Journalists Don't Understand Custom Keyboards...

[@HipyoTech]

Howdy Hey! This is a different type of video with a new editor, please leave a comment with what you think!

[@VirtanenMatti]

Just wanted to tell you how precious your videos have been this week. I ordered my first custom keyboard, switches and keycaps couple weeks back and now I’m just waiting everything delivered to me. Meanwhile I got my eyes fixed so I don’t need to wear glasses, so since Wednesday I’ve been unable to use my eyes properly as they are healing, so I’ve listened probably most of your videos by now. Thank you team Hipyo!

[@HipyoTech]

@@VirtanenMatti Glad I can help!

[@berkayaktas8439]

I love you and your hooouu yeeaaahh sound

[@skalekk]

it looked great tbh

[@sandy-vd3sl]

........................good...................its good...............

[@Wolfpack7000]

From my own experience most people just don't care about their keyboard, until they use a mechanical. For most people a membrane is all you need, but a mechanical is really nice to have

[@akday8324]

when I got my first mechanical keyboard, my older sis was complaining that I wasted my money when I could have just use the office keyboard I have from work. Two weeks ago she tried out my keyboard because she needed to use my PC and she realized how nice it is to type on a mechanical one and now she wants to get her own lol

[@leifdavisson6409]

1000% this! I got a mechanical keyboard at work. It was cypher with mx blue's and really loud but people would use it and they loved it we all have keychrons now.

[@yoshi555king]

True, most people I know around me would be happy to use a Logitech K120. But I preffered a old Mac pro keyboard as it was louder then most cheap stuff. Then I built a keyboard myself and I'm not getting back to those cheap landfill keebs for at work (they better get me €130 to build a semi custom Akko for the office)

[@turtle7459]

Yup, most people couldn't care less about what keyboard they use and don't even know the difference between membrane and mechanical keyboards.

[@PixelRuzt]

For most people don't know there even exists a mechanical keyboard... They have only ever seen membranes and assume that's all there is.

[@Chocomint_Queen]

You lightly touched on it, but there's also just the fact that you don't _have_ to get deep into "the hobby" to get a mechanical keyboard. Ten years ago, I decided I wanted one of these mechanical keyboards I kept hearing about. So I googled 'mechanical keyboards', went to the website with the coolest-sounding name (WASD Keyboards), picked the switches they said were quietest. That's the only mechanical keyboard I've bought in ten years. I didn't have to learn much of anything, I just bought a keyboard that sounded good. After ten years of several hours of use a day, it still works just fine, zero problems. I'm typing this on it right now. I've actually been tempted to buy a new one just because I wish it had a backlight, but it's hard to justify replacing something that's working just fine.

[@ConsecDesign]

i own a moonlander and i don't consider myself in "the hobby" at all. not sure how that happened...

[@chainsawenthusiast]

i also been using a wasd with brown switches for like ten years now. best keyboard ever. i went through 5-6 mice in that time.

[@Inonmeyq2]

I think I have a membrane keyboard that I bought xmas of 2019, in New York, it was a keyboard, mouse, LED bundle all for $20. Still works basically fine, I doubt I’ll ever switch to mechanical, until this one breaks, if so, I’ll probably just get the cheapest keyboard

[@TheNbaEditProducer]

Hey man you should get a royal kludge r65. It is an amazing deal and it sounds amazing but is also quiet.

[@MrMaIice]

@@Inonmeyq2 You should try a mechanical keyboard just to see if you like it, I used membrane for a long time and thought the same thing, then I bought a mechanical, and I'm never going back, if you want to try one without buying it, a lot of stores will have some on display that you can type on and see if you like it :>

[@tunfathi2772]

"membrane keyboard is the only keyboard you need because it's cheap and it gets the job done" she would have won if that's the only thing she said.

[@coolbrotherf127]

One thing I'd also mention is that mechanical keyboards don't have to be a hobby. In my 15 years of owning mechanical keyboards, I have bought 3 of them. They last a long time so once you have one you're happy with, there's no reason to buy more if you don't need more.

[@TheHighborn]

I still use my first mechanical keyboard. There's nothing wrong with, so didn't change it. Ironically, it's Roccat lmao

[@annieworroll4373]

Honestly even though I probably spent more than I should have on my mechanical, it's probably going to save me money compared to all the membranes I'd otherwise have to buy in the coming years.

[@faustinpippin9208]

my membrane keyboard is 9 years old and it still works like new

[@pauljmorton]

I've bought a bunch of mechanical keyboards in the last three years. Not because I'm a mechanical keyboard hobbyist, but because I have rather peculiar needs for my workstation, so it takes time to solve some problems, and thus my workstation is constantly under improvement, and the keyboard just happens to be one of the most significant items in a workstation. Specifically, since I do music and play games, I need a numpad for music and lots of mouse room for games, so I previously had a fullsize mechanical keyboard and a 60% mechanical keyboard and just kept switching them when switching tasks. But now I'm updating my workstation to a 75% keyboard for universal use (mechanical of course) and a separate numpad (which will also be mechanical). That's a lotta mechanical keyboards with sensible reasons for buying all of them without being a hobbyist.

[@paultapping9510]

definitely. I'm deep in the rabbit hole currently, but this is a one-off project for me, not a ongoing hobby.

[@CurtisDishman]

I think that it is wholly under rated/ under appreciated how much more enjoyable/efficient your job can be “using higher quality tools”

[@jazzy2164]

i have membrane keyboard at work, which feels terrible to type on, mushy, inconsistent typing, i can’t even type pass 45wpm. i have mechanical keyboard at home and can type faster than 70wpm. i know that’s not much, but that tells everything.

[@Kiaulen]

If you're spending 8 hours a day on it, it's worth spending some money on. Same goes for shoes, mattresses, etc

[@Ferrari255GTO]

The thing is that it's something that applies everywhere, i went from using regular bikes to full sus bikes after i borrowed a KTM Tribute 2015 from a friend who had just gotten it and now i have a downhill bike myself (Specialized Demo 8 2009). I originally had a chinese brake bleed kit, but i was missing something for my new set of brakes and decided to spend 75 bucks on the original one. Now i take care of that kit like it's the most important tool i have. I went from using regular shoes to amateur running shoes because they have a lot of cushion and are wider, wich fits me better. I could keep on going for a while...

[@goemon4]

I remember when I got into soldering I started on a budget and man, it was a terrible experience. Buying quality tools and chemicals changed my life I will never forget an old anecdote told by Stephen Fry, to paraphrase, he was poor growing up and when their car broke down his dad purchased a car well outside their budget. Little stephen was surprised and asked his father "why did you buy such an expensive car, we can't afford it" and his dad replied "maybe so, but we are too poor to be cheap". His dad purchased a pricier yet more reliable well made vehicle that will last longer than having to constantly replace or fix a cheap vehicle. I live by that principle, granted people can argue not all expensive stuff is good, but a well made product is worth every penny over a cheap one that will break after a few uses.

[@danielcobia7818]

I got a K95 Platinum for work and play for WFH before even Covid hit. Makes such a big difference in my day to day experience. They have us come into the office 2 days a week now and I have a membrane keyboard there. It's functional, but not anything I would call "enjoyable"

[@yutub561]

the only people who care enough to vote in a poll about mechanical keyboards are mechanical keyboard users

[@IanNubbit]

And people that hate them in an office lol

[@Alomamola]

After building a mechanical keyboard ngl it's hard to use other keyboards, the feeling is really nice (especially after spending any significant amount of money 💀)

[@lostintechnology1851]

yes that is called sunken cost fallacy plus placebo

[@rijjhb9467]

@@lostintechnology1851 mechanicals and membrane are distinctively different. Anyone could feel the difference in a blind test, there's nothing placebo about it.

[@zach23ize]

@@lostintechnology1851 Mechanical keyboards work fundamentally different when compared to membrane keyboards. Your use of "placebo" is so incredibly wrong

[@BreadTeleporterAndii]

@@lostintechnology1851 uh, okay i can see how you think the sunk(not en)-cost fallacy plays a role here, but it does not, there is no placebo either, they got a NICER DEVICE, and they are saying its NICER and they cant go back because who would have thought, its NICER? This entire thought was laid out in 2 seconds.

[@Ferrari255GTO]

As someone who's only used cheap stock mechanical keyboards (mostly Mars Gaming) even if you didn't spend 200 bucks on a keyboard you still wanna take care of it and once it dies replace it with a similar one. My Mars Gaming Mk4 lasted about 8 years of use, abuse, and even traveling before the cable just died (i could fix it, but i don't have a clue what part got damaged and i don't wanna cut the whole cable open to see where the damage is, as i have no way to give it a new sleeve)

[@FunFreakeyy]

When I switched to a mechnical the difference wasn't as big as I thought, but after several months I tested the membrane again and only then realized how hard I must press it, the wobblyness and difference between several keys. We can get used to all sorts of things, for example sound too, bad headphones doesn't sound that bad anymore after we get used to it, but beware of comparing them to good ones, then you hear the difference again.

[@onepercentile]

Awesome points!!

[@anatoliyatrilvik7660]

This. Got a cheap mechanical keyboard for Christmas, and after daily driving it for a few weeks, the difference wasn't the biggest most profound thing ever, but just a simple change that's arguably better than a big change.

[@onepercentile]

@@anatoliyatrilvik7660 I tried a few different mechanical keyboards at the computer store. Some allowed me to type fast while others gave me typos. I went with the one that gave me the least amount of errors. I now know mechanical keyboards aren't created equal. I'm actually quite faster at writing than I was before with a membrane. Not only that I'm having more fun typing again. As two parent threads up commented, membranes degrade over time and it's so subtle we don't notice. In addition, having a keyboard where the switches can be upgraded, caps replaced or themed, is a huge plus to my investment. Have fun either way you go; it's really whatever makes you the happiest at the end of the day. haha

[@agarion101]

I feel the same way, I have a mechanical, membrane and a cheap fake mechanical keyboard (mechanical keykaps style however membrane underneath) And the cheap fake one is by far the most comfortable keyboard because it’s easy to press down on and there’s no springs pushing back on my fingers (I play osu, basically an aiming guitar hero type game you must rapidly tap two keys when aiming at the circles, anywhere from 150-350BPM, making this feature crucial)

[@anatoliyatrilvik7660]

@@agarion101 Sorry for your loss. I kid, but yeah really just shows everything is better than membrane. (Even mechanical keyboard wannabes.)

[@jojomarujo8704]

my first mechanical was a cheap one, and that felt miles better than anything with membrane switch. Also being able to swap individual switch is nice.

[@arthurwintersight7868]

@@mannyheffley5481 - Membrane keyboards are reliably cheap and reliably good. That's why they're made. People who want premium products often switch to mechanical, and there's nothing wrong with both markets existing simultaneously. Even the premium membrane keyboards are OK, and still cheaper than premium mechanical keyboards.

[@collared]

my 30 dollar mechanical was miles better than membrane of same price. never again rubber dome its so shit

[@pakee2352]

​@@mannyheffley5481Saying keeb makes my skin crawl for some odd reason

[@Marynicole830]

@@arthurwintersight7868but the fact you can get a 25 dollar board that feels better than a 40 dollar membrane one has nothing to do with price. The only good place for membrane is travel and small spaces like laptops

[@toxicevilking2945]

​@@collaredbut how long a mechanical keyboard last?

[@This-Present-Darkness]

I will say that swapping to a mechanical has been life changing for my hand health. I have a lot of hand issues and being able to change my keyboard to help has been so great and so helpful

[@businessbear4076]

My wife was the same. She complained to me about her hands hurting after typing for an hour or so because it was uncomfortable to use her keyboard, It was just some no name brand keyboard + mouse combo deal. I bought her a Royal Kluge 96 with Cherry Reds because it was on sale and now she says she'd be able to type all day on it. It really is much more than just feel and sound with mechanical switches.

[@danosdotnl]

I have the exact opposite lol

[@acexxxoasis]

Same here I had an issue where a wood router and I got into a little battle, it won.. Still have full use of my hand.. thankfully But it's not 100% so being able to use a mechanical now is awesome and being able to choose a lighter key press is amazing not to mention the other cool stuff we can do with them.

[@halalboi420]

As a person who has used membrane keyboards all my life, i disagree with this article.

[@lostintechnology1851]

but that was most likely due to other factors that have nothing to do with membrane, but with that explicit implementation. If you would have bought her a 6Gv2 her hands would probably been rekt for good.

[@azazelleblack]

I'm frustrated that people continue to refer to rubber dome keyboards as "membrane" keyboards. Yes, it is technically accurate. However, it's sort-of like referring to "pickup trucks" as "automobiles". A dome keyboard is a dome keyboard and for all their faults and shortcomings they are still miles and miles better than the original membrane keyboards. (see: Atari 400, Timex Sinclair 1000, 20th-century McDonalds POS terminals, et cetera.) Back when I was a fledgling keyboard snob back in the late 1990s we called domes domes and membranes membranes. It absolutely rips my asshole open wide that when you search "membrane keyboard" now you get a million dome keyboards. Not that I want to use either, I have a fancy Kinesis keyboard (because I'm a hag with wrist issues), but it's the principle of the thing, damnit!

[@woodywoodverchecker]

I used a mech keyboard from ~1990 for almost 20 years, until the DIN plug annoyed me too much. After a short rubberdome break I got myself a Cherry MX Board and am soo happy with it, even if it's not what current keyboard enthusiasts buy. I hope it will last me 20 years as well.

[@Alltorn-N56]

This man has found their endgame and we should all strive to have this attitude with a board that works.

[@LordManhattan]

I hope they're browns, just to annoy even more people

[@babyt9433]

The true endgame

[@konishiwoi]

What’s cool is you can still enjoy the flair of the hobby in your simplicity, like the availability of switches. Seems dumb, but with so many being available to change feel or feed into curiosity, that also just means availability of replacement parts ! So if you reach the end of life of one of your switches you can just order some new ones. Getting a full rubber sheet replacement for a membrane might be doable thanks to the weirdness of eBay but it’s not the same, let’s be honest. You can also mod the cable to replace the fixed (I assume) to a detachable one with USB C port, in case the cable ever frays. Or realign your stabilizers’ bar if they’re too rattly. What I’m getting at is that everything that we consider “mods” can be dripped down to “repairs” A friend of mine has I think it’s a steelseries from like 2010 with a row of macros keys off to the left and one of those keys is awfully close to Escape so to prevent accidental touches he swapped that singular switch to a tactile with a heavier spring (heavier than the rest of the keyboard which already uses blacks). Stabs were adjusted, and key caps changed because they got too shiny and/or the lettering wore off. It’s modding, but more in a repair way. And I expect that keyboard to last another decade. I hope yours will still receive your keystrokes in 20 years too

[@lilpain1997]

@@Alltorn-N56 But... I need useless fancy weights I can't see at all nor will I likely ever see. I'm in too deep... How do I get out

[@Quartz5005]

I once went to my mom's office (It was a small office and her boss was really chill) and I saw that her boss had a mechanical keyboard. I asked him how his keycaps was a different color and he began to explain a little on what a mechanical keyboard was to me. Of course I thought "What was the difference?" until he let me press the keys. Safe to say, I now have 2 keyboards for gaming and daily use lol.

[@bachhunghoang]

My first mechanical keyboard was a very cheap one, can't go back ever since, now i have 5 with my favorite is the quickfire tk, love the TKL form but still have the numpad

[@bariumlanthanum6298]

I was at a hackathon once and saw my teammate brought a mechanical keyboard (a Keychron). I liked the per-key RGB lighting and customized keycaps. After seeing how my laptop keyboard got uncomfortably hot when compiling the project, he lent me it to use for a bit, and I fell in love with it. I bought my own when I got home from the hackathon.

[@justjakenstuff]

@@bariumlanthanum6298 yeah laptops turn into toasters the second u make them do anything like compiling or render lmao. that is an on the desk type of activity if thats what ur doing with them lol.

[@conanruisi]

Wtf I can’t type on membrane it doesn’t pick up keystrokes because I type too fast

[@finkelmana]

The reality is most people dont give a crap about the keyboard. The last time my sister visited me, we both had to spend a day working our respective jobs for a while. She was working on her laptop in another room, while I was in my office with the door closed. When I came out to talk to her, she commented on how loud my keyboard was and that she could hear it through the closed door 30 feet away. Loud? I dont even notice the sound anymore. I explained it was a mechanical keyboard and much nicer to type on than a cheap keyboard. I suggested she try it, as you can get quieter ones. She tried typing on it for a bit. I asked her how it felt. She said "Like a keyboard." So... yeah... that pretty much sums it up.

[@GloomGaiGar]

Because most people don't know any better. It takes awhile to notice the difference. You should let her try it for a week or a month.

[@RPPification]

@@GloomGaiGar Let me tell you what, if it takes a while to notice a difference, maybe the difference isn't that big. Unless you really make the difference and have a nice (not expensive) mechanical. I guess I never had a nice one though.

[@monkaeyes]

@@GloomGaiGar "don't know any better" i love how you feel like it is objectively wrong to have a different opinion.

[@DivyeshVartha]

As someone who primarily uses laptop keyboards, when hipyo was giving examples of quiet mech keyboards, I was like "that's loud isn't it?"

[@da_pawz]

@@DivyeshVartha I use cheap mechanical keyboard in my pc. But whenever I need to use my Laptop, I use Laptop's own keyboards ... well it's sure usable, but I am not enjoying typing on it at all lol

[@starrybook]

I went to a Micro Center in Denver once and someone had brought their custom along with them. I complimented the keyboard and told them I wanted to try getting into the hobby eventually (they were the ones to recommended me the Kit Adam which is going to be the keyboard I get). I tried typing on the keyboard they brought for about 20 seconds and immediately noticed a STRONG difference in the comfort I feel. I still have to type on my membrane keyboard right now and as I type up the stories I write I notice the very strong amount of discomfort in my fingers.

[@swnews4u161]

One of the problems with a membrane is it is rated for 5 million strokes, and the rubber domes dry out. I noticed having issue with my membrane, but it has been 18 years with it, but I plan on soaking the domes. Meanwhile, Im kind of getting a little fatigue typing on a mechanical I am using, which is brown cherries....yet I have tried another blue gaterons and they were light and easy, so its finding the key switches right for you.

[@squishycrab6330]

That last part where the author states that you are not missing anything when using a membrane keyboard made me sad. As a person who has ADHD, ever since I got my keyboard I sometimes just type just because I love the feel and sound. mechanical is a experience I could never give up.

[@iWriteWithPride]

I feel that. I have ADHD and autism and the feel of my keyboards are really soothing. The smooth sounds of the switches make me incredibly happy.

[@alphenhousplaysgames4565]

it's asmr when i don't even turn the computer on.

[@suspiciousstew1169]

Same, sometimes I would disconnect my keyboard while watching a video and then just type on it because of the feel lmao

[@lostintechnology1851]

@@iWriteWithPride you should try touching grass and therapy, that helped me more then my mechanical keyboards

[@iWriteWithPride]

@@lostintechnology1851 One, I’m in therapy. Two, I stim with my keyboard and it feels good. Three, what…what does this do for you? Oh no, so mean? Congrats?

[@Stoned_Penguin]

It seemed more like an advertorial than genuine journalism. I got my first mechanical keyboard without all that "snob" knowledge which was worn out 7 years later, i had to borrow a membrane until i got a new one and i hated every second of it. In my opinion the only knowledge you really need to guarantee it's an upgrade from membrane, is knowing the difference between linear, tactile and clicky switches.

[@madisonneill8739]

It’s extremely hard to go back to a membrane after you’ve been using a Mechanical Keyboard for over a little 4 years, I also built 2 in 2022 and 1 in 2021. I really got into mechanical keyboards in 2021 and started watching Switch and Click, Hipyo & Glarses! You guys are the best honestly

[@xcatpatrolx]

best keyboard channels

[@thumbwarriordx]

Yeah you literally don't press the keys hard enough anymore lol. What do you mean there's more to go? I've already pressed it 80% of the way. This is absolute shenanigans.

[@BlarinDragon]

i cant go back to the im gonna try to press a membrane key oh whats this? it got a little stuck and i had to put even more pressure on it to get it to press

[@takumikid]

I agree membrane hurts my fingerd

[@a_plastic_bag]

Can vouch for this. Switched to a redragon k630 w/ akko cs lavenders, by no means the best mechanical keyboard out there, but trying out my old razer cynosa v2 i can't believe i tolerated it.

[@S3rvu222]

Funny mentioning the force needed for pressing down a mechanical keyboard switch. My membrain keyboards (one salvaged from recycle bin and other being microsoft sidewinder) were actually hurting my fingers after extensive writing. Which is why I bought mechanical keyboard with quite light-touch switches (kailh box brown) and they feel so nice!.

[@InJeffable]

I love Kailh switches. I have Kailh Box V2 White in my keyboard. Great balance between smooth typing and tactile feedback.

[@crepuscular-cat]

I got clicky ones to know when to let go of the key press. It's because if I bottom out it hurts my fingers due to rsi.

[@Nerthexx]

These articles are written entirely by ChatGPT.

[@Funkymonkeymemes]

W comment

[@AfternoonSandwich8.99]

Gave me this exact feeling as well, like it's the writing style that seems suspicious for me

[@laurelloaf]

I think she’s also forgetting you can get a keyboard without being a hobbyist. I’ve recommended Keychron to many people who are happy with that as their one and only purchase.

[@KingKrouch]

I like my 96% keychron keyboard. I just got pudding keycaps and O-ring dampeners for it. It’s just a shame that when I was moving, the little side knobs to choose between Bluetooth and USB mode snapped, so it’s now permanently a USB keyboard.

[@nerd20fromdiscord]

I literally bought the cheapest mechanical keyboard that beat buy had in my area its a Logitech one and its is leagues better than any crappy garbage membrane keyboard for clost to the same price

[@ErikAndersonNorthStar]

I daily a Keychron with Gateron browns. For the price you can't get much better value for a MK.

[@pm146]

My first keyboard was a membrane logitech. It was okay. My second keyboard was a cheap amazon mechanical keyboard that had knock off mx reds. It was also just okay, but orders of magnitude better. My third keyboard was a BlackWidow Ultimate 2016. That was by far my favorite keyboard, and I used it for 6 years. I just recently bought a Keychron v6 and I'm swapping the switches for Kaihl box navys. I like the Keychron because I can get rid of the useless existence that is the caps lock button. I'm sure I could have done this with another keyboard, but the build quality and hotswap-able-ness of the Keychron was a major selling point for me. I type all day and the only thing that keeps me from ending it all is the satifying "click" of each key. I'm only half joking, here, as I did have a brief stint where the sound of my keyboard played a larger-than-I'm-willing-to-admit role in keeping me on this side of the mortal coil.

[@yangmaster24]

I build myself a nice cheap keyboard for about 100 bucks, 75% gasket mounted, gateron milky yellows, and akko asa keycaps, and stopped there, that's all I need

[@sazid_mahmud]

I used membranes for 11 years. They feel great when new. But 6 months later when they get mushy it just doesn't feel right. I bought a K552 with outemu blues for my sister last year cause she wanted one. I used it from time to time and it felt nice. So I delved into the world of switches and keyboard and keycaps and what not. I recently purchased a TKL from Ganss with silver linears. So far its great and it feels consistent and fast.

[@Chamieiniibet]

3:36 they're consistent in the objective travel until engaging. They don't "have to be fully pressed down", they just don't have that dead travel after the actuation point. Why do you take it as a universal good to have that dead travel that doesn't achieve nothing? That "fully pressed down" of a membrane switch is no more than an actuation travel of a mechanical keyboard, they just stop at that exact point.

[@dacasman]

I used to use this old Casio printer calculator to keep track of product at work. And it had the most amazingly smooth, super light yet tactile membrane keypad ever. I really wish I could get a whole keyboard that felt the same. Its basically what I hope topre switches would be like but not even those are as good. That thing really used to make question the whole mechanical keyboard thing. Edit: It's hilarious to me that people are still using these gifs I made (very crappily) for geekhack in like 2011 just for fun lol. @2:54

[@russelllukenbill]

I had the same thought a few months back and tried to find replacement keys for the Casio that we have at work so I could mod them for my keyboard, but I couldn't find them anywhere. I think I would have to buy a bunch of these calculators, tear them apart and reassemble them. I'm not doing that.

[@cooleyzz]

Maybe it was a topre style? Have you looked into those

[@dacasman]

@@cooleyzz Yeah I used to own a Topre board if that's what you mean. It wasn't as nice as the calculator. Too scratchy for me.

[@cptncutleg]

@@dacasman did you lube them up?

[@toastedphantom3007]

Holy crap, dude you made the gifs? They helped me finish a school project lmao

[@sephium5726]

Definitely like this type of video! Although I used a cheap membrane keyboard for many, many years, and I got by with it just fine, the switch to mechanical is something that I will never regret. For someone, like me, who uses their keyboard almost all day, the improvement in feel and consistency actually makes a large difference over time. Plus, since my keyboard is such an integral part of my life, it's fun to be able to customize it to my liking, and try different options!

[@lesterama6110]

Indeed, I purcchased a knockoff mechanical keyboard (it was like $20 here in Peru), and it was like night an day how great it felt compared to even robust membrane keyboards (like the ones included with a Lenovo Thinkcentre)

[@goldenhate6649]

I love the mechanical keyboards, but at work, due to issues in my left hand, I do have to use a very flat membrane (at least I presume its a membrane, Logitech k780, but not guchi for gaming) due to the time spent typing and some minor nerve damage. I do have my new mechanical coming in late this week because god I dislike my backup membrane keyboard at home (not the Logitech).

[@kodaloid]

I'm a software engineer. In work I tried a lot of mechanical keyboards with various switches, all of which were complained about for being too noisy. Silent mechanicals are really frustrating to type on for me, as not hearing the actuation means I make more mistakes, which costs me time, and most membrane keyboards give me bad carpel tunnel after a while. In the end I found that there are some membrane keyboards that are far better than others, because their actuation registers higher, and the keys have better stabilisation. For me the Corsair K55 was the solution, but I expect there are one or two more out there that are good too. I wouldn't knock membranes, there is an actual niche use for the good ones.

[@BonesMoses]

Back when I was in an open office doing tech work, I used a Logitech Illuminated K740 with scissor switches. Much quieter than a mechanical and way better than standard membrane. So yeah, not all membranes are created equal, though I prefer my custom with Kailh Box Whites. 😂

[@mahoslash]

>>In work I tried a lot of mechanical keyboards with various switches, all of which were complained about for being too noisy. The correct response is to hand them a pair of earplugs and politely ask them to mind their own business.

[@florinbujoreanu1020]

Topre - google it

[@emqrald]

i didn't know what i was missing out on until I got a mechanical keyboard.. i got one of those 15~ gamer membrane keyboards and I was happy with it. then I got my mechanical keyboard and realized I missed out on so much pure joy I get simply from the noises of this keyboard

[@ItalianRetroGuy]

My main issue with membrane keyboards is that people often argue about the cost being lower, but the problem is that when a membrane key breaks, (and by that I mean hard failure, like the dome tearing apart or the trace on the weird plastic film wears out) you're basically going to have to buy a new keyboard as repairing that kind of damage is a bit unreliable. If a mechanical switch breaks, you're good to go with just buying like a baggy of 10 and replacing the one switch that broke.

[@ghost-user559]

Depends on the manufacturer and the issue. Even the terrible membranes on Apple Magic Keyboards can be replaced to an extent. But it’s nowhere near the simplicity or availability of a mechanism on a mechanical keyboard.

[@Artfacility]

ive been using the same membrane keyboard 6 years now and it still works perfectly. Mechanical keyboard fans severly underestimate the durability of these keyboards.

[@JEKm_]

@@Artfacility I'm still using same the membrane keyboard that I got with my first PC. 4 pcs, several mice and 12 years of daily use later it's still working fine (with some scars made in moments of angry gaming lmao)

[@bachhunghoang]

​@@Artfacilitymy favorite mechanical keyboard is turning 7 years old now, still working like a champ, and it's not expensive at all, i paid 40$ for it if i remember correctly, and typing on that is much better than membranes, even my coworkers, they couldn't care less about computer let alone keyboards, all of them love my keyboard, i bought a cheap one to use at my office, 30$ and they love it

[@jebusglatze1285]

for the record, my G510 was over 10 years old, i used it everyday and the rubberdomes are still perfect but i get your point. Still the replacement was 40 bucks.

[@BrianHartman]

I think there's a cost-benefit analysis that doesn't work out for a lot of people. If they buy a $25 mechanical keyboard, they're not necessarily going to get an experience *they* find markedly better than a membrane keyboard. It depends on what their attitude is. If the attitude is just, "I want it to put words on the screen when I hit the keys", a mechanical keyboard might be overkill. Especially if they don't spend a lot of time on a laptop or desktop. And most people aren't going to want to spend more than the bare minimum on a keyboard. The casual user (who I assume this is written for) isn't going to spend $50 to upgrade a $30 keyboard. They're going to plug it into their computer or connect over Bluetooth and call it a day. I just recently ordered the Keychron K2 v2, and I really had to have a conversation with myself justifying it. I think if you spend hours a day on a keyboard, and really care about the experience, you *can* justify dropping $80 on a keyboard. But lots of people are just going to say, "Meh. I'm fine with what my computer came with.". The two classes of people who really seem to be drawn to mechanical keyboards are gamers and typists. As far as mechanical keyboards being easier to press buttons on, and therefore better for disabled people: That probably varies a lot depending on the keyboard. one of the things I like about mechanical keyboards is that they do take more force to type on, so I make less inadvertent keystrokes. As I'm typing this right now, I'm using a Pauroty mechanical 60% keyboard, typing into my Dell Inspiron. That laptop's keyboard feels like garbage, because of the minuscule key travel. With a mechanical keyboard, I make fewer mistakes, specifically *because* it takes more force to type on. Now, granted, I got blue switches, but if I had to guess, the vast majority of people buying keyboards for the first time are going to get a keyboard far clickier than the one they're coming from. *Can* you get silent switches, etc.? Sure. But you have to know what you're doing. A random membrane keyboard that you pick out blindfolded is more likely to b e quiet than a random mechanical that you pick out blindfolded. And you kind of have to assume that most people are going in virtually blind. Don't get me wrong. I love mechanicals. I was using Model M IBM keyboards back in the early 90s. But especially for people who tap more on glass than they do on a keyboard, I can see why a mechanical keyboard might not make a lot of sense to them. Now, granted, it seems like she was pushing a particular keyboard, but I don't think her points were all wrong, necessarily. I code and I write fiction, so I spend a lot of time at the keyboard, so the feel was worth it to me. I can understand how a lot of people would be in the "don't care" camp, though. And on average, a membrane keyboard is going to cost you less. But the definitive "is all you need" is where she goes wrong. A membrane keyboard *may* be all you need, but not necessarily. It depends on how much you care about the experience, and how much you're willing to shell out to get a better one.

[@kubenjbcz]

My thoughts exactly, great comment

[@WolfieInTheLoop]

For me, both do the trick. I love the linear experience of mechanical keyboards, but I've played with a membrane keyboard for most of my life. I usually used keys half pressed to play, which is not ideal, but it worked. So, in conclusion, yeah, membrane keyboards will do the trick for most things, but if you have the money to spend (I say this because mechanical keyboards are quite expensive where I am located), and some time, mechanical keyboards are more worthwhile. You will get something that will last a lot longer and be more comfortable to use.

[@venom4091]

Where I live I spend half my paycheck on a keyboard (+/- 120$) and it's great. I'm still using it after 5 years without any issue, but I'm thinking now about buying a custom one it will be a tad expensive for me, but it will be worth every penny. Plus I hope to get a better job soon.

[@eeveeblazelol]

membrane has its uses and benifits such as 1: being cheap 2: 3: 4: 5:

[@HipyoTech]

Wait... how did you know I made this joke in the video

[@eeveeblazelol]

@@HipyoTech magic

[@lelehu740]

@@eeveeblazelol LMAO

[@muCephei_]

To be objective, membrane gets the job done, and that's all some people want. The feel aspect is so insignificantly unimportant, mk's are unnecessary expense for them. There's no right or wrong. It's just different perspective and expectation.

[@Henrex2000]

If you factor in durability, it might actually cost more

[@hornsteinhof7592]

I'm typing for a living on a 15 Euro membrane keyboard. I've used a Cherry with MX blues for over a decade and it was great. But one day, my gf and me both got remote work jobs and now share a desk. We're both amazingly fast typists who press the buttons with more force the faster we type. Even a silent stock mechanical keyboard sounds like a machine gun or a jackhammer at high typing speeds. Now I got a bunch of advice from the custom keyboard community, which is nice. There are options to dampen your keyboard barebone, to get silent switches like the WS silent linear switches and either some dampening keycaps or to fill the keycaps out. This is several hours of work and orders at different vendors. If I don't enjoy the keycaps, I'll probably have to send some parts of the order back, while my right to return for the other parts expires while the new keycaps arrive. It would be a huge hassle to have what I've already got for 15 Euro: A rather silent keyboard which allows for really fast typing. Granted, I've enjoyed typing on my old Cherry a lot more. But when it comes to price/performance, a membrane keyboard is really hard to beat. I use a Logitech K120, but this isn't about a specific brand. There are lots of brands with solid membrane options for less than a set of quality keycaps.

[@daysebatista]

The only membrane brand I would use is also Logitech. They are extremely good, aren't they?

[@notsogreatcourier9536]

@@daysebatista i try not to simp for companies, but im sadden to say im a very big simp for logitech, they just make good shit that doesn't break the bank. ive been using the same keyboard and mouse from them for 5 years

[@LavaSaver]

Yeah, enthusiasts tend to act like it's like crack for computers where once you switch over to it you'll be convulsing and violently throwing up if you try to use a normal keyboard again... and don't get me wrong, obviously it's nicer, but it's not nearly as dramatic as people act like it is. For the majority of people it's really not worth spending all that money on it.

[@pfaprado]

I am no fanboy of brands but Logitech has been the only decent brand I can recall in terms of keyboards. I love the K120 and I am currently typing this in a wireless K235. I like the customization aspect and deep sound of thocky mechs though... for me personally membranes are for work, mechs for everything else, but that's a personal choice.

[@LutraLovegood]

Got a MX518 from them two decades ago. Replaced it with a newer MX518 a few years back because of some issues, the old one is still being used by someone else. 3 eurobucks a year for a good ergonomic mouse with some extras is hard to beat.

[@notafurrysogoaway]

If you're using a decent membrane keyboard the domes should sort of 'snap' down once you've put just enough pressure on them. I personally love the feel of decent quality silicone domes because they're responsive, but also have just she slightest 'mush' to them. To me, it just feels smoother. No harsh 'switch snapping into place' feel, but snappy enough to be comfortable to type on. That's exactly how I like it.

[@ghost-user559]

Yeah the Apple ones are really nice for that specific feeling. I use a membrane for convenience and that smoothness. But I do prefer the concept and tactility of a mechanical overall although I don’t use one right now.

[@steposka]

I have an ancient NEC (made by Cherry, somewhen before 2k) keyboard with rubber domes and it feels very ok. Maybe I like it more than some mechanical keyboards I have tried. Keycaps have a good design so I can be fast and precise, travel distance is quite large, which I like, and as you say, the keys sort of snap after pressing little over half way down, rarely it doesn't register the keypress. On the other hand I bought cheap membrane keyboard and it's just a mushy plastic board, hardly precise, bad keycaps, it's just terrible in comparison to the old robust "tank" :D. After this one dies, maybe it will be time for mechanical but until then I love this one :D

[@SB-pf5rc]

@@steposka ya my favorite keyboard ever is a compaq board that came with some of their workstations in the late 90s. it's quiet and precise, feels quality, and the keys feel awesome to type with. i got one from my dad when his company was getting rid of unused inventory, and a week later went back and fished a couple more of them out of the dumpster. only complaint is that you can't press more than 3 keys at a time. i have a mechanical board hooked up to my gaming rig, but i'm still using one of those compaq boards on my workstation. never found anything else as nice.

[@lopwidth7343]

A good rubber dome was the natural progression of the buckling spring IBM invented, and it still holds up to this day. Completely agree with you

[@ano_nym]

I have some old "BTC dome with slider", probably like it more than any mechanical that I have had. I also have a Sofle (split ergo keyboard) at work for programming.

[@__thylacine]

For me, my preference of mechanical v. membrane stems from the freedom of choice and customisability. I've definitely found membrane (even butterfly switch) keyboards that i really enjoy using, but the thing i _love_ about my mechanical keyboard is the fact that i was able to customise and choose every single element of it. There's something so rewarding about going through all the research, assembly and modifying something exactly to my liking - it was like i was taking full ownership of the keyboard and turning it into my own. All this to say, If the membrane keyboard market diversified and it became easier to customise every component, and i put in the time, research (and money, sigh) to make something that truly suited me -- i'd probably like it just as much as the mech i have now.

[@ProfessorMembrane373]

I am programmer for a lot of years, so I'm typing quite a lot everyday. I was using the the most average membrane keyboard you can imagine all the time, then when it finally broke, I caved in to all the mechanical keyboard praise and got a good mechanical one. Guess what. I barely noticed any difference. It's a keyboard. It types. What else do you need?

[@greanhare5270]

Ignore the desk and chair snobs. The floor is all you need.

[@LutraLovegood]

Different issue entirely. Hygiene and posture, for one.

[@AlbySilly]

As someone who purposefully bought a membrane keyboard because I just prefer how it feels, y'all can do whatever you want, it's your keyboard and perhaps even your hobby. Go wild, mix them blue red n brown switches, get crazy with it, I love when people experiment and put time and effort into things they care about, especially when it has a tinge of chaos to it

[@theidiotgamer4306]

Good for you. I just bought a 60% mechanical keyboard with outemu red switches because i just prefer how it feels and sounds. y'all can do whatever you want, it's your keyboard and perhaps even your hobby. Membrane keyboards feel mushy and cheap, because a rubber dome is relatively soft and not tactile. They also tend to wear out over time, as the amount of pressure needed for a key to press and unpress changes as the rubber weakens.

[@ninx_music]

i only love a membrane keyboard in a night setting, or at a quiet workplace such as the library. my custom keeb has a personality to it, that's why i love it. also appreciate the fact that you enjoy seeing others customise things :))

[@theidiotgamer4306]

@@ninx_music Outemu red lubed is way more quiet than my last overpriced "premium" membrane keyboard! But i also appreciate you for seeing others customise things! :)

[@ninx_music]

@@theidiotgamer4306 yeah i get you. the only reason why i dont use silent switches it because there is a quiet, idk charm to membrane? because imo, buying a switch that's gonna be completely silent is gonna destroy the whole point of me buying switches yk? like i have ktt kang whites, and coulve stuck with the reds but i wanted more clackiness and sound, so i bought the ktt's

[@theidiotgamer4306]

@@ninx_music Well i get you too. I tried to use a razer ornata, my old membrane keyboard, and i cant even use it properly!!! That's a premium membrane keyboard by the way, and it is useless to use... You have to push the buttons aaaaall way down. Its mushy and it sound louder than my mechanical keyboard!!!

[@karlhendrikse]

I've tried typing on mechanical keyboards a few times when I've seen them in the shop. I hate them. The feeling, the noise. I'd pay much more for a membrane keyboard. I've been using the same membrane keyboard for 21 years, and I suspect it'll outlast me.

[@wavestorm7208]

Can confirm that red dragon has a ton of potential. It was my first mechanical keeb that I used to learn all sorts of mods and whatnot on. Now it’s one of my favorites that I own and sounds phenomenal

[@zig131]

I bought a RedDragon Kumera back in 2018 when only US layout was available and I love it. Far better than any membrane keyboards. More than 5 years later, the most used keycaps like WASD are wearing out but I kinda see that as a source of pride more than anything and otherwise functions perfectly. Only downside is the US layout but UK layouts are available now. Unfortunately they do seem to have shot up in price and the non-RGB model I got for only £29.99 no longer seems to be available so there are likely better deals out there.

[@krabuh]

Major agree, Red Dragon are SUPER underrated and have lots of protentional

[@MezzoForteAural]

The 30 dollar red dragon mechanical keyboard I bought is awesome. I also have a model M I got for 5 bucks at a thriftstore I use sometimes but it's not great for gaming so usually not. Membrane is fine, but with a little searching, even on a budget you can get so much of a better experience.

[@akday8324]

also got the 30 bucks redragon one for my first mechanical keyboard. I modded it a little with foam and blue tape and it was so much better than using membrane

[@myselph1761]

Say sike right now, you got a MODEL M for $5??

[@MezzoForteAural]

@@myselph1761 when it comes to garage sales and other second hand salers not everyone knows what the have. To many people, a pile of keyboards all look the same.

[@myselph1761]

@@MezzoForteAural Now I long for the day when someone sells a keycult for $20 because they think it's "too heavy".

[@alphenhousplaysgames4565]

it's also a hotswap borad so the potential is pretty high.

[@mayonnaise_cake]

I've switched from a laptop to a mechanical keyboard and the new one is way easier to press. The thing about the mechanical keyboards being harder to press is often untrue.

[@zoepermafrost9329]

Genuinely, I actually prefer the "mushiness" of my membrane keyboard (I've felt shitty ones, don't get me wrong, but I like mine). Have a buddy who for YEARS has tried to get me into mechanical but none of the options I've tried measure up to my preferred feel of the membrane. I know I'm in the minority here but it's my truth nonetheless haha

[@gymbagger]

You are most def not in the minority lol, dude's gatekeeping hard

[@theregularhuman]

Try a customized mechanical keyboard and then you can compare to your membrane

[@SaHaRaSquad]

@@theregularhuman Honestly after trying a couple tactile switches I understand some people still prefer membrane. Most tactiles are kinda meh and a quality membrane keyboard (and I don't mean cheap edgy gaming stuff) can feel quite good.

[@zatozatoichi7920]

There are a TON of mushy silent switches out there. I highly doubt you even tried a good chunk of them.

[@PatalJunior]

I understand your point, I have used a cheap mechanical keyboard (it had a few bad switches so I stopped using it), so I got a deal (20$) on a razer membrane keyboard, and it doesn't feel that bad, sure mechanic feels better, but membrane is quite good, I can do 110WP on it, no trouble @@SaHaRaSquad

[@Rulerofwax24]

When I bought my first mechanical keyboard, something basic from Royal Kludge, I watched a few Linus Tech Tips videos about cheap keyboards and key switches and that one sounded the best for me - roughly the same process I use for most tech purchases I make. It was cheap and relatively easy. When I decided to make my own custom keyboard, I spent *hours* researching and comparing and going back and forth, trying to find stuff that was in stock and would ship relatively quickly. It was honestly kind of frustrating and annoying how many different things I had to balance (not to mention when my first set of switches were stolen from my mailbox after being shipped from China). That said, it was the time and money I was putting in *because* I wanted a mechanical keyboard that fit a certain criteria. I was close to just buying a prebuilt, which would have solved all of those problems and I still would have gotten a nice, mechanical keyboard out of it.

[@WyvernDotRed]

I bought a Royal Kludge keyboard out of curiosity about 2 years ago, and am still using it to this day as it was sufficient. Had to de-solder and move about 2 failing switches, which I personally don't mind as it was cheap enough and easy to fix. Am considering eventually upgrading the board, but as this gives the halfway actuation I want and the Red style switches sound fine to me. Mechanical keyboards seem like a fun hobby but having other priorities, it doesn't have to be the rabbit-hole it is often made out to be.

[@cStraight]

@@WyvernDotRedI maybe late, but I fucking hate the royal kludge, the old one atleast, sketchy ass software, frustrating ass functions and doesnt factory reset when wanted.

[@WyvernDotRed]

@@cStraight I suppose you are late, as since I did replace that board with a New Model M. Expensive, against the grain of the hobby space, but great for me and something I expect to outlast my PC. Not that the software bothered me, since I do key remapping PC side and the RGB was configurable enough from the keyboard shortcuts. That RK keyboard has since been handed down to a nephew, to supplement a laptop with a crappy built-in board which would wear out quickly from gaming on it. As in, we already had to replace it as my brother effed the W key in his Fortnite phase and the RK was as expensive as the even crappier replacement we got. A true case of one man's rubbish being someone else's treasure, said nephew absolutely loves the laptop while I consider it nearly worthless. The keyboard being a true upgrade for him too, though they're in a household with barely any PCs where he is the only non-Nintendo gamer.

[@AliFindsGadgets]

i just bought hxsj v800 mechanical keyboard from temu for 6 dollars of discount and its super amazing comparing to all membrane keyboards ive used in my life before, i will never turn back to membrane keyboards anymore xD!

[@jordsoo1]

Also a recent article from her "Looking for the perfect gaming laptop for Black Friday? Try a Chromebook"

[@ghostlyed8902]

That is absolutely wild 🤣.

[@iWriteWithPride]

I'd rather she just say, "Hey, I want ya'll to check out this membrane keyboard" instead of crapping on those who enjoy quality keyboards.

[@DrDoggoat]

I haven't had the luxary of a true mechanical, but the way that i see this whole thing is just like any other hobby. I was a big coffee efficianado and someone making a video about coffee put it best. It's a hobby that has many layers that you can deep dive on. Yes anyone can use a keurig or whatever, but I prefer doing pour over or making and pulling a shot of espresso. It's a hobby and that doesn't make keyboard enthusiast snobs same as it doesn't make coffee people who brew via gooseneck kettle with a temperature of 135 degrees farenheit snobs it just means y'all have deeper knowledge and specific preferences and that is to be respected

[@Chozo4]

I found this article overall amusing of a read. I've been on the search for a suitable mechanical keyboard for 2 decades and only seriously started looking 5 years ago. After using cheap membranes (Compaq Model 5107 and HP Keyboard 100) all these years I finally got ahold of a Rakk Ilis with Outemu Silent White switches. It is significantly more silent than the membranes I have used and sometimes forget I'm typing because of how quiet it is. Considering the amount of added features it was a nobrainer.

[@maddux3595]

This video is absolutely mindblowing for me, I have the membrane keyboard he was using as an example and for years now I thought it was mechanical because of how loud it is and because it is genuinely a lot better than keyboards I had used before. Now I need to find out what a mechanical is actually like.

[@CymBan]

did you get to try a mechanical?

[@claxcz]

membranes usually have like a cicle on the bottom which will just registers as you push down the key until it hits that circle thingy on the switch and mechanical have like a cross and is fully attached to the key that it depends the spec of a switch on how it registers a key press.

[@PaLaDinDen]

A bit of personal experience with both keyboards here: I chose membrane over mechanical, even though I game 90% of the time when I'm at the PC. Why? First and foremost - yes, it's cheaper. For a price of cheapest mechanical I can buy a very solid membrane kboard and it will be silent, definitely more quiet than stock mechanical. I don't understand the point of "fully pressing a button for it to register" part, as that's what button is supposed to do, unless you want a keyboard that can write you an essay when a dust particle falls on it, idk. I have a gf that games on mechanical - it is the most terrible thing to wake up to her clacks during midnight, when I have to go to work in the morning, she felt the same thing when I bought myself a mechanical keyboard that is 40USD and was marketed as quiet. On the other hand - I use 20USD membrane Defender keyboard and it makes so little noise that when I bought it at first - I had to doublecheck if I'm pressing the key when I type, because I couldn't hear it clack. Fast forward to today, one year of service and it's still going strong, everything presses normally and is still quiet. I guess it all comes down to preference, taste and the ability to spend money on things. I cannot force myself to waste 50+ dollars on something so impractical in my situation, even if it looks and sounds fancy, let alone mod it for additional 30+ bucks. I have a stomach to feed, a rent to pay, and a rationality to admit I don't have enough money in my pockets for such things, so yeah - membrane is the way, unless you're an enthusiast or simply can afford it.

[@Eshcole]

This kind of video is awesome! If we're talking about strictly office work then membrane is "all you need". However, I find typing for extended periods of time on a membrane keyboard to be tiring compared to a mechanical keyboard so even in an office I prefer mechanical.

[@nandakoryaaa1401]

outemu silent lime is just right for the office. I typed a ton of texts on it without any fatigue, and it is quietter than a membrane.

[@Centyme]

0:03 the subtitles say Hippo Tech lol

[@GraflexGuy]

This article made me want to get a mechanical keyboard. - Typed on a membrane

[@bars2020]

I have classic Mitsumi membrane keyboard from 1999. Metal bottom case, factory lubed stabilizers, and it's really fine to type. With individual membranes under every key, feels pretty consistant to type, for a membrane keyboard. Spacebar don't have any rattle and sounds suprisingly thoccy. But nobody build membranes like that anymore, you can't buy something like this new. This old thing is immortal.

[@sneekeruk]

I had a Mitsumi in the mid 90's that was really nice to type on, and as you said it was a nice deep sound without rattle, especially as it was a cheap keyboard even at the time.

[@ibisskb]

As somebody who got a semi-mechanical keyboard for sale for $13, the only regret I have is, that if the keyboard eventually stops functioning properly, I won't get a deal as good and end up feeling the emptyness from going to semi-mechanical to a membrane one. Also, cheap membrane keyboards can get real noisy as well if you are a fast typer. No way around that, unless you get a keyboard that is good at keeping the presses silent.

[@Chamieiniibet]

2:23 "they can be literally whatever you want them to be" That's just an outright lie. I want them to have sub-2mm (better under 1mm) total travel and/or zero dead travel (travel after engaging), just like the low-profile membranes have. Now show me a single mechanical switch that could do that.

[@wokzhongson]

low profile mechanical for the former and any hall effect board for the latter

[@Chamieiniibet]

@@wokzhongson even the lowest profile mech keybs still got 2mm+ of travel, and hall effect doesn't stop the key after the engagement point.

[@zemoxt]

i bet my life savings that the video will start with "Howdy Hey"

[@SadWitchBree]

This was one of my favorite videos. Definitely would like to see more if the opportunity arises. Now, this article was so ludicrous that I'm not sure if I could have read it without pausing for periods of laughter.

[@DeborahMaxwell]

I grew up in the early 80s, learning to type from my grandmother's OLD electric IBM typewriter and then on the Tandy CoCo series. I am a HEAVY typer, and tend to kill membrane keyboards in a couple of years. I found a mechanical keyboard on amazon for 16 USD, and I LOVE IT. Super clicky and doesn't feel like I'm going to kill it from just everyday typing!

[@tassiasmith]

I switched from membrane keyboards to mechanical ones about 15 years ago. As a gamer, I've had the wasd buttons wear out after a couple years of use over and over again, whereas none of the mechanical keyboards I've had have actually had the switches wear out except my last keyboard which I'd had for around 7-8 years and was only skipping one key occasionally and I really debated replacing it at all. Money wise, mechanical keyboards have been a much better investment for me; more upfront cost, but less cost over time.

[@joelblizzard160]

I recently needed to use a membrane keyboard for a few days, actually a fairly "decent" steelseries model, and you touched on the biggest issue with them in my opinion, and that is the need to fully compress the key for it to register the keystroke. I wouldn't have thought that I had become so accustomed to the 2mm actuation point of the switches I use, but my god I was missing keystrokes left and right just trying to do general typing on the membrane board. It actually felt to me like the keyboard was broken. That full keypress to register keystrokes takes SO MUCH more effort than most mechanical keyboards, despite the lower force technically required. And this is coming from someone who uses 85g springs!

[@matt5g]

The app development class I was in forced me to use a membrane keyboard and I had the same problem, I'd miss so many keystrokes and end up with literal jibberish for code

[@mahfudzk]

@@matt5g gotta bring your own keeb next time mate, lol

[@babyseahorse]

I am the exact opposite. The shallow actuation point is not satisfying for me. I prefer to feel the bottoming out like playing the piano.

[@PinkAsAPistol]

I am not a keyboard hobbyist by any means, but I write a lot. 8 years ago I got my Gigabyte for about 50 euros, with Cherry reds and absolutely no other features - not even LEDs, the absence of which I really like. Only mods are PBT keycaps and lubing the stabilizers, which were awful. Not an amazing experience by hobbyist standards, but it allowed me to type faster and with minimal fatigue. So my instant reaction was that pitching mechanicals for gamers is doing a disservice and that anyone who writes for more than 15 minutes a day is missing out hugely by treating membrane keyboards as the default ones. Everything that article says makes absolutely no sense. Even not being able to afford expensive stuff - which definitely applies to me - means that you should get a simple and reliable mechanical, as opposed to buying a mushy thing that you will have difficulty maintaining, spend months touching a filthy and greasy object and have to throw out and replace it every few years. It took less than a handful of years for my mechanical keyboard to prove cheaper, as well as better in every other respect. It's far more likely that the reason most people don't think they should have a mechanical keyboard is that they never owned one.

[@zartul]

I have a Redragon, Outemu Red Switch, as you cited, and it's quite ok, and was a world of difference from my old membrane "gamer" keyboard. I plan on customizing my Redragon sometime down the line, but in my country it's a little expensive to do so.

[@2k1j]

Tape mod bandaid mod holee mod and pe foam arent really that expensive

[@a.w_.]

@@2k1jyup this is what I went for, just wanted the experience of “baby’s first mod” without having to spend a ton and go through a bunch of effort. It’s a fun experience! It’s always nice to do something with your hands.

[@Raikos100]

Hey, it's 7 months since you posted but, I have the exact same keyboard, and just happened to customize it with akko purples, lube and tape. I'm having aural bliss from it and I'm super happy. Definetely worth and kinda cheap.

[@Gamer115x]

Great video. Something else I think isn't often considered when comparing the two is that Mechanical keyboards can, with some skill, be repaired more often than membrane. Dead key? Replace the switch or, in my case on one keyboard, a resistor. Can't really do that with a membrane.

[@debasishraychawdhuri]

Yes, that one switch costs more than an entirely new membrane keyboard.

[@TensaZangetsu1200]

@@debasishraychawdhuri That is just incorrect

[@SOTP.]

@@debasishraychawdhuribro what substance are you on

[@justbubba4373]

I went from a Cynosa Chroma which is like, "one of the better membranes" to an Asceny One, and it was life changing. I never knew that it was possible for my hands to not physically hurt while typing and for key presses to actually consistently register.

[@WalterBlacc]

Bro i recommend taking small sticks or something like cut out q-tips and wedge them in the keycaps so it becomes something like a wooting.

[@mbfox125]

I will admit that I didn't think switching to a mechanical keyboard would matter to me I did try a well-regarded budget option and... it didn't matter to me. After using one for a year I pulled out my old membrane keyboard to see if it felt terrible now and it just didn't. I would have been just as happy with a membrane, that being said solid mechanical keyboards are so well priced, currently there really isn't significant cost savings to go membrane, and mechanicals are supposed to last longer and be more reparable. So while I agree most people won't care from a sound or feel standpoint, given that there isn't really a big cost saving, not much reason to go membrane unless your budget is like 10 bucks.

The Apex 5 feels and sounds better than any clicky mechanical keyboard I've tried. But you're absolutely right about not needing to fully press a mechanical key. For example, I have a Logitech G613, and it's incredible how some keys need just about 0.1mm of pressure, which is awesome! The best part is, if you need two keypresses, you're likely fine with just touching the key once. The downside is, if you only needed one keypress, you might find yourself using backspace quite a bit. By the way, scissor-switch membrane keyboards can also be very good in terms of feel and quietness. Regarding sound tests, most reviewers do a terrible job by placing the mic on the same table or too close to the keyboard, making the tests almost worthless. Without a proper reference, even the quietest keyboards sound really loud. It would be great to see a comparison with something like the Magic Keyboard, which isn't the quietest either but would probably make for a good reference.

[@echostancer404]

As a Keyboard enthusiast who interested in Automotive Industry, those article remind me of "Why Electric vehicle good for environment" which is not that good for environment actually.

[@jonathancormack]

Interested does not equate to any amount of profound engineering or technical experience. Science unfortunately for you, is not based on feelings or interest.

[@ArchOfficial]

@@jonathancormack Well, the science is overwhelmingly that battery-powered personal vehicles are long-term harmful to the environment and highly destructive to 3rd world nations where Lithium is mined with slave labor to produce HQ batteries at such a high volume.

[@Guitar88]

I had a blue switch mechanical keyboard, but due to the sound my wife made me switch back to membrane, got a Corsair k55 pro, and its great, super silent and has great tactile feedback! Of course it was more expensive that the mechanical,but once you go mechanical you can not go back to a cheap membrane One.

[@claxcz]

or swap out the switches instead of buying a new one, blue ones are always the loud ones but there are tons of silent switches or if you want a satisfying but not so loud sound there are a lot, personally i don't like blue switches so i bought kaihl brown switches and then i upgraded it to akko v3 cream black pro and it sounded so good without modding it but it is also not loud that it annoys me, can't hear it thru headphones anyways.

[@Irfan-pr1lu]

you can try swap the switches with outemu/gaote silent cream yellow. some redditors said it's even more quiet than their friends' office keyboards at work.

[@admaerable]

0:47 >Calls himself a snob. >>Drinks "tea" from a bag.

[@richardwhite3521]

My favorite gaming keyboard ever was razor’s Anansi, which was a membrane keyboard. But I preferred it because of the additional macro key placement along the left side, close to the wasd keys, not because it was membrane.

[@pip5528]

It gets a little complicated because Model Ms have membranes but they have clicky buckling spring switches. The former means they suffer from 2KRO but then Model Fs have discrete switches so they have NKRO and also have buckling springs.

[@Henrex2000]

The reason Model M uses membrane: it's cheaper

[@stoogel]

Tried my dad's old Model F keyboard and was surprised how much force it requires to press down. It sounds nice, and as an HHKB user the weird layout isn't too bad. I'm just used to the feel of Topre which is part-membrane part-mechanical, has full NKRO, and requires very little force to press

[@Zerinsakech]

I used to really like my membrane keyboard which was a Compaq standard from the 90's. Until finally one day that 20 year old membrane gave out and one key wasn't popping up reliably, affecting my typing. I knew I wasn't going to be able to fix it, so I looked around for a similar one, but none of the new keyboards felt as good and poppy as that one. There was something about it that made it different. So I decided to get into mechanical keyboards to replace that good ole membrane. Everyone has what they like, until it breaks and you can't get it anymore and you end up chasing that for years until you discover that it's forever gone. Some of us are into mechanical keyboards because of that. And if you aren't, that's because your favorite keyboard still works and that's fine! Keep using it, but when it dies and you can't fix it. We'll be here for you suggesting switches and keycaps for you to try. It can be a cheap hobby and phase so when you get bored of it, move on and do other things.

[@mahoslash]

That's what happened to me and my good old G80-3000. You truely love it but when it breaks, you can't manage to find a new one anymore. I only retired my G80-3000 because it's been back to the repair shop a bit too often these past few years and the owner is already a bit impatient with me turning that same old relic time and time again. It wasn't worth the time, money and and effort to revamp the whole thing after 20 years of service and fixing one problem at a time is just a waste of everyones time and money. Well, even though I'm not into the hobby, I still know what specific preference I have and ended up with a FC900R BT full blue switch lately to replace my broken down G80-3000. P.S. I didn't expect myself to enjoy the FC900R BT more than I should though......

[@Nitro2030ce]

I love my mechanical keyboard. I absolutely love the clicky ones. My favourite keyboard used to be the IBM Model M. I've always hated membrane ones, especially the cheap ones where you had to jam they keys very hard.

[@heavyhauler426]

Model M is a membrane board... It's action is mechanical but its contacts are within a membrane.

[@gearsgamer7115]

​@@heavyhauler426it's more mechanical than not

[@whisperviz1346]

I also used to have a mindset that membrane keyboard is good enough as long as they have rgb on it. Until i tried mechanical gaming keyboard, damn it feel so nice. Then i obsessed with keycaps, I used to not really care until i found out something called PBT keycaps. Then i found out about different kind of switches. Then i found out about DIY/custom keyboard. So many thing has changed since I try something new.

[@ItsFactor]

I'm not too terribly invested into Keyboards, I just buy whatever mechanical looks good at best buy, but your channel has been super informative to me lately and I've just thoroughly loved the learning experience provided.

[@TheRealEvilSink]

I have this sensory issue in my hands where vibrations, certain pressures and sudden change of movement makes my hands feel like i get small jolts of electricity kinda, and it makes me tense up my fingers leading to hand pain amd stiffness. Its only in super specific situations, but membrane keyboards fall into that category. Linear mechanical switches was a game changer.

[@jierenzheng7670]

As a mechanical keyboard user, I would like to point out that there are good membrane keyboards that feels decent to touch. Lenovo SK-8825, Surface keyboard and Magic Keyboard are good examples.

[@ANDSENS]

Throwing the Logitech K860 into the mix if ppl are looking for short travel. Can recommend.

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

I'm pretty sure Surface and Magic are scissor switch.

[@jierenzheng7670]

@@rightwingsafetysquad9872Scissor switches are membranes because of how they work.

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

@@jierenzheng7670 Usually, but not necessarily. The Kailh X switch does not use rubber. A handful of nice desktop keyboards use it. High end Dell and some Lenovo laptops use rubber to protect the switch from debris, but not for the switch mechanism.

[@beatrixpendragon]

My co worker uses the default membrane keyboard supplied in our office and she beats down on it LOUD because the input does not immediately register. Plus those things are basically thrown out once a key starts malfunctioning. My oldest mechanical is 4 years old and is very reliable (cost me about 20 bucks as it was a no brand China keeb). I have made back what I spent on it with the use I got and it still is very much serviceable.

[@ZodiacLeopard.]

I'd been using a run of the mill dell membrane board forever, until I came across this channel. I snapped up a brown switch Keychron C1 for like, $50 and I can never go back. It was so much better straight out of the box. I never noticed how hard I type until I tried this board. I am 100% for mechanical now because the bounce back quality and quicker actuation literally saves my hands. There are more flexible plate options and Alice ergo style boards out there that would make an even bigger difference and I plan to upgrade and pass on my C1 to a friend. A mechanical keyboard is a long term investment that absolutely can save the health of your hands and wrists. Getting tendonitis and arthritis is a huge concern for people in my field. So anything I can do to prevent that will save me Way more time and money in the long run than spending a couple hundred upfront for preventive measures that will increase the longevity of my career and use of my hands in general.

[@silversong4VR]

I type on a keyboard all day for work, then again when I get home and game on PC. Getting older with arthritis in my fingers, a neck injury and aching shoulders, I finally opted for an ergo mechanical keyboard that I could customize for my needs. After searching far and wide I settled on the Dygma Raise...and never looked back. No more shoulder pain, love the feel of the switches I went with (and can change out easily), the sound is so satisfying I just WANT to type. And it's beautiful to boot. Pricey? Yep (more so now than when I got mine 2 yrs ago). Worth it? Definately!

[@theoldironqueen8224]

As someone who switched from Cherry MX Blues to a membrane, I can tell you, the feeling of a good membrane, especially for writing, is sometimes preferable because of the ultra flat design. I own 3 mechanical ones and I love to type on them, but like, eh, the super flat keyboards are just nice, also wireless flat keyboards cost a lot more when they are mechanical.

[@Phillisteum]

I'm 40, been using membrane keyboards all my life until recently I moved company and have new coworkers that use mechanical keyboards, one of them even build his own, I tried the Keychron low profile that one of them had (K5 maybe?) and I got curious and started to investigate the net. Got myself a week ago the Nuphy Air75 V2 with Cowberry switches and shine through key caps and I'm loving every key stroke! It's so satisfying and it makes going to work much more enjoyable. It does make a difference, people shouldn't be deferred from trying out and making their own decisions. Must say your channel made big impact on me and my new found joy for mechanical keyboards 😄

[@bland9876]

I have a chicklet membrane keyboard and it sounds better than this keyboard he reviewed at the end. Honestly I think if you have a high quality membrane keyboard it can actually feel really good. I'm pretty sure mine is only medium quality. The ThinkPad keyboard is pretty good for example. Whatever membranes Lenovo uses are high quality along with the key caps. I'd love to see a follow up video comparing and contrasting the 2 with some high quality membrane keyboards in the mix.

[@DerrickRG]

There's no need. Membranes are ass.

[@bland9876]

@@DerrickRG it's like the American cheese of keyboards you will find it everywhere regardless of if you think it's not very good.

[@ArtfulCosumDust]

​@@bland9876I only have a membrane because every mechanical I typed on hurts my hands. I want to upgrade to a torpe eventually which is technically better than both membrane and mechanical

[@bland9876]

@@ArtfulCosumDust ya I can't justify paying $300+ for a keyboard.

[@navybrandt]

I'm new to the mechanical keyboard world, and I can say that they have greatly improved my quality of life in one small area. 1000% better than a membrane keyboard for me.

[@x-Stitch-x]

6:00 I had a membrane keyboard and recently switched to mechanical, the membrane one was louder.

[@Scotty_in_Ohio]

I began my mechanical keyboard journey about a year ago (maybe a little bit longer) - and I can honestly say that my daily computing experience is much better with my built keyboards and for not a lot of money (for the keyboard I mainly use for work) - I've also never felt "bullied" or victim to keyboard "snobs" about my choice of switch, plate or key caps - I like what I like. I think that most of us can appreciate/respect people's different preferences and opinions while still being able to call B.S. when it's delivered as "fact". Sell your membrane keyboards, buy them, use them - whatever makes you happy. I still maintain that when I use a "cheap" keyboard (not necessarily inexpensive or specifically membrane) - I (now) want something better. BTW for my "work" computer I use a low noise switch that still is tactile and while it's not completely silent the noise filter in teams/zoom does the rest as I can't hear my keyboard in any of the recordings of the meetings and haven't gotten any negative reports from those I meet with.

[@Er0G3niu5]

As someone who used membrane keyboards from childhood all I can say is that I replaced my membrane keyboards 15 times in 18 years (mainly because my WASD gets busted due to heavy gaming). If I had a mechanical keyboard then I had saved my money and only replaced my broken mechanical keys rather than replace the whole keyboard. I bought a cheap redragon keyboard 10 years ago and it's still working fine and gave it to my little brother and now I'm using an RK 84 & Darkflash GD100 for my gaming/office use.

[@R3_dacted0]

Saying "membrane is all you need" is the kinda like saying "it's not necessary to wear shoes outdoors."

[@LutraLovegood]

More like "it's not necessary to buy a Louis Vuitton handbag"

[@destyrian]

I'll be honest - I didn't know it was this easy to mod/customise mechanical keyboards even though I've been using them for the last 8 or so years. I've never had a mechanical keyboard crap out on me but had plenty of membranes break over the decades (I'm old... Decent keyboards are a new thing, kids) . I will say I was given a keyboard at work to plug into my laptop dock and it feels lovely to do typing on. It's a HP membrane. It's so nice I was thinking of getting one for home, but it would suck for gaming, being a low profile membrane. Instead, I'm going to replicate the feeling and then some with a custom keyboard that's great for gaming and typing. Thanks to your videos I've bought a keychron Q3 which will arrive soon hopefully, along with some Gateron red switches and steelseries prism keys (just going to try them lads, I like a bit of RGB). Looking forward to modding the board. I'm thinking of experimenting on my current board a roccat vulkan 120. I hate that thing and I don't care if I break it. Might pop the cherry browns out and put my Gaterons in for a preview while I wait for keychron to arrive. The journalist is an idiot, just writing a lot of unfounded assumptions and gaslighting the gaming community in a bid to find something to talk about or sell a shitty roccat board. I don't see how that keyboard will work for anyone since it's a 65(?) Yet a membrane, so not great for gaming. Pointless for office work as you'll be much slower having to use function keys and the top numbers without the number pad, scroll lock etc.

[@faranocks]

Some membranes are definitely better than others. My dad uses an ergo membrane keyboard, and the membrane switches are quite consistent and have a very gradual bottom out, with actuation around 3mm down a 4mm range. I still definitely prefer a mechanical keyboard, but given that fully ergo mechanical keyboards tend to be a fair bit more expensive, I can see why my dad isn't willing to make the jump. I think membrane keyboards are adequate for many, or even most people who use computers, but to say that they're better in any way but price is misleading at best.

[@malcomreynolds4103]

Given that membrane keyboards havent been around for decades, I doubt that

[@faranocks]

@@malcomreynolds4103 they've been around for almost 30 years now.

[@ano_nym]

@@malcomreynolds4103 what are you on about, the very keyboard I'm typing this on is close to 3 decades old.

[@cursedRavioli]

Love that Hipyo magic allows you to switch clothes 3 times in 20 seconds :D

[@KindOldRaven]

Only rubberdomes worth it are electrocapacitive keyboards like NIZ or Topre and the likes. Other than that it's mech/optical/hall-effect all the way!

[@smolmuffin]

Once you go mechanical it is very difficult to go back 😂 Most membrane keyboards just feel weird and overly squishy for me to use now, and the keyboard I got is great, $60 for one that is super easy to change out switches + customize if I desired. Solid investment there. Its a Nimbleback one (grabbed it because I saw it covered in a few videos in the past and was looking for a cheaper, yet quality keyboard)

[@ghost-user559]

One thing membrane does really well is silence. I often have people sleeping in the same room when I type, and for sure membrane does silent typing really well.

[@mavadelo]

For me specifically, so far yes... a membrane keyboard has been all I need. I use a simple Corsair K55 RGB Pro. I happen to like the way it types and sounds. I don't think it is much more quiet than the keyboards you showed though. That said, last time I bought a new keyboard I was thinking about getting a mechanical one. However the place I went to did not have budget mechanical keyboards so I went with my trusted K55 once again. (I mean, it was a €130 euro difference between the K55 or their cheapest Mechanical I did some checking what is available (I prefer in person shopping instead of online, I am old... git off of my lawn) and came across the brands QWARE, Trust and Hyperx that seem to be within my price range. Anyone can tell me which of these brands are considered a good buy?

[@UrAverageGamer9000]

Personally I've really enjoyed hyperX keyboards. I've used models with linear switches and the tactile switches. Very satisfying purchases as my first mechanical keyboards. I will note that depending on how hard you press your keys, it may not come off as quiet as you were expecting as the keycaps can easily hit the aluminium frame for a clanging sound.

[@Raikos100]

Bruh, I had this keyboard till my friend dropped coke on it and it simply died on me. I replaced it for a Redragon Outemu Red, and my god it was day and light, also not that expensive at all. It actually gets ridiculously good if you simply lube and tape mod it.

[@Mastermind4life]

membrane durability / cost / simplicity > customization most don't care about... Unlike, this niche keyboard loving crowd, where customization is the point. This is comparing a base controller to an elite controller. (the article was trash ftr) Just like if you never thought " this controller needs more buttons and better grip" then you also probably never notice it's a full press vs a half press you and probably don't care enough. Where's the steam survey for how many people actually care/notice? This shouldn't be a hot take, not even being devil's advocate, i honestly can't imagine the stats backing this up even in a niche crowd.

[@babylfsh]

My personal pedantry: "membrane" vs "mechanical" is a false dichotomy. There are obviously mechanical keyboards which use a sensing membrane (Model M) and rubber dome designs which don't use a sensing membrane (Topre, BTC, etc). The sensing technology has no impact on the feel. A better distinction is the presence or absence of a rubber dome. (Not to say Topre isn't good ofc)

[@Pherd1132]

Mechanical is a profound experience, custom or not. the article missed out on that one. Ever since i went mechanical, Ive never gone back to membrane with the exception of logitech mx craft - but this one's just immaculate for a membrane.

[@nachot6592]

I use the K780 for daily stuff and I friggin love the thing. They keys are quiet, feels great, I got used to the shape and the form factor is perfect. Logitech does great high end membranes, people.

[@Chafmere]

I'm literally getting a mechanical keyboard for work because the membrane one I have is tiring me out typing on it. I don't know what it is but getting those modifier keys down with my pinky is really hard and I'm over it.

[@Like.a.boss.]

describing membrane keyboards just as mushy may just be the understatement of the century, and also i got my mechanical keyboard pretty cheap but with the curse of blue switches