycap variety, and cost.

Model M makes an amazing sound though. I guess that's also part of the reason I still own and occasionally type on a mechanical typewriter ;)

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#235

Post by nazgulnarsil »

I've found that the best mechanical keyboard is a brown switch with the silicone silencers on it. Rather than 'avoiding bottoming out' which feels weird, they instead create a cushy bottoming out that feels like it bounces your fingers from one key to the next kind of like a buckling spring. I recommend trying it if you never have.

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#236

Post by MengerSponge »

macNchz wrote: post #172
thereddaikon wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds to me like you have used one particular kind of mechanical keyboard. What you describe sounds a lot like either a buckling spring like the Model M or a clicky tactile switch like the Cherry MX Blue. One of the cool things about mechanical switches is they can be built in such a way to have different characteristics. Much like how a car's suspension can be tuned to be soft or hard and with high ground cleara…

Yeah I think like anything there's a spectrum of how people perceive and react to tactile things. I'm really into all the things that feel nice in your hand. I love the weighted shift knob on my manual transmission car, my topre keyboard, the click-feel of my Intellimouse, the mechanical feeling of my various pocketknives, any heavy well-built hand tools, twiddling a nice wood pencil while I think. I'll often favor b…

May I introduce you to one of my favorite niche youtube channels? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4VfzMbn28E

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#237

Post by Groxx »

nottorp wrote: post #107
ubercow13 wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's in the first and main image on the homepage, and if you look at the actual models, the F77 one has arrow keys.

https://imgur.com/BQmNtl4 Maybe they do A/B testing if you see a non compact one when opening the page.

While I agree that it's not very prominent: https://imgur.com/a/24ooR1L

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#238

Post by korethr »

I was going to go on a long rant about how this article and comments in this thread were wrong for saying or implying that the Model M mechanism, and indeed other high-quality not-Cherry-MX-derivative switches, were not mechanical. But no matter how I tried to clearly show and prove my position, what I typed out still felt like it was being just as incomplete and selective as I was ready to accuse others of being. Any definition of "mechanical" I could come up with that felt more accurate than "doesn't suck" or "Cherry MX or derivative", granted the holy status of Mechanical to the clearly inferior and undeserving rubber dome mechanism. Well, shit.

So I did a little bit of reading to check my assumptions and found they were indeed wrong. I found a definition I like much better for its internal consistency, which differentiates between mechanical and capacitive[1]. What makes a mechanical switch mechanical is something physically moves to complete a circuit. And a capacitive mechanism changes the distance between two plates, causing a change in capacitance at that point in the keyboard matrix and thus the distribution of current throughout.

And with those internally-consistent definitions that don't make my brain itch, it is correct to state or imply that the buckling spring or Topre design is not mechanical, because those are capacitive designs

It does bug me some that "mechanical" has become a synonym for "doesn't suck to type on", but I shouldn't complain too loudly. That options other than than the cheapest-possible rubber-dome are now readily available is a good thing.

1. https://computer.howstuffworks.com/keyboard3.htm

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#239

Post by cheqpat »

dayvid wrote: post #169
skocznymroczny wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a lot of the hype around mechanical keyboards in general is overblown. I had a period of transitioning to mechanical keyboards. I couldn't get used to the high-rise keys and long travel times which made my wrists hurt and made typing a chore. I kept convincing myself that I just had the wrong type of switch, so I changed keyboards every few months seeking that perfect feeling. The closest I got was low-profil…

Mechanical keyboards are kind of annoying because: 1. You have to try out a few to find one you like and most of them are only available online. 2. Mechanical keyboard enthusiasts drown out casual mechanical keyboard users. Most discussions you can find focus on overly advanced topics and most manufacturers cater to the enthusiast crowd. I don't think most casual users care aren't that nitpicky about performance or a…

Low profile mechanical keyboards are definitely gaining more attention in the market. For a lot of my friends that complained about how keys were too spaced or too high profile some keyboards marketed as "slim" or "travel size" worked a lot better.

I myself am close to buying whatever I can that has much lower travel height and switch weight (my current keyboard is lovely but can make my hands cramp after a couple hours if it's cold or after repetitive use). I'm convinced the only real metric that is worth chasing in expensive keyboards is build quality, followed by whether you like how the switches feel and the form factor.

Re: New Model M Is an American-Made Keyboard That Puts a Spring Back in Your Typing

#240

Post by 52-6F-62 »

dukeofdoom wrote: post #151

The long key press and the clicking sound is why this would not be something I would choose. I think my next keyboard will be a logitech ergo k860 keyboard. I tried it at best buy and it feels so great to type on, and I know bluetooth will work. I just wished it had leds. If you're in the market for a keyboard, I would check that one out. Last year, I switched to keychron k1, A low profile mech keyboard. The lighting…

It's not the ergonomic model, but I have the K840 and I love it.

https://www.logitech.com/en-ca/product/k840-mechanical-corde...

Then again, I also loved and have used extensively the Apple chiclet keyboard before the new magic version... ~2015 model?

So my opinion might be as good as heresy around here.

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