Mechanical vs Membrane keyboard
A mechanical keyboard uses physical switches under the keys to determine when someone has actually pressed in a key. Whereas an ordinary keyboard is a different setup. In this article, I will discuss the differences and talk about how to choose a keyboard. A keyboard and a mouse are very important devices when interacting with your computer. Apart from typing, a keyboard can perform other functions using its different keys. Modern keyboards are a direct inheritance from the typewriter which was developed as early as 1878. QWERTY still remains the popular keyboard layout since it is considered to be more efficient than the Dvorak layout which was patented in the year 1936. Selecting the right keyboard is very important when designing your computer workstation because you don’t want to have your hands and wrist aching or do your work uncomfortably.
A mechanical keyboard uses a mechanical switch that is placed under every key to record each keystroke that you make. This physical switch is triggered when you press the key before bouncing back quickly to return the key to its original position. An ordinary PC keyboard, on the other hand, uses a rubber dome and membrane to allow for the depression and recording of the key. It is a common type of keyboard since it is easy and cheap to produce.
Typing experience
An ordinary keyboard may have a near same typing experience with the mechanical keyboard, but it is the audible click of an actuated button that sets the mechanical keyboard apart. This feature ensures that you don’t keep pressing down the key longer than it is needed as opposed to annoying anyone who is in the room. With an ordinary computer, there is a high tendency of your hands getting tired since you will use more force every time that you push the keys more than necessary. Mechanical keyboards also allow you to press more keys simultaneously compared to an ordinary membrane keyboard. This means that you won’t have a problem using a mechanical keyboard for a good gaming experience.
Mechanical keyboards allow you to type more quickly, accurately and lightly compared to an ordinary PC keyboard. It is also durable, customizable, easy to maintain and allows you to press more keys simultaneously. It is however expensive and loud compared to an ordinary keyboard which is let down by its mushy feels and quick wear out. Therefore, choose a mechanical keyboard if you intend to use it for long periods of time and an ordinary keyboard if you will use it for light work.
Durability
When going through the best buy mechanical keyboard reviews, the main concern is usually to get a good keyboard that lasts longer especially if you will be using it regularly. Mechanical keyboards are long lasting despite the manufacturer since they use mechanical switches that are certified to be durable. They are highly resistant to repetitive strokes since they use metal on metal contact points with the ability to withstand over 50 million key presses compared to only 10 million for membrane keyboards. Collapsed rubber domes and sticky keys make ordinary keyboards to deteriorate easily. Keyboards are prone to dust, spillage, and dirt and they need to be cleaned and maintained from time to time. While ordinary keyboards are highly susceptible to dirt due to the sticky rubber, they are very problematic to remove and clean compared to mechanical keyboards. Mechanical keyboards are therefore easy to maintain given that it takes no time to separate, clean and reattach the self-contained switches and the flat plastic.
Feel
The most important aspect to look at when choosing a keyboard is the feel and key resistance. If you value the solid ‘clickity’ click that comes with a mechanical keyboard, then you may not like the mushy and spongy feel of the ordinary keyboard. This is because the rubber dome underneath the ordinary keyboard keys offers a nonlinear resistance to pressure giving it a wobbly feel. The problem with mechanical keys is the audible sound that they produce when clicked although there are people who find this feeling pleasurable.
If you're on an budget and don't care so much on the keyboard perform, typing at home/office for most of time or even for an entry-level gaming battle, you could save much of money for a membrane keyboard which suits most of your needs. If you're a PC power user and you're willing to spend a few hundred dollars on a high-end CPU or graphics card, you may find that moving up from your old rubber-switch keyboard to a nice mechanical model could make your computing more enjoyable overall.