Live data from Hacker News

A Beginner's Guide to Switches

theremingoat.com

31–40 of 42 posts

Re: A Beginner's Guide to Switches

#31
post #27
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mean Membran Keyboards? While there are membrane keyboards which feel half decent when new, they degrade very fast and especially uneven depending on key usage Thus I generally dislike them

Reading mkb community forums for a long time I can tell that this is either self-assurance or blind eye. Switches and mkbds break all the time and some people tend to make/use quick replace whole-switch mounts, which then creates alignment issues etc. I use three membrane chiclet keyboards since around 2018 that have no wear signs apart from plastic desaturation of a package. There are good models and bad models, reg…

Can you name those durable models? I went through a lot of KV-300H because they felt nice, but don't live nearly as long as even a cheap mechanical: I grind through one in a year — by the end of which it looks like it was worked over with sandpaper, and some buttons stop registering key presses.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to Switches

#32

Does anyone have experience with carpal tunnel or RSI and mechanical switches? I’ve heard some people recommend ZSA keyboards for ergonomics but I’m unsure if mechanical keys are healthy compared to the softer keys of older ergonomic keyboards like the ones Microsoft made.

Microsoft Ergonomic prevented RSI not because of keys, but because of the front raiser bar. It allowed wrists to be more line up with hands, which prevented damage to the nerves in the wrist joint which is really RSI. I wish more keyboards had this feature.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to Switches

#33
post #3

Maybe it would be useful to add "keyboard" to the title?

Yeah, my initial reaction was: "Oh, _that_ kind of switches!" I was looking for the part where MAC-addresses and VLAN's were explained ;-)

I was hoping for a compendium of all the types of switches available for use in electronics. :(

Re: A Beginner's Guide to Switches

#34
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reading mkb community forums for a long time I can tell that this is either self-assurance or blind eye. Switches and mkbds break all the time and some people tend to make/use quick replace whole-switch mounts, which then creates alignment issues etc. I use three membrane chiclet keyboards since around 2018 that have no wear signs apart from plastic desaturation of a package. There are good models and bad models, reg…

Can you name those durable models? I went through a lot of KV-300H because they felt nice, but don't live nearly as long as even a cheap mechanical: I grind through one in a year — by the end of which it looks like it was worked over with sandpaper, and some buttons stop registering key presses.

Nope. But I’ve read some reviews on the recent kv-300hs which stated they may have been “downgraded”, or it depends on a region/factory. Despite that I bought another one this spring in a local hw store for a new workplace and it doesn’t feel any worse yet.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to Switches

#35

Keyboard fascination is just a waste of time. I had a mechanical keyboard and the keys got sticky and as I was removing them mistakenly removed the switch which was unusually easy to do, now the keyboard is unusable and i need to soldier it back on.

You may have a hot-swap style keyboard. The switches are designed to pull out easily in order to change switch types.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to Switches

#36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, my initial reaction was: "Oh, _that_ kind of switches!" I was looking for the part where MAC-addresses and VLAN's were explained ;-)

I was hoping for a compendium of all the types of switches available for use in electronics. :(

I just wanted to find a way to toggle my ceiling lights.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to Switches

#37
post #22
post #17

No mention of buckling-spring?

For a current day overview of mechanical keyboard switches I don't think buckling-spring is that relevant. Deskthority probably has pages for it though.

I own a brand-new keyboard that has buckling-springs. You don't need to resurrect an '80s IBM keyboard.

0: https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/MINI_M

Re: A Beginner's Guide to Switches

#38
post #37
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For a current day overview of mechanical keyboard switches I don't think buckling-spring is that relevant. Deskthority probably has pages for it though.

I own a brand-new keyboard that has buckling-springs. You don't need to resurrect an '80s IBM keyboard. 0: https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/MINI_M

dont pretend its not niche tho

Re: A Beginner's Guide to Switches

#39

Does anyone have experience with carpal tunnel or RSI and mechanical switches? I’ve heard some people recommend ZSA keyboards for ergonomics but I’m unsure if mechanical keys are healthy compared to the softer keys of older ergonomic keyboards like the ones Microsoft made.

i developed rsi pretty bad in like 2018 and went all in with an ergodox and it didnt help really. true ergo + better posture and actual breaks (and some time off) is the only thing that worked for me

but i will say split keyboard is very nice but ortholinear seemed to reintroduce some strains

i use a normal keyboard with good floating hand posture when typing a lot w no issues these days

Re: A Beginner's Guide to Switches

#40

Does anyone have experience with carpal tunnel or RSI and mechanical switches? I’ve heard some people recommend ZSA keyboards for ergonomics but I’m unsure if mechanical keys are healthy compared to the softer keys of older ergonomic keyboards like the ones Microsoft made.

i developed rsi pretty bad in like 2018 and went all in with an ergodox and it didnt help really. true ergo + better posture and actual breaks (and some time off) is the only thing that worked for me but i will say split keyboard is very nice but ortholinear seemed to reintroduce some strains i use a normal keyboard with good floating hand posture when typing a lot w no issues these days

What do you mean by true ergo and better posture?
Post reply on HN