Mechanical Keyboard For Macheavenlyboard

What is a “mechanical” keyboard and what is different about it that sets it apart from the $10 keyboard that you’ve been using? How are different mechanical keyboards different? Should you buy one? Great questions, with somewhat tricky answers.

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What makes a keyboard “mechanical”?

Most keyboards you encounter nowadays are rubber-dome or membrane keyboards. The membrane is underneath each key, so when you press the key down, the membrane depresses and makes contact with another membrane on the base of the keyboard. When these membranes contact, the keyboard gets a signal that a key has been pressed and sends that information to the computer.

Now, the difference between that and a mechanical keyboard, is that instead of a membrane being depressed, a key on a mechanical keyboard depresses a physical switch, and when that switch is pressed, a signal gets sent to the computer.

The main difference between these types of keyboards, as you can tell, is the physical switch being depressed vs. the membranes contacting each other that tells the computer when a key has been pressed.

For the most part, nearly all rubber-dome keyboards feel the same, and give little tactile feedback, that is, you don’t know how exactly how hard you have to press a key for it to register on your computer. For mechanical keyboards, there are different mechanical key switches that all feel different, and give different levels of tactile feedback. When you feel the tactile feedback on a mechanical keyboard, you know you’ve registered a keypress on the computer.

Cherry MX mechanical switches:

Nearly all mechanical keyboards use switches made by Cherry, and they are typically denoted by the color of the switch. The most common switches are Blue, Green, Brown, Clear, Black, and Red. Switches have different levels of force, measured in grams (g), needed to depress the key, as well as different levels of tactile feedback that they give. Some switches give strong tactile and audible feedback for keypresses, while others give almost none unless the key is pressed all the way in.

Cherry MX Blue (Tactile Click)

If you’re an oldschool computer user, MX Blue switches may remind you of the clicky keyboards from the 1980’s. The blue switch has both strong tactile feedback and a loud “click” when you activate the key, making it a quite popular choice for typists, however, the loud clickiness makes it somewhat of a nuisance in workplaces with shared spaces. It has an actuation force of 50g, making it somewhat of a stiff switch.

Cherry MX Green (Tactile Click)

Green switches are very similar to Blue switches, but have a much higher actuation force, sitting at 70g. This makes them much stiffer than blue switches. Greens still have the loud click and tactile feedback similar to blues.

Cherry MX Brown (Tactile Bump)

The MX Brown switches have a softer tactile feedback than MX Blue switches, and no loud click. With the tactile feedback and no loud click, they are often considered a middleground between the Blue switches and the Black switches, and provide a option for both typing and gaming. Brown switches have an actuation force of 45g, making them one of the lighter switches.

Cherry MX Clear (Tactile Bump)

MX Clear switches are similar to Brown switches, with a stronger actuation force (65g) and a slightly stronger tactile click. Again, these are a good middle ground switches for both gaming and typing, and are a good choice if you like a stiffer key.

Cherry MX Black (Linear)

A big difference between tactile switches mentioned above and linear switches such as the Black and Red switches is that with linear switches, there is no tactile feedback until the key is pressed all the way down (called “bottoming out”). For all other switches so far, you have tactile feedback telling you when your keypress is registered on the computer. With Black and Red switches however, the keypress can register without any tactile feedback.
Black switches have a high actuation force of 60g, making stray keypresses less likely. Black switches are commonly used by gamers who need accurate keypresses.

Cherry MX Red (Linear)

MX Red switches are very similar to Black switches, but with a lower actuation force, sitting at 45g. These switches are smooth all the way with no tactile bump or click, other than when it bottoms out. These switches are commonly used by gamers who need fast, rapid keypresses.

Should you switch to a mechanical keyboard?

Mechanical keyboards are quality products that last longer than normal membrane or rubber-dome keyboards, and the build quality is reflected in the price. Many keyboards will run you upwards of $100, but for most people, that price is well justified. So, should you get one? The answer to that question really depends on your personal preference and personal experience. Reading about all these different switches really means nothing until you try typing on a mechanical keyboard. There is a huge difference between looking at moving pictures about what the switches do and actually feeling what it’s like to type or game on one. The bottom line is, go somewhere you can try out different keyboards with different switches, and see which one you like. Everybody’s preferences are different when it comes to typing, and certain keyboards may fit yours better than others.

Is a mechanical keyboard essential to your workflow? Probably not. You can get your typing tasks done with any old keyboard. But if you’re looking for a comfortable, precise, and satisfying typing experience, nothing beats a mechanical keyboard.

Why Use a Mechanical Keyboard?

If you have a job that demands a ton of time typing — web development, web design, IT, and journalism are some professions that fit the bill — investing in a high-quality keyboard can lead to a more productive and enjoyable work experience.

I’ve used many keyboards in the past: Generic $9.99 replacement keyboards, stock keyboards that come free with a new desktop PC, high-end gaming keyboards, laptop keyboards, ultra-portable wireless keyboards, you name it. A mechanical keyboard has been my preference for the past three years. Here are some reasons why:

Delight: Mechanical keyboards provide you with a fantastic typing experience. Each keystroke feels gratifying and authoritative, unlike on a common dome-switch keyboard, which feels mushy. I sit in front of the computer 10 to 12 hours a day, so putting money into my hardware goes a long way towards improved comfort and productivity.
Speed and precision: Accentuating a key in a mechanical keyboard results in some form of tactile feedback, telling you that you’ve pressed the key successfully. Also, unlike dome-switch keyboards, you don’t need to press a key all the way down (called “bottoming out”) in order for your keystroke to register. This results in increased typing speed and fewer typos, especially when you’re touch-typing.
Build quality: Good mechanical keyboards are sturdy and durable, being able to bear the brunt of your keystrokes for years without any degradation to your typing experience. With dome-switch keyboards, which rely on a soft rubber or silicone membrane, the typing experience may gradually change the older the keyboard gets.

Once you start using a mechanical keyboard, it will be hard to switch back to an ordinary keyboard. I use a laptop as my main work machine, but I have a mechanical keyboard hooked up to it 99% of the time. Also, after three years of hard use, my go-to mechanical keyboard still looks and feels exactly the same as the day I got it.

Lifehacker has a good intro to mechanical keyboards that you should read if you’re new to the keyboard technology.

Drawbacks of Using a Mechanical Keyboard

Mechanical keyboards aren’t perfect. Here are some reasons that might make you think twice about using one:

Cost: A good mechanical keyboard will set you back $80 to $300, making them a great deal more expensive than your run-of-the-mill keyboards. A lot of my recommendations in this article are in the $100 to $160 range, and three of them are over $200.
Noise: You have to be careful about which type of mechanical keyboard switch you go with if you’re concerned about noise. Mechanical keyboards are notorious for making a racket. The noise level will be a key factor for you if you work in an open office space. Watch this video on the Techquickie YouTube channel titled Mechanical Keyboard Switches as Fast As Possible to help you make an informed choice. For a more detailed guide, see the Keyboard Switch guides on Reddit.
Bulk: Mechanical keyboards are hefty. They’re generally bigger and heavier compared to normal keyboards.
Wires: Most of the good mechanical keyboards in the market are wired. Only one mechanical keyboard on this list is wireless.
Not designed for portability: Because of the size, weight, and wires of a typical mechanical keyboard, they’re not easy to lug around. You won’t be able to chuck them into your laptop bag as easily as portable wireless keyboards. If you’re always on the go, often working in coffee shops with tiny tables, a mechanical keyboard may not be the best option for you.

The Best Mechanical Keyboards for Web Professionals

The technology in mechanical keyboards is old. It resurged in popularity because of computer gaming. Mechanical keyboards offer gamers better keystroke precision and speed, and the durability required to withstand the wear-and-tear that comes with marathon gaming sessions.

But modern mechanical keyboards aren’t just for gamers. They’re also great tools for coders, IT professionals, designers, writers, journalists, and others who do copious amounts of computer work.

After a ton of research — hitting up review sites and tech publications, mechanical keyboard forums, articles, and so forth — I managed to find ten mechanical keyboards that are highly regarded by the Internet community. Originally, I did this research for myself because I’ve been desiring to add another mechanical keyboard to my collection. I figured I might as well share my findings, in the hopes that doing so might help someone out.

Aesthetically, my picks are fitting in professional environments, so don’t expect any multi-colored/rainbow backlighting, LED displays, and special keys for your macros. My mechanical keyboard recommendations are elegantly simple, reflecting my personal preference for simple, functional aesthetics and my needs as a Web professional.

Note: Some of the links below use our Amazon Associate links. This means we’ll get a small commission if you buy a product through those links. Also, the prices stated below are based off the current prices around the time this article was published. Actual prices may be different from what’s stated in this article.

Without further ado, here are what I consider to be the best mechanical keyboards for professionals:

1. Das Keyboard

Source of photo: daskeyboard.com

The Das Keyboard is probably the most recognizable mechanical keyboard on the market.

Years ago, they received a lot of press from tech publications such as Tom’s Hardware (with an article titled Possibly One of the Best Keyboards Ever), TechCrunch, and CNET partly because of the novelty of the Das Keyboard Ultimate models, which don’t have any labeling on their keycaps:

Source of photo: daskeyboard.com

The mechanical keyboards are designed by Metadot Corporation, a Texas-based open source software company. The creators of the keyboard claim that the gold-plated mechanical switches in the Das Keyboard can handle up to 50 million keystrokes!

2. CODE Mechanical Keyboard

Source of photo: wasdkeyboards.com

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The CODE keyboard is a series of mechanical keyboards designed with programmers and developers in mind. It sports a clean, minimalist design. The pleasant (and adjustable) white LED backlighting is great for those of us who often find ourselves in dark, low-light work environments (such as server rooms). In addition, the keyboard can switch between three keyboard arrangements: QWERTY (the most common), Dvorak, or Colemak.

The CODE keyboard was designed by WASD Keyboards (producers of customizable mechanical keyboards) and Jeff Atwood. You might know Jeff Atwood as the founder of Stack Overflow, the Stack Exchange network, and as the author of the programming blog, Coding Horror. Read his blog post about the CODE keyboard to get an insider’s perspective on the keyboard’s inception.

(Side note: This is the next mechanical keyboard I’ll be buying!)

CODE Mechanical Keyboard (Cherry MX Clear)

$150 on Amazon

3. KUL ES-87 Tenkeyless Mechanical Keyboard

Source of photo: keyeduplabs.com

Keyed Up Labs (KUL) is a top-notch company that creates a range of well-regarded mechanical keyboards.

KUL specializes in tenkeyless keyboards, which don’t have the number pad that’s often located on the right side of full-size keyboards.

Many of us never use the number pad. Except for accountants, cashiers, statisticians, and those who frequently key-in numbers into their machine, most people can live without the number pad.

The advantage of removing the redundant keys found in the number pad is that it will create more room on your desk and it will reduce the distance your right hand needs to travel when reaching for your mouse.

KUL ES-87 Mechanical Keyboard (Cherry MX Green)

$149 on Amazon

4. Rapoo KX Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

Source of photo: rapoo.com

Mechanical keyboards are typically wired devices. Not the Rapoo KX though.

Besides the obvious benefit of being able to eliminate wire clutter, the Rapoo KX is also one of the least expensive mechanical keyboards I’ve come across, at $85. It’s also smaller than most mechanical keyboards, which makes the Rapoo KX potentially portable.

For a more detailed look at the Rapoo KX, watch the video review named Wireless + Mechanical – Is This Real Life? on the YouTube channel Unbox Therapy (which has over 2.6 million subscribers). Also see the list of wireless mechanical keyboards on Reddit for more sans-wire alternatives.

5. Ducky Legend

Source of photo: duckychannel.com.tw

Taiwan-based company DuckyChannel has a collection of mechanical keyboards for gaming and work.

The Ducky Legend is the model I feel best suits work environments. This keyboard has a stylish aluminum case and adjustable backlighting.

Ducky Legend (Silver)

$141 on Amazon

6. Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHKB)

Source of photo: pfusystems.com

The Happy Hacking Keyboard is geared towards professionals and heavy computer users. It was first introduced in 1996 by Japanese IT company, PFU Limited. Since then, the keyboard has managed to gain a loyal fan base.

In the quest to make a small-form-factor keyboard, the designers of the HHKB removed the arrow keys, function keys, and several other keys such as Caps Lock, Backspace, and Insert. Instead, these keys are coupled together with other frequently used keys. For example, the Backspace key shares the same key as the Delete key, and Caps Lock is combined with the Tab key. You can use the “missing” keys by pressing the Fn key along with the key that it shares.

The Happy Hacking Keyboard’s design results in an ultra compact 60-key keyboard, often referred to as a 60% keyboard (because a full-sized keyboard has 104 keys).

This mechanical keyboard has a cult following, as well as its fair share of critics. The biggest disadvantage is that if you use arrow keys, print screen, insert, etc. frequently, then this would not be an efficient keyboard for you.

In my case, as a web developer and writer, I have become accustomed to keyboard shortcuts that rely on several keys that the HHKB decided to drop, such as the Up/Down Arrow keys for jumping to lines of code, Ctrl+Left Arrow/ Right Arrow to move to the previous/next word in a sentence, Ctrl+Page Up/Page Down to scroll web pages, and so forth.

But if desk space and minimalism are things that matter most to you, then this mechanical keyboard is definitely something to check out. As for me, a tenkeyless keyboard is the perfect balance between minimalism, size, and functionality.

Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional 2

$229 on Amazon

7. Filco Majestouch 2

Mechanical Keyboard Stabilizers

Source of photo: diatec.co.jp

The mechanical keyboard community holds the Filco Majestouch 2, often referred to as the MJ2, in high regard. It has a rep for having a solidly sturdy build quality.

Filco products are by a Japanese company called Diatec Corp. The company has been around since 1982, and they specialize in PC peripherals and mobile devices.

Reddit’s mechanical keyboard buying guide wiki says that the MJ2 is “The big boss of Cherry MX keyboards.”

8. Vortex POK3R

Source of photo: vortexgear.tw

The Vortex POK3R mechanical keyboard, sometimes called the Poker3, is a range of compact and customizable mechanical keyboards. Besides its interesting appearance and small size, another notable feature is that the keyboard is programmable. (You can find more info about POK3R’s programmability via its user manual.)

The POK3R keyboard has an atypical design. When viewed on the side, you’ll notice that the keycaps and switches are mounted on top of the keyboard tray, a blackplate, rather than being embedded into it. This design contributes to the keyboard’s compact dimensions and distinct aesthetics.

Side view of the Vortex POK3R keyboard. Source of photo: vortexgear.tw

Check out the in-depth POK3R keyboard video review at the Rhinofeed YouTube channel.

Vortex POK3R 3 (Cherry MX Clear)

$140 on Amazon

9. Topre REALFORCE 104U

Source of photo: amazon.com

Cherry MX is the series of switches that you’ll often find in popular mechanical keyboards such as the Das Keyboard. But they’re not the only players on the block. Topre switches are another type of mechanical keyboard switch.

The Topre REALFORCE is the pricy, flagship mechanical keyboard by Japan-based Topre Corp, makers of electronic equipment. For an alternative that’s notably less expensive, the Topre Type Heaven, at $155, is also a well-regarded option.

10. Kinesis Advantage

Source of photo: kinesis-ergo.com

The Kinesis Advantage is a long-standing, ergonomically-designed keyboard that vastly veers off from the keyboard designs we’re all used to. This keyboard is popular amongst software engineers, IT professionals, and web developers — people who spend a ton of time typing on their keyboards, and using keyboard shortcuts and command-line interfaces.

Mechanical Keyboard For Typing

Source of photo: wikipedia.org

The ergonomics of the Kinesis Advantage can help lower the impact of the repetitive strain your hands endure when you’re typing for long hours. Its keys are separated and angled to complement your hands’ natural positions. The keyboard has concave key wells that minimize the distance your fingers need to travel to reach a key.

Jarred Walton, over at the hardware review site AnandTech, wrote that out of three ergonomic mechanical keyboards he reviewed, the Kinesis Advantage is his favorite.

The Kinesis Advantage may not be everybody’s cup of tea. The keyboard’s layout will take time to get used to. And once you get accustomed to it, it will be hard to use traditional keyboard layouts. On the other hand, a top Amazon reviewer that goes by the handle of Ed said that it only took two weeks to get used to the keyboard and that if you’re patient “it will not only pay off with better ergonomics, but speed.”

The $270 price is quite steep. But if you’re suffering from wrist- and hand-related injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, or if you want to prevent them from happening, the Kinesis Advantage keyboard might be deserving of your hard-earned dineros.

Kinesis Advantage (Black)

$270 on Amazon

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