What is a mechanical keyboard and if it is more convenient for work and play

Learn how to construct the mechanics of why she has an army of fans, and it is worth it to buy for you.

UPD. Text updated August 22, 2019.

What is a mechanical keyboard

Some believe it fangled gimmick, although in reality such options are now much older common membrane. The progenitor of mechanical keyboards were typewriters, from which they took many of the design features.

For the work of each button corresponding to individual switches with a special mechanism, which publishes the very characteristic clicks. Mechanical keyboard is much more difficult arranged and, as a result, are much more expensive.

For high reliability, a clear response and convenience of their valued and continued to be used by professionals working with texts and code. With the development of professional gaming to fans of mechanical keyboards added a large new audience.

How does a mechanic

In membrane keyboards rather primitive design: on the pads total fee located rubber membrane with convexly domed, which is recessed by pressing and short contacts. The mechanical modifications is much more complicated and more subtle. The board has no pads, and instead, a plurality of physical switches (switches) - one for each of the keys.

Contacts within switch opens mechanically but at the expense of a metal spring button is gently returned to its original position. In this case, the switches are activated and react quickly before the key is fully "selling." The time of activation is well felt by touch, which gives better control and requires less effort when recruitment.

As you might guess, the most important component of mechanical keyboards, which distinguishes them from all others - switches. They come in three types: linear, and tactile snap.

• Soft line are pressed with the same and even pressure along the entire length of the course and are valued among gamers.
• The tactile pressing force increases closer to the time of operation and clearly there, so they are loved by those who work with texts.
• Snap are not only tactile, but also audible feedback that makes the keyboard more like a typewriter.

In addition, all switches are distinguished by the pressing force, stroke length, tactile response and sound. Due to a large variety of characteristics you can fine-tune the settings to achieve the keyboard and its specific behavior. For even more customization, you can even combine different types of switches in one keyboard.

But that's not all. Last piece design - caps (keykapy), which are placed on the switches. It is to them we push fingers. They come in different height, profile, application method, and character layout type. Based on your preferences, you can choose a thin, straight, beveled or rounded caps, and the characters in them can be laser cut, embossed plastic or coated with paint. If desired keykapy bored easily change by buying a set of others.

What are the advantages and disadvantages

Mechanical keyboards allow type faster, More accurate and more suitable for continuous operation. But, like any other devices, they also have strong and weak points.

Benefits

• Tactile feedback. The main plus of mechanical keyboards. Pressing the keys clearly felt and requires no effort. This property is difficult to overestimate when typing and during the games when you have to press the buttons quickly and often.
• Softness and smoothness. When you enter do not need to completely utaplivat buttons, enough to push them a little bit, but with some switches and does almost touch. This eliminates excessive load on the hands and reduce their fatigue.
• Registration parallel strokes. All mechanical keyboard supports simultaneous pressing of six keys, and some models are able to register an unlimited number of clicks. Ordinary users do not need it, but for gamers it is very important.
• Durability. Due to their design, quality materials and mechanical keyboard is not subject to wear. Even decades later, the keys are pressed as easily and clearly as the day of purchase.
• A lot of weight. The use of metal frames and the large number of parts makes the mechanical keyboard is quite heavy, so random shifts during operation virtually eliminated.
• Easy to clean. Thanks to the removable caps keyboard is very easy to disassemble and clean.

disadvantages

• High price. Due to expensive switches and high-quality materials in general mechanical keyboard not cheap. The cost of the basic models of famous brand starts from 6000 rubles, a more advanced version will cost 15,000 rubles and more.
• The noise from the keys. Depending on your keyboard switches the volume of published sound varies, but even the quietest switches are louder membrane counterparts.
• A lot of weight. It can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. On the one hand it is good that the keyboard does not go on the table, on the other hand - carry it with you will be problematic.

Do you need a mechanical keyboard

This question only you answer yourself. It may seem that the mechanical keyboard - a panacea, but in reality it's pretty subjective. Cheap membrane clearly inferior mechanical, but more expensive branded models provide almost the same user experience. Perhaps reseeding with a good keyboard membrane for mechanical, you do not even feel any difference.

who will approach

Mechanical options will appreciate the developers, editors, Gamers, and everyone who spends a lot of time on the computer. Also, they should pay attention to those with conventional keyboards do not last long.

This will not work

Completely useless to buy a keyboard to ordinary users, who mostly sit on the Internet and watching soap operas. If your work is not related to text and you do not pass the game on a professional level, most likely, the mechanics will be a waste of money.

What kind of keyboard you are using? Share in the comments.