5 ms·

This is quite cool, but I really don't understand some people's affinity toward buckling spring switches, they're loud and odd feeling, not nearly as consistent

This is quite cool, but I really don't understand some people's affinity toward buckling spring switches, they're loud and odd feeling, not nearly as consistent as anything cherry or their alternatives are offering.

geophile 3y ago
I really don't understand some people's affinity toward Cherry and similar keys, they're quiet and odd feeling.
TillE 3y ago
I think a lot of nostalgia built up in that ~10 year period where it was really difficult to find a new mechanical keyboard, so the old Model M (and to a lesser extent the Apple Extended Keyboard) developed something of a cult following. Personally I've settled on Kailh BOX White switches as pleasantly clicky without too much resistance.
- doublepg23 3y ago
  My model Ms are older than me, I don't think it's nostalgia.
  - AshamedCaptain 3y ago
    Considering that most people who used model Ms in the era just threw them away (I remember the days you'd find them on resale bins by the kilo), I don't know what it is.
lazzlazzlazz 3y ago
I have one of these, having never used one growing up (so lacking the nostalgia) and I love the thing. To this day, no other keyboard can compete in terms of synchronizing the tactile "click" and the onscreen response. The only reason I don't use it more widely is because it's so loud and large.
- devin 3y ago
  Topre switches give you a spring and a dome. I prefer it and used to have a unicomp that was my daily driver for years.
neom 3y ago
For me, it's straight nostalgia, although I do think they feel great. I learned to type on a 5150, so it feels very "right" for me. I'd imagine a lot of folks who grew up with green screens and literal floppy disks love them. I don't always use a mechanical keyboard, but I've always owned one.
atrettel 3y ago
I agree that buckling springs are a bit of an acquired taste nowadays given how niche they are. I like them a lot, but I grew up typing on a Model M, so maybe I'm just acclimated to them. Beyond nostalgia, I like buckling springs because they provide clear feedback about when a key actuates. Both the click and the "tactile bump" you feel occur when the key actuates. This is difficult to achieve and many keyboards (including those using Cherry switches) do not have this property.
nubinetwork 3y ago
I remember using these in the 90s and my hands would feel numb after an hour. No issues using modern keyboards, but the constant boing from typing is still firmly stuck in my head.
michaelcampbell 3y ago
> but I really don't understand some people's affinity toward buckling spring switches... > they're loud and odd feeling, you answered your own question. One person's hatred is another's love.
tiltowait 3y ago
I find MX-style switches (Cherry in particular, but not limited to them) to be very inconsistent. This is especially true of clicky switches like blues, but even linears can be all over the place. I think the most consistent switches I've found are Topre, Matias Tactile Click, and maybe beamspring (I say "maybe" because I've only used one such keyboard).

geophile 3y ago

I really don't understand some people's affinity toward Cherry and similar keys, they're quiet and odd feeling.

TillE 3y ago

I think a lot of nostalgia built up in that ~10 year period where it was really difficult to find a new mechanical keyboard, so the old Model M (and to a lesser extent the Apple Extended Keyboard) developed something of a cult following. Personally I've settled on Kailh BOX White switches as pleasantly clicky without too much resistance.

doublepg23 3y ago
My model Ms are older than me, I don't think it's nostalgia.
- AshamedCaptain 3y ago
  Considering that most people who used model Ms in the era just threw them away (I remember the days you'd find them on resale bins by the kilo), I don't know what it is.

lazzlazzlazz 3y ago

I have one of these, having never used one growing up (so lacking the nostalgia) and I love the thing. To this day, no other keyboard can compete in terms of synchronizing the tactile "click" and the onscreen response. The only reason I don't use it more widely is because it's so loud and large.

devin 3y ago
Topre switches give you a spring and a dome. I prefer it and used to have a unicomp that was my daily driver for years.

neom 3y ago

For me, it's straight nostalgia, although I do think they feel great. I learned to type on a 5150, so it feels very "right" for me. I'd imagine a lot of folks who grew up with green screens and literal floppy disks love them. I don't always use a mechanical keyboard, but I've always owned one.

atrettel 3y ago

I agree that buckling springs are a bit of an acquired taste nowadays given how niche they are. I like them a lot, but I grew up typing on a Model M, so maybe I'm just acclimated to them. Beyond nostalgia, I like buckling springs because they provide clear feedback about when a key actuates. Both the click and the "tactile bump" you feel occur when the key actuates. This is difficult to achieve and many keyboards (including those using Cherry switches) do not have this property.

nubinetwork 3y ago

I remember using these in the 90s and my hands would feel numb after an hour. No issues using modern keyboards, but the constant boing from typing is still firmly stuck in my head.

michaelcampbell 3y ago

> but I really don't understand some people's affinity toward buckling spring switches... > they're loud and odd feeling, you answered your own question. One person's hatred is another's love.

tiltowait 3y ago

I find MX-style switches (Cherry in particular, but not limited to them) to be very inconsistent. This is especially true of clicky switches like blues, but even linears can be all over the place. I think the most consistent switches I've found are Topre, Matias Tactile Click, and maybe beamspring (I say "maybe" because I've only used one such keyboard).