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Ask HN: Should I get a mechanical keyboard?

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Re: Ask HN: Should I get a mechanical keyboard?

#31

Post by zedpm »

gamache wrote: post #11

Mechanical keys are a pleasure to type on, but most mechanical keyboards are of the non-split, non-ergonomic variety, so you'd be taking a step back from the MS Natural keyboard. I have a wonderful tenkeyless keyboard with Cherry brown switches, but I have had to retire it in favor of the less-mechanically-satisfying but nicely split and adjustable Kinesis Freestyle 2. My wrists are happier, even if my fingers and ea…

>you'd be taking a step back from the MS Natural keyboard

Not so fast; your story sounds just like mine, but in reverse. I used a MS Natural keyboard for a couple of years, and over that time I developed significant wrist pain. I tried a lot of things to alleviate the pain, but in the end I had a conversation with someone who suggested buying a narrower keyboard and keeping my mouse very close to the edge (thus avoiding stretching my wrist too far for mouse use).

I ended up buying a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard with Cherry Browns[0] and losing the wrist pain. [0] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VDKLLM/ref=oh_aui_searc...

Re: Ask HN: Should I get a mechanical keyboard?

#32

Post by unwind »

ubojan wrote: post #22

I have Cooler Master Storm Rapid I mechanical backlit keyboard. It's pretty compact as it doesn't have numerical keyboard. It has nice light effects as it pretty configurable. I am not really impressed with this keyboard - I make a lot typing mistakes, it's very sensitive. For comparison, I can type faster and with fewer typing mistakes on Lenovo e325 laptop keyboard. It costs about 100euro in my country. I don't hav…

Sad to hear you don't like the feel of that one, I've been considering getting one for a while.

Of course, the fact that its on-board ARM processor can be hacked to run Snake on the backlight LEDs has no impact on my choice (see http://spritesmods.com/?art=rapidisnake). It's fun to contemplate the complexity of something as "simple" as a keyboard when things like these become possible.

Re: Ask HN: Should I get a mechanical keyboard?

#33

Post by Avitas »

Two of the better keyboard websites for perusing details and opinions are DeskThority (http://deskthority.net/) and GeekHack (https://geekhack.org/).

For those wanting real-time guidance, point your IRC client to the FreeNode network (irc.freenode.net) or go to their webchat here:

https://webchat.freenode.net

...and pop in to the #geekhack channel.

These expert sites and chat rooms can be a great help because there are a lot of potentially important details about key switches, layouts, firmware variations, key cap styles / materials and other characteristics that you may want more information prior to making a purchase.

Re: Ask HN: Should I get a mechanical keyboard?

#34

Post by cogwheel »

paulmd wrote: post #21

My employer wouldn't go for it, so I sprung for a mechanical keyboard out of pocket. I got an IBM M12, which is a variant of the Model M clicky keyboard with a Trackpoint built in. It looks and works like it's brand new. Not thrilled with the trackpoint, the sensitivity is too low for a modern hi-res display. If I turn the OS-level mouse speed way up, the trackpoint works OK but the other mouse moves way too fast. I'…

check out Unicomp. They own IBM's old production facilities. http://pckeyboard.com

Re: Ask HN: Should I get a mechanical keyboard?

#35

Post by sswezey »

paulmd wrote: post #21

My employer wouldn't go for it, so I sprung for a mechanical keyboard out of pocket. I got an IBM M12, which is a variant of the Model M clicky keyboard with a Trackpoint built in. It looks and works like it's brand new. Not thrilled with the trackpoint, the sensitivity is too low for a modern hi-res display. If I turn the OS-level mouse speed way up, the trackpoint works OK but the other mouse moves way too fast. I'…

Check out the TEX Yoda. This is the best description page I could find for it: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/tex-yoda

Re: Ask HN: Should I get a mechanical keyboard?

#36

Post by randlet »

cweagans wrote: post #28

I prefer the Kinesis Freestyle over mechanical keyboards. The Kinesis has low-force key switches, so overall fatigue is lower. I also use the Ascent bracket from the same company, which gives me a split, vertical keyboard. It's really nice, and I've seen a noticeable drop in wrist and finger fatigue because of it.

This is a wonderful keyboard (although not mechanical). Having a split/angled keyboard has done wonders for my shoulders/wrists.

Re: Ask HN: Should I get a mechanical keyboard?

#37

Post by Artemis2 »

Avitas wrote: post #33

Two of the better keyboard websites for perusing details and opinions are DeskThority ( http://deskthority.net/ ) and GeekHack ( https://geekhack.org/ ). For those wanting real-time guidance, point your IRC client to the FreeNode network (irc.freenode.net) or go to their webchat here: https://webchat.freenode.net ...and pop in to the #geekhack channel. These expert sites and chat rooms can be a great help because the…

/r/MechanicalKeyboards has a very large and active community, with a great wiki that documents everything you may want to know before making the big jump:

https://reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards

https://reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/wiki

Re: Ask HN: Should I get a mechanical keyboard?

#38

Post by arielweisberg »

saralily wrote: post #27

I use a Kinesis ( https://www.kinesis-ergo.com/shop/advantage-for-pc-mac/ ), which is a mechanical keyboard with an ergonomic layout. It saved my wrists while writing my master's thesis. I use an MS 4k for a while, but the Kinesis is lightyears ahead in terms of comfort. It takes about a week to learn to type on it, as the columnar layout is very different, and I had to learn to retype some characters (like x, c, and…

I switched to this. Heck of a learning curve, but it feels much better.

Getting my fingers onto the home row of a regular keyboard layout is incredibly uncomfortable now. Such a tiny oddly shaped space.

Re: Ask HN: Should I get a mechanical keyboard?

#39

Post by danmanstx »

ubojan wrote: post #22

I have Cooler Master Storm Rapid I mechanical backlit keyboard. It's pretty compact as it doesn't have numerical keyboard. It has nice light effects as it pretty configurable. I am not really impressed with this keyboard - I make a lot typing mistakes, it's very sensitive. For comparison, I can type faster and with fewer typing mistakes on Lenovo e325 laptop keyboard. It costs about 100euro in my country. I don't hav…

I also have this keyboard. I find it to be really solidly built and the lighting effects are a nice touch, but would agree that it doesn't seem to make my typing any better then using the keyboard on my macbook pro. FWIW, I originally got the keyboard with brown switches but then sent it back for blue switches and that seemed to make a big different in how it felt. What type of switches did you get?

Re: Ask HN: Should I get a mechanical keyboard?

#40

Post by dlevine »

I was having a bit of RSI pain before I got my first mechanical keyboard about 4 years ago, and nothing since then. With that said, enough other factors changed that I can't really attribute it to mechanical keyboards.

As for the keyboards themselves, I own 3 with different kinds of switches (it's kind of a sickness). One cool thing about many mechanical keyboards is that you can replace the keys, and there are a ton of different options to choose from.

I would recommend Cherry MX Brown as a good starting point (since they are non-clicky, and not too stiff). With that said, they are common enough that you should be able to find some to play with before you buy.

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