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Comment by Kiro | Hacker News Reader

Should I order blue or brown?

Blue - different actuation points down and up. Typically better for typing. Has an audible click sound due to a plastic piece actually moving up and down to actuate the switch. Very strong tactile notification that the actuation has happened.

Brown - Same actuation point up and down. Has a tactile bump at the actuation point, but no audible click. Not as strong of a tactile sensation, since there's no moving piece to spring around on the key while traveling.

About halfway down, this page illustrates the different key types and how they work mechanically:

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-choose-the-best-mechanical-keyb...

That's a huge question.

There's plenty of youtube vids comparing the two, I think this one [1] shows the difference quite well. Both blues and browns feel very similar, but the blues are much louder. Browns are already quite loud, and IMO blues are too loud - especially if you're in the same room as others. I went for browns.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp46JeDDTCw

These keyboards are awesome but pretty loud. Be sure you don't mind people on the phone not hearing you if you're talking and typing.

Once you've typed on this thing for some time, there is no going back though (except, maybe MacBook keyboards, which are also superb)

If it's not a Cherry MX blue switch, the only sound is from the key hitting bottom. Since this is not required for key actuation, you don't have to push the keys all the way to the bottom, and can actually even add rubber bumpers[0] to the keys to reduce this noise.

[0] http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keyboard-acc...

Blues are very loud. Depending on your environment obviously. Quiet office, or personal study near a bedroom (if you share it with someone)? Stick to browns.

I like Black MX keys so I would tend toward Brown. It is very personal.

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