Are Mechanical Keyboards a must?

[windwhirl]

Been using an old HP membrane keyboard for a decade and half. I find all newer membrane keyboards to be a crap experience for me.

 

[FireFox]

Well i have a Gaming Keyboard which i bought but never used it ( still brand new ) because i am still using my Logitech Deluxe 250 from 2004

 

[milewski1015]

I use a CM MasterKeys Pro S (MX Browns), but at work I’m forced to use the bog standard keyboard Dell pairs with its Optiplexes, or this guy if I’ve gotta mess around on the console (HP C1400A)

 

[Frick]

Personally I'm not a fan of mechanical keyboards. The best keyboard I've ever used (and that includes the old IBM Type M and some modern mechs) is the one on the HP Elitebook 2510p. Close to it are the clunky Dell keyboards.

 

[Night]

I switched from almost a decade old Microsoft SideWinder X4, to this Razer Huntsman TE, which is a mechanical keyboard, also TKL. It has red optical switches, which are quite loud. I like the sound personally. Key actuation is around 1 mm for these optical switches so there can be quite a few typos in the beginning and it's a royal pain in the ass if you'll be playing racing games on such keyboard, I actually used the SideWinder for some time in arcade racing games because I would end up pressing A and D at the same time (thanks to low actuation) and crashing. However in FPS games, it's a lot better than your typical membrane keyboard, I can say that much. It all falls down to your taste, but they're not a must have.

 

[Vario]

I prefer mechanical, key presses seem more precise action and NKRO is nice. Its worth it for me. I use a high end keyboard (Filco) but you can source these things for not much more than a membrane keyboard if you hunt around. I have a cherry mx red switch Filco TKL and a cherry mx brown switch Filco TKL, I prefer the red but they are both acceptable to me. I have much higher WPM on the red.

I don't really like keyboard snobbery, people should use what they like without judgement.

 

[WatEagle]

Personally I used mechanical and membrane ones. For me it depends: if you use it for normal stuff and no gaming I would go with something like a logitech mx keys.
On the other hand if you game a lot probably a mech with hotswappable switches is your best choice.
I use daily blue switches and man, belive me you will regret picking up them. I started with orings, added also foam, deks pads to reduce the sound but always feels noisier than what's needed.
there are also more quiet switches

 

[Ruyki]

I much prefer mechanical keyboards. They feel better to type on and to game on than a membrane keyboard to me. I did use some membrane keyboards that were ok, but a mechanical is just better for me.

The main advantage of mechanical keyboards is probably the key feel and the fact that the actuation point is roughly in the middle of the key press and not at the very bottom (as it is in membrane keyboards).

 

[Sithaer]

I've bought my first mecha keyboard a month ago or so and to me it doesn't feel like a big 'upgrade' to be honest.
Definitely not as much as the price difference was considering that I was using sub 30$ membrane keyboards for like 15+ years and had no issues with them whatsoever. 'lots of MMO gaming and typing too'
My previous one was a fake mecha membrane Genius Scorpion K10 which I liked but it developed multiple issues over the years so I decided to finally replace it and try out a mecha since I kept hearing how great they are and whatnot.

Yeah I can feel that the key presses are smoother and easier but eh, other than that I use it all the same and would have no issues going back if I had to.

I also find most mecha keyboards annoyingly loud, even the Brown Kailh switches are just about tolerable for my ears. 'I would say its almost the same as that K10 was just a diff sound tone'

Once had to point out to my friend on Teamspeak that I'm hearing some loud annoying noise coming from him and asked whats that and he had no idea first and then told me that oh yea thats my keyboard.
So yea some ppl don't mind that I guess.

I agree with the previous posters that its just personal preference, use whatever you like /find comfortable.

 

[robot zombie]

I hack away on my reds and never really notice. Its not like those are quiet either. I like the feel of them, for everything. Cleaning and maintenence is so much easier, too. Typing on membranes is hard for me now. The change in feedback makes me feel disconnected from the movements... and by the time a keyboard is making me type deliberately, I'm missing far too many keys. Its like trying to stop wearing jogging shoes and still being stuck with the heel-toe muscle-memory.

Anytime someone is in the room with me typing they always seem to get a little distraught, saying that I type like a maniac. Of course, that could always just be the whole truth of it but Im betting the mechanical board is a major factor

 

[sam_86314]

Bought my first mech in early-2016, a Redragon Vara. It had Outemu Blue switches, which felt great but were extremely loud. Still, I enjoyed using it for a while.

Got my second and current mech in mid-2018, a Logitech G610 with Cherry Brown switches. Absolutely love this keyboard. It's nowhere near as loud as the old one while having a similar feel.

I find that overall, mechanical keyboards feel more solid, whereas membrane ones tend to feel soft and spongy.