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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: kozarrat on Sun, 06 March 2011, 12:13:07

Title: Adapting to mechanical keyboard / rubber dome to cherry mx brown
Post by: kozarrat on Sun, 06 March 2011, 12:13:07

I bought my first mechanical keyboard last week. It is a Filco majestouch 104-key with cherry mx browns. I was hoping that in addition to the better typing experience over a rubber dome keyboard, my typing speed would benefit as well.

At home I have a rubber dome keyboard w/ a pretty short key travel distance. (Logitech Dinovo for notebooks, see here: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-diNovo-Keyboard-for-Notebooks/dp/B001FB55GC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1299434576&sr=8-3)
I average about 105-110wpm with my Logitech.

After a week of typing with my new Filco, I was shocked to see that I'm typing at around 85-90wpm; around 20wpm slower.

Now my questions is, wtf? Is there a significant adaptation period? Am I typing slower because of the longer key travel? I tried both bottoming out and not but so far there is no noticeable difference between the two.

Anyone else with similar or opposite experience?

Title: Adapting to mechanical keyboard / rubber dome to cherry mx brown
Post by: pitashen on Sun, 06 March 2011, 12:42:42

give yourself more time.
One apparent factor I could think of is the height of the keys. You might want to consider giving wrist pad a shot if the slowness persist.

Title: Adapting to mechanical keyboard / rubber dome to cherry mx brown
Post by: bhtooefr on Mon, 07 March 2011, 07:01:49

Another thing is, as you get used to the board, you'll be able to better teach yourself how to avoid bottoming out, and then you'll be able to do higher speeds.

Certain types of keyboards feel good but are slow, and others feel terrible but are fast. All depends on what you're used to. As I do very little transcription, I find that while I can usually do 100 WPM, I can't mentally keep up with that typing rate, so it's all a moot point.

Title: Adapting to mechanical keyboard / rubber dome to cherry mx brown
Post by: dp88 on Mon, 07 March 2011, 14:09:18

I have the same problem. I was using logitec illuminated keyboard that uses the same switches as your dinovo. I was definitely faster and more accurate and fast on the logitech than I am on the Filco brown.  I Have had the Filco for about a month. I have been using scissor switches for years though, so I should give the Filco at least six months. We'll see how that goes.

Title: Adapting to mechanical keyboard / rubber dome to cherry mx brown
Post by: Tony on Mon, 07 March 2011, 18:57:15

I bought a Filco brown yesterday and my speed is slowed about 5-8wpm. Hopefully things will get better in a week

Title: Adapting to mechanical keyboard / rubber dome to cherry mx brown
Post by: keyb_gr on Tue, 08 March 2011, 07:56:00

A speed reduction when going from scissor switch to mechanical does not come as a surprise - when you're used to having to bottom out all the time, the longer key travel will slow you down at first. A different kind of curvature also takes time to get used to.