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Good start, but your are missing a few things too. For example the culture of mechanical keyboards, or more importantly how that affects buying them for the fi

Good start, but your are missing a few things too. For example the culture of mechanical keyboards, or more importantly how that affects buying them for the first time and, when the time eventually comes, replacements. Want to be able to replace your keyboard, or get another one for the office easily? Buy a Cherry G80-3000. Want to get used to something only to find it’s incredibly hard to find a second one that matches your muscle memory? Get an RGB Vortex racer 3 pro or an AKKO3068 with a custom run of SA double shot hello sushi keycaps in limited edition dat boi green. Want something that you can place in a backpack and not cry about when one of the 1000 tiny little bits of plastic — all of which are critical to the keyboard operation — snaps off as you pull it out? Keychron K1 or one of its siblings. (And this isn’t a slur on the K1’s build quality — all keyboards are, by their nature, delicate devices.) I own all of the above and more. That’s not a flex. I’m an idiot. If I did it all again I’d buy a six pack of K1s and stop there. Unrelated: can I borrow some money? (You have a typo fyi: “there are mainly four types of switches: black, brown, green, and brown”.)

jabroni_salad 6y ago
Some things in favor of the keychron: 1. Wireless is kind of a rarity in the MKB landscape 2. It's one of the more inexpensive hot-swappable boards out there, which is a stellar feature if you want to try different switches but dont want to buy an entire new keyboard.
- Jedd 6y ago
  Can confirm - Keychron didn't even come up on my initial searches a few years ago for mechanical + wireless, and I ended up with a couple (work, home) of the Logitech G613. These are good, solid devices, with a nice response - however both are starting to give me double characters on some keys. I'm wary about popping the tops on the keys, and so far some good thumps / blowing out around the affected keys has resolved the problems. However, reviews around the net suggest this is a problem that tends to get worse with this model. The Keychron is now on my shortlist once these Logitechs are unusable.
  - thrwaeasddsaf 6y ago
    All mechanical switches are prone to bounce and oxidation. You can try contact cleaner or switch replacement (some keyboards have slotted switches that can be replaced without soldering). Consider next a keyboard with programmable firmware (QMK) so you can adjust and mitigate bounce in software.
    - Jedd 6y ago
      Noted, thank you - but a quick search suggests Keychron isn't in that category. On the other hand, they have replaceable caps that are (individually) quite cheap. I'm 6-12 months away from a follow-up purchase, but will tag QMK options for the next search.
- vertis 6y ago
  I was not even remotely convinced that I would find a mechanical keyboard to be a superior option 6 months ago. But I was frustrated after my Apple Magic Keyboard 2 died. It was probably even under warranty, but mid-pandemic that was unapproachable. A friend recommended Keychron. After 6 months of using the K1, I'm not sure I could ever go back. I've bought a case for carrying it around, because as another comment mentions the keycaps are prone to coming off in my bag. I have the red low-profile switches, and they're not as quiet as a membrane keyboard, but they're not loud enough to annoy the only other person I share a work/living space with, so that's all that matters. The wireless is definitely an important feature for me as well. My Macbook Pro is already a dongle party without needing to plug a keyboard in as well. It's not as low-profile as the Magic Keyboard 2, but it's a tradeoff that I'm prepared to accept. It's well and truly earned it's place in my backpack.
- vladvasiliu 6y ago
  I have K2 which I bought for the form factor (75%, 84 key, laptop-like, etc). It works fairly well for me, but I find it needs a wrist rest. However, I would love for there to be a "autonomous" wireless option. Bluetooth works OK on both my MBP and Linux laptop. But I can't use it fully under Linux, since I have full-disk encryption and so need a keyboard during the early boot stages. Also, my main computer doesn't have Bluetooth... All in all I'm not disappointed, I wasn't looking for a wireless keyboard and knew it was bluetooth only.
aidenn0 6y ago
Wow; I hadn't seen keychron before, but I just may get a C1. I've been looking to switch to a tenkeyless. Is it really $50 for a hotswap with double shot keycaps and a set of switches?
m_eiman 6y ago
I’m waiting for the Nordic layout K1 (brown switches) to appear to try a mechanical keyboard for the first time, good to hear their build quality is acceptable (been reading some online reviews, and some people seem to have issues with Keychron boards).
trurl42 6y ago
Want to be able to replace your keyboard, or get another one for the office easily? Buy a Cherry G80-3000. The G80-3000 comes without NKRO, a very bendable case and PCB-mounted rather than plate-mounted switches. A Leopold (for example) is much more pleasant to use and not so exotic that it's impossible to obtain a replacement.
BoorishBears 6y ago
In my opinion any modern guide that frames switches in terms of Cherry MX flavors is doing people a disservice. Double so for calling them "the gold standard"... Gone are the days of Cherry having the only quality switches, now they're just mediocre slightly over-expensive switches. Stuff like T1s, anything Gazzew puts out, etc. are not much more (or even cheaper) but give a much more enjoyable experience. Actuation point, tactile bump, and spring weight are three very easy to explain concepts that let someone go out and find a switch that's perfect for them
fifteenforty 6y ago
Can you suggest one that might pair well with the Contour RollerMouse Red? I both love and hate this mouse. It’s fixed my RSI but it has been unreliable and limited keyboard choices. Also, I can hear coil whine when I use it wirelessly!

jabroni_salad 6y ago

Some things in favor of the keychron: 1. Wireless is kind of a rarity in the MKB landscape 2. It's one of the more inexpensive hot-swappable boards out there, which is a stellar feature if you want to try different switches but dont want to buy an entire new keyboard.

Jedd 6y ago
Can confirm - Keychron didn't even come up on my initial searches a few years ago for mechanical + wireless, and I ended up with a couple (work, home) of the Logitech G613. These are good, solid devices, with a nice response - however both are starting to give me double characters on some keys. I'm wary about popping the tops on the keys, and so far some good thumps / blowing out around the affected keys has resolved the problems. However, reviews around the net suggest this is a problem that tends to get worse with this model. The Keychron is now on my shortlist once these Logitechs are unusable.
- thrwaeasddsaf 6y ago
  All mechanical switches are prone to bounce and oxidation. You can try contact cleaner or switch replacement (some keyboards have slotted switches that can be replaced without soldering). Consider next a keyboard with programmable firmware (QMK) so you can adjust and mitigate bounce in software.
  - Jedd 6y ago
    Noted, thank you - but a quick search suggests Keychron isn't in that category. On the other hand, they have replaceable caps that are (individually) quite cheap. I'm 6-12 months away from a follow-up purchase, but will tag QMK options for the next search.
vertis 6y ago
I was not even remotely convinced that I would find a mechanical keyboard to be a superior option 6 months ago. But I was frustrated after my Apple Magic Keyboard 2 died. It was probably even under warranty, but mid-pandemic that was unapproachable. A friend recommended Keychron. After 6 months of using the K1, I'm not sure I could ever go back. I've bought a case for carrying it around, because as another comment mentions the keycaps are prone to coming off in my bag. I have the red low-profile switches, and they're not as quiet as a membrane keyboard, but they're not loud enough to annoy the only other person I share a work/living space with, so that's all that matters. The wireless is definitely an important feature for me as well. My Macbook Pro is already a dongle party without needing to plug a keyboard in as well. It's not as low-profile as the Magic Keyboard 2, but it's a tradeoff that I'm prepared to accept. It's well and truly earned it's place in my backpack.
vladvasiliu 6y ago
I have K2 which I bought for the form factor (75%, 84 key, laptop-like, etc). It works fairly well for me, but I find it needs a wrist rest. However, I would love for there to be a "autonomous" wireless option. Bluetooth works OK on both my MBP and Linux laptop. But I can't use it fully under Linux, since I have full-disk encryption and so need a keyboard during the early boot stages. Also, my main computer doesn't have Bluetooth... All in all I'm not disappointed, I wasn't looking for a wireless keyboard and knew it was bluetooth only.

aidenn0 6y ago

Wow; I hadn't seen keychron before, but I just may get a C1. I've been looking to switch to a tenkeyless. Is it really $50 for a hotswap with double shot keycaps and a set of switches?

m_eiman 6y ago

I’m waiting for the Nordic layout K1 (brown switches) to appear to try a mechanical keyboard for the first time, good to hear their build quality is acceptable (been reading some online reviews, and some people seem to have issues with Keychron boards).

trurl42 6y ago

Want to be able to replace your keyboard, or get another one for the office easily? Buy a Cherry G80-3000. The G80-3000 comes without NKRO, a very bendable case and PCB-mounted rather than plate-mounted switches. A Leopold (for example) is much more pleasant to use and not so exotic that it's impossible to obtain a replacement.

BoorishBears 6y ago

In my opinion any modern guide that frames switches in terms of Cherry MX flavors is doing people a disservice. Double so for calling them "the gold standard"... Gone are the days of Cherry having the only quality switches, now they're just mediocre slightly over-expensive switches. Stuff like T1s, anything Gazzew puts out, etc. are not much more (or even cheaper) but give a much more enjoyable experience. Actuation point, tactile bump, and spring weight are three very easy to explain concepts that let someone go out and find a switch that's perfect for them

fifteenforty 6y ago

Can you suggest one that might pair well with the Contour RollerMouse Red? I both love and hate this mouse. It’s fixed my RSI but it has been unreliable and limited keyboard choices. Also, I can hear coil whine when I use it wirelessly!