Ask HN: Does anyone else despise mechanical keyboards? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Does anyone else despise mechanical keyboards?

10 pointsfireseven12 comments

https://imgur.com/a/vOELehA

Am I alone in my preference, here?

I bought this aluminum frame keyboard from SIIG like 10-15 years ago. Short travel and low keys means I type faster. It's quiet. It's sturdy. It has lasted longer than most things, or people!, in my life. We are almost family. :D haha. It's so well loved the shift and ctrl keys are fading. I even left a review (rare for me), because I have gotten such great use out of it. It actually still works. I just have noticed the plastic on the S key is bending finally.

Google, Amazon, old HN threads ..all have not shown me a replacement option. Out of stock, everywhere, as expected.

In order to maintain this level of satisfaction and productivity I am still refusing the popular mechanical keyboards. I really like being able to roll my finger from one key to the next on occasion. You can't do that as well with full-height keys. Can't really at all with chiclet keys. Also, talking to people on meetings while on the phone and typing at the same time is a daily activity... so having one that is quieter is kind of crucial.

My first keyboard on a PC was a Buckling spring keyboard from Original IBM PC (XT). Actually I liked the feeling of typing on it and nothing came ever close to it in my opinion.

But.... nowadays I also want to be fast,quiet and small and do not prefer too much typing "force". So since years it's the Apple magic keyboard 1 everywhere https://i.stack.imgur.com/WV6up.jpg Also with an old Macbook Air there is not much difference from Laptop to the wireless keyboard.

There are no mechanical keyboards in my house - and for good reason. My spouse has misophonia, and the keyboard sounds are one of his triggers. They also keep me from falling asleep. I also don't really like the deep keys - I can type faster on the low-profile keys.

Both of the ones in my house are Logitech Illuminated Keyboard K740 [1]. The physical keys look much like the one you are trying to replace - low profile keys, and seeminly standard sized keyboard. There is a wireless available if you choose. Now, I don't know about wear and tear: My spouse has managed to destroy one of these, but this death also came with a great deal of abuse and dropping. The main issue was lost key covers instead of actual defects. I imagine if we hadn't lost a few bits we'd still have the first one. Mine still works perfectly.

[1]https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/illuminated-keyboard-...

SO CLOSE... I got really excited, but that insert key. Dang. :/ Otherwise it looks like such a good option.

I don't despise, but it does get annoying in the workplace when someone next to you is smacking MX Blues all day. I have had many mechanical boards, some ergonomic and some regular layout, but I keep going back to chiclet style. I feel like I can type much faster with chiclet style boards.

I think mechanical and low-travel, which is what you like, are not mutually exclusive.

For example, MX Cherry Low has been recently developed and it's pretty similar to what you are depicting. And probably a lot more sturdy.

But you do make a good point. Some very low travel keyboards get me a few extra key-presses per minute too.

MX Cherry Low might have me try a mechanical. It looks good in videos. Was hard to find typing videos/examples, but thank you! I have a lead!

Yes, I think it's a pretty good option. Mechanical is usually associated with high-travel, high-force and relatively noisy switches. But there's so many options, you can have basically anything.

The only common denominator is, I'd say, better reliability. My MBA scissor keyboard is pretty good. But after several years of intense use most switches are literally falling apart.

> Does anyone else despise mechanical keyboards?

Some likely do, some don't.

In my case, I don't. I'm typing this right now on a Northgate OmniKey Ultra [1] that was bought circa. 1991 (sometime late 1991). I've got a second identical to it at work as well, but the second one was purchased circa. 1995. Myself, if there is anything I despise it is the low throw, chick-let style keyboards, so I'd be almost opposite you there.

The reality is, to each his own. Different people will have different opinions on mechanical vs. non-mechanical keyboards.

[1] This model here: http://www.northgate-keyboard-repair.com/ultra.jpg

It seems like you're looking for a Low Profile keyboard - have you looked at Logitech/Lenovo/etc on Amazon?

I've had times when I had both a mechanical keyboard and a low profile keyboard for use during calls when my mechanical keyboard was too loud.

I do prefer mechanical - but I have an hybrid one (that reduce the sound) and have smaller key height. I feel i kinda have best of both world.

would this be better, or worse ?

https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-holographic-keyboard.htm

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