Mechanical Keyboards for Beginners
You may be wondering “What the heck is a mechanical keyboard?”. Well, you’ve come to the right place! If you are someone who types a lot or favors a comfortable typing experience then a mechanical keyboard is the right choice for you. Unlike laptop keyboards or those cheap membrane keyboards (also called rubber domes), a mechanical keyboard can enhance your productivity and comfort when typing. Typing on a mechanical keyboard may also even improve your typing speed!
Parts of a Mechanical Keyboard
Switches - The three variants available are Linear, Tactile, and Clicky.
Linear switches have a smooth feel to them with no tactile bump felt when pressing down the key or switch. This is the most popular choice when picking a switch for a keyboard as they are quiet.
Tactile switches have a tactile bump that is felt when actuating the switch. Tactile switches allow typists to “feel” when the switch has activated, allowing the user to predict when a key has been registered so they can move on to the next key quickly and efficiently.
Clicky switches are the least liked kind of key switch because of their loud click when actuating. Some people like to hear it, but it can be distracting in an office environment.
Keycaps - This is what goes on top of a switch so that you won’t hurt your fingers when typing. Keycaps come in sets and different profiles such as OEM, Cherry, and SA. The profile of a keycap is what your fingers lay on when typing. Every profile provides a different feeling, so try out as many of them as you can.
PCB (Printed Circuit Board - If you didn’t have this component, then you really wouldn’t have an operational keyboard. This is the electronic part of the keyboard that allows the keyboard to function. You can either opt for a hot-swappable or solderable PCB. The difference between the two is how much work you are willing to put into the keyboard when building it. With a hot-swappable PCB the switches “pop in” as opposed to a solderable PCB where you have to solder the switches in yourself. The benefit to solderable PCBs would be that you wouldn’t have to deal with switches falling out when pulling off a keycap.
Plate - The switches wouldn’t be stable if it weren’t for the plate. This component is what holds the switches together with the PCB for a suitable typing experience. Plates come in different materials such as brass, aluminum, polycarbonate, carbon fiber, and more. Metals tend to give off a deeper sound when typing than polycarbonate.
Stabilizers - This component is what allows keys that are long, either horizontally or vertically, to be pressed comfortably. Without stabilizers, you wouldn’t be able to actuate without experiencing a see-saw effect.
Case - All of the aforementioned components have to be placed in something right? That’s where the case comes in! Cases are commonly made out of plastic or aluminum (or some other metal).
What to Look for When Buying a Pre-Built Keyboard
One of the most important factors when choosing a mechanical keyboard is determining what kind of layout would best suit your needs. Would you rather have a small compact 60% keyboard, a full size, or something in between? The smallest keyboard would be 60%, and then they go up by 5% until full size. The size of the keyboard determines how many keys it has. For example, a 60% keyboard has 61 keys.
Next, what kind of switches would you like? Do you want a quiet or loud typing experience? Do you prefer tactile feedback or smooth actuation? Would you rather have a premium experience right off the bat or a more beginner kind of experience? With a more premium keyboard, you will be paying more, but the cost may not be worth it because of their lack of experience in the hobby. Plastic keyboards are usually cheaper but don’t offer the best typing experience in terms of acoustics. The stabilizers may be rattly and the switch actuation may feel scratchy due to the switches not being lubed. The idea of lubing a switch is to make the typing experience feel smoother and quieter.
DIY Keyboard Kits
DIY kits are an upgrade from pre-built keyboards where now the consumer has to put the keyboard together themself. There are two types of DIY kits you can buy: 1) Barebones kits where you get a fully built mechanical keyboard without the switches and the keycaps, or 2) you can buy a custom keyboard and when the keyboard comes in you build it yourself. The former is easier to deal with, but the latter option will be more satisfying once completed. With a custom kit, you can optimize each and every aspect of the building experience to build a keyboard that compliments your tastes. DIY kits are a quick and easy way to build a keyboard that will still provide a custom feel.