geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: SLM on Thu, 21 January 2010, 18:42:35

Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: SLM on Thu, 21 January 2010, 18:42:35: I was wondering if anybody likes the Cherry MY switch boards. They don't seem to get too much talking about, at least that I've seen.

I've gathered that they are some sort of linear mechanical / rubber dome cross but that's about all.

Thanks!
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 21 January 2010, 18:46:54: From what I gathered, people's opinions tend to range from indifference to dislike of them. They're really designed for POS, not a typists keyboard.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: ricercar on Thu, 21 January 2010, 18:47:02: The only Cherry MY board I own that has no bad keys is one that I bought NIB. I'll never buy a MY board again, unless the key caps are worth it.

A MY switch uses a white plastic slider to press a copper leaf down onto the mylar sheets. They are less firm than browns, and linear like blacks (no tactile response before you bottom out). Near as I can tell, a MY switch must bottom out to close the circuit.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: elbowglue on Thu, 21 January 2010, 19:43:06: Got MY's at work. They are good for building finger muscles, but nothing else.

Think dell at101w but much heavier and spongier.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Thu, 21 January 2010, 19:50:34: Any rubber dome feels better than Cherry MY. Any.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: HaaTa on Thu, 21 January 2010, 20:27:05: Well, I happen to like MY switches.
They are a lot better than rubber domes (consistent feel, so you don't miss keys like on a typical rubber dome keyboard).
They don't need to be bottomed out to register a keypress (its a bit past halfway point until the key bottoms out).

If you can get used to the amount of pressure needed to type, MY switches are nearly silent. The steady increase of spring tension during the keypress helps cushion the fingers on the way down.

The build quality on my board (G81-1800LUMUS-2), is very good (its made in Germany, I bought it in late 2008 NIB).
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: Hak Foo on Thu, 21 January 2010, 23:19:13: Quote from: HaaTa;152897

The build quality on my board (G81-1800LUMUS-2), is very good (its made in Germany, I bought it in late 2008 NIB).

I bought a G81-7000 for the card reader, used, $1, and I felt I overpaid.

It' felt like it was stiffer than pure linear, and so quiet (types on blues happily)
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: Rajagra on Fri, 22 January 2010, 08:17:18: I think MY keys are fine if you hit them dead centre. If you don't, they can bind and this can lead to missed keys. I haven't tried any kind of lube on these, but it might be worth trying.

I use MY boards when gaming, but only for the form factor, and I spend 99% of the time with my hands on other devices:

(The black numpad can store macros if you are wondering.)
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: erricrice on Fri, 22 January 2010, 08:54:19: So here I am to disagree with everyone....

I love MY switches! And I'm more of a typist than a gamer. I often switch to my G81 as a daily driver for a while.

MY Switches have a kind of exponential force graph, which means that the force doesn't just increase as you press, it increases the amount that it increases:

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=7493&stc=1&d=1264171843)

This leads to a kind of cushiony feeling near the middle to bottom of the switch, after it has actuated, and this is caused by the spring, not by a mushy rubber dome so it is an interesting feeling, which I happen to like.

The switch actuates about half way down at about 80cN, but the spring resistance just keeps increasing. If you learn not to bottom out(which is quite easy considering it takes 120 cN to bottom out) this keyboard IS completely silent and you don't spend the extra force bottoming out unless you really exercise your fingers so your fingers move a lot less than on a lighter 'board.

And I have found that the keys do bind up sometimes if you don't hit them in the center, but it's really not bad, you don't have to hit them dead center and they don't really bind up too much, they just add a little more force to the press.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: keyb_gr on Fri, 22 January 2010, 09:14:43: Quote from: Rajagra;152968
I think MY keys are fine if you hit them dead centre. If you don't, they can bind and this can lead to missed keys. I haven't tried any kind of lube on these, but it might be worth trying.

I have. (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:8422) The result is not a G80 with blues obviously, but perfectly usable. Missed keys are reduced a lot, as expected. Sort of a cushion-y feel. It should be noted that the board was a vintage G81 which in my opinion feel a bit better to begin with (maybe it's the wear - the most-used keys did take the lubing better).

Generally I have sort of a love-hate relationship with stock MY boards. Solid-feeling boards, shame about the key feel.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: meltie on Fri, 22 January 2010, 09:35:49: A friend of mine likes them a lot. I would chose MY switches over most rubber dome keyboards (e.g. Cherry G83-6104) any time. But IMHO they are worse than many flat keyboards with scissor switches.

They get better the more they are used IMHO. The G81-3000 boards in our computer rooms at university that got constant pounding for 15 years feel a lot better than brand new keyboards. They are not as stiff anymore.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Fri, 22 January 2010, 09:55:07: Quote from: erricrice;152978

Show Image
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=7493&stc=1&d=1264171843)

The force graph of pressing a sponge should look exactly like that. Or chewing on a slug. Or squeezing a dead octopus, as keyb_gr described it.
Doesn't bother me if some people like that feeling of course.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: keyb_gr on Fri, 22 January 2010, 11:31:28: Quote from: meltie;152983
They get better the more they are used IMHO. The G81-3000 boards in our computer rooms at university that got constant pounding for 15 years feel a lot better than brand new keyboards. They are not as stiff anymore.

Friction will be down a good bit as well. Plus vintage G81s do feel a bit better than their modern counterparts.
Quote from: Mental Hobbit;152990
The force graph of pressing a sponge should look exactly like that. Or chewing on a slug. Or squeezing a dead octopus, as keyb_gr described it.

Actually it wasn't me who coined that term. I found it fitting though.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: SLM on Fri, 22 January 2010, 16:14:48: Thanks all. I think I'll be skipping the MY switches. I'm not that great of a typist and concerns about having to hit the heavy keys centered doesn't sound like fun.

Ricercar... if you see this, did you get my PM?
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 22 January 2010, 16:36:16: With the Cherries, I tried the brown switches the other day. I don't get why so many people like them so much. They don't really feel any different than a good rubber dome keyboard.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: Rajagra on Fri, 22 January 2010, 18:41:03: Quote from: microsoft windows;153102
With the Cherries, I tried the brown switches the other day. I don't get why so many people like them so much. They don't really feel any different than a good rubber dome keyboard.

Use them for a couple of days, then you will get a "wow this is like typing on air" moment, then you will understand.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 22 January 2010, 18:46:53: Like the Topres, they seem to be one of those 'acquired taste' switches. That said, I 'got' the Topres almost straight away.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: bigpook on Fri, 22 January 2010, 20:51:36: pretty neat, I like what you did with the 'switches by personality'. I suppose I can be Walter Matthau.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: erricrice on Fri, 22 January 2010, 23:53:43: Quote from: ripster;153007
I gave one of mine away and threw the other in the trash after pulling the keys.

To Me!!! :dance:

And you left out MY on your matrix!!!!
I'll get it for you...

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=7500&stc=1&d=1264225993)
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: spolia optima on Sat, 23 January 2010, 01:47:01: I like how quickly this thread was derailed. It's much better now, IMHO.

Here is my interpretation of switch personality types. Yeah, I'm kinda drunk. Yeah my picture isn't as funny as i envisaged. So what? It's still an accurate representation of the switch.

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=7502&stc=1&d=1264232702)
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: spolia optima on Sat, 23 January 2010, 04:19:23: with keyboards, it's still tremendously hard for me to express me feelings properly.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: ch_123 on Sat, 23 January 2010, 05:00:07: Black Cherries should be where Black Alps are. Black Alps should be somewhere in the middle of the picture - those things are not quiet at all.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: kishy on Sat, 23 January 2010, 10:42:40: Quote from: spolia optima;153188
with keyboards, it's still tremendously hard for me to express me feelings properly.

Perhaps this is a sign that keyboards aren't very effective tools for communication, then.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: ricercar on Sat, 23 January 2010, 11:05:37: Quote from: spolia optima;153188
with keyboards, it's still tremendously hard for me to express me feelings properly.

You're a guy. We always have trouble expressing feelings.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: Rajagra on Sat, 23 January 2010, 11:16:32: Me punch keys. Dem good. Me happy.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: elbowglue on Fri, 29 January 2010, 20:20:21: I've just ordered one of these MY boards for the keycaps. Is there any way to rip out the MY switches and put in MX switches and use the same controller/PCB? I have a bunch of extra cherry brown switches on my unused MX 8100 I could put them to use, the layout of the MY board is pretty good... (g81-1800)
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: sethstorm on Sun, 21 March 2010, 16:21:55: Quote from: SLM;152872
I was wondering if anybody likes the Cherry MY switch boards. They don't seem to get too much talking about, at least that I've seen.

I've gathered that they are some sort of linear mechanical / rubber dome cross but that's about all.

Thanks!

I'm fine w/ them. Not something you write home about, but they feel like they can take heavy use.

That, and I have double-shot keycaps, which makes the defects bearable.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: ricercar on Sun, 21 March 2010, 20:55:14: My MY board is used as a take-to-work to test the waters for theft.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: sethstorm on Sun, 21 March 2010, 21:21:18: Quote from: ricercar;166043
My MY board is used as a take-to-work to test the waters for theft.

If you're really worried, swap out the doubleshot keys.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: Bollwerk on Mon, 22 March 2010, 19:27:31: Long time no see.^^
Well. I like MY-switches, but I happened to like Black-MX more for gaming.

I'm using MY-switches at work currently (G81-1800). While my G81-8308 feels more awkward, I really like the G81-1800. Could it be, that there are production lines out there which differ a bit?
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Mon, 22 March 2010, 19:31:21: Quote from: ricercar;166043
My MY board is used as a take-to-work to test the waters for theft.

Any luck yet?
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: keyb_gr on Wed, 24 March 2010, 08:34:38: Quote from: Bollwerk;166241
I'm using MY-switches at work currently (G81-1800). While my G81-8308 feels more awkward, I really like the G81-1800. Could it be, that there are production lines out there which differ a bit?

As ripster might say - It's Cherry. Who knows?
Quote from: Mental Hobbit;166245
Any luck yet?

LOL.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: In Stereo! on Thu, 25 March 2010, 01:10:09: I sincerly hate them. The cheapest rubber dome offers a way better typing experience than this technical abomination.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: keyb_gr on Thu, 25 March 2010, 11:42:32: Quote from: In Stereo!;166678
The cheapest rubber dome offers a way better typing experience than this technical abomination.
I guess you may want to try the Iuminating Keyboard (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=8213) (sic) then. :p

But it's true, MY boards were conceived more with longevity than with best typing comfort in mind. (And the ironic part is that they do break, with the weak points being anything but the switch mechanism - they don't take spills very well, and the membrane contact pads on G81-3000 models can wear off.) The friction is annoying. I think the balance between build quality, typing comfort and longevity isn't remotely ideal on G81s. The whole switch mechanism ought to be redesigned.

For actual typing, I wouldn't be surprised if a Logitech Classic Keyboard 200 were noticeably nicer - but these cheapies beat a significant number of higher-priced and fancier rubber domes as well.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: kishy on Thu, 25 March 2010, 11:54:22: Quote from: keyb_gr;166763
I guess you may want to try the Iuminating Keyboard (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=8213) (sic) then. :p

But it's true, MY boards were conceived more with longevity than with best typing comfort in mind. (And the ironic part is that they do break, with the weak points being anything but the switch mechanism - they don't take spills very well, and the membrane contact pads on G81-3000 models can wear off.) The friction is annoying.

For actual typing, I wouldn't be surprised if a Logitech Classic Keyboard 200 were noticeably nicer - but these cheapies beat a significant number of higher-priced and fancier rubber domes as well.

Ah yes, my "classic winner" iuminating keyboard.

I took it apart hoping to harvest the EL sheet, but in the process lost one of the domes (yes, it has individual domes) and got angry trying to find it. Once I get the EL stuff out you can expect to see the details of how I end its miserable existence.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: sethstorm on Thu, 25 March 2010, 17:58:15: Quote from: kishy;166770
Ah yes, my "classic winner" iuminating keyboard.

I took it apart hoping to harvest the EL sheet, but in the process lost one of the domes (yes, it has individual domes) and got angry trying to find it. Once I get the EL stuff out you can expect to see the details of how I end its miserable existence.

Chipper-shredder?
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: kishy on Thu, 25 March 2010, 18:26:09: Quote from: sethstorm;166878
Chipper-shredder?

No access to one.

I'll see if I can get my hands on a torch or something.
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: andrewjoy on Wed, 14 March 2012, 17:53:40: i got one for the caps and to play with the card reader

th feel nice if you hit them verry verry hard other than that feels like pushing you fingers into play-doh

PBT caps mmm sexy
Title: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: lowkey on Wed, 14 March 2012, 18:40:31: Quote from: Mental Hobbit;152892
Any rubber dome feels better than Cherry MY. Any.

This. I bought a BNIB G81 for $10 for some keycaps and I still hated it. Whoever said it felt like typing on "wet newspaper" was exactly right. It's completely awful.
Title: Re: Cherry MY switches...
Post by: PaturicaMe on Fri, 21 November 2014, 01:37:14: Registered so that I could reply.
I love my Cherry MY Switches. I love my 2 Cherry MY 3000 Keyboards that I use, one at home and one at work. I specify "my" because I have modified them.

I found that the only way to get a good, excellent, sometimes wonderful experience from these switches, is to remove the springs from inside the switch itself. I am not sure if that will dramatically reduce the boasted 50 million clicks guarantee that the keyboards came with, but for the $10 I paid for 5 of these, I think it would be worth it. As correctly described on a different website, typing on the stock, brand new version of these switches is like typing on wet paper ... that hates you.

Take the switches off and of if you, by chance, rest your hand on the keyboard, you might see a rowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww of identical symbols being created in front of you. The first time that happens, you will be hard pressed to figure it out immediately. I *heart* that type of sensitivity and the fact, to some extent you have to master it, in my opinion, to neat rewards.

Thank you for reading this post 2 and a half years after the issue was settled.