Under each key of such a keyboard is a full mechanical switch, or switch (from the English switch).
Switches differ in click volume, pressure and tactile response (when you feel that the key is lowered and then returned to its original position):
- linear - the most «soft», without resistance to pressing and clicking sound;
- tactile feedback switches;
- switches with tactile feedback and sound.
This is what makes mechanical keyboards different from membrane and scissor keyboards in laptops (99% of keyboards in our homes and offices), in which the core under the key presses the “bubble” on the elastic membrane and closes the contact. But the membranes wear out, so some keys may fall over time. Also on each key you need to press all the way, so that you feel the press, and the keyboard has registered it.
These keyboards are mainly manufactured in parts that are very cheap to obtain, and the materials do not correspond to the quality comparable to mechanical keyboards, which spoils "immediately." They have a confirmed click of about 000 pulses, and after that number it can fail.
Membrane Now we go to the mechanical keyboards. If you look at the animation, you will see that there is a big difference between the two types of keyboard that exist. Mechanical keyboards have higher quality in materials, and the duration of their pulsations can reach up to 1000 per key without any error. This is because they use the button instead of squeezing the membrane.
Advantages of mechanical switches:
- no need to press the keys, they quickly return to the original position, thereby increasing the printing speed;
- more accurately and faster recorded clicks;
- a much longer lifespan (manufacturers give a guarantee of 40–60 million keystrokes, whereas for good membrane keyboards this figure hardly falls to 10 million).
The most popular switches makes the German company Cherry. There are also Chinese Kailh and Gateron, Japanese Romer-G and many others on the market.
It has a path of 4 mm and 2 mm of activation, without an auditory response. However, as a black, 4 mm stroke and 2 mm activation, if this can occur, double forced click. They also sound as if they are broken, for each press you hear a very distinctive “click”. They are best written on a computer, but there is the possibility of double-clicking or triple, even if the fingers are keyed.
This is a history of obsession, an obsession with finding a legendary device: a mechanical keyboard, wireless, backlight and Spanish. During the months that we were looking for this holy grail of peripherals, we learned a few things about mechanical keyboards that might be useful to you if you are thinking about buying.
Work on a mechanical keyboard: personal experience
In the store, you don’t really try to keyboard the keyboard, for this you need to use it in “combat” conditions. The problem was that mechanical keyboards:
- cost around 4-10 thousand rubles (and above);
- have different switches under the buttons depending on the model, so for the sake of completeness it was desirable to test at least a few options.
I had to ask for help from the manufacturers. Colleagues from the companies EpicGear and RedSquare responded. I chose EpicGear's Defiant model for testing because of an interesting feature: it is a keyboard designer in which you can change switches at any time and, thus, try three types of keys in one model.
What is a mechanical keyboard and why do you want
Mechanical keyboards are not new. In the first days of the calculations, each key on the keyboard had a small independent mechanical device under it that recorded the ripple when pressed. Switch under each key on the mechanical keyboard. Each of them works independently of the others.
The production of all these drives is complex and expensive, so over time, manufacturers have developed new technologies that have replaced independent drives and sensors with a single sensitive membrane, in which each mechanical drive is replaced with a plastic spring on an electronic sensor in the Rubber Dome. This step allowed for a thinner, quieter, and cheaper keyboard, but eliminated some very interesting advantages.
Worked on it for a month. Recorded a small video, because it is very important to demonstrate the sound of clicks at different switches.
EpicGear switches use their own (EG MMS Purple, Gray and Orange) with a total stroke of 4 mm and a trip point of 1.5 mm. Unfortunately, I could not take a keyboard for testing with the most popular Cherry switches, but judging by the reviews of other authors who compared the Cherry and EpicGear switches, the latter do not have pronounced differences from Cherry, although they have their own “character” .
Durability: mechanical keyboards are designed for decades of use and millions of pulsations. In addition, since each key has an independent drive, it can be replaced if it hurts us. In mechanics, the switch of each key tells us, no doubt, whether we pressed or not. Not to mention the unmistakable sound they create, and their route, which is usually longer than any modern keyboard, and the brightest years of laptop keyboards. Accuracy: this is related to the above. They are simply faster and more stable than their membrane homonyms. Below we explain this thoroughly, but mainly consists of the ability to record several pulsations simultaneously. Personalization: do you like hard pounding your keys? Are you the one who caresses the keyboard with dazzling speed? Do you want each key to shine in a different color or do you prefer a minimalist design for your desktop? No matter how you write or play. There are so many different mechanical keyboards that it is impossible not to find one that perfectly suits your needs.
- If the membrane keyboard breaks, you need to change the entire membrane.
- On modern keyboards there is practically no touch response.
Typing is really more convenient than on a membrane keyboard. In membrane keyboards, the keys sometimes do not fully work, and you have to push harder to be sure of the result: I have such a problem with a bunch of Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V. When working with mechanics, I forgot about it.
A little about the game: the EG MMS Gray linear switches (without kickback to quickly press) are well suited for WASD, spacebar, Ctrl and Shift. Streyfitsya in shooters has become twice as convenient. Again, do not press the keys for reinsurance, as on membrane keyboards.
Switch and type specifications
Mechanical keyboards must print which full-size sensors to photograph. As soon as you test it, there is no going back. Backlit keyboard switches. We said above that on mechanical keyboards there is a switch or switch for each key. Not all of these switches are the same. There are a number of characteristics that determine how a mechanism descends when we push a finger on it.
Trigger point: the switches have a spring at a certain point, which is a mark when recording pulsation. It is not located at the bottom, as one would expect, but it is usually located halfway to the switch. Track: this is the distance from the moment when we begin to press a key until it touches the bottom of the switch. The smaller the force of actuation, the easier it will be to press the keys. The higher this number, the harder the keyboard will be and the more power it will take. It is just a matter of taste.
- The power we have to do to press the key all over.
- This force is measured in grams or centimeters.
Pros and cons of a mechanical keyboard
pros
- The assembly uses better materials. Naturally, the more expensive the keyboard, the better they are. For example, in the Defiant model, the keys are on an aluminum backing - a solid metal sheet.
- Convenience and speed of printing.
- Some people like the clicking sound: it seems like you are working on a typewriter.
- Mechanical keyboards often have key backlighting. In some models, it can be customized up to a separate color for each key.
- Mechanical keyboards often come with software: you can adjust the key backlighting, reassign functions to the keys, set the keyboard polling frequency in hertz. Although for the most part this is only interesting to professional gamers and does not affect office work.
- You can give the child to play. My daughter loves the arcade Rayman Origins, and every time she pressed on the keys on the membrane keyboard with bitterness, my heart ached. :) The mechanical keyboard is designed for increased loads.
Minuses
On many pages they sell such samples. Depending on these parts, the switch can be of three types. Touch switch: this is one in which there is a slight irregularity in the place where the action point is located. As a result, we can notice with a finger at the moment when we activate the key, as if it were a tactile response. You should get used to it, but play much faster. Knowing these characteristics, it is easier to choose which switch is best for our tastes. These are their most popular mechanical switches.
- Price. To buy a good mechanical keyboard you need to cook about 10 thousand rubles. Specifically, EpicGear Defiant costs about 9 thousand. But it should be borne in mind that in the "repair kit" only 24 interchangeable switches (three types of switches, 8 pieces each). If you want to change all the keys, you will have to buy at least 4 sets. Of the more affordable models, we can mention Red Square Old School, built on Gateron Blue switches (about 4 thousand rubles) or Lenovo Y Mechanical on Kailh Red (about 5 thousand rubles).
- Click volume. Even the quietest linear switches still emit enough audible "clack". During the day it is not very noticeable, but closer to the night, when the daytime noise subsides, it becomes noticeable. And when you work on loud blue switches, such as EG MMS Purple, Cherry MX Blue, Gateron Blue, Kailh Blue, you are likely to annoy colleagues or family. At night it’s impossible to print on them, everyone in the apartment wakes up. Although this blue switches are often considered the best for printing.
findings
All computer gadgets and furniture for work belong to one of two categories: “just performs its function” and “performs its function and makes life easier”. For example, we simply sit on a standard office chair. A chair with back support protects against osteochondrosis. Inexpensive office mouse allows you to click and drag objects. A mouse with a more ergonomic design and a high-quality sensor helps your hand to be less tired and not “stupid” when you try to aim at a specific small pixel on the screen.
Black is a hard line switch and is probably the most popular of the two. Although they are very similar, purists claim that they are of poor quality. Matthias: Matthias is a special case. What exists is clones, and Mathias is one of them. Matrix switches compatible with the Alps.
It would be a little unfair to close the review of Matthias as a simple clone. The company has significantly improved the original design of the Alps. His proposal boils down to three models, one very tactile, the other similar, but quiet and the third linear. Matyas-keyboard has a reputation for good quality. Their problem is that they are expensive, do not work with distributions in Spanish, and they are almost impossible to find for them.
I was convinced in practice that the same applies to keyboards. A more expensive model pays for itself with comfort and durability. If you find an option with an acceptable click sound and price for you personally, it will be perfect.
If you have a mechanical keyboard at home or at work, share your impressions in the comments.
Very often I came up with disputes about which keyboard is better: ordinary (membrane) or mechanical. Most of the participants in the dispute, of course, said that the usual keyboard is better, and the mechanical ones are all show-off and a waste of money (mostly people who themselves have never used expensive keyboards). I hasten to tell you what the mechanics are really good for and what distinguishes them from ordinary keyboards.
This is a hybrid switch that detects a pulsation using a capacitive spring on a rubber dome. Its keys do not cause noise when returning and have another touch. Some consider it an ideal mechanical keyboard, others condemn it as a glorified membrane keyboard.
They are no longer produced, but can be found second-hand. You will not find the keyboard more noisy and, according to some users, more satisfactory. Mechanical keyboards are made longer, and therefore it is not bad that the keys are made of more rigid plastic than regular keyboards.
Let's first understand what types are and how they differ. There are two types of keyboards: membrane and mechanical.
Membrane.
Under the keys are rubber buttons (see photo below), when pressed, they bend down and close the contact. Over time, you need to push the buttons harder, as the rubber stretches and becomes less elastic. It comes to the fact that when playing or working, the button may not respond immediately, but after a couple of seconds. In the end, the button simply stops working adequately. It is clear that this does not happen immediately, but after prolonged use (this is not even about six months). The official shelf life of this type of keyboard is approximately 5 million keystrokes.
Character writing method
This is an insulating plastic and is used in engineering. . In addition to what materials the keys are made of, you must draw different symbols on them. For this, there are several best and worst methods. Laser scraper: more durable, but has the disadvantage of less contrast between the letter and the bottom of the key, as well as less sharpness at the edges. Thermal sublimation: the dye is injected into the plastic when forming the letter. This is the most expensive and sustainable way to print characters on the letter. It consists of two forms: one below the color of the letter and the other above the groove that corresponds to the letter or pattern of the bottom. It is also used on backlit keyboards.
- Printing: This is the cheapest and worst method.
- This is mainly the gluing of small stickers with printed letters.
- They tend to fade very quickly with use.
Mechanical.
These keyboards are much more durable and more reliable. Hence the high price. The fact is that mechanical keyboards have a slightly different principle of operation. There are no rubber membranes, and there are a number of special switches. The most popular (most likely only you will meet him) is Cherry (see the photo below). Compared to the membrane keyboard, mechanical keyboards respond much faster to pressing; moreover, there is no need to press the button all the way, a light touch is enough. As a result, you can print much faster and at the same time spend less effort. Another plus mechanics - durability. Keyboards of this type will serve more than one year, while the course and reaction of the keys will absolutely not change - they will be pressed as easily as on the day of purchase.
Key location
We come to an important section. There are different types of keyboard depending on the number of keys they have and how they are located. Extended keyboards have a separate numeric keypad on the right and 104 keys. If we remove all non-negative keys, such as function keys or multimedia controls, then we have a compact 61-key keyboard.
It is sometimes called the 60% keyboard. Distribution of American and European keys. The additional three nodes contain the necessary modifiers for writing kanji. Our advice: always choose a distribution in accordance with the language that you use regularly, and leave for chickens.
A bit of theory. There is such a term Key Rollover (KRO) - this is the registration of parallel clicks. Most likely, everybody has ever encountered such a problem - if you press several keys at once, not everyone will react, perhaps not in the same order as you pressed. Mostly mechanical keyboards support 6 simultaneous keystrokes (but not all). NKRO - unlimited number of clicks, KRO - limited. These characters should be found in the description of the keyboard, if you are wondering how many clicks they simultaneously support.
In addition to canonical distributions in different languages, it is possible that the manufacturer presents its own ideas about ergonomics and changes the size of some keys for simple design issues. We will talk about this later, because it is important to customize the keyboard.
Key Muffler
Cherry button without damper and with two silencers of different hardness. Mechanical keyboards make hellish noise compared to ordinary ones. To try to calm down the anger of colleagues and partners, some users install small rubber rings under the keys to silence pressing. This is not a panacea, but it helps a little. There are silencers of different types, determined by the number and letter. The figure shows its Shore hardness. The larger the number, the harder the rubber. If they are thicker, weaken better, but also significantly reduce key movement.
Very often keyboards have tactile feedback. Those. you feel how deeply you press a key, how far away you are from your fingers and how hard you need to press. Roughly speaking, you just "feel" your keyboard. For blind typing it is very important. Needless to say, in this case, the mechanics are head and shoulders above the membrane keyboard.
Your keyboard cannot simultaneously detect multiple keys. Now, with the blank panel, hold the left and right arrow keys on the keyboard and, without releasing them at any time, try to write the next hologram phrase. As a result, most likely there was something like.
The above example is not recorded randomly. This method works well if you press one key after another, for example, when you type. However, there are cases when, if we press several keys at the same time, it may happen that they share the same coordinates, and the keyboard simply does not know what we pressed, ignoring any of the characters. Examples of combinations of three and four indistinguishable keys in a keyboard array.
Unlike conventional keyboards, a mechanical one often makes a loud clicking sound when pressed - this helps to register the pressure not only by a tactile sensation, but also by the sound. This is annoying to many, so some mechanical keyboards are also silent.
And one more difference. Mechanical keyboards are heavier than membrane ones. Due to the fact that they use heavy materials. Often the keys can be mounted on a metal plate. These materials are much more durable. It is also not a secret for anyone that real high quality gaming keyboards are always mechanical. In addition to the advantages that I have listed above, they also have a more impressive appearance and it’s a pleasure to have such a keyboard in total in a good PC.
I hope that helped to understand what is the difference between conventional and mechanical keyboards. We must not forget that for a good game you first need to have hands. But to abandon the devices that are designed to help us win is not worth it.
