ZaLiTHkA
Epic Member
howd good peeps..
ok, so first a little context.. I type. a lot. like, shitloads a lot.. to the point that I've optimised my typing so I only capatilise proper nouns and "Important Words".. double points make the end of sentences easier to spot, reverse smileys because "( :" is an easier hand position for me than ": )", etc. etc.. on top of that, 75% of what I write everyday is code, so I play with all those extra fun symbols too.. I even use my thumb to hit "v" when I write the word "even", simply because I don't have to move my hand as far.... it runs deep.
I must point out that I do this with one hand.. I've mentioned it here and there in other posts, but just for clarity: my left arm is paralysed from the shoulder down, has been since 2007, and so "Life"(tm) in all it's glory happens one handed for me. still, on a decent keyboard I average around 50-60 WPM in typical typing tests (Monkeytype FTW), getting up into the 80's on really good days.
considering the amount of typing I do, I feel I can't just drop stupid money on a G915 and then have to deal with tons of features that I'll never use and all the quirks that come along with them.. I need to invest in a keyboard that's right for me.. but after watching hours of keyboard reviews, reading tons of comparison articles, looking at spans of switch profile charts, I have more answers, but I also have more questions.
little spoiler: I currently have my sights quite firmly set on the Keychron K5 SE (if I can bloody find one in SA.. or that ships to SA..).
---
now, you can call me a bubble-boy if you want, but until somewhat recently, I always preferred using a decently "poppy" membrane keyboard with low-ish profile keys. I would have to say somewhat like Mac keyboards..? though I find they do tend to be a little too "flat" with regards to individual key feedback. Dell, Mecer, and (ironically) A4Tech actually make some of the most well balanced membrane boards around, and yes, I'm referring to their average run-of-the-mill R300 jobs. but "not bad" isn't good enough for me.
the 8-odd months that I spent a few years back killing a Moshi Luna were some of my the best in my life.. but since everything to the right of "O" is my pinky finger's domain, when the "P", "[" and "]" keys started double-activating, I just couldn't use it anymore, purely because of the angle my hand is at while I type. so I gave it to a friend and he got another few years out of it.
my current laptop (MSI GP73-8RE Leopard) has a SteelSeries membrane low-profie keyboard that is by far the smoothest, clearest, most incredible board I have ever used. if I had found that in a full size desktop board last year, I would have bought ten and never looked back.. now, I'm rethinking this now.
---
on with the nitty-gritty details then. if you're still reading at this point, I applaud you.. but please do read on, this is where it all gets real interesting.
despite my praise of my MSI's SteelSeries, I'm currently swirling my second toe in the mechanical keyboard pool, with my laptop on a riser and one gorgeous Logitech G513 Carbon with (I think Cherry MX?) Brown switches (thanks @DirkMostert). after a solid 2 months' with it, I would say this is quite possibly one of the best boards I have ever owned! but while it's incredible for gaming, the longer key travel means it's only "pretty good" for coding..
the first toe I ever dipped in the mechanical keyboard pool was a Corsair K95 with Cherry MX Reds, which absolutely blew my socks off (when I got it). now in hindsight, I can see that I had all the same feelings towards the Reds as I do towards the Browns, just... much more intensely. an absolute dream for keyboard-based gaming, but I make a great many more code and "chat" typos while using Reds.
so, I'm now planning to dip a third toe into the pool here with the Keychron. but I have questions.. many questions. lol. let's break it down..
"Optical" or "Mechanical"? I'm looking at charts and thinking the former, then I'm watching real-world reviews and thinking the latter.. the biggest physical difference I can see between them is the switch travel, where the Optical seem to be slightly shorter on average than the Mechanical. I would love to know more about the real-world difference between them though.. the K5 SE switches may be hot-swappable, but the Optical for Mech have different "plug sockets".
"Tactile" or "Early Bump Tactile"? by the raw charts and numbers, and comparisons to some of my favourite membrane keyboards, I can't shake the feeling that "Early Bump Tactile" is the switch for me.. but then I watch reviews (like this one) and and the reviewer just cannot type on them to save, well, maybe even their own life. and then I start questioning my life choices all over again.
I will say that, from personal experience, "Linear" switches don't feel right for me.. unless perhaps a heavier linear would be better? perhaps a "Black" with 50gf? open to opinions here. and if "Early Bump Tactile" is what I need, then I'll need the K5 SE Optical.
---
are there any mechanical and/or optical switch users out there who might be willing to share their own opinions or experiences on these points?
ok, so first a little context.. I type. a lot. like, shitloads a lot.. to the point that I've optimised my typing so I only capatilise proper nouns and "Important Words".. double points make the end of sentences easier to spot, reverse smileys because "( :" is an easier hand position for me than ": )", etc. etc.. on top of that, 75% of what I write everyday is code, so I play with all those extra fun symbols too.. I even use my thumb to hit "v" when I write the word "even", simply because I don't have to move my hand as far.... it runs deep.
I must point out that I do this with one hand.. I've mentioned it here and there in other posts, but just for clarity: my left arm is paralysed from the shoulder down, has been since 2007, and so "Life"(tm) in all it's glory happens one handed for me. still, on a decent keyboard I average around 50-60 WPM in typical typing tests (Monkeytype FTW), getting up into the 80's on really good days.
considering the amount of typing I do, I feel I can't just drop stupid money on a G915 and then have to deal with tons of features that I'll never use and all the quirks that come along with them.. I need to invest in a keyboard that's right for me.. but after watching hours of keyboard reviews, reading tons of comparison articles, looking at spans of switch profile charts, I have more answers, but I also have more questions.
little spoiler: I currently have my sights quite firmly set on the Keychron K5 SE (if I can bloody find one in SA.. or that ships to SA..).
---
now, you can call me a bubble-boy if you want, but until somewhat recently, I always preferred using a decently "poppy" membrane keyboard with low-ish profile keys. I would have to say somewhat like Mac keyboards..? though I find they do tend to be a little too "flat" with regards to individual key feedback. Dell, Mecer, and (ironically) A4Tech actually make some of the most well balanced membrane boards around, and yes, I'm referring to their average run-of-the-mill R300 jobs. but "not bad" isn't good enough for me.
the 8-odd months that I spent a few years back killing a Moshi Luna were some of my the best in my life.. but since everything to the right of "O" is my pinky finger's domain, when the "P", "[" and "]" keys started double-activating, I just couldn't use it anymore, purely because of the angle my hand is at while I type. so I gave it to a friend and he got another few years out of it.
my current laptop (MSI GP73-8RE Leopard) has a SteelSeries membrane low-profie keyboard that is by far the smoothest, clearest, most incredible board I have ever used. if I had found that in a full size desktop board last year, I would have bought ten and never looked back.. now, I'm rethinking this now.
---
on with the nitty-gritty details then. if you're still reading at this point, I applaud you.. but please do read on, this is where it all gets real interesting.
despite my praise of my MSI's SteelSeries, I'm currently swirling my second toe in the mechanical keyboard pool, with my laptop on a riser and one gorgeous Logitech G513 Carbon with (I think Cherry MX?) Brown switches (thanks @DirkMostert). after a solid 2 months' with it, I would say this is quite possibly one of the best boards I have ever owned! but while it's incredible for gaming, the longer key travel means it's only "pretty good" for coding..
the first toe I ever dipped in the mechanical keyboard pool was a Corsair K95 with Cherry MX Reds, which absolutely blew my socks off (when I got it). now in hindsight, I can see that I had all the same feelings towards the Reds as I do towards the Browns, just... much more intensely. an absolute dream for keyboard-based gaming, but I make a great many more code and "chat" typos while using Reds.
so, I'm now planning to dip a third toe into the pool here with the Keychron. but I have questions.. many questions. lol. let's break it down..
"Optical" or "Mechanical"? I'm looking at charts and thinking the former, then I'm watching real-world reviews and thinking the latter.. the biggest physical difference I can see between them is the switch travel, where the Optical seem to be slightly shorter on average than the Mechanical. I would love to know more about the real-world difference between them though.. the K5 SE switches may be hot-swappable, but the Optical for Mech have different "plug sockets".
"Tactile" or "Early Bump Tactile"? by the raw charts and numbers, and comparisons to some of my favourite membrane keyboards, I can't shake the feeling that "Early Bump Tactile" is the switch for me.. but then I watch reviews (like this one) and and the reviewer just cannot type on them to save, well, maybe even their own life. and then I start questioning my life choices all over again.
I will say that, from personal experience, "Linear" switches don't feel right for me.. unless perhaps a heavier linear would be better? perhaps a "Black" with 50gf? open to opinions here. and if "Early Bump Tactile" is what I need, then I'll need the K5 SE Optical.
---
are there any mechanical and/or optical switch users out there who might be willing to share their own opinions or experiences on these points?
