Mechanical Keyboard , anyone?

i was wondering if anybody using mechanical keyboards?

lots of people i think still do not appreciate these keyboards and arguing that those cheap overpriced flashy rubber dome keyboards are the best for typing
the reason i create this thread is to create some awareness of these keyboards...
yesterday i disassemble my logitech media keyboard to find out about rubber dome and how it works...to my surprise the layout looks almost the same as my friends razer lycosa...my kb cost about $12 while lycosa is $80 i think? what makes the $60+ difference justifiable?

so what do you think guys?

 

I would say that 99% of the population has never used anything but a "cheap overpriced" rubber dome keyboard, which by the way, is a great combination of adjectives.

I hear 2 main arguments for mechanical keyboards - they're better built, and they offer more tactical feedback.

As to the first - a standard crappy keyboard more than outlasts a computer in reliability, and if not, a replacement is about $10.

And to the second - can you really not tell when you've pushed a key on a normal keyboard? Even on the extremely shallow throw laptop keyboards, it still has a distinct feel to it when you hit a key.

 

sorry , need to emphasize more
i mean those overpriced keyboard that costs more than $50

those keyboards that cost about $10+ i think is justifiable coz yea they are easily replaced due to their value

 

I love mechanical keyboards I dug my uncle's old IBM Model M out of the basement a few months ago...I love this thing! Too bad it's from before anti-ghosting really came around, so it's pretty useless for gaming.

As for the Lycosa vs. generic rubber dome keyboard, consider that the Lycosa has backlit keys, unlike the vast majority of "normal" keyboards, and it's wired to avoid ghosting, so that simultaneous keypresses aren't an issue, whereas they may cause problems on normal keyboards.

 

Lots of modern mechanical keyboards are listed at $50+. You may be able to find an old used one on ebay or your local garage sale for cheap, but purchasing a new mechanical keyboard won't be any cheaper than a new "rubber dome" keyboard, especially if we're looking at gaming mechanical keyboards such as the SteelSeries G7.

 

Truth, IBM Model M is the keyboard of all keyboards.

 

yea
the buckling spring technology...some model M date back to two decades ago still working flawlessly

heard that razer lycosa anti-ghosting mode only applies to some keys that is usually used for gaming thou im not really sure about that

steelseries 7G is quite same as Filco Majestouch 104-Keys with black cherry switches
only that it has an additional usb port and input output audio jacks

people said the blacks are good for gaming because it is stiff enough to prevent accidental clicks ... but in terms of typing its a no-no

my filco blue switch has come and typing this post using it....i can tell it is much nicer than my previous rubber dome keyboard...just that it is quite loud enough on a quite room

 

I agree. I love mechanical keyboards. I looked into this about a year ago and bought 2 original Model M keyboards from IBM. I love them and enjoy typing on them a lot more than any of these cheap rubber dome keyboards. Maybe to some it makes no difference(or they are unaware of it) but it makes a noticeable difference to me.

 

I like the distinct "clack" sound made by many mechanical keyboards.

 

I think the difference is, in part, due to brand. Razer is heavily marketed and you will pay a premium for having the luxury of owning a Razer branded product. But it's the same with any product though: you will pay thousands less for a Volvo XC90 than you would for an Audi Q7. It's just the nature of the beast.

The other consideration is that the Lycosa may contain features that your Logitech board doesn't have, such as a backlighted keyboard, multiple keypress functionality, a higher polling rate, and touch panel media buttons for example.

 

the backlight supposed to be pure aesthetics ... and the logitech board do have media buttons .. just lack of the polling rate

but youre correct , most people are just buying brand names here ... which is why im still conscious and not becoming fans of some gaming brands ... functionality comes first

i do know that steelseries 7G , and ABS M1 is marketed as gaming keyboards although it is not much difference because both using black switches ...
but 7G i think is one of keyboards which price is justified because thats what a REAL gaming keyboard suppose to be

 

I'm happy with my $6.99 Logitech Standard Deluxe, it's going on 1 1/2 years now no problem.

 

Comparing an entry-level keyboard with a high-end one is like comparing an entry-level optical mouse with a gaming-grade mouse. Yes, the underlying technology might be similar; but the added comfort (rubber finish keys, better keycap design, more pleasant typing feel, wrist wrest) and bells & whistles (design, backlighting, macro capability) explain the higher price.

As for mechanical keyboards, you mean the ones that are based on antiquated technology and come (for a premium) with noisier key presses, more effort to depress the keys (hello, RSI), and thick keys that get in the way of efficient touch typing?

No, thank you. Just because a mechanical keyboard is more expensive to manufacture doesn't mean it's any better.

And the way it often happens with most antiquated technology (see: vinyl lovers), some companies will even sell you an allegedly "high-quality" version of said obsolete technology at a totally outrageous price; check out the Das Keyboard -- $129, comes with nothing more than your generic '80s PC keyboard, except for the game-changing gold-plated mechanical key switches! Maybe they should consider gold-plating the underside of the keyboard, because I'm sure that will improve the typing experience even further (and they'll then come up with a fancy marketing word to sell it to unsuspecting buyers, like "improved premium gold-plated backside rigidity system makes typing an even richer experience").

 

I strongly disagree. There is a huge difference in the underlying technology between an entry level mouse versus one that is cutting edge. All we have to do is go back in history to when everyone was sporting an entry level ball mouse. When optical mice first came out, the technology was completely revolutionary... and a pretty price had to be paid to own that technology which has now completely deprecated ball mice.

If you took some time to actually familiarize and educate yourself on the finer aspects of mechanical keyboarding, you would quickly understand why they are so coveted. Suffice to say, every negative reason you gave for mechanical keyboards is completely false. Don't believe me? Check the following link out for more information:

http://www.clickykeyboards.com/

It doesn't matter if its expensive or not to make. People that enjoy typing on mechanical keyboards versus rubber dome boards are going to pay that premium, because in the end, it is worth the price to them.

Off topic, but again, purists will pay the extra money if they feel it's worth it. Music purists covet vinyl because they can discern a difference in sound quality from digital media, such as CD. It is these music lovers that can tell the difference in vinyl's sound as being more "warm" and "full" sounding than a CD.

 

You misread me; I compared an entry-level optical mouse with a gaming-grade optical mouse (MX518 for instance). What is the huge difference between an optical entry-level and gaming-grade mouse? They both use the same underlying technology for tracking, albeit the MX518 will track much better.

The point is, when comparing a cheap rubber dome keyboard vs a more expensive rubber dome keyboard, just because the underlying technology is basically the same doesn't mean that the more expensive hardware isn't worth the extra money.

And speaking of ball mice, there is an excellent parallel to draw with mechanical vs rubber dome keyboards -- do you remember how, when optical mice were introduced, many gamers swore by their ball mouse, claiming they'll never switch and explaining in great detail how the mechanical ball afforded them far greater precision for swiping? Nowadays, gamers got used to optical mice and saw the value in them, and there aren't many ball mouse proponents still around. (Though a Google search could probably find a website advocating ball mice, condescendingly claiming "real computer experts" don't use optical.)

Like when a guy ran a blind test on his audiophile friends and added cracks and pops to a digital audio CD track, and observed how his audio purist friends immediately swooned over it, explaining how the audio sounded undoubtedly "richer" and "warmer."

Just goes to prove that just because there's a market for it (see: die-hard vinyl fans, or $100 Monster cables advocates) doesn't mean a product is worth the price. But we're steering off-topic, I agree.

How exactly is a keyboard with greater and louder key travel requiring a bigger effort to depress a key somehow inherently better than a modern low-profile keyboard like the OP claims? I find rubber dome keyboards to be infinitely more comfortable and faster to type on. In my opinion, rubber dome keyboards are an evolution over the old mechanical keyboards, that I find to be bulky and noisy; on top of that I find them to slow my typing down and increase typing fatigue.

So, you could say that it is an acquired taste, I suppose. I would absolutely agree. But it is incorrect to state that rubber-dome keyboards are somehow the cheap-o models of the keyboard world, pushed down the throat of unsuspecting customers, and inherently worse than mechanical keyboards.

Still, I'd recommend you to give a good rubber dome keyboard a try for, say, a week or two, and see what comes of it. Then switch back to your mechanical keyboard. You might be in for a shock.

 

I disagree with you on this point. I have been(and am still using) rubber dome keyboards but have mechanical keyboards for my personal machines. There is a noticeable quality difference between the mechanical keyboards and the rubber dome ones. I have used expensive keyboards like the Logitech 5500 keyboard and cheap ones like the Dell one I am using and I hate them. They feel mushy and the ergonomics of the keys stink(ex: some of the keys are convex, causing my fingers to slip off of them and makes me hit wrong keys). They just overall feel cheap to me. With my Model M I actual enjoy typing and want to type more. It is very solid(doesn't move all around my desk when I type on it) and the keys are very comfortable.
I can see certain things people may not like about the old mechanical keyboards such as the noise, weight, size and the PS2 interface(they don't bother me personally). If I didn't like it, I would have definitely sold it. I don't just keep stuff cause others think it is cool or like it. If it really felt awful I would have gone back to my rubber dome keyboard. Just because something is old doesn't mean it is better and just because something is new doesn't mean it is innovative. As far as the keyboard is concerned I feel the modern ones are a step back(except for the wireless technology since it is so helpful), but feel the modern mice are a large step forward.

 

How do you feel about the keyboard on your ThinkPad T61, which is generally regarded as a high-quality scissor-switch rubber dome keyboard?

 

I grew up with a IBM Model M, which sadly got trashed before I could ever have my say. It's the feeling of a definite breaking point that attracts me to these kinds of keyboards, a point where I know I've pressed the key. I even prefer laptop scissor switch keyboards since they have the sudden break and impact at the end. Desktop rubber dome keyboards just don't have that noticeable breaking point that I like so much. Never ever got used to my brother's G15.

 

you might want to check geekhack.com , the technology of mechanical also evolved and it doesnt simply dies like when optical mouse succeeded mechanical mouse ... it is proven that mechanical keyboard technology is not obsolete

the thing is that , have you really done your research?
if rubber domes are better than mechanical ones you might want to think of why steelseries used that in their 7G

and im not really comparing $9.95 keyboards with mechanical ones ... but those $70++ that still use rubber dome keyboards ...

 

I like my Model M keyboards. Never used any newer mechanical keyboards; Model M is just fine by me!

 

Using a 1988 Model M on my desktop as well. Works perfectly with Windows 7 and all. Not only are they quality keyboards, they're pretty damn cheap as well if you get 'em used. I'm actually looking for the even older PC/AT 84-key IBM keyboards, but I haven't found anything that's not $200...

 

I have since sold my T61p. I liked the keyboard and found it to be the best laptop keyboard I have used(I have not used the older Thinkpad keyboards), but definitely not as nice as my Model M.