5 ms·

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. F

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 first few years, but a mate insisted on having a look at it. He resoldered a corroded trace and it's been a champ ever since. Who knows when, or if, it will ever die. I've been through three mice in the same period.

skocznymroczny 6y ago
I did. I used some mechanical keyboards, could never get over the high-rise keys and long travel times. The closest I got to a perfect keyboard were low-profile blue switches. But in the end, I went back to a chiclet scissor switch keyboard (are those considered rubber domes? technically they are).
- wodenokoto 6y ago
  I had the same gripes with a mechanical keyboard. I don't get the love for the extremely long key travel (even old school rubber dome keyboards have too long travel for my taste) A good, super flat chiclet style keyboard are by far the best imho.
Cthulhu_ 6y ago
Same, I have a Filco Majestouch bought in 2011, still clicking like new. Of course, I did open it up at some point and that's not pretty. The steel plate where the keys are mounted on was actually a bit rusty; I think it was just painted and I may have scraped it while cleaning at some point, or something?
- eertami 6y ago
  Thinking about it, I honestly think my Majestouch might be the oldest thing I own. 10 years of almost daily usage and I wouldn't be surprised if it did 10 more. I did replace the keycaps with PBTs in 2015, as the stock ABS caps were fairly worn, but other than that no maintenance really.
- Ekaros 6y ago
  I should really get a new one... The spills aren't exactly the best for mx switches... The rest no problems. Ofc, I could swap the switches for second time, but getting bit lazy...
- cgh 6y ago
  I have a Majestouch 2 with Cherry Blue switches. It's loud and obnoxious, especially when meeting online as my laptop sits right next to it. I love it, so satisfying to clack away on and it is built like a tank. Edit: the only bummer is that it has one of those dumb Windows keys. And I do wish I could get this exact keyboard in an ergonomic layout.
katbyte 6y ago
+1 for a 10+ year old razor blackwidow, only considering replacing it because I want rgb lol
scaladev 6y ago
Not to rain on your parade, but 10 years is nothing. I'm still using my cheap A4Tech KV-300H bought back in early 2011 for about $15. It works just as it did the day it was bought, except for some minor cosmetic wear. It had tea, coffee, and water poured on it about a dozen times, continuing working as before after a few hours in a warm place. I really don't get the usual "get one mechanical keyboard and it'll serve you for life". This thing will surely last for at least another 5 years. It's very comfortable, I can type for hours and the wrists don't hurt. So what does it come to, about $1 per year of use? What mechanical keyboard can beat that? (I am not planing on living for 300+ years, mind you.)
- wccrawford 6y ago
  For a cheap keyboard, 10 years is forever. I was burning them out every year or 2 for a while. Then I bought a decent mechanical keyboard, and it's been a beast. No signs of aging and it's been 4 years. Dramatic improvement. His comparison wasn't between mechanical keyboards. It was from a cheap keyboard to a mechanical.
  - scaladev 6y ago
    But I am using a cheap keyboard. About 10 times cheaper than the cheapest mechanical keyboard that's decent enough to spend any money on. That's the entire point of my comment above.
    - formerly_proven 6y ago
      You can get very good mechanical keyboards for around 50 €. These will of course be made completely in China with switches from one of the 3rd party manufacturers, but most of these are still pretty solid.
- bluGill 6y ago
  If your happy with your keyboard, then I'm happy with it. I personally like the way the model-M feels (I'm now using a mechanical keyboard for noise reasons and it is not as good). I don't expect you to feel the same as me, but if you haven't seriously tried the options I expect you to be honest enough to admit that you don't have an opinion. Good keyboards are not about how long they last. They are about how your primary interface to the computer feels. How long they last is part of value, you might like something really expensive and choose to use something you like less because you don't find the other worse the cost.
jseliger 6y ago
I used a Unicomp Model M/Spacesaver for a couple years, but once I switched to an ergo keyboard I'll never go back: https://jakeseliger.com/2011/07/17/further-thoughts-on-the-kinesis-advantage-unicomp-space-saver-and-das-keyboard-two-years-later/ https://jakeseliger.com/2011/07/17/further-thoughts-on-the-k...
slibhb 6y ago
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.
- meepmorp 6y ago
  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.
- the_pwner224 6y ago
  I've used a number of mechs with various Cherry and Matias/Alps switches. They all are handily beat by an old MSI gaming laptop with a SteelSeries chiclet keyboard. The keys on that had the perfect balance of resistance, feedback, bounciness, travel distance, and tactile feeling. That laptop is now a server in a closet and I always look forward to the rare occasion where I have to physically use it. Most normal cheap chiclets are pretty bad though IMO. Older Apple ones are also pretty good. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any normal keyboards like that one - the SteelSeries keyboards you can buy all have taller keys with weird switches. And you can't reprogram them or get them in the layout you want. So I end up still using a mech with a weird form factor (designing a PCB for my next/final kb right now).
- hashkb 6y ago
  Chiclet keyboards hurt my fingers. Maybe I type too hard; but rather than correct that habit I bought a WASD with some nice cushion. Much more comfortable, and less pain.

skocznymroczny 6y ago

I did. I used some mechanical keyboards, could never get over the high-rise keys and long travel times. The closest I got to a perfect keyboard were low-profile blue switches. But in the end, I went back to a chiclet scissor switch keyboard (are those considered rubber domes? technically they are).

wodenokoto 6y ago
I had the same gripes with a mechanical keyboard. I don't get the love for the extremely long key travel (even old school rubber dome keyboards have too long travel for my taste) A good, super flat chiclet style keyboard are by far the best imho.

Cthulhu_ 6y ago

Same, I have a Filco Majestouch bought in 2011, still clicking like new. Of course, I did open it up at some point and that's not pretty. The steel plate where the keys are mounted on was actually a bit rusty; I think it was just painted and I may have scraped it while cleaning at some point, or something?

eertami 6y ago
Thinking about it, I honestly think my Majestouch might be the oldest thing I own. 10 years of almost daily usage and I wouldn't be surprised if it did 10 more. I did replace the keycaps with PBTs in 2015, as the stock ABS caps were fairly worn, but other than that no maintenance really.
Ekaros 6y ago
I should really get a new one... The spills aren't exactly the best for mx switches... The rest no problems. Ofc, I could swap the switches for second time, but getting bit lazy...
cgh 6y ago
I have a Majestouch 2 with Cherry Blue switches. It's loud and obnoxious, especially when meeting online as my laptop sits right next to it. I love it, so satisfying to clack away on and it is built like a tank. Edit: the only bummer is that it has one of those dumb Windows keys. And I do wish I could get this exact keyboard in an ergonomic layout.

katbyte 6y ago

+1 for a 10+ year old razor blackwidow, only considering replacing it because I want rgb lol

scaladev 6y ago

Not to rain on your parade, but 10 years is nothing. I'm still using my cheap A4Tech KV-300H bought back in early 2011 for about $15. It works just as it did the day it was bought, except for some minor cosmetic wear. It had tea, coffee, and water poured on it about a dozen times, continuing working as before after a few hours in a warm place. I really don't get the usual "get one mechanical keyboard and it'll serve you for life". This thing will surely last for at least another 5 years. It's very comfortable, I can type for hours and the wrists don't hurt. So what does it come to, about $1 per year of use? What mechanical keyboard can beat that? (I am not planing on living for 300+ years, mind you.)

wccrawford 6y ago
For a cheap keyboard, 10 years is forever. I was burning them out every year or 2 for a while. Then I bought a decent mechanical keyboard, and it's been a beast. No signs of aging and it's been 4 years. Dramatic improvement. His comparison wasn't between mechanical keyboards. It was from a cheap keyboard to a mechanical.
- scaladev 6y ago
  But I am using a cheap keyboard. About 10 times cheaper than the cheapest mechanical keyboard that's decent enough to spend any money on. That's the entire point of my comment above.
  - formerly_proven 6y ago
    You can get very good mechanical keyboards for around 50 €. These will of course be made completely in China with switches from one of the 3rd party manufacturers, but most of these are still pretty solid.
bluGill 6y ago
If your happy with your keyboard, then I'm happy with it. I personally like the way the model-M feels (I'm now using a mechanical keyboard for noise reasons and it is not as good). I don't expect you to feel the same as me, but if you haven't seriously tried the options I expect you to be honest enough to admit that you don't have an opinion. Good keyboards are not about how long they last. They are about how your primary interface to the computer feels. How long they last is part of value, you might like something really expensive and choose to use something you like less because you don't find the other worse the cost.

jseliger 6y ago

I used a Unicomp Model M/Spacesaver for a couple years, but once I switched to an ergo keyboard I'll never go back: https://jakeseliger.com/2011/07/17/further-thoughts-on-the-kinesis-advantage-unicomp-space-saver-and-das-keyboard-two-years-later/ https://jakeseliger.com/2011/07/17/further-thoughts-on-the-k...

slibhb 6y ago

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.

meepmorp 6y ago
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.
the_pwner224 6y ago
I've used a number of mechs with various Cherry and Matias/Alps switches. They all are handily beat by an old MSI gaming laptop with a SteelSeries chiclet keyboard. The keys on that had the perfect balance of resistance, feedback, bounciness, travel distance, and tactile feeling. That laptop is now a server in a closet and I always look forward to the rare occasion where I have to physically use it. Most normal cheap chiclets are pretty bad though IMO. Older Apple ones are also pretty good. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any normal keyboards like that one - the SteelSeries keyboards you can buy all have taller keys with weird switches. And you can't reprogram them or get them in the layout you want. So I end up still using a mech with a weird form factor (designing a PCB for my next/final kb right now).
hashkb 6y ago
Chiclet keyboards hurt my fingers. Maybe I type too hard; but rather than correct that habit I bought a WASD with some nice cushion. Much more comfortable, and less pain.