General question about mechanical vs scissor switches

[busfahrer]

Hi,

first of all, I hope this is the right place to ask this:

I think I unknowingly used a mechanical keyboard years back, something pretty cheap by Cherry that was their most basic model. It was kind of a revelation for me once I got another keyboard that had flat keys, like on a laptop keyboard. My typing got faster, and it was faster too once I got a Thinkpad.

The reason why they felt better to me was because the mechanical required, in comparison, much more force than the flat keys. My fingers got tired very quickly.

My question is: Everything I hear about mechanicals makes it seem that they are pretty much superior for lots of typing. Do the keyboards that you talk about here require less force than the one I used back in the day? I think I would love the precision of a mechanical keyboard in connection with the light touch of flat keys (what I now understand to be scissor switches).

Because reading this site and all the excellent opinions about mechanical keyboards makes me think I just had a wrong first impression?

Any comments are appreciated!

[busfahrer]

Reliability and comfort are all that matter; everything else is subjective.

OK, I think I phrased my question wrong, let me try and re-phrase it:

Are there switches (I'm perhaps thinking MX brown) that can be pressed with (roughly) as little force as common laptop keyboards?

[clickclack]

To busfahrer,

Welcome to geekhack btw.  =)

I just have but a quick moment but I thought I would point out a few things that might help to get you a quick understanding.

1) Mechanical keyboards/switches come in many varieties, some easier and some harder to press. Some with sharp feedback and some with little to almost none.
2) Flat keys (scissor's in particular) often require higher force to press than many common mechanical (switch) keyboards. But their short travel is such that it can fool you into thinking it takes less force.
3) Travel can have an effect on the way you type as well. A shorter stroke might let you move on to another key quicker or repeat the stroke faster. This is not always the case however and many other factors can play a part.

Lots of information on this site, happy hunting.

-cc   =)

[clickclack]

OK, I think I phrased my question wrong, let me try and re-phrase it:
Are there switches (I'm perhaps thinking MX brown) that can be pressed with (roughly) as little force as common laptop keyboards?

Absolutely! Some will take much less force, but usually have more travel.
I believe brown MX switches are already lighter in actuaction than many laptop keyboard keys.

=)

[urbanus]

OK, I think I phrased my question wrong, let me try and re-phrase it:

Are there switches (I'm perhaps thinking MX brown) that can be pressed with (roughly) as little force as common laptop keyboards?

Yes, MX brown, blue and red are all relatively light.  I think they would be comparable in weight to your average scissor switch.

[busfahrer]

Thanks for all your answers!

Knowing this, I will now look into the topic more closely.