Keyboard

Introduction

One of the main forms of user interface. You probably used one just now to get here!

Keyboards are a staple of any build and are often considered as a secondary peripheral not worth the hard-earned cash. This is not so. Keyboards sit between you and your computer; like any normal member of this society, you spend a significant amount of time at your keyboard. It only makes sense to make sure that you are typing on the most efficient, comfortable, and durable piece of equipment you can get your hands on as it will likely outlast any single build you own.

Comfort plays a key role in deciding the kind of keyboard one should purchase - it should not be something that people "grow in" to. Everyone has different requirements and tastes with regards to their typing experience. People with finger or joint problems may find it significantly uncomfortable to be typing on a keyboard with high force requirements, while others who type with the force of a jackhammer may find it painful over the long run to type on a keyboard with low force requirements.

In this section we will be using a few keywords in particular, so it would do one well to be acquainted with the following:

• Keystroke - This is the standard down-and-up movement of a key, following the depress-and-release movement of the finger. To press the letter "f" on the keyboard one time, the movement required for that specific key to type the letter "f" is known as a keystroke.

• Actuation - This will refer to the standard process of movement of the key. A cover-all term, actuation may include components such as the actuation force, switch movement, operating point, pressure point, and the reset point. Only actuation force and switch movement will be used extensively in this section.

• Actuation force - This refers to the amount of force or pressure one's finger must exert on a switch before the switch actuates and registers the keystroke.

Mechanical Keyboards

Form factor

Keyboards come in a variety of form factors, and one should choose the form factor that suits their needs. Beyond a certain point, smaller form factors may prove to be inconvenient for some uses and would generally only be considered for their aesthetic and minimalist value.

Full-size

Otherwise known as the 100%, the standard form factor for modern keyboards consists of 104 keys, with an occasional difference of 2 either way. This form factor has every general-purpose function included but is often much too large for most people's personal uses.

TKL

Otherwise known as the 80%, TKL stands for "tenkeyless", which refers to the lack of the number pad cluster on the right side of the keyboard. A TKL form factor consists of 84 to 87 keys. The TKL form factor has become more popular over time as many have decided that the number pad cluster is surplus to their requirements.

75%

A relatively unconventional form factor, the 75% form factor consists of 79-82 keys. This form factor reduces the dead space between the key clusters even more to achieve mostly zero dead space.

60%

The 60% form factor consists of 60-64 keys, with common configurations involving 61 keys. This form factor removes the function, arrow, and navigational key clusters. Instead, most of the functionality provided by those key clusters are still achieved by having more sophisticated circuitry provide "layers" - in which these functions can be remapped to different key combinations. Most suitable for those looking for a more portable board without too many compromises.

40%

Consisting of 47-48 keys generally, the 40% form factor is the smallest form factor a fair few would go for without slipping into the realm of the crazy. Even more of the functionality of a regular keyboard is now remapped into layers. Most of the boards you'll find here are community-made (although the Vortex Core is a notable exception).

Switches

Switches are the individual keys in a mechanical keyboard. They are generally individually packaged, making repairs generally straightforward if one stops working. All you need to swap most switches out is a bit of soldering equipment (unless you have a hot-swappable PCB) and finesse. So who makes these switches?

Cherry

Cherry's MX series is by far and away the most popular switch range used by mechanical keyboard manufacturers. Made in Germany to rigorous testing standards, they are well known for their 50 million keystroke durability coming in a variety of colours and actuation to suit most needs. Actuation is achieved with a lubricated stem within the enclosure, propped up by a spring. When the stem is depressed, a small protruding component attached to the stem is also depressed alongside the stem which removes a forced gap between two leafs of a circuit, thus closing the circuit.

Gateron

Originally known for making inferior-quality clones of Cherry switches, Gateron has gone on to innovate within the market and have started to make their own switches in an identical form factor to Cherry's MX series, and make themselves known as a strong competitor to Cherry with regards to switch quality and manufacturing standards, to the point that keyboard enthusiasts rate Gateron higher than Cherry in a fair few aspects.

Kailh

Following in the footsteps of Gateron, Kailh were once only known for manufacturing Cherry clones. They have also gone on to innovate within the market to carve out a niche for themselves by offering a markedly different typing experience for keyboard enthusiasts, while also providing a fair few keyboard manufacturers like Razer with switches.

Topre

Topre switches are somewhat of an anomaly. They are generally considered to be mechanical switches, despite using a very different actuation mechanism to Cherry, Kailh and Gateron switches. Topre switches operate on the principle of capacitance, which means keystrokes are registered electrically without any physical circuit closure.

This is achieved by using a conical spring under a rubber cup, and actuation is achieved by the key pressing down on the rubber dome, which then depresses the conical spring under it, causing the keystroke to be registered.

Topre switches are controversial in this regard, however - as many computer enthusiasts have panned it as being glorified "rubber domes", à la cheap and unreliable membrane keyboards that sell for $5. A fair few, however, view Topre switches as their "end game".

Resources

/r/mechanicalkeyboards, Geekhack, and Deskthority are all great places to get started on these mechanical beasts.

Other Keyboards

>rubre

>buckling springs

>hall effect