Failed to convince my brother to like my mechanical keyboard.

[pitashen]

Finally got a chance to meet my older brother after being apart for a couple of years. Happily brought him my mech board to have him try out the mech board goodness. He's currently on his one of those MS low profile boards, which is actually not a bad board for rubber dome.

He was quite skeptical when I mentioned to him about the keyboard. When I brought it to him and asked him to try it for a while, he roughly put it down on his desk, pounded on it randomly here and there, and then threw it back saying how the keys are too small (well since the key caps are taller） and said to me “I am happy with my keyboard.” He refused to try it further.

I came out of his room with a loser face....

[kaiserreich]

Throw him a Model M.
Then we'll see who is small.

[riggs]

Punch his face.
Then we'll see who's small.

[laffindude]

I like your doublebyte closing parenthesis
My family had the wtf look when I asked them to receive some keyboards for me. They were like how much? and goes on about how they got theirs for much cheaper and it types the same. I don't bother explaining.

[mbc]

so what's the problem?
is your keyboard less good just because other ppl don't like it?
so lame

[keyboardlover]

I wouldn't worry about it. Most people I've introduced to mechanicals are happy with their current domes.

I call them "DomeHeads".

[flyball]

are you twins

[pitashen]

My mother actually appreciated it more than he did...lol... telling me that it felt kinda nice typing on it. Although she did comment how this cheap ass rubber dome I brought forward to her to try was almost like my mech board... (stab stab stab).

[keyboardlover]

Yea my mom thinks the whole mechanical keyboard thing is cool too

[FinancialWar]

Why do you need to "convince" your brother of mechanical keyboard? People are just going to think you're weird to care so much about something which they probably can't tell a difference.

[cactux]

I do not think that is 100% related to the board, may be he is not very happy, because you where away after several years. If that is the case he may not be very receptive

[Lanx]

When I gave my nephew a white modded abs1 I took away his old keyboard. This way he's forced to like it, and adapt. Besides I spent a few hours desoldering then desoldering all new switches on that board, no way I was gonna let him shelve it.

[shogrran]

Well maybe it needs time to sink in. When I first got a taste of a mechanical keyboard. I didn't know what the difference is. I was shopping to get a Razer arctosa and I saw a Razer blackwidow while roaming around. I got to test it and looked at the price tag as well.. I initially said "meh! i don't need that for that price" and I got the arctosa anyway.

Little did I know that after a few months I felt the call to buy that blackwidow because of the switch feel.

Maybe it's inception....

[Tony]

Don't bother convincing. 99.9% of people prefer rubber domes. The rest 0.1% are geekhackers.

[slueth]

Kinda depends on the person and how much time they spend on the computer.  Some people are willing to pay a good sum for a quality keyboard.  There are people who have a good rig but a crappy keyboard.
I guess people who like mechanical keyboards, are like people who prefer drinking soda in a glass bottle vs soda in a plastic bottle.  I just keep it to myself unless they are curious, then I reveal my keyboards stacked on top of each other.

[Surly73]

Don't bother convincing. 99.9% of people prefer rubber domes. The rest 0.1% are geekhackers.

I don't think that's true.  99.9% don't know any better.  I wouldn't expect everyone to fall in love with mech boards though.  Some people will truly prefer RD keyboards.  In many cases, you can't appreciate mechanicals unless you give yourself time to acclimate.  

I know that decades ago, I hated model Ms and model Fs.  I didn't own one, and I was always on a computer that didn't belong to me when I was using it.  The touch didn't appeal to me whatsoever.  Now a model M is my daily driver at work (for now).  I came to appreciate what was good about the model M, actually owned one, and gave it time.

I know that I did always like my Amiga keyboard but sometimes felt it was a little tiring.  Guess what?  PCB-mounted Cherry MX blacks w/ doubleshots...  I also thought some WYSE terminal keyboards I found myself using (WY99GT mostly) were really great once I got used to them.  MX Blacks again.  On the other hand, VT220 keyboards sucked large.  No idea what's in those.

I got into MS Natural keyboards for a while.  I found one or two around the office that didn't have a lot of off-axis binding and liked them, but struggled with off-axis binding in a lot of boards I used.  I wondered why my Amiga keyboard didn't do that.  Now I know, but back then I didn't.

When I got my first Cherry Brown board, I was a little unimpressed.  The brown switch lacked the tactility I was expecting and felt gritty.  If I hadn't been studying at GH in advance and someone plopped one in my lap, I don't know that I would have been impressed.  The benefits have grown on me and I've become accustomed to the touch.  I'd still like to try ergo clears sometime.  I LOVE the Realforce touch.  The 55g felt awesome, but had a hard time getting up to full typing speed on it so I sold it.  I have a variable weight in the mail.  Of course, the RF is just very very good rubber domes.

The biggest thing that bugs me is off-axis binding.  Especially variable, unpredictable binding.  Both Realforce rubber dome and Cherry MX handle this very well.  Cherry ML is mechanical too, but binds a lot in my opinion.  I've tried a couple of ALPS boards that still seem to bind so they are unattractive to me.  One of the greatest things I notice about my model M is smooth, bind-free operation despite the heavy key weighting.

So - does it matter what everyone thinks?  Should everyone mindlessly love any mechanical board you toss at them after a 2 minute test drive?  I don't think those are reasonable expectations.

[mechanisch]

I had the opportunity to let my sisters and mom try out my mechanical boards over the holidays.  Both of my sisters like them but said they couldn't justify the price of buying one for themselves.  My mom immediately fell in love with the Filco MX Black.  She's just a typical user who isn't very computer literate, but she does a fair bit of typing and form entry.  She couldn't stop raving about it.  I was surprised actually that they all immediately felt and appreciated the difference, but if they didn't I wouldn't be sad over it.

[pitashen]

I had the opportunity to let my sisters and mom try out my mechanical boards over the holidays.  Both of my sisters like them but said they couldn't justify the price of buying one for themselves.  My mom immediately fell in love with the Filco MX Black.  She's just a typical user who isn't very computer literate, but she does a fair bit of typing and form entry.  She couldn't stop raving about it.  I was surprised actually that they all immediately felt and appreciated the difference, but if they didn't I wouldn't be sad over it.

happy ending for you



I did not expected my brother to like it right the way. The fact that he didn't even bother giving some time to type on it for say a few days or weeks breaks my heart *sob

[rhizo]

I know I will get crucified but I have started learning to like rubber domes again.  There are a lot of quality rubber domes out there - mostly overshadowed by trash.

The laptops that I always type on at every visit to CostCo have made me angry because the quality has gotten so much better and I just want to disconnect the keyboard and use it elsewhere.  Very soft bottoming out without noise, Cherry Red'ish in nature, and tenkeyless, but stuck to the laptop.

Right now I'd say my favorite is the Dell RT7D20; it feels like dampened browns but without mushiness that you get on average HP boards.

to be honest, many rubberdomes feel decent when new. the problem is when they get used they feel super mushy, which sucks :/

[WiL11o6]

to be honest, many rubberdomes feel decent when new. the problem is when they get used they feel super mushy, which sucks :/

I agree.

People make it seem like mechanical keyboards are a million miles ahead of rubber domes, but it all comes down to preference. I disliked browns so much I'd rather save money and stick with a rubber dome. Yes, mech keyboards feel really nice and much more customizable to each person's needs, however, rubber domes aren't that bad, unless of course it's all oily and mushy. I went from rubber domes to mech and I can still use rubber domes fine at work or elsewhere and still be able to type at a good 90wpm without slow downs from mech to rubber. It's just a whole different feel, like mx reds vs mx blues and there's rubber domes.

[tian105]

+1  
.
my mom used my computer one day to send a email because her laptop was misplaces.d. Then i asked her how did the keyboard feel. she said it was nice.  Anyhow, i think women have more sensitive fingers than men due to various reasons... i wont try to explain though..

[tian105]

Yea my mom thinks the whole mechanical keyboard thing is cool too

my mom used my computer one day to send a email because her laptop was misplaces.d. Then i asked her how did the keyboard feel. she said it was nice.  Anyhow, i think women have more sensitive fingers than men due to various reasons... i wont try to explain though..

[Encryptor]

my mom used my computer one day to send a email because her laptop was misplaces.d. Then i asked her how did the keyboard feel. she said it was nice.  Anyhow, i think women have more sensitive fingers than men due to various reasons... i wont try to explain though..

My mom hates computers and is used to typing on typewriters.  When she rarely does type on a computer, she POUNDS on the keys, typewriter-style.  I got kind of freaked out when she did this to my laptop... I should mail her a Unicomp to keep on hand.. :roll:

[patrickgeekhack]

Morale of the story:

We all have different values or standards with which measure things. Good for me may not be good for someone else. You can only try and hope for the test. Just because your brother did not like it does not mean that someone else will not appreciate your suggestions.

If I were to go on a quest to get people to convert to fountain pens, I would fail most of the time, I am pretty sure.

Don't give up...

[Barn]

Each to their own. Everyone is different.

[enoy21]

Why do you need to "convince" your brother of mechanical keyboard? People are just going to think you're weird to care so much about something which they probably can't tell a difference.

+1   I think the fact that he felt you were forcing it on him and trying to convince him that " my board is better than yours "  probably set a bad precedence for him actually testing it out.

It's kind of like over hyping a movie to a skeptic.    By the time they see it, they are all prepared for all the negative feedback that they will give.

[FinancialWar]

in all honesty, the OP is just trying to feed his own ego by trying to prove to his brother that he is using an inferior technology. As of human nature, his brother trying to avoid embarrassment and his own ego defends the crappier rubberdome even though he probably liked the mechanical keyboard. OP's brother will now never switch over to mechanical keyboard (even though he might want to) because doing so would be like admitting his dumber that OP.

This is a start an awkward relationship.  

Oh dear, this thread only proves that OP has no social skill...

[Bry]

in all honesty, the OP is just trying to feed his own ego by trying to prove to his brother that he is using an inferior technology. As of human nature, his brother trying to avoid embarrassment and his own ego defends the crappier rubberdome even though he probably liked the mechanical keyboard. OP's brother will now never switch over to mechanical keyboard (even though he might want to) because doing so would be like admitting his dumber that OP.

This is a start an awkward relationship.  

Oh dear, this thread only proves that OP has no social skill...

Well put.

[DesktopJinx]

A few months ago, I secretly replaced our conference room's worn-out Dell rubber-dome keyboard with a brand-new Unicomp.

After several weeks, the Unicomp got sidelined.

Most people want what they're used to.
Hell, how many people really need to type well?

The clicky keyboard will forevermore be the province of old farts and weirdos. That's just the nature of things.

[Trippy]

I think they would feel the same way you do if they would type on it for a few days and then try to go back to a rubber dome. When I tried I felt like throwing the rubber dome keyboard across the room.

[Surly73]

I think they would feel the same way you do if they would type on it for a few days and then try to go back to a rubber dome. When I tried I felt like throwing the rubber dome keyboard across the room.

Exactly.  There's a period of adjustment for your brain and body before you really notice the advantages.  A 30 second test drive simply isn't going to get that across.

[The_Beast]

I didn't like the keys on my mechanical keyboard at first since they were smaller than my old rubber membrane keyboard. However after a day of just getting used to it, I can safely say that I won't be going back the rubber membranes anytime soon.