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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Wibox on Wed, 06 July 2011, 23:59:35

Title: Textured vs. Smooth keycaps.
Post by: Wibox on Wed, 06 July 2011, 23:59:35

It looks like most older keyboards have smooth and shiny keycaps, while modern keycaps are usually textured to some degree (matte finish). I've never used a keyboard with completely smooth keycaps, so I'm curious to know how the difference in feel is.

Anyone here have experience with both?

Picture of my current favorite keycap picture, with smooth keys:.

(http://ykbds.com/img/83.jpg)

And here is my KBC PBT keycaps, with texture:

(http://alrig.ht/keyboard/poker5.png)

Title: Textured vs. Smooth keycaps.
Post by: theferenc on Thu, 07 July 2011, 00:03:00

There's definitely a difference between worn smooth, and designed smooth. I've used some designed smooth spherical key caps, and they are pretty nice, honestly. Have a totally different feel to them, both because of the texture and the shape. I don't think I would like the smoothness on cylindrical key caps though.

They were always much colder, if that makes any sense. I have no idea why, but they were. Nicely cool, is how I would describe them. But they get slick kinda fast after using them for a while if you develop any sweat or moisture on your hands.

Title: Textured vs. Smooth keycaps.
Post by: mr_a500 on Thu, 07 July 2011, 02:51:53

 :blank:

Title: Textured vs. Smooth keycaps.
Post by: Findecanor on Thu, 07 July 2011, 04:23:57

The material matters also. A key cap that is worn until it is shiny, but made of the right material still provides more friction against your finger than a new textured cap made of the wrong material.

Title: Re: Textured vs. Smooth keycaps.
Post by: Joey Quinn on Fri, 06 February 2015, 19:33:44

Smooth

Title: Re: Textured vs. Smooth keycaps.
Post by: jonathanyu on Fri, 06 February 2015, 20:08:27

so many necro posts today...

Title: Re: Textured vs. Smooth keycaps.
Post by: jacobolus on Fri, 06 February 2015, 20:46:14

Quote from: mr_a500 on Thu, 07 July 2011, 02:51:53

My favourites for keycap feel are the TRS-80 Model III (fine granular, like hardened rubber) and the early TI-99/4a (frosty, but with a chalky feel I've never felt on another keyboard).

If you’re still around, which versions? Each of these had multiple different types of keyboards for it, with different switches and keycaps.

Also, yeah, 3.5 years is pretty long for a thread to sit before being dug back up. Pretty sure there have been more recent threads on this topic.

Title: Re: Textured vs. Smooth keycaps.
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 06 February 2015, 22:11:48

How do people find these old threads?

And what prompts them to reply to the thread, knowing that in most cases the OP has long since departed GH?

Title: Re: Textured vs. Smooth keycaps.
Post by: Joey Quinn on Sat, 07 February 2015, 02:17:28

Quote from: rowdy on Fri, 06 February 2015, 22:11:48

How do people find these old threads?

And what prompts them to reply to the thread, knowing that in most cases the OP has long since departed GH?

I was prompted to do this by SpAmRaY, it's all his fault.

Title: Re: Textured vs. Smooth keycaps.
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 07 February 2015, 02:43:13

Quote from: Joey Quinn on Sat, 07 February 2015, 02:17:28

Quote from: rowdy on Fri, 06 February 2015, 22:11:48

How do people find these old threads?

And what prompts them to reply to the thread, knowing that in most cases the OP has long since departed GH?

I was prompted to do this by SpAmRaY, it's all his fault.

:))