Black - May be the most consistent-fastest switch for ultimate typing.

[urbanus]

I've got a number of MX black boards, and I primarily use them for typing. 

I have a solution for the fatigue issue: make the board variably-weighted.  I've done that on a couple by swapping out the springs on the keys under my pinkies for MX red springs.  It's like the linear version of a Topre: it feels *just right*.

[tp4tissue]

I know those equations look good... but they ignore friction, which is a major loss of energy in the BLUES and Browns.. it's significant enough such that there is definitely MORE latency.

[bear95]

Yeah... which is why I used them only for red and brown, which I think is negligible for these two right?

We could calculate the amount of friction for brown and blues though. The material inside was POM? I'll try to include friction later.

[Binge]

If you move the key between neutral and actuation as fast as possible without taking a finger off of the key is not that keycap always in contact with the finger? Logically that would mean that the finger can not move faster than the spring brings the key to ready.

[linuxid10t]

If you move the key between neutral and actuation as fast as possible without taking a finger off of the key is not that keycap always in contact with the finger? Logically that would mean that the finger can not move faster than the spring brings the key to ready.

You know, I don't think anyone on this planet is going to have a problem with this.  I mean, how fast would you have to type to possibly have a problem like that?  Few thousand words per minute?

[Schattendolch]

troll thread

[linuxid10t]

troll thread

You registered just to say that?  Troll.

[precarious]

The more popular a word becomes and the more frequently it is used, the less it actually means.

[Schattendolch]

troll thread

You registered just to say that?  Troll.

i've been registered for awhile

i just think blacks are terrible and it's funny someone is trying to talk them up

[Noko]

As anectotal evidence:
The first mechanical switches I ever tried were blacks (my friend's Steelseries) and at that point the feel was so foreign that I couldn't even type a word without errors.
After a lot more exposure to typing on blues/browns, I find my fingers "get" the feel of mechanical switches but still make error as black feels unnatural in comparison with both.
I think if you took the "average person", blacks would be by far the worst typing switch for them.

[tufty]

The more popular a word becomes and the more frequently it is used, the less it actually means.

Nazi!

[precarious]

The more popular a word becomes and the more frequently it is used, the less it actually means.

Nazi!

These aren't the soups you're looking for.

[Firefly303]

As anectotal evidence:
The first mechanical switches I ever tried were blacks (my friend's Steelseries) and at that point the feel was so foreign that I couldn't even type a word without errors.
After a lot more exposure to typing on blues/browns, I find my fingers "get" the feel of mechanical switches but still make error as black feels unnatural in comparison with both.
I think if you took the "average person", blacks would be by far the worst typing switch for them.

This! just got my first one, a filco with brown switches and after the first 5 minutes of using it, i was mistyping so much. I was ready to throw it out the window and apologize to my rubber dome keyboard for being so stupid. Now 3 days in, i freaking love how light the keys are. There's definitely a learning curve for the average rubber dome keyboard user. My dad has a black switch keyboard and i can attest to them feeling "unnatural". Thats not to say blacks dont have their advantages though.

[TheQsanity]

Blacks are good after you have used them for a while. You get used to them. You start pressing heavy. Then Blacks become the only switch.

[Magnusian]

Buckling springs are the only switch.

Blacks feel like mashed potatoes.

[TheQsanity]

Blacks are linear though!

[PointyFox]

Another reason MX black is awesome is because I use it. 

MX black feels a bit light to me, and I'm looking for something stronger, like a keyboard with super blacks.

[TheQsanity]

Dark greys or light grey with Dark grey springs.

I am getting used to my blacks but I kinda don't want to just because I love my reds so much.

[PointyFox]

Dark greys or light grey with Dark grey springs.

I am getting used to my blacks but I kinda don't want to just because I love my reds so much.

I'm lazy and don't feel like unsoldering the switches from my Filco and soldering new switches in.  Does anyone make any keyboards with these already installed?

[precarious]

Dark greys or light grey with Dark grey springs.

I am getting used to my blacks but I kinda don't want to just because I love my reds so much.

I'm lazy and don't feel like unsoldering the switches from my Filco and soldering new switches in.  Does anyone make any keyboards with these already installed?

there's a ducky with grays coming out soon

[Halverson]

Dark greys or light grey with Dark grey springs.

I am getting used to my blacks but I kinda don't want to just because I love my reds so much.

I'm lazy and don't feel like unsoldering the switches from my Filco and soldering new switches in.  Does anyone make any keyboards with these already installed?

there's a ducky with grays coming out soon

I can't remember, was it the linear or tactile grey they're using in those boards.

[TheQsanity]

You could buy a Cherry board(PBC mount) and just swap the -Grey springs.

Hmm, Blue or Brown stem with Grey spring anyone?

[precarious]

Dark greys or light grey with Dark grey springs.

I am getting used to my blacks but I kinda don't want to just because I love my reds so much.

I'm lazy and don't feel like unsoldering the switches from my Filco and soldering new switches in.  Does anyone make any keyboards with these already installed?

there's a ducky with grays coming out soon

I can't remember, was it the linear or tactile grey they're using in those boards.

didn't even know there were linear grays, but i'm assuming it's tactile.

too many damn switches.

[rowdy]

Blacks feel like mashed potatoes.

LOL haven't heard this one before (typing this on blacks at the moment).

there's a ducky with grays coming out soon

ORLY?  And a CM QFR with grays following not long afterwards?

[precarious]

Blacks feel like mashed potatoes.

LOL haven't heard this one before (typing this on blacks at the moment).

there's a ducky with grays coming out soon

ORLY?  And a CM QFR with grays following not long afterwards?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=37862.msg725764

[rowdy]

ORLY?  And a CM QFR with grays following not long afterwards?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=37862.msg725764

No mention of a QFR there!?

[PointyFox]

I know there's a QFR with greens out now, but that's just a blue switch with black springs.

[Magnusian]

I know there's a QFR with greens out now, but that's just a blue switch with black springs.

Greens require about 1/3rd more force for activation than blacks. I actually ordered a QFR with greens to give Cherry MX switches another chance due to how crappy I found typing on blacks to be.

[sammsorensen]

Either way, My point isn't that you CAN"T be fast on brown, or blue, or red, or white..

My point is that BLACK has the BEST attributes suited for faster typing.

At 135 wpm you should be more concerned with your form than your switch type. 135wpm isn't even close to the realm of fast typing (170+). I've seen people break 190 wpm w/ all switch types.

[TheQsanity]

Either way, My point isn't that you CAN"T be fast on brown, or blue, or red, or white..

My point is that BLACK has the BEST attributes suited for faster typing.

At 135 wpm you should be more concerned with your form than your switch type. 135wpm isn't even close to the realm of fast typing (170+). I've seen people break 190 wpm w/ all switch types.

Preference, and whatever you are used to... Everyone's brains are wired differently... Everyone's muscle memory is different...

[urbanus]

At 135 wpm you should be more concerned with your form than your switch type. 135wpm isn't even close to the realm of fast typing (170+). I've seen people break 190 wpm w/ all switch types.

You sure have high standards.

[PointyFox]

At 135 wpm you should be more concerned with your form than your switch type. 135wpm isn't even close to the realm of fast typing (170+). I've seen people break 190 wpm w/ all switch types.

You sure have high standards.

"An average professional typist types usually in speeds of 50 to 80 wpm, while some positions can require 80 to 95 (usually the minimum required for dispatch positions and other time-sensitive typing jobs), and some advanced typists work at speeds above 120 wpm." (Wikipedia)

170+ wpm?  No biggie.

[tp4tissue]

At 135 wpm you should be more concerned with your form than your switch type. 135wpm isn't even close to the realm of fast typing (170+). I've seen people break 190 wpm w/ all switch types.

You sure have high standards.

"An average professional typist types usually in speeds of 50 to 80 wpm, while some positions can require 80 to 95 (usually the minimum required for dispatch positions and other time-sensitive typing jobs), and some advanced typists work at speeds above 120 wpm." (Wikipedia)

170+ wpm?  No biggie.

VERY few people "require" such fast "transcription" speeds, because you certainly can't "personally" generate content to saturate that speed.

[precarious]

At 135 wpm you should be more concerned with your form than your switch type. 135wpm isn't even close to the realm of fast typing (170+). I've seen people break 190 wpm w/ all switch types.

You sure have high standards.

"An average professional typist types usually in speeds of 50 to 80 wpm, while some positions can require 80 to 95 (usually the minimum required for dispatch positions and other time-sensitive typing jobs), and some advanced typists work at speeds above 120 wpm." (Wikipedia)

170+ wpm?  No biggie.

VERY few people "require" such fast "transcription" speeds, because you certainly can't "personally" generate content to saturate that speed.

are you saying one cannot think more quickly than he or she types?

[Magnusian]

There's a point where the speed at which you type outpaces the speed at which you think. I'd assume that it's probably different for everyone.

[precarious]

There's a point where the speed at which you type outpaces the speed at which you think. I'd assume that it's probably different for everyone.

I guess most people are simple animals with no actual thoughts in their head.  I can type as fast as anyone on Earth at my best, and I know for a fact I think far more quickly than I could ever translate it to words with a few movements of my hands.  I mean, this entire statement appeared in my head instantaneously and I had to spend a few seconds typing it.

[jamdox]

There's a point where the speed at which you type outpaces the speed at which you think. I'd assume that it's probably different for everyone.

I guess most people are simple animals with no actual thoughts in their head.  I can type as fast as anyone on Earth at my best, and I know for a fact I think far more quickly than I could ever translate it to words with a few movements of my hands.  I mean, this entire statement appeared in my head instantaneously and I had to spend a few seconds typing it.

Heh.  I generally do OK on intelligence tests, and spend a lot more time thinking than typing... choosing words... choosing what not to say.  I type 60wpm on membrane, and in no way feel that it limits my productivity.  I'm trying to switch to Colemak, however, and 15wpm is definitely too slow!

[PointyFox]

It depends on what you are typing. Generally the longer it takes to think of, the longer it will take to type. Think executive summary for a 500 page research paper versus rambling about how much you love or hate keyboard switches.

[fuus]

170WPM is bloody pacey. I do feel a lot slower on a membrane keyboard.

[TheQsanity]

Planning things out does take a while. Not all of us are strong in literature

[urbanus]

There's a point where the speed at which you type outpaces the speed at which you think. I'd assume that it's probably different for everyone.

So that's why my typing speed is only 3 WPM! 

[yasuo]

really sean wrona used it,any link ensure that
I know sean wrona has DAS Pro w/ brown

and special again blacks is first switch of cherry though several changes 

[polpo]

I did a few tests a while ago with Brown (103WPM), Black (106WPM), and Matias Quiet (104WPM) switches. A marginal difference, but I was indeed fastest on Black switches. I still don't like the feel. I'll take a slight decrease in speed over tactility.

I should drag out the Model M and see what I get on that...

[PointyFox]

I did a few tests a while ago with Brown (103WPM), Black (106WPM), and Matias Quiet (104WPM) switches. A marginal difference, but I was indeed fastest on Black switches. I still don't like the feel. I'll take a slight decrease in speed over tactility.

I should drag out the Model M and see what I get on that...

You mean "*and* tactility"?

[MJ45]

And what about 55g Topre they are fast for typing about as fast as MX blacks for me.

[daerid]

Holy Necro Batman

[SpAmRaY]

Holy Necro Batman

couldn't have said it any better 

[polpo]

You mean "*and* tactility"?

Oops, yeah.

[rowdy]

Holy Necro Batman

couldn't have said it any better 

Actually this thread was last touched earlier this year.  That's something, at least.  Someone recently bumped threads from 2010!

[PointyFox]

Some of us are more patient.  A few years is nothing for a conversation.