Mechanical Keyboards

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So... is the IBM Model M the greatest keyboard ever created? Or has that phase passed now? (self.mechanical_keyboards)

submitted 4 days ago by 0101100101 to c/mechanical_keyboards

12 comments fedilink hide all child comments

They're noisy, clacky, impossible to use in an office, in your house without headphones, perhaps even annoying neighbours, need effort to make them work on USB, so why do people love them so much?

I've tested two. Didn't like them because sometimes if you don't hit the keys head on, they move a bit to the side with the spring and that's jarring on your fingers.

Where do you stand on the debate?

Also, first post, so what better a topic!

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago (3 children)

I had one when the first came out. They're not actually good unless you have gorilla hands. It's like the vinyl of PC hardware. I later replaced my M with a mechanical Northgate that had a much better feel. Plus function keys on the side which was more familiar for me because I still used VT terminals at school.

But for me the real revolution was the original MS Natural Keyboard. It saved me from carpal tunnel that plagued the generation that grew up with computers. Now kids want to repeat their parents mistakes.

However I'm still guilty of buying many mechanical keyboards because they look so cool.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

I recently purchased https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/keyboards/k860-split-ergonomic.html because I have been programming for >20 years and I just accepted pain in both my hands, like the idiot I am, all along using mechanical keyboards. After using this keyboard for 1 day I noticed the pain was gone, after a week I purchased another one just so I could have one at home and one at work. Been using it for a month now and the difference is night and day. Rarely do I experience pain in my hands. I have the keyboard set to the highest reverse tilt FYI.

[–] Deebster 4 points 4 days ago

I killed my MS Natural Ergonomic 4000 by fumbling half a cup of tea into it. I miss having the scroll/zoom in the centre, since I had to replace with the new Microsoft LXM-00004 model (with the stupid Office button) and that's just got dead space there. Some customisable buttons would be perfect.

I've seen some ergonomic mechanical custom setups, but I've never been brave enough to start down that rabbit hole.

[–] 0101100101 1 points 4 days ago (2 children)

thoughts on kinesis advantage?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

Never tried one but the concave is off-putting given that the MS Natural that I like is convex.

[–] SuperNerd 1 points 4 days ago

Love mine, been using these for over 20 years and am on my 4th.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I got one for my wife and she loves it.

I almost regret it as it's figuring carcophonous

[–] 0101100101 1 points 3 days ago

I got one for my wife and she loves it.

Sounds like decent grounds for a divoce

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I like them the best. Nothing has yet to beat buckling springs for switches and the caps and case of a model M are pretty damn good too. Other than the plastic rivets they are damn near perfect. A lot of modern keyboards have tight small metal cases that don't sound nearly as nice as the one on the model M. That being said, if you don't love them then that is ok too.

[–] 0101100101 1 points 4 days ago

case of a model M

I'm absolutely confused as to why not other manufacturer has adopted a little lip at the top of the keyboard above either the number or F keys to rest a pen. It was made in the days when scientists had their pen in one hand, log book on the desk and keyboard in the other hand. A place to rest the pen was necessary. It's 'still important today!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

Has the form factor of keyboard layout upgraded since then? Yes absolutely

Have we found a more satisfying way to type then buckling springs? No. They are still absolutely the best tactile feedback typing experience I've ever found.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

Definitely outclassed by modern tech, switches have advanced a lot, you can find whatever you're looking for these days