How to Choose the Right Keyboard?

In this complete guide, you will learn everything you need to know to choose the right keyboard.

Let’s get started.

What Does A Right Keyboard Mean?

The right keyboard can streamline your gameplay, increase your effectiveness and even make your gaming space look hyper futuristic. 

Most importantly, it results in positive emotions, and pleasure that fosters creative thinking.

A perfect keyboard to you means that it’s super comfortable when you spend a good deal of time with your hands on a mouse and a keyboard.

Might as well make those hours as pleasant as possible, especially now that so many of us are working from home.

With a few extras, your keyboard will make you fall in love with it.

Key Mechanism

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Keyboards have different kinds of key mechanisms or informally called switches.

It determines how typing on a keyboard feels to the user.

They also have different tactile attributes (which I will talk about later in the guide).

Mechanical Keyboards

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Mechanical keyboards are types of computer keyboards that have switches under each key.

Instead of rubber, they have a plastic switch under the key that makes the connections go through.

When you tap on a keycap (the top cap with the letter/number), you will hear or feel a distinctive ‘click’.

This is because a keyboard switch is composed of a stem that attaches to the keycap, held up by a spring.

When you tap on the keycap, the force causes the stem to go down, allowing the two electrical contacts to touch.

What are Mechanical Keyboards Good For?

Mechanical keyboards are mostly good for their:

  1. Longer Lifespan. The key switches in your mechanical keyboard last for about 10 to 15 years. They are also rated to last anywhere from 20 million to 100 million keypresses.
  2. Offer Special Features such as ‘rollover’. If keys are pressed simultaneously, rollover makes sure that every keypress is sensed.
  3. Hardly Wears Out. You can even replace any keycap if that breaks.
  4. Easier to clean the keyboard.
  5. High stability or robustness. Mechanical keyboard switches have a little weight attached to them, hence they feel more stable and in place.

What are some disadvantages of Mechanical Keyboards?

The disadvantages of Mechanical Keyboards are as follows:

  1. Mechanical Keyboards with clicky switches are loud. The noise can be distracting if, for example, you share the room with others.
  2. Higher Prices. They can feel a little more expensive than most other keyboards. Though there are exceptions.
  3. Improves typing speed or accuracy. However, it might not be the same for others.
  4. More Weight. The good point is stability. However, the weight can be a little annoying if you put it on your lap.

Membrane Keyboard

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These type of keyboards are covered by a transparent, soft plastic.

The keyboard has a flat surface printed with symbols.

Membrane keyboards have pressure pads that completes the circuits and completes the command of the given key.

What are Membrane Keyboards Good For?

Membrane keyboards are mostly good for their:

  1. Lighter weight
  2. Portability
  3. Cheap price
  4. Smoother feel
  5. Much Quieter than Mechanical keyboards
  6. Resistant against dirt and grime

What are some disadvantages of Membrane Keyboards?

  1. Shorter Lifespan
  2. Inability to allow “key rollover”

Scissor Keyboard

how to choose the right keyboard

Scissor keyboards allow for shorter key travel.

The low profile makes the key press quieter but crisp response.

What are Scissor Keyboards Good For?

Membrane keyboards are good because they:

  1. Require little force to press
  2. Resistant against debris
  3. lower-profile keyboard, hence quieter
  4. More precision

What are some disadvantages of Scissor Keyboards?

  1. Harder to clean (due to the limited movement of the keys)

Ergonomics

Ergonomic Keyboard

These are designed specifically for two reasons:

  1. To avoid carpel tunnel syndrome and repetitive stress injury
  2. To put your hands at angles that are more comfortable

The designs can range from simply changing a keyboard’s angle so that the left and right hand remain at natural positions.

Some keyboards are even designed from the simple – like padded wrist rests—to the elaborate, with keyboards that curve and slope.

Joe Warne
Joe Warne
Articles: 48

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