geekhack Community > Keyboards
How hard do you all type?
fohat.digs:
Partially off-topic, but when I started in the hobby O-rings were all the rage for people who like MX-style switches, but I seldom hear about them these days.
Have they fallen from favor? I got my son (the gamer) a Filco TKL with black Cherries about 12-15 years ago, and we installed the softest and thinnest O-rings we could find at the time. There is less time for gaming these days, but there are still no complaints about the configuration.
Findecanor:
--- Quote from: fohat.digs on Thu, 23 May 2024, 12:34:23 ---Partially off-topic, but when I started in the hobby O-rings were all the rage for people who like MX-style switches, but I seldom hear about them these days.
--- End quote ---
O-rings worked only with OEM-profile keycaps with the right stem length and internal struts. Most enthusiasts (and some brands) use Cherry profile, and for those keycaps, the O-rings were too thick. Very thin O-rings (for dental braces) were used for a while, but those have been superseded by "silencing clips" (QMX clips, Zealencios) which dampen also the up-stroke. There have also been more types of silent switches since then that don't need external modding and which work with any keycaps.
But yes, I think those have fallen out of popularity because they soften the feel. Hard bottom out seems to be more popular now.
There have also been developments in the internal construction of keyboards: flex-cuts in plate and PCB, mounting styles that suspend the PCB and plate in damping material, and filling internal spaces with sound-damping foam and silicone pads. Those reduce reverberations in the case and thus noise without affecting key feel as much.
These features started in customs but you can find even mass-produced keyboards with them now.
Rhienfo:
--- Quote from: Findecanor on Thu, 23 May 2024, 15:49:54 ---
--- Quote from: fohat.digs on Thu, 23 May 2024, 12:34:23 ---Partially off-topic, but when I started in the hobby O-rings were all the rage for people who like MX-style switches, but I seldom hear about them these days.
--- End quote ---
O-rings worked only with OEM-profile keycaps with the right stem length and internal struts. Most enthusiasts (and some brands) use Cherry profile, and for those keycaps, the O-rings were too thick. Very thin O-rings (for dental braces) were used for a while, but those have been superseded by "silencing clips" (QMX clips, Zealencios) which dampen also the up-stroke. There have also been more types of silent switches since then that don't need external modding and which work with any keycaps.
But yes, I think those have fallen out of popularity because they soften the feel. Hard bottom out seems to be more popular now.
There have also been developments in the internal construction of keyboards: flex-cuts in plate and PCB, mounting styles that suspend the PCB and plate in damping material, and filling internal spaces with sound-damping foam and silicone pads. Those reduce reverberations in the case and thus noise without affecting key feel as much.
These features started in customs but you can find even mass-produced keyboards with them now.
--- End quote ---
I wouldn't say that hard bottom outs are more popular in the hobby (in fact the direction is towards softer plates like polycarbonate and mounting styles that are less harsh like the various gasket mounts, I think for a lot of people, it was the mushiness that came from using the o-rings that made it undesirable, kinda like why people don't like regular silent switches.
I still think there is a market for silents (that's why there was still innovation in those haimu silents which changed the stem to make it not as mushy) but the hobby moved in general away from silencing things and making things "thocky" or whatever kinda dumb term people use to describe sound now.
Also if you want silencing, I think a lot of people move towards topre now, with the type s and external aftermarket silencing options.
Pyre:
--- Quote from: Rhienfo on Thu, 23 May 2024, 11:00:46 ---
--- Quote from: Pyre on Thu, 23 May 2024, 07:05:29 ---I admire those who can touch type - I'm a very heavy typer, and I hammer those keys especially when I'm working - I think subconsciously I feel like the key won't register until I feel it bottom out.
I wonder if using browns would help provide that feedback to stop for someone who's trying to push more into touch typing? :)
--- End quote ---
Isn't touch typing just not looking at the keyboard while typing, I get what you mean though. Something like topre or those high bump tactiles like holy pandas where there is no travel after the tactility wouldn't help, but browns or clears could, cause there is a bit of travel after the switch and you'll know when to lift up after the tactile event.
For me I mainly use linears and I just commit to bottoming out, I just am typing a lot lighter than I was before.
--- End quote ---
Oh - indeed it is. For some reason I always thought touch typing was where you gently tapped the keys without bottoming out.
What do you call it then when you don't need to look, hammer the keys, and don't rest your hands on the home row? That'd be me.
wjrii:
--- Quote from: Rhienfo on Thu, 23 May 2024, 21:08:09 ---
--- Quote from: Findecanor on Thu, 23 May 2024, 15:49:54 ---
--- Quote from: fohat.digs on Thu, 23 May 2024, 12:34:23 ---Partially off-topic, but when I started in the hobby O-rings were all the rage for people who like MX-style switches, but I seldom hear about them these days.
--- End quote ---
O-rings worked only with OEM-profile keycaps with the right stem length and internal struts. Most enthusiasts (and some brands) use Cherry profile, and for those keycaps, the O-rings were too thick. Very thin O-rings (for dental braces) were used for a while, but those have been superseded by "silencing clips" (QMX clips, Zealencios) which dampen also the up-stroke. There have also been more types of silent switches since then that don't need external modding and which work with any keycaps.
But yes, I think those have fallen out of popularity because they soften the feel. Hard bottom out seems to be more popular now.
There have also been developments in the internal construction of keyboards: flex-cuts in plate and PCB, mounting styles that suspend the PCB and plate in damping material, and filling internal spaces with sound-damping foam and silicone pads. Those reduce reverberations in the case and thus noise without affecting key feel as much.
These features started in customs but you can find even mass-produced keyboards with them now.
--- End quote ---
I wouldn't say that hard bottom outs are more popular in the hobby (in fact the direction is towards softer plates like polycarbonate and mounting styles that are less harsh like the various gasket mounts, I think for a lot of people, it was the mushiness that came from using the o-rings that made it undesirable, kinda like why people don't like regular silent switches.
I still think there is a market for silents (that's why there was still innovation in those haimu silents which changed the stem to make it not as mushy) but the hobby moved in general away from silencing things and making things "thocky" or whatever kinda dumb term people use to describe sound now.
Also if you want silencing, I think a lot of people move towards topre now, with the type s and external aftermarket silencing options.
--- End quote ---
I reluctantly used a set when I shared a WFH office with my wife, on a full size gamer board with Outemu black (still have it under the shelves... turn off the rainbow LEDs and those boards just look like low-profile Filcos), but once I had my own space, it was off with the rings, then back to my 70% with blues, then on to heavy clickies. Right this moment, I'm on a Model M, but my two daily drivers of late have Box Jade and Box Navy.
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