How Linear is Linear?

[Greenbean]

I've been pondering over my first mechanical keyboard for a while. I'll be purchasing a WASD Custom V1 or a Filco 10-keyless in the future.

But there's one problem: I'm stuck on the choice of getting MX Browns or MX Reds. I currently work with this lame Gateway rubber dome keyboard. I like the flipping of the rubber domes, but it doesn't feel precise and crisp enough for me. That's why I'm looking to purchase a mech keyboard that has a similar feel to rubber domes.

Will the Red's be too linear? Which of those two switches feels more similar to rubber domes?

I will upgrade into Topre eventually, but as a student I can't afford one.

P.S Reds from WASD cost an extra $15 I think. I'll be using this keyboard for 60% typing (touch typing ) and 40% gaming (DotA and DOTA2 only).

Thanks for your help! And sorry for the wall of text.

[pitashen]

none of the mx switches would feel anything like rubber dome. Topre is as close as you can get.

My experiences of switches: blue, brown, and a pretty good idea how red and black feel like.

It seems that you are looking for some sort of tactility telling you that the keys you pressed have been registered. In that case, brown would be a better choice than red, especially if you type a lot. My suggestion to newbs has always been the brown switches. Brown is a pretty balanced switch for any sort of purpose, so it is one of the safest choice for mech newb coming from rubber dome IMO.

[Tony]

I own two browns and one red and I think brown is the safe bet for anyone who just migrated from rubber domes, with mixture of typing and gaming.

[squarebox]

Brown and Blue are great switches to get started on mechanical keyboards.
Red and Black are acquired taste. Some will like them, other will never get used to them.

Go with brown.

[treigle]

Browns definitely feel closer to rubber dome, though only subtly so, and you will likely be underwhelmed initially at the more subtle tactile feedback. After a week or two on browns, you likely will never want to go back though......

WASD is a great company, but personally I never want to go back to fullsize standard keyboards (they don't offer tenkeyless yet).

Also, Topre is nice, but not everyone prefers it to Cherry switches.........

[pitashen]

Red and Black are acquired taste. Some will like them, other will never get used to them.

I like how you put it

think same thing applies to Clear switches.

[Babbylar]

It depends on the rubber domes. Almost all rubberdomes I have encountered are pretty much s***, with the exception of rubberdomes from Keytronic. I have a Keytronic LT Designer Keyboard, and that feels closer to my Compaq MX 11800 with MX Browns than it does to my Leopold FC500R with Cherry MX Reds. Reds are excellent switches but, occasionally I find Reds are too linear if you are not careful with how you type since you can double press keys and end uupp ttyypping liikke tthiss. Get the MX Browns since I think those are the best switches for Dota type games (and that's coming from a LoL & HoN player).

[Greenbean]

I am leaning towards the Browns, but the fact that the Reds can be described as a 'cloud of boobs' tells me that the Reds would be more suitable. Any thoughts?

Should I skip Reds and move onto Topre switches later?

[Tony]

You should buy both brown and red to compare them.

Brown is good for mixture of typing and gaming, like your description. No one dislikes brown, but maybe you will not be very happy with it.

Red is very distinctive switch, in meaning that you either dislike it or love it immensely. It is more expensive than brown.

[Clickey]

Get a spring on a flat surface, put a keycap over it, and press. That is what a red feels like. Rubber domes are tactile, if you are looking to emulate a rubber dome, reds are not the place to go.

If you or people around you dont mind it, clicky keyboards are nice, as they usually have the best tactility.

[Trueepower]

I prefer red switches. Although, the key when thinking about reds is just that they are super light. Just think super super light, and then browns they have some tactility but are still super light. You won't tell a lot of difference between the two when you are gaming, and pushing buttons really fast. But, as you slow down you feel some difference. I like reds because I just prefer Linear over tactile. Nothing wrong with tactile switches though. They are good. Just depends on your preference. One thing I don't like about tactility is when using the WASD movement keys, when moving my character in games. The tactility is annoying in that aspect. Just my 2 cents. Good luck with your choice!

[tukkez]

I have Cherry MX Blue's (Blackwidow Ultimate) for DOTA2, and I really like it. Doubletapping is easy, and I love the click noise.

I think I'll get a WASD tenkeyless ASAP they start doing some, with Cherry Blues or maybe reds, haven't decided yet. Browns seem too boring. Transferred from Roccat Arvo to a Blackwidow Ultimate, took me few days to get used to the blackwidow, and now couldn't go back to ****ty rubber domes.

[trax]

I like my cherry reds over the browns, I tried browns and the bump is to soft for me (I barely felt the tactility), I liked clears so now I ordered a ibm model m.

I do not touchtype though.

[turbocharged]

For me...I am will only use Blacks, Clears, and Reds. I either want fully linear (first time I used my first 11900 with black switches I was in love) or very noticible tactility (aka clear). I used my Deck Legend with MX Blacks here at home and my G80-11900 with MX Clears at work. I find the linear switches more comfortable and the tactile switches faster to type on.

Browns just don't do it for me because it seems like they can't make up their mind on whether or not they want to be tactile or linear....and I hate clicky switches, so blues are always out. None of the MX switches feel like rubber domes though...after a while it is extremely difficult to try typing on a rubber dome board again.

[Mr. Perfect]

The hands down best way to figure out what switch you like it to participate in one of the switch test number pad lists. You really can't get a good idea for any of these switches without some hands on time, which will be very expensive if you're going to be buying boards to do that. This way you can try all switches and only have to pay to ship the pad to the next person(probably around $10).

[sordna]

No one dislikes brown, but maybe you will not be very happy with it.

I rather dislike them :-)

... I either want fully linear (first time I used my first 11900 with black switches I was in love) or very noticible tactility (aka clear).
...
Browns just don't do it for me because it seems like they can't make up their mind on whether or not they want to be tactile or linear....

I agree with the above, the browns' tactility is vague and feels like the switch is dirty/gritty, it's not a useful tactility for me. I much prefer red switches (linear), as well as blues (cactile & clicky), compared to browns. However, everyone is different, so you can't be sure unless you try them. If you can afford it, buy 2 keyboards! You could get a Filco with browns now (or the equivalent and much cheaper Rosewill RK-9000) and a WASD tenkeyless with reds when it comes out.

[Lolcakes]

I love reds for typing... It sorta feels easy and fluid going from one key to another. I used to have Blues too an I liked them too but less than the Reds. A friend of mine though liked the feel of the blues and he finds the linear Reds weird and not very comfortable for typing. I would guess that reds are the switch which is the most different from rubber domes.

Rubber domes have the tactile bump at the top -> MX Brown/blue/clear have it in the middle -> MX Red dont have a tactile bump
Rubber domes are quite stiff to press -> MX clear/blue can be kinda stiff, browns not so much i guess -> MX Red are the lightest cherry switch afaik.

I found it so easy to get used to MX Reds personally. Now if i have to type on a rubber dome board... well i cant type normally because i dont press the keys strong enough.

[demik]

I'm currently using a board with reds since it was a present. And even though I don't hate them... they are definitely over hyped to me. I miss my browns and blues.

[Gerk]

I agree with the above, the browns' tactility is vague and feels like the switch is dirty/gritty, it's not a useful tactility for me.

Yep since I've started using reds going back to browns does feel like the switch is dirty or gritty.  I never noticed it much before using reds though -- which are just soooo buttery smooth.

[dorkvader]

The_solutor hates browns

I wouldn't say they're "gritty" for me, there's just a little bump of added resistance to tell you that it's activated. It's pretty nice, though I bottom them out still (probably because I type on my unicomp more)