Switch types

[Agarito]

Hi,

I've been hearing that most people don't consider linear switches to be the best for typing. IS this because of the fact that it would be difficult to touch type with them? For a typer who bottoms out everytime and has no interest in changing that, would using linear switches vs tactile bump switches not make a difference for typing?

Thanks

[njbair]

Hi,

I've been hearing that most people don't consider linear switches to be the best for typing. IS this because of the fact that it would be difficult to touch type with them? For a typer who bottoms out everytime and has no interest in changing that, would using linear switches vs tactile bump switches not make a difference for typing?

Thanks

For a long time I agreed with the notion that linears were bad for typing. Then I tried Gateron blacks, which are so incredibly smooth and quiet that I could use them all the time for typing. That's blacks, though. I'm pretty sure reds would be too light for typing regardless of smoothness. And either way, I still prefer a tactile bump (and sometimes a click).

I don't game at all, though, so linears don't really offer much for my own usage.

[TheO-RingGuys]

In the end, it all really comes down to personal preference.

From my personal experience, when I first started with mechanical keyboards I loved having a tactile bump to remind me when each key would actuate. After learning how to touch type, I now find it much more comfortable to use linear switches ie - Reds/Blacks.

[ideus]

In general, it is possible to touch type on any switch, however depending of your personal feeling, some may help you more than others. I used reds for a couple of years to type on them daily, and the did a fine job. Now I am using ergo-clears and they tend to feel a little bit heavy after some hours of typing. I will give them a chance, maybe some months, before to change the springs for something lighter.

[Agarito]

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I worded my question poorly.

Why does the general opinion seem to be that tactile bump and clicks are superior of typing when compared with linear switches?

[chyros]

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I worded my question poorly.

Why does the general opinion seem to be that tactile bump and clicks are superior of typing when compared with linear switches?

For me, I've found that the lack of feedback from linear switches makes me slam the keys harder because only the bottoming out lets me know I've properly pressed the key. If you want to type softer, you can't be sure you've actually pressed the key correctly because the board doesn't tell you. Either way, the board isn't ideal for typing.

[Oobly]

Thanks for all the replies.

I think I worded my question poorly.

Why does the general opinion seem to be that tactile bump and clicks are superior of typing when compared with linear switches?

For me, I've found that the lack of feedback from linear switches makes me slam the keys harder because only the bottoming out lets me know I've properly pressed the key. If you want to type softer, you can't be sure you've actually pressed the key correctly because the board doesn't tell you. Either way, the board isn't ideal for typing.

+1. Without the tactile bump my brain doesn't get the signal to stop adding force, so I (and many others) tend to keep pressing with force until it bottoms out. This is fine with rubber dome boards as they actuate at bottom out and need some force at bottom out to actuate properly, but most mechanical switches have a "hard" bottom out with plastic meeting plastic and this shock is not desirable. With tactile bumps I stop adding force when I feel it's gone over the bump and though I still bottom out a lot, I'm not pressing down with any force at that point, so there's minimal shock.

Some people learn to reduce the force without having the bump, but I find my brain needs it.

[Agarito]

Thank you for the replies; it was exactly what i was looking for.