How hard do you all type?

[Rhienfo]

Ever since I got my hhkb, I've noticed that I've been typing like, way less hard than I used too, you would think I was using 100g springs with how hard it was, but I don't know it just happened suddenly when I switched off it to my mx board and realised that.

I think it might've happened because of how tiring it was with how I used to type on my hhkb, cause it's got that steel plate so when you type really hard it feels so stiff, so maybe my hands adjusted subconsciously so It wouldn't be as harsh or tiring. The only other thing I could think of is that because the actuation of the topre switches and it being tactile, but I have used tactiles that are like topre in terms of you push the switch and it bottoms out and I still typed pretty hard with them.

How hard do you all type, would like to know?

[erretter]

I can only shake my head whenever I see/hear "This board/switch/keycaps will behave so and so IF you bottom out".

IF?! It is beyond my reality how a human being can type without bottoming out?! I type all the way trough he board. I have big hands, am a big dude with some muscles on me. I am literally afraid of using FR4 or Carbon fiber plates because I think I will break them or at least bend them beyond repair.

[fohat.digs]

I can touch type without bottoming out, and usually do, but I always use clicky keyboards or at least tactile ones.

Linear switches seem creepy to me, although I do appreciate their silence.

That said, my mood is a big determinate of how hard I type, and a significant part of the time I am pounding the keys. And I feel certain that earlier in the day when I am rested I type better and gentler, and by the end of the day I am being more sloppy and striking harder.

That is probably why I like ancient IBM iron so much - it makes little difference when you double (or triple) the force that you are using.

[TomahawkLabs]

Depends on my board. My home board with SA keycaps and Zealios I beat the piss out of. I am not sure why but it feels like I press very hard and loud. Maybe intentional since I enjoy the sound.

At work I use Alps Damped Creams and I don't feel like I press hard on them, very quiet.

[Rhienfo]

I can only shake my head whenever I see/hear "This board/switch/keycaps will behave so and so IF you bottom out".

IF?! It is beyond my reality how a human being can type without bottoming out?! I type all the way trough he board. I have big hands, am a big dude with some muscles on me. I am literally afraid of using FR4 or Carbon fiber plates because I think I will break them or at least bend them beyond repair.

I also don't know how people consistently bottom out, I have to intentionally press the key in order to not bottom out. Also fr4 and carbon fibre will probably never break while typing even if you are typing really hard.

I can touch type without bottoming out, and usually do, but I always use clicky keyboards or at least tactile ones.

Linear switches seem creepy to me, although I do appreciate their silence.

That said, my mood is a big determinate of how hard I type, and a significant part of the time I am pounding the keys. And I feel certain that earlier in the day when I am rested I type better and gentler, and by the end of the day I am being more sloppy and striking harder.

That is probably why I like ancient IBM iron so much - it makes little difference when you double (or triple) the force that you are using.

the mood thing is interesting, I definitely feel like I type harder when I am more frustrated I had never noticed that.

Depends on my board. My home board with SA keycaps and Zealios I beat the piss out of. I am not sure why but it feels like I press very hard and loud. Maybe intentional since I enjoy the sound.

At work I use Alps Damped Creams and I don't feel like I press hard on them, very quiet.

I think it could be the tactility of the zealios that gives the impression that you are typing harder, because those switches you always have to follow through with the tactility til you bottom out. Or as you said it could be the sound making you press it harder.

[TomahawkLabs]

I feel as if I am compelled to press the switch harder because I actively enjoy the sound of the keycap bottoming out. With the AEK Alps board, the switch has a dampening rubber so even if I am pressing hard the audible bottom out is muted.

[mathisart]

I like 35g Kailh Chocs. I try to type just hard enough for them to depress, but sometimes it's somewhat harder.
I also tried 20g to see if I could type faster by using less force, but it was harder for me. Maybe with practice it'll be faster.

[deernote]

I type fairly soft, as in i won't consistently bottom out 60g linears if I'm trying to type fast. If someone asks for a typing test I generally type a bit harder than I usually do in order to get the sound properly through the mic. I do bottom out while using tactiles tho bc it's a lot harder to maintain light typing with it, but I still wouldn't call it hard typing. I use linears 95% of the time though.

[Prince Valiant]

I don't intentionally bottom out on every keystroke, but it happens frequently and I make no effort to stop it. When I'm typing at my best speed I think tend to bottom out more.

[wjrii]

I type quite firmly, certainly enough that I prefer heavy springs in all switch types, and light linears actively annoy me.  While technically I suppose it's a little more physical effort, there is a very low cognitive load to simply mashing hard enough that any working keyboard ever made will register the keystrokes. 

[_rubik]

This is going to sound strange, but it depends on background noise. The noisier the space is, the easier it is for me to type harder without noticing it. Headbanging with headphones on almost always means button mashing.

That said, I find that I type lighter after using linear switches for a while, even at equivalent spring weight. Something about tactile switches makes me wanna mash.

[_rubik]

That said, my mood is a big determinate of how hard I type, and a significant part of the time I am pounding the keys. And I feel certain that earlier in the day when I am rested I type better and gentler, and by the end of the day I am being more sloppy and striking harder.

I can't agree with this more. Maybe my previous point about "background noise and aggressive music" is maybe a symptom of what you're describing. I certainly type lighter in the morning, after a shower, with a tea, listening to relaxing music. Typing is inherently a sensory experience, albeit a subtle one. I care more about my typing posture and key pressure when I'm more willing to monitor and adapt to subtle sensory stimuli. I care more about speed and "just getting it done" when I couldn't care less about 'enjoying the force curve' or whatever.

[applehugger]

I like tactile or clicky switches that are on the medium-heavy side (e.g., 55g Topre, Salmon Alps), and compared to some keyboard enthusiasts I see on YouTube, I feel like I type kind or hard.

However, my coworkers who largely use $10 rubber dome over membrane keyboards generally type much harder. I think using keyboards for so long that allow actuation partway through the keystroke has lightened my typing style. People who are used to cheap rubber domes have no choice but to bottom out, and therefore unconsciously absolutely mash every key to prevent missed keystrokes. Sometimes when I have to type on someone else's keyboard, I find that I occasionally don't press hard enough for a key to register.

[mohawk1367]

Ever since I got my hhkb, I've noticed that I've been typing like, way less hard than I used too, you would think I was using 100g springs with how hard it was, but I don't know it just happened suddenly when I switched off it to my mx board and realised that.

I think it might've happened because of how tiring it was with how I used to type on my hhkb, cause it's got that steel plate so when you type really hard it feels so stiff, so maybe my hands adjusted subconsciously so It wouldn't be as harsh or tiring. The only other thing I could think of is that because the actuation of the topre switches and it being tactile, but I have used tactiles that are like topre in terms of you push the switch and it bottoms out and I still typed pretty hard with them.

How hard do you all type, would like to know?

isnt hhkb plastic though? realforce are steel plate

[Rhienfo]

Ever since I got my hhkb, I've noticed that I've been typing like, way less hard than I used too, you would think I was using 100g springs with how hard it was, but I don't know it just happened suddenly when I switched off it to my mx board and realised that.

I think it might've happened because of how tiring it was with how I used to type on my hhkb, cause it's got that steel plate so when you type really hard it feels so stiff, so maybe my hands adjusted subconsciously so It wouldn't be as harsh or tiring. The only other thing I could think of is that because the actuation of the topre switches and it being tactile, but I have used tactiles that are like topre in terms of you push the switch and it bottoms out and I still typed pretty hard with them.

How hard do you all type, would like to know?

isnt hhkb plastic though? realforce are steel plate

Yeah it is actually didn't know that, assumed it was steel like the realforce, maybe the stiffness comes from how the tactility is in topre + integrated plate + how hard I was typing, that's what I'm thinking.

[Rhienfo]

This is going to sound strange, but it depends on background noise. The noisier the space is, the easier it is for me to type harder without noticing it. Headbanging with headphones on almost always means button mashing.

That said, I find that I type lighter after using linear switches for a while, even at equivalent spring weight. Something about tactile switches makes me wanna mash.

oh to add to this, I think it's that tactile switches, even the lighter ones force you to complete the actuation of the tactility when you activate it, so that may encourage you to continue going further and bottoming out, especially for high bump tactiles I can see how that would affect how hard you type.

[The One]

i consider myself a gentle typist but I always bottom out. i use tactile switch for my daily driver and linear occasionally.. currently experimenting with a thick brass plate for a stable feel.. and sound, of course.

[Pyre]

I admire those who can touch type - I'm a very heavy typer, and I hammer those keys especially when I'm working - I think subconsciously I feel like the key won't register until I feel it bottom out.

I wonder if using browns would help provide that feedback to stop for someone who's trying to push more into touch typing?

[fohat.digs]

provide that feedback

I have always preferred tactile or clicky switches. I can touch type although I don't always do it, but I still depend on feedback.

[Rhienfo]

I admire those who can touch type - I'm a very heavy typer, and I hammer those keys especially when I'm working - I think subconsciously I feel like the key won't register until I feel it bottom out.

I wonder if using browns would help provide that feedback to stop for someone who's trying to push more into touch typing?

Isn't touch typing just not looking at the keyboard while typing, I get what you mean though. Something like topre or those high bump tactiles like holy pandas where there is no travel after the tactility wouldn't help, but browns or clears could, cause there is a bit of travel after the switch and you'll know when to lift up after the tactile event.

For me I mainly use linears and I just commit to bottoming out, I just am typing a lot lighter than I was before.

[fohat.digs]

Partially off-topic, but when I started in the hobby O-rings were all the rage for people who like MX-style switches, but I seldom hear about them these days.

Have they fallen from favor? I got my son (the gamer) a Filco TKL with black Cherries about 12-15 years ago, and we installed the softest and thinnest O-rings we could find at the time. There is less time for gaming these days, but there are still no complaints about the configuration.

[Findecanor]

Partially off-topic, but when I started in the hobby O-rings were all the rage for people who like MX-style switches, but I seldom hear about them these days.

O-rings worked only with OEM-profile keycaps with the right stem length and internal struts. Most enthusiasts (and some brands) use Cherry profile, and for those keycaps, the O-rings were too thick. Very thin O-rings (for dental braces) were used for a while, but those have been superseded by "silencing clips" (QMX clips, Zealencios) which dampen also the up-stroke. There have also been more types of silent switches since then that don't need external modding and which work with any keycaps.

But yes, I think those have fallen out of popularity because they soften the feel. Hard bottom out seems to be more popular now.
There have also been developments in the internal construction of keyboards: flex-cuts in plate and PCB, mounting styles that suspend the PCB and plate in damping material, and filling internal spaces with sound-damping foam and silicone pads. Those reduce reverberations in the case and thus noise without affecting key feel as much.
These features started in customs but you can find even mass-produced keyboards with them now.

[Rhienfo]

Partially off-topic, but when I started in the hobby O-rings were all the rage for people who like MX-style switches, but I seldom hear about them these days.

O-rings worked only with OEM-profile keycaps with the right stem length and internal struts. Most enthusiasts (and some brands) use Cherry profile, and for those keycaps, the O-rings were too thick. Very thin O-rings (for dental braces) were used for a while, but those have been superseded by "silencing clips" (QMX clips, Zealencios) which dampen also the up-stroke. There have also been more types of silent switches since then that don't need external modding and which work with any keycaps.

But yes, I think those have fallen out of popularity because they soften the feel. Hard bottom out seems to be more popular now.
There have also been developments in the internal construction of keyboards: flex-cuts in plate and PCB, mounting styles that suspend the PCB and plate in damping material, and filling internal spaces with sound-damping foam and silicone pads. Those reduce reverberations in the case and thus noise without affecting key feel as much.
These features started in customs but you can find even mass-produced keyboards with them now.

I wouldn't say that hard bottom outs are more popular in the hobby (in fact the direction is towards softer plates like polycarbonate and mounting styles that are less harsh like the various gasket mounts, I think for a lot of people, it was the mushiness that came from using the o-rings that made it undesirable, kinda like why people don't like regular silent switches.

I still think there is a market for silents (that's why there was still innovation in those haimu silents which changed the stem to make it not as mushy) but the hobby moved in general away from silencing things and making things "thocky" or whatever kinda dumb term people use to describe sound now.

Also if you want silencing, I think a lot of people move towards topre now, with the type s and external aftermarket silencing options.

[Pyre]

I admire those who can touch type - I'm a very heavy typer, and I hammer those keys especially when I'm working - I think subconsciously I feel like the key won't register until I feel it bottom out.

I wonder if using browns would help provide that feedback to stop for someone who's trying to push more into touch typing?

Isn't touch typing just not looking at the keyboard while typing, I get what you mean though. Something like topre or those high bump tactiles like holy pandas where there is no travel after the tactility wouldn't help, but browns or clears could, cause there is a bit of travel after the switch and you'll know when to lift up after the tactile event.

For me I mainly use linears and I just commit to bottoming out, I just am typing a lot lighter than I was before.

Oh - indeed it is. For some reason I always thought touch typing was where you gently tapped the keys without bottoming out.

What do you call it then when you don't need to look, hammer the keys, and don't rest your hands on the home row? That'd be me.

[wjrii]

Partially off-topic, but when I started in the hobby O-rings were all the rage for people who like MX-style switches, but I seldom hear about them these days.

O-rings worked only with OEM-profile keycaps with the right stem length and internal struts. Most enthusiasts (and some brands) use Cherry profile, and for those keycaps, the O-rings were too thick. Very thin O-rings (for dental braces) were used for a while, but those have been superseded by "silencing clips" (QMX clips, Zealencios) which dampen also the up-stroke. There have also been more types of silent switches since then that don't need external modding and which work with any keycaps.

But yes, I think those have fallen out of popularity because they soften the feel. Hard bottom out seems to be more popular now.
There have also been developments in the internal construction of keyboards: flex-cuts in plate and PCB, mounting styles that suspend the PCB and plate in damping material, and filling internal spaces with sound-damping foam and silicone pads. Those reduce reverberations in the case and thus noise without affecting key feel as much.
These features started in customs but you can find even mass-produced keyboards with them now.

I wouldn't say that hard bottom outs are more popular in the hobby (in fact the direction is towards softer plates like polycarbonate and mounting styles that are less harsh like the various gasket mounts, I think for a lot of people, it was the mushiness that came from using the o-rings that made it undesirable, kinda like why people don't like regular silent switches.

I still think there is a market for silents (that's why there was still innovation in those haimu silents which changed the stem to make it not as mushy) but the hobby moved in general away from silencing things and making things "thocky" or whatever kinda dumb term people use to describe sound now.

Also if you want silencing, I think a lot of people move towards topre now, with the type s and external aftermarket silencing options.

I reluctantly used a set when I shared a WFH office with my wife, on a full size gamer board with Outemu black (still have it under the shelves... turn off the rainbow LEDs and those boards just look like low-profile Filcos), but once I had my own space, it was off with the rings, then back to my 70% with blues, then on to heavy clickies.  Right this moment, I'm on a Model M, but my two daily drivers of late have Box Jade and Box Navy.

[Rhienfo]

I reluctantly used a set when I shared a WFH office with my wife, on a full size gamer board with Outemu black (still have it under the shelves... turn off the rainbow LEDs and those boards just look like low-profile Filcos), but once I had my own space, it was off with the rings, then back to my 70% with blues, then on to heavy clickies.  Right this moment, I'm on a Model M, but my two daily drivers of late have Box Jade and Box Navy.

I just have a hhkb as an office/quiet board, it's not really that quiet but it sounds like rubber domes and blends in really well with the other rubber domes so it's fine to use in a quiet setting unless I'm jamming on the keys really hard.

[Rhienfo]

Hmmmm, recently I rebuilt my fjell with mx blacks and alu plate to switch up my plateless build with nk creams that I had been running for a long time (it was the initial build for the board) and it's weird cause I don't think I'm typing on it that hard (or at least typing the same hardness) but it definitely feels harder overall cause of how much stiffer the alu plate is compared without a plate. However, I feel like the blacks makes less of an impact when I type as well, which is weird. This is 100% because the creams are long pole and the blacks are not but still important to note.

Also I think the plateless build was why I thought the hhkb plate was metal and not the abs it is because typing on this compared to the hhkb it's very apparent that it's a plastic plate and the mounting is what makes it a lot harder when I type compared to like a PC board.

[AmigaDisk]

I used to type pretty hard and bottom-out. Especially when I was angry/energetic
Since I got my Varmilo (VEM88 V2, EC Rose switches) I've been soft-typing much more.
I realized I didn't need to type so hard or always bottom-out, and every key press is still registered fine.
But I still love to go KLAK KLAK KLAK!