Cherry mx brown switches question

[Aardwolf]

I ordered a keyboard with cherry mx brown switches (from Filco, the NKRO version). So far I have only used generic OEM keyboards.

I only discovered the existance of cherry mx switches through extensive research on keyboards, and through the specs of the "Das Keyboard".

I found this forum through searching for more info about these cherry mx switches. For some reason, any internet search for cherry mx, and mechanical keyboards, always ends up in this forum

Anyway, I ordered it with brown instead of blue switches due to the fear that the blue ones will make the keyboard too noisy.

This keyboard is 10 times as expensive than any keyboard I've ever used, and so it should be perfect.

However I've been reading here a bit more and seen that some people find the brown switches "too light". If there's anything that I hate, then it's accidently pressing a key while my finger is resting on it. I hate that phenomenom both on mice and on keyboards.

So my question is, how light are those cherry mx brown switches? How do they compare to a generic keyboard with rubber domes? If they're too light, I may have made the wrong choice.

The usage of the keyboard will be coding and gaming.

Thanks.

[Ekaros]

Personaly just got my Filco, I don't see issues while resting on keys, but some times there might be if you press too much between two keys. They are quite light and not too quiet for heavy typers...

[keyboardlover]

They're not *that* light, but I still MUCH prefer my 55g Topre to them. Everyone has different taste so I'd wait until you actually get it to make a decision.

[ch_123]

I ordered a keyboard with cherry mx brown switches (from Filco, the NKRO version). So far I have only used generic OEM keyboards.

I only discovered the existance of cherry mx switches through extensive research on keyboards, and through the specs of the "Das Keyboard".

I found this forum through searching for more info about these cherry mx switches. For some reason, any internet search for cherry mx, and mechanical keyboards, always ends up in this forum

Anyway, I ordered it with brown instead of blue switches due to the fear that the blue ones will make the keyboard too noisy.

This keyboard is 10 times as expensive than any keyboard I've ever used, and so it should be perfect.

However I've been reading here a bit more and seen that some people find the brown switches "too light". If there's anything that I hate, then it's accidently pressing a key while my finger is resting on it. I hate that phenomenom both on mice and on keyboards.

So my question is, how light are those cherry mx brown switches? How do they compare to a generic keyboard with rubber domes? If they're too light, I may have made the wrong choice.

The usage of the keyboard will be coding and gaming.

Thanks.

Rubber domes are around 55-60g, where as brown cherries are 45g. When you consider that 5g of difference is noticeable, they are a good bit lighter than a rubber dome keyboard.

The thing I dont like about brown cherries, and the thing that a lot of other people don't like, is that they aren't particularly tactile. Typing on them is a somewhat unusual experience that takes a bit of getting used to as a consequence.

[ironman31]

You WILL like them

[keyboardlover]

So you ordered it.  Why not just wait and find out?  Everybody has different tastes.

Is there an echo in here?

[Phaedrus2129]

This is not the keyboard you're looking for.

[Aardwolf]

So you ordered it.  Why not just wait and find out?  Everybody has different tastes.

Yeah well, that's the problem with reading a lot about it first and making the decision, then ordering, and then reading some more...

This is not the keyboard you're looking for.

Show Image

Looks like the ultimate gamer's dream, but not to me, the only thing in gaming that has annoyed me is when it doesn't register 4 keys at the same time (e.g. when trying to find secrets in Wolfenstein 3D by strafing next to a wall, with the speed key held down, and holding space to open the secret), and afaik that Gaming keyboard has no NKRO.

[Findecanor]

Rubber domes are around 55-60g, where as brown cherries are 45g. When you consider that 5g of difference is noticeable, they are a good bit lighter than a rubber dome keyboard.

I would say that there is a great variety in the stiffness of rubber domes. There are rubber domes that are 100g, and there are rubber domes that are as light, or perhaps even lighter than a Cherry brown keyboard.

How stiff a keyboard feels can also be a bit different to objective measurements, and this can be very different from person to person. To me, blue Cherry switches feel lighter than brown Cherry switches because of the sharper tactile point making me not bottom out. The feeling can also change greatly over time as you get more used to them. It may take a week or two.

[washuai]

If this is the HP rubber dome that I think it is, then this HP rubberdome is more mousse, than mud and definitely feels lighter than the avg dome. It felt light enough that it felt like it'd create quite a few accidental presses.  It feels horrible, unless you like super spongy mushiness.

[DryDry]

i always glad to see ripster's pics~ very funny and vivid

[didjamatic]

Just don't ask him to take pictures of shiny objects...  

[Findecanor]

That HP rubber dome would be as light as the Cherry brown if it wasn't for the rubber dome's tactile bump.

[instantkamera]

Just don't ask him to take pictures of shiny objects...  

Show Image

hahahah

[Aardwolf]

Haha, how can a forum about keyboards be this funny

[JBert]

Geekhack: all about trolls, recycled pictures and miscellaneous geek-isms. Oh, and we've got keyboards too.

[itlnstln]

I guess I don't fit in here.

Fine, see if I care.

[washuai]

The HP keyboard model is KU-0316.  It isn't as bad as I remembered.  It is light, but not as light as MX browns/Realforce 35/45.  Well, in some ways it feels lighter, but I think that's the lack of tactility.

[Jason]

You're gonna like the browns. I alternate between getting great satisfaction from the somewhat clacky sound of bottoming out on them, which is easy to do if you've spent any time with a buckling-spring board, and typing as thoughtfully and lightly as necessary to just activate the switches, and enjoy what small amount of tactile bump the browns provide.

I bought a Filco brown tenkeyless at least a year ago, and I don't use anything else anymore. That might be because I haven't made the leap to a HHKB yet though...

[Aardwolf]

Ok so I got it now, and love it. They're light but not too light. Also, I thought they'd be "silent", but compared to a Dell keyboard, it makes a very nice sound instead. I like it. I wonder how loud blue cherry switches must be, if they call the brown ones silent...

The only sad thing is that they didn't include a free red esc key. Elitekeyboards in the USA does this, why not the keyboard company in Europe?

[iBro]

Rubber domes are around 55-60g, where as brown cherries are 45g. When you consider that 5g of difference is noticeable, they are a good bit lighter than a rubber dome keyboard.

The thing I dont like about brown cherries, and the thing that a lot of other people don't like, is that they aren't particularly tactile. Typing on them is a somewhat unusual experience that takes a bit of getting used to as a consequence.

THIS!!!!

In my opinion after using blues and browns, you should either go full tactile or linear.

Compared to the crisp feel of the blues, the very small tactile bump in the browns really just makes the brown switches feel mushy. Honestly most of the time when I'm typing on browns it feel like I'm typing on a linear switches anyway.

I've got some buckling springs on the way so I'm hoping for an even more manly tactile response from those bad boys.

[Keymonger]

Here's what I don't get about blues and browns... the reset point for Cherry Blue is disastrous. The reset point for browns is much better, and it's what makes browns far more suitable and usable for gaming than blues. The tactility for browns isn't particularly good. Typing with Cherry Brown is nice, but only because (I believe) pressing the switch all the way down is smooth. That means if you like browns you would also like reds. (Although I haven't tried reds yet so I can't be sure).
All I know is that Cherry Blue with the reset point of Cherry Brown would be glorious. For me, I don't know what the right switch would be... tactility seems important, but not at full typing speed.

[iBro]

Here's what I don't get about blues and browns... the reset point for Cherry Blue is disastrous. The reset point for browns is much better, and it's what makes browns far more suitable and usable for gaming than blues. The tactility for browns isn't particularly good. Typing with Cherry Brown is nice, but only because (I believe) pressing the switch all the way down is smooth. That means if you like browns you would also like reds. (Although I haven't tried reds yet so I can't be sure).
All I know is that Cherry Blue with the reset point of Cherry Brown would be glorious. For me, I don't know what the right switch would be... tactility seems important, but not at full typing speed.

I have been gaming and typing on blue for a couple of days now, and I can't say that the reset point has bothered me one bit. But if it really does bother you that much, and you admit that the tactile feel of the browns isn't that great, why not just pick a linear switch instead.

[Keymonger]

I've lost interest in pretty much all keyboards because I'm working on my own. I don't mind half-assed typing/gaming anymore. (I thought my prototype would be built with cherry switches but I'm afraid they won't mesh.)

As for the blue reset point, it's not the end of the world. But for gaming, a brown reset point is just better. I've played an awful lot of TF2 with a cherry blue board, it didn't really mess with my skillz (and I will have you know, my sk1llz... are quite mad). But every once in a while I would notice something unpleasant about the reset point.

[Keymonger]

I have an acoustic guitar. I won't try LEGO though.

[Deverica Wolf]

So my question is, how light are those cherry mx brown switches? How do they compare to a generic keyboard with rubber domes? If they're too light, I may have made the wrong choice.

The usage of the keyboard will be coding and gaming.

Thanks.

I think Reds would be your major fear. The Browns are easy to press but I lay my fingers while I both type and game and don't have a problem with accidental presses. To be honest, for me at home, they are too light so I use Buckling Springs and Blacks and Blues. But when I am at my mothers they are just fine to use. In-fact, sometimes they feel like Blacks to me because of the bump.

[gmorf33]

I fat finger keys alot on my browns because of their lightness, but that's just because my typing precision isn't what it could be... however, i don't think i have ever accidentally pressed a key at rest, and that was actually one of my fears as well... but thankfully that doesn't happen.   If you're coming from a heavy key press, like rubber domes, it does take a little getting used to, but they still feel magical.  Typing on my filco browns is a dream, and everytime i have to use someone else's workstation at work, i die a little bit inside with yearning for my own keyboard.