4 ms·

I'm a diehard Model M guy, but it's not a mechanical key switch.

by Aloha 5y ago

jolux 5y ago
Yes it is, it’s buckling springs.
- mewse 5y ago
  Some folks like to make a technical argument that no, it's not; the buckling spring on a model m keyboard isn't what actuates the keys on the Model M and similar keyboards; instead, the springs are mounted on top of a fairly traditional keyboard membrane layer, and it's the membrane layer that acts as the "switch". So there are mechanical components and it mostly feels mechanical, but there's a membrane underneath it all that's what actually triggers the key presses. It's kind of a pedantic argument, I guess? But they do say that "technically correct is the best kind of correct", so YMMV.
  - Aloha 5y ago
    Sort of? they feel like different beasts, and both literally and functionally are different beasts. It feels very very different than a mechanical key switch, to the extent that I love Model M's, but I'm generally meh about mechanical key switches (not enough auditory or physical feedback), a really good rubber dome keyboard is preferable to me over a mechanical key switch keyboard. With a Model M, I type less harshly than on any other kind of keyboard, and thats because the keyboard gives me an auditory and physical feedback as soon as the keypress registers (back pressure rises right up to the trigger point, then it drops again after and then rises again right to the bottom out point). I regularly will bottom out a mechanical keyswitch keyboard, I never do on a Model M, and only occasionally do so on a rubber dome (it depends on the keyboard). I've used enough mechanical key switch keyboard that have issues with key switches binding up, that I dont care for them, I shouldnt need to worry about lubricating my keyboard ;-)
GekkePrutser 5y ago
Buckled spring is about as mechanical as it gets though. I really hated those back in the day because of the clangy noise and the heavy resistance. At the time I thought it was made to appeal to the tastes is mechanical typewriter users who were still very common in those days. I just had a cheap BTC foam-foil one which was really nice actually but did need a full take-apart and clean every year or so. But the touchwas so much lighter than the model Ms at my dad's work.
- Aloha 5y ago
  They feel very different than a Selectric I/II, but the Selectric III uses a similar keyboard action. A manual typewriter feels very very different (and is impossible for me to use, as someone who is a key pounder at times - like my cube mates could tell when I was writing an angry email by how my keyboard sounded, lol)

I'm a diehard Model M guy, but it's not a mechanical key switch.

by Aloha 5y ago

I'm a diehard Model M guy, but it's not a mechanical key switch.

jolux 5y ago

Yes it is, it’s buckling springs.

mewse 5y ago
Some folks like to make a technical argument that no, it's not; the buckling spring on a model m keyboard isn't what actuates the keys on the Model M and similar keyboards; instead, the springs are mounted on top of a fairly traditional keyboard membrane layer, and it's the membrane layer that acts as the "switch". So there are mechanical components and it mostly feels mechanical, but there's a membrane underneath it all that's what actually triggers the key presses. It's kind of a pedantic argument, I guess? But they do say that "technically correct is the best kind of correct", so YMMV.
- Aloha 5y ago
  Sort of? they feel like different beasts, and both literally and functionally are different beasts. It feels very very different than a mechanical key switch, to the extent that I love Model M's, but I'm generally meh about mechanical key switches (not enough auditory or physical feedback), a really good rubber dome keyboard is preferable to me over a mechanical key switch keyboard. With a Model M, I type less harshly than on any other kind of keyboard, and thats because the keyboard gives me an auditory and physical feedback as soon as the keypress registers (back pressure rises right up to the trigger point, then it drops again after and then rises again right to the bottom out point). I regularly will bottom out a mechanical keyswitch keyboard, I never do on a Model M, and only occasionally do so on a rubber dome (it depends on the keyboard). I've used enough mechanical key switch keyboard that have issues with key switches binding up, that I dont care for them, I shouldnt need to worry about lubricating my keyboard ;-)

GekkePrutser 5y ago

Buckled spring is about as mechanical as it gets though. I really hated those back in the day because of the clangy noise and the heavy resistance. At the time I thought it was made to appeal to the tastes is mechanical typewriter users who were still very common in those days. I just had a cheap BTC foam-foil one which was really nice actually but did need a full take-apart and clean every year or so. But the touchwas so much lighter than the model Ms at my dad's work.

Aloha 5y ago
They feel very different than a Selectric I/II, but the Selectric III uses a similar keyboard action. A manual typewriter feels very very different (and is impossible for me to use, as someone who is a key pounder at times - like my cube mates could tell when I was writing an angry email by how my keyboard sounded, lol)