Author Topic: Keyboard Noise at Work (Read 5809 times)

HighNoon · « **on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 02:11:11 »

Hi all,

I am starting a new job soon, in which I will be working in an open air cubicle environment (possibly with a cube-mate). I definitely want to use a mechanical keyboard at work since I will be doing a lot of typing, but I am worried about the noise bothering my coworkers.

Do any of you have experience with this issue? Which cherry switch would be quietest?

Thanks!

domin8r · « **Reply #1 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 02:44:20 »

I guess it just depends on your coworkers.. I'm sure that I make more noise than others with my Model M here. But then again, when I had a rubberdome I was bottoming out quite hard so that was quite noisy too.

From what I hear the cherry brown are good choice when you don't want to make too much noise. They don't click but have a "bump" so there is some tactile feedback.

Do you already own a mechanical right now? If you do I'd just bring it too work to try it out

nhwhaup · « **Reply #2 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 02:51:17 »

Cherry Red switches are fairly quiet and can be made really quiet with sound dampening pads.

HighNoon · « **Reply #3 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 02:52:00 »

I used to have a Blackwidow (blues) and now I have a Leopold tenkeyless with browns. I definitely will try my Leopold at work, but I will also have to buy a separate board for work eventually because I will be using the number pad quite often. That's why I'm trying to decide what switch would be quietest. According to ripster's force/noise chart in the wiki, browns, blacks, and reds are all about the same noise-wise.

The Solutor · « **Reply #4 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 03:13:13 »

Quote

Which cherry switch would be quietest?

Anything but blue if soft-landing or o-ring modded (pretty easy mod). The o-ring mod is way better IMO.

REVENGE · « **Reply #5 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 03:24:46 »

Quote from: HighNoon;366766

Hi all,

I am starting a new job soon, in which I will be working in an open air cubicle environment (possibly with a cube-mate). I definitely want to use a mechanical keyboard at work since I will be doing a lot of typing, but I am worried about the noise bothering my coworkers.

Do any of you have experience with this issue? Which cherry switch would be quietest?

Thanks!

I am a heavy typist, and my stock G80-8000 with Cherry Clear switches sounded about as loud as my roommate's rubber dome board. Soft landing pads will stop you from bottoming out hard and reduce the noise of any of the non-clicky Cherry switches.

bhtooefr · « **Reply #6 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 06:37:53 »

I've got blues at work, and they're not any louder than the sound of the cheap standard issue, warped case, rubber dome rattling back and forth on my desk.

I'd love to bring in some Model F BS, but I know that would piss everyone off.

daerid · « **Reply #7 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 08:39:26 »

I've got my Das Keyboard w/ Blues at work, and the guy right next to me has his Black Widow (blues), and nobody really cares. But then again, we're all programmers

So everybody loves the sound of the blues.

theferenc · « **Reply #8 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 08:43:55 »

My office currently has 4 Model Ms and a Filco tenkeyless with browns in it. Being in there when we're all working is like geek heaven. It's a small shared office, no cubicles.

bhtooefr · « **Reply #9 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 10:08:39 »

Because, you know, dipping your pen in company ink is a wise career move.

DesktopJinx · « **Reply #10 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 11:09:07 »

Keyboard noise is more easily ignorable than other people talking. The noise is different and thus catches attention at first, but soon it's relegated to the background and ignored.

When asked, describe your mechanical keyboard choice in terms of how it makes you a better employee, not how it makes you better than your coworkers. (Subtle but important difference.) Compare your performance on your chosen board to your performance on a standard board -- you make fewer mistakes, you type faster, you're less fatigued. You think it might be because the key actuation is more consistent and precise, or you don't have to press as hard, you're not really sure but it's the results that matter. You might mention it takes a little getting used to before letting your boss try it. And don't talk about how cool it is. Coolness is superfluous and even divisive.

daerid · « **Reply #11 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 11:14:12 »

I just say that "I'm a developer. My keyboard is part of my tools, and I want to make sure that I use the best tools possible to make my living". This usually shuts people up.

mmmty · « **Reply #12 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 11:14:21 »

Typing on my Poker red and it's very, very quiet.

theferenc · « **Reply #13 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 13:54:42 »

Yeah, I've found that most developers keyboard choices are tolerated, in that their bosses want them to be productive, rather than mad and fighting the keyboard all the time. As stated, it's a tool, and it's the tool you prefer to use over other, equivalent tools (in the sense that they all type).

Daniel Beaver · « **Reply #14 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 16:03:18 »

I'm getting a little self-conscious about my Filco with blues. No-one has complained, but damn that thing is loud.

DesktopJinx · « **Reply #15 on:** Fri, 24 June 2011, 20:18:20 »

There is another side to unique-sounding keyboards at work.

People can hear when you're "working" (typing). Which means they can hear when you're not working, or not there.

People may also make more comments about your typing speed on a clicky keyboard. (If you're using a buckling spring keyboard, you can choose whether or not to point out that it makes two noticeable clicks for every keypress, one down and one return.) Or maybe it's just me...

MrClyfar · « **Reply #16 on:** Sun, 26 June 2011, 15:54:02 »

Hi there.

At work, I often switch between:

- IBM Model M
- Das Keyboard III Model S
- Matias Tactile Pro version 1

At work, we all sit in the same office (about 7 of us) and not once have I been given a complaint about the noise I make whilst typing. It's fair to say each of the above keyboards give a distinctive sound, but as many have said, you often don't notice it. People talking on the phone, or to each other, is more of a distraction. You just get used to noise of the keys.

Plus, as a developer, I like to use keyboards that make my job more pleasurable due to the amount of typing I do. Mechanical and buckling springs are my choice of weapons when it comes to keyboards. My advice would be to use whatever keyboard(s) you want. I doubt anyone will really give s**t.

Cheers.
Jas.

daerid · « **Reply #17 on:** Sun, 26 June 2011, 17:50:19 »

I'm with you on everything except for one point: I don't know if it's the Unicomp board I've got, but I can't get even a decent speed going on the buckling spring board. Browns and reds are definitely my fastest boards.

theferenc · « **Reply #18 on:** Sun, 26 June 2011, 18:23:11 »

I'm actually fastest and most accurate with my buckling spring boards. Faster, but less accurate on my HHKB. Which doesn't make that much sense, when you consider they are the same layout, but I think it's just the switch characterestics are different enough that it catches me.

It's all in what you are used to, or what you're most comfortable with.

wcass · « **Reply #19 on:** Sun, 26 June 2011, 19:38:03 »

i've been using a model M at work and home for about 20 years. as a system admin, i had the luxury of an office for many years, but have been in a cube for a year or so. i get rare comments that my keyboard is clicky or "old school" - which starts me raving about the durability and feel of the buckling springs. all those who have sat near me have gotten used to the click pretty quickly - they don't even notice it after a week or so.

my home office my wife and i sit facing each other across a desk - we both have M's and it is not a distraction.

xargos · « **Reply #20 on:** Sun, 26 June 2011, 20:56:09 »

I never received any complaints when I was using a Cherry G80-1800 with black MX switches in it. Granted they aren't all that loud being linear switches, but they were definitely a little louder than the rubber dome boards that most people use.

Still, this thread gave me an idea. Maybe, just maybe if I bring an IBM Model M into work I can get my co-worker to stop taking most of his calls on speakerphone. Now that gets distracting!

theferenc · « **Reply #21 on:** Sun, 26 June 2011, 22:09:03 »

Oh, yeah, an M sounds like a typewriter via speakerphone. It's awesome.

spremino · « **Reply #22 on:** Fri, 01 July 2011, 12:09:32 »

When I brought my Unicomp BS, my colleagues did not complain, in the beginning. But as soon as I gained speed, they started complaining. Thus, I switched to Cherry clears, with no complaint whatsoever.

jpc · « **Reply #23 on:** Sun, 03 July 2011, 08:02:48 »

If anyone complains, get a USB typewriter.

False_Dmitry_II · « **Reply #24 on:** Sun, 03 July 2011, 11:58:51 »

Yeah, I bet they'd be begging you to switch back.

Tony · « **Reply #25 on:** Tue, 05 July 2011, 02:29:09 »

My office is quite noisy with 20 people, so they don't mind my Filco brown noise at all.

gwanghoops · « **Reply #26 on:** Tue, 05 July 2011, 02:43:08 »

Our office uses the Rosewill RK-9000 with the Cherry blues and they annoy me like crazy. This isn't due to the loudness, but the sound reminds of me of mice. Now, I wish they would switch to BS or (someone bribe the office manager) Topre. It's strange -- when I'm pressing the buttons, the sounds don't bother me, but...

Chobopants · « **Reply #27 on:** Tue, 05 July 2011, 10:36:08 »

I use my Reds at work. One other guy has a Filco Brown and another has the Topre HHKB and everyone else is on crappy rubber domes or apple chiclet scissors so we stand out quite a bit. When I tried using my Blues at work I was actually pretty self conscious about the sound and would get on my own nerves. That guy is boxed up in the closet now...

jblack801 · « **Reply #28 on:** Tue, 05 July 2011, 17:44:27 »

The only mention of my keyboard has been from a co-worker (that enjoys poking fun at my expense, just due to my obsession with keyboards), my keyboard apparently is fairly noticable on conference calls if my end isn't muted. It's a brown board, but I tend to bottom out.

I haven't gotten any complaints from those around me in surrounding cubes. I kind of wish I would have gone with the blues since nobody has complained.

And I'll also agree, generally conversations around me tend to be a lot more distracting. Although my neighbor likely types just as loud on his rubber dome.

Titmouse · « **Reply #29 on:** Tue, 05 July 2011, 17:46:33 »

Blues probably would've been much louder, depending on how hard you bottom out on the browns.

jblack801 · « **Reply #30 on:** Tue, 05 July 2011, 17:48:56 »

Quote from: Titmouse;373988

Blues probably would've been much louder, depending on how hard you bottom out on the browns.

Which is kind of what I figure based on the way I've been typing. I've not yet tried typing on blues, but I'm sure I'd love it. I need more money to be able to try out more switches. Luckily I'm now in a good position at my company to start expanding and growing. This will help the keyboard fund grow a bit I believe.

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Author Topic: Keyboard Noise at Work (Read 5809 times)