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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: uphillcastle on Wed, 18 May 2011, 04:11:22

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: uphillcastle on Wed, 18 May 2011, 04:11:22

Hi I tried a Filco brown switch keyboard yesterday and to be honest I could get use to it even after about a days worth of typing. This is going to sound strange but I preferred my crappy rubber dome board. The keys on this one, have a kind of low profile.  The filco keys were much taller, if that makes sense. I can type a million times faster on my rubber dome board than i did on the filco. So my question is are there any mechanical keyboards out there with low profile keys were the height isnt if 'em arent too tall? thanks

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: Orphagn on Wed, 18 May 2011, 04:31:05

Get some Cherry keys, they have a lower profile.

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: xwhatsit on Wed, 18 May 2011, 05:50:16

He means key travel. Key height makes no difference.

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: pingy_or_clacky on Wed, 18 May 2011, 05:53:34

I guess you could try the boards with Cherry MLs, but those don't get much love for some reason. I just fixed up a Model IBM M2 and it seems to me that the keys are fairly low profile as well (although those are probable around the same size as the Filcos).

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: Human on Wed, 18 May 2011, 06:53:52

Quote from: xwhatsit;347911

He means key travel. Key height makes no difference.

May be he really mean key height. Scissor switch and some rubber dome having low profile(like those mac kb).

Key travel mostly is about 4-5mm for high/normal profile kb, 1-2mm for low profile kb.

Logitech on the other hand made the PerfectStroke which having low profile yet longer key travel(3mm) than most low profile kb for a more comfort typing...  

You can get the effect of low profile on Cherry MX easily as it actuate at 2mm(if you dont bottom out) with the use of low profile keycaps. Here is some example.
(http://img04.taobaocdn.com/bao/uploaded/i4/T1mUlOXltwXXcFc.g8_102108.jpg)
(http://img01.taobaocdn.com/imgextra/i1/33487886/T2qr8vXopXXXXXXXXX_!!33487886.jpg)

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: uphillcastle on Wed, 18 May 2011, 07:07:56

ah I see...anywhere I can get hold of those? Will try google, thanks

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: BucklingSpring on Wed, 18 May 2011, 10:50:18

Quote from: uphillcastle;347924

ah I see...anywhere I can get hold of those? Will try google, thanks

I'm still not sure if the OP means travel vs profile.
In case of travel the landing pads may help to reduce it at low cost
EK Landing pads (http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,slpads&pid=sl120_cf)
(http://elitekeyboards.com/proddata/images/th/sl120_cf_sw_th620x400.jpg)

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: noodles256 on Wed, 18 May 2011, 12:23:32

wlcm 2 gh

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: uphillcastle on Wed, 18 May 2011, 13:01:12

Quote from: noodles256;348026

wlcm 2 gh

Thanks!
 

Quote from: BucklingSpring;347995

I'm still not sure if the OP means travel vs profile.
In case of travel the landing pads may help to reduce it at low cost
EK Landing pads (http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,slpads&pid=sl120_cf)

Show Image

(http://elitekeyboards.com/proddata/images/th/sl120_cf_sw_th620x400.jpg)

As you have probably guessed i am a noob. Plus stupid. So bear with me. My questino was regarding the profile, rather than the travel (i am learning all of this as of today) Somehow I found the profile of the Filco just too high up compared to my cheap board...thinking of trying a topre board like a HHKB pro, but watching a review on the tube they seem mighty tall as well. Thanks

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: alaricljs on Wed, 18 May 2011, 13:41:30

How about you tell us what board you're using?

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: daerid on Wed, 18 May 2011, 14:04:35

Most boards with mechanical keys, be they Cherry MX, ALPS, Buckling Spring or whatever will usually have high key profiles. Just kind of the nature of the beast.

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: xwhatsit on Wed, 18 May 2011, 18:39:47

That's interesting. I wonder what it is about high key profile that makes typing slower for you? If the board surround was high too and flush with the keys on a standard Cherry MX, would that hypothetical board make a difference?

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: BucklingSpring on Wed, 18 May 2011, 22:56:09

Quote from: ripster;348214

They are more wobbly.   Physics.  I noticed it immediately when switching from lower Cherry Corps to Filcos - two extremes for most keyboards.  I adjust fairly quickly since I hit the center of the keys.  I'm a good typist.

"They" are the taller, right?

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: daerid on Thu, 19 May 2011, 01:05:44

Quote from: ripster;348214

I'm a good typist.

My vision must be going... I read that as "I'm a GOD typist"

Title: Low profile keys
Post by: firestorm on Thu, 19 May 2011, 09:48:59

Quote from: xwhatsit;348213

That's interesting. I wonder what it is about high key profile that makes typing slower for you? If the board surround was high too and flush with the keys on a standard Cherry MX, would that hypothetical board make a difference?

I'm basically wondering the same thing.  Across the field of keys, I don't see how the height of the keys makes a difference.  Perhaps there's an ergonomic difference, as I can see a low profile board being easier to type on without a wrist rest.  Conversely, I can see some strain developing if you're accustomed to typing at a lower angle.  Otherwise, it could be the curve or lack-thereof that makes a difference, since most/all low profile boards I've seen have a flat field of keys (e.g. like a laptop.)
 
I know it took me a little while to acclimate to my Filco.  I didn't type any slower, but the feel was obviously much different that my old MS Natural.

Title: Re: Low profile keys
Post by: ViewMaster on Wed, 19 June 2013, 15:29:57

THIS is what you want>> http://keycapsdirect.com/esports.php

Title: Re: Low profile keys
Post by: TimIsABat on Thu, 20 June 2013, 23:06:41

To be honest, just give it more time. I am using a Leopold FC660M that I just got two days ago, but I still haven't gotten to my old typing speed. I am getting there though. It is just a matter of getting use to something that is foreign feeling.

Title: Re: Low profile keys
Post by: alaricljs on Thu, 20 June 2013, 23:24:13

Give it more time? This thread is 2 years old...