Switch tester reviewInstead of running through all the switches (my first inclination), I'm going to break them down by switch type and talk only about the particularly impressive and disappointing switches. Assume things I don't mention fall between "meh" and "okay".
Linear:I have very little experience with linear switches. I don't game much anymore, instead spending my days programming and writing, so I opt for tactile or clicky switches. The Vintage Black has convinced me that linear switches might be worth a try. The "modern" black next to it is noticeably scratchier by comparison. I think the added weight as well would make it reasonable for typing – I think my fingers could learn to recognize the force required to actuate the switch without bottoming out. By comparison, the 45g Black is light to the point of absurdity. I don't think I could even rest my hands on a keyboard with those without depressing them all.
(Quiet) Tactile:I'm more familiar with tactile switches than anything else. My first board had Browns and I've since tried 67g and 62g lubed Clears. Since getting used to clears, browns hardly feel tactile anymore. When I met up with TacticalStache, he showed me his keyboards. At one point he handed me a board and I started typing, and asked, "so these are Reds?" and he was like, "no, Browns." Anyways, I don't care for them much anymore. None of the different weights did them any favors as well, and I think they just got worse as they got heavier (even less tactile).
The Clears were fine. I think they all could have used lube, especially the lighter ones. 45g is probably too light regardless, and was noticeably sluggish on the way back up. The 62g also tended to get stuck, or felt sticky. The tactile Grey was nice. I have 5 of them from mk.com that just came in actually, and plan to put one in the spacebar of a Clear board.
(Clicky) Tactile: The Blues were mostly fine. I noticed that the lighter ones clicked inconsistently. (My general opinion from all this is that 45g springs are too light for everything.) To be honest, all of them fall roughly into the "meh" category. The Green was fine, but I'm now confused by every comparison I've read of Greens to Buckling Spring. The latter is far superior.
I don't like Whites. All of the Whites I've tried, including the ones included, click inconsistently. I like the idea of a "soft clicky" switch, but I don't like the idea of having to desolder repeatedly to replace switches that start to click funny.
The solder-locked Jailhouse Blue is very nice. It was my favorite clicky switch included. The tactile bump starts at the very top and is very pleasant. It's hard to get the full effect of this change though with only a single switch. I put 20 gauge brass wire-locked Jailhouse Blues in my JD40, and lubed them with a Krytox mix. When you lube them the click tends to disappear, so mine feel more like my 67g Clears with the tactile bump near the start. I think that I prefer them to the un-lubed switch included here, but I might change my mind if I had an entire board of these.
As a whole, I'm not particularly impressed by Cherry's clicky switches (except the Jailhouse Blue). I'm sitting next to a desk with a Model M and a bag of Complicated Blue Alps sitting on it, and both of those are superior to the Cherry switches. Compared to these alternatives, the Cherry switches feel gimmicky. (Unrelated to this switch tester, but I'm so taken by these Blue Alps that I've set the gears in motion to get a Duck Mini V2 to fill with them.)
Final thoughts:Mr. Nubbs, thank you for putting this together! It's a lot of fun to be able to try all these out side-by-side.
Luis, the testers will likely be headed your way either tomorrow or Tuesday morning. I'll PM you tracking info when I have it
