Typing slower when first switching to mechanical?

[grapefruit]

So just today I got a first mechanical keyboard, a CM compact Quickfire with blues. Previously I had a regular membrane Microsoft Digital Keyboard 3000.

I feel like something about the keyboard is making me type more gingerly and slowly. I feel less confident about typing; I feel like I have to be more careful which keys I tap. Is it the higher activation force of the mechanical keyboard that's causing this feeling?

Or, given the fact that the keyboard is "compact" and tenkeyless -- is it something about the layout, perhaps a smaller space between keys than is the case with the Microsoft keyboard or even the keyboard on a Macbook, that's causing the issue?

Or is it just a matter of getting used to it?

[rowdy]

So just today I got a first mechanical keyboard, a CM compact Quickfire with blues. Previously I had a regular membrane Microsoft Digital Keyboard 3000.

I feel like something about the keyboard is making me type more gingerly and slowly. I feel less confident about typing; I feel like I have to be more careful which keys I tap. Is it the higher activation force of the mechanical keyboard that's causing this feeling?

Or, given the fact that the keyboard is "compact" and tenkeyless -- is it something about the layout, perhaps a smaller space between keys than is the case with the Microsoft keyboard or even the keyboard on a Macbook, that's causing the issue?

Or is it just a matter of getting used to it?

A bit of all the above.

Just give yourself a bit of time to acclimatise, and you will wonder how you ever managed to use a rubber dome keyboard.

[Linkbane]

Most of the things mentioned aren't actually true.
In fact, Blue switches most likely have a lower force required than any rubber dome, unless there are some which are very light.
Also, the space between the keys should be pretty much the exact same.
What I would think is the issue is that it's new to you; when you press in a key, you don't quite feel the same thing, and it might be taking away from your confidence. I would just try things out and see how they go. 

[daerid]

Most of the things mentioned aren't actually true.
In fact, Blue switches most likely have a lower force required than any rubber dome, unless there are some which are very light.
Also, the space between the keys should be pretty much the exact same.
What I would think is the issue is that it's new to you; when you press in a key, you don't quite feel the same thing, and it might be taking away from your confidence. I would just try things out and see how they go. 

This.

[kolonelkadat]

I feel like something about the keyboard is making me type more gingerly and slowly. I feel less confident about typing; I feel like I have to be more careful which keys I tap.

Maybe its your subconscious trying to protect you from something you dont like.

[tuxsavvy]

I agree with what both rowdy as well as Linkbane said. Although I never tried MX switches but I sort of believe when changing from a membrane to a more mechanical keyboard there needs to be a time for one to get used to the new environment.

You should never expect an instantaneous boost when switching to mechanical keyboard, neither should you be shocked when you noticed your speeds are slow within the first few days. When I switched from a membrane keyboard (full sized) to HHKB (60%) I realised I needed sometime to get used to its layouts and quirks along with setting the keyboard up properly for use with my environment. After about a week or two of getting used to my HHKB. Previously I range from 60-65 wpm on a membrane keyboard. The speeds were not consistent as I guess some keys on the membrane keyboard were already heavier to type with (partially, then there were issues with my muscle memory for hitting the wrong keys. After giving about a week or two to getting used to the basics of HHKB and that I gave myself enough time to get used to just typing on it (via chatting or otherwise responding to forum posts for instance) I took my HHKB to the same typing speed test website again. In my first go I scored 62wpm. Sure my speeds may not have seem faster than when I was on rubber dome keyboard but it was enough to show that I have lost very little when transitioning across.

You need to ask yourself a few questions before drawing on conclusions like that:

• How many days was it since you got your hands on the mechanical keyboard?
• How many times have you tried exposing yourself to using mechanical keyboard?
• Did you give yourself enough time to fulfil your requirements?

The way you phrased it sounds almost like as if you have given yourself very little time to get used to mechanical keyboard in general whilst on the other hand you expected that your muscle memory and all are enough to get used to mechanical keyboard or virtually any keyboard regardless of their layout.
If that were the case I would try and spend more time whilst not expecting too much. Having high expectations for certain things may lead to disasterous consequences.

[BlackWidowMan777]

I think you have correctly identified what makes your new mechanical keyboard different from your previous keyboard, but instead of calling it 'higher actuation point' you referred to it as 'higher actuation force'. So what you are feeling is a higher actuation point coupled with lower actuation force. In other words, you don't have to press as hard or as far for each stroke.

This is precisely the difference you are feeling. And by the same token this is one of the major advantages of mechanical keyboards over rubber dome keyboards.

With your blue switches, the actuation point is as you said higher up - exactly half way. Full travel is 4mm yet the key registers at exactly 2mm depth. With your previous keyboard the key would only register once you had fully depressed the key. That's why it feels kind of sensitive. But once you get used to it, you will be able to type faster as once you feel the bump and hear the click you can move on to the next letter and thus become faster and faster.

Having said that, the secret to typing on mechanical keyboards is perhaps counter-intuitive from your point of view - it is to key 'confidently', that is with 'short, sharp, and quick' strokes. You don't need to pound the board into submission, but by the same token, you don't use long, careful, ponderous strokes. You just do it! Good luck and let us know how it goes but I'm sure you'll be loving it in no time  .

[Tony]

It takes one or two weeks to get used to mechanical keyboards of any type at the first time. You can type without bottoming out every time

[randomist]

It takes one or two weeks to get used to mechanical keyboards of any type at the first time. You can type without bottoming out every time

I don't think it takes that long. For me at least after a week of owning my first Filco I was already getting frustrated with the Dell rubber dome board I was provided with in my office. I ended up buying a 2nd Filco to replace it. I still bottom out like a champ (had to add o-rings to the office board) but the consistency of the mechanical board meant i got used to it within a few hours of use.

[Fullcream]

The space between keys is going to be completely standard

[tuxsavvy]

It takes one or two weeks to get used to mechanical keyboards of any type at the first time. You can type without bottoming out every time

I don't think it takes that long. For me at least after a week of owning my first Filco I was already getting frustrated with the Dell rubber dome board I was provided with in my office. I ended up buying a 2nd Filco to replace it. I still bottom out like a champ (had to add o-rings to the office board) but the consistency of the mechanical board meant i got used to it within a few hours of use.

It can vary from people to people and the layouts they are using:

• If you are a slow learner for instance, it may take you more than average time to get used to it
• If you are switching from QWERTY to Dvorak, it may also take you time to get used to it.
• If you are switching from ANSI to JIS, it may also take you time to get used to it.
• If you are switching from full sized to 75%, 70%, 60% for instance it may also take you time to get used to it.
• If you have to alternate between any of the keyboards that you have it may ultimately take you time to get used to it.

Any combinations (or all) of the above will add up significant time for one to get used to it. As a safe measure it is best to say a week or two to get used to the basics. I also mean that a week or two is also with constant usage of the new keyboard and/or its layout. Anytime that one does not learn the new keyboard for instance may increase the time required to get used to the layout.
Bottom line is that one needs to be patient regardless. We (humans) are not machines, as much as we like to be as strict as humans we cannot match against them.  )

[grapefruit]

Very interesting answers so far, everyone.

The space between keys is going to be completely standard

Really, even between a full-size board and a tenkeyless? It certainly feels like my wrists/hands are closer together when I type, but maybe that is just my imagination. Or is the closeness due to something else?

I think you have correctly identified what makes your new mechanical keyboard different from your previous keyboard, but instead of calling it 'higher actuation point' you referred to it as 'higher actuation force'. So what you are feeling is a higher actuation point coupled with lower actuation force. In other words, you don't have to press as hard or as far for each stroke.

That's very interesting. I think you may be right.

I just typed that last sentence several times, alternating between this mechanical keyboard and the keyboard on my Macbook Pro. Typing very quickly, I consistently made more errors on the mechanical. More transposition errors, more timing errors (e.g. not pressing the spacebar at the right time), and more false keys hit. I just felt like I knew where the keys were better on the Macbook.

So I'm typing more slowly and feeling less confident because when I type at my normal rates (and I'm a fast typist, typically 110-130 wpm), I'm making these errors -- probably because my muscle memory is subtly inaccurate to this new keyboard and keyboard style. I guess as everyone points out it will just take some getting used to.

[riotonthebay]

I just typed that last sentence several times, alternating between this mechanical keyboard and the keyboard on my Macbook Pro. Typing very quickly, I consistently made more errors on the mechanical. More transposition errors, more timing errors (e.g. not pressing the spacebar at the right time), and more false keys hit. I just felt like I knew where the keys were better on the Macbook.

So I'm typing more slowly and feeling less confident because when I type at my normal rates (and I'm a fast typist, typically 110-130 wpm), I'm making these errors -- probably because my muscle memory is subtly inaccurate to this new keyboard and keyboard style. I guess as everyone points out it will just take some getting used to.

I recently switched from using my MBP keyboard to using a mechanical keyboard full-time. I too am a fast typist, and it took me a few days to get back to the same speeds I was hitting before on rubber domes.

I'm now back to the speeds, but typing is significantly more comfortable on the mech .

[ynrozturk]

I think it has something to do with the profile of the keys, too. Rubber domes have a lower profile so they're a bit easier to get around on.

[rowdy]

Very interesting answers so far, everyone.

The space between keys is going to be completely standard

Really, even between a full-size board and a tenkeyless? It certainly feels like my wrists/hands are closer together when I type, but maybe that is just my imagination. Or is the closeness due to something else?

I think you have correctly identified what makes your new mechanical keyboard different from your previous keyboard, but instead of calling it 'higher actuation point' you referred to it as 'higher actuation force'. So what you are feeling is a higher actuation point coupled with lower actuation force. In other words, you don't have to press as hard or as far for each stroke.

That's very interesting. I think you may be right.

I just typed that last sentence several times, alternating between this mechanical keyboard and the keyboard on my Macbook Pro. Typing very quickly, I consistently made more errors on the mechanical. More transposition errors, more timing errors (e.g. not pressing the spacebar at the right time), and more false keys hit. I just felt like I knew where the keys were better on the Macbook.

So I'm typing more slowly and feeling less confident because when I type at my normal rates (and I'm a fast typist, typically 110-130 wpm), I'm making these errors -- probably because my muscle memory is subtly inaccurate to this new keyboard and keyboard style. I guess as everyone points out it will just take some getting used to.

Look at the keycaps - on a TKL and full size board the keycaps are the same size and have the same gap between them.  It is psychological - that the keyboard is less wide therefore the keys are smaller.  Not so.  Standard size switches, standard spacing.

If you are coming from a Macbook scissor switch keyboard there is a bigger difference than coming from a rubber dome.  I went from Apple aluminium keyboard to Ducky Shine - took a while to accustomise.  Now it works the other way - I switched back to the Apple keyboard for a couple of hours on the weekend and struggled.

Also this forum has a quote facility - it will help to space your answers and differentiate the comments you are replying to

[Pacifist]

Just give it a week

[C5Allroad]

Give it a week and you will see that you will be typing much quicker. I seem to be going up 10 words per minute every few months. I remember back when I got my K90 I typed at 20 words per minute

Then a few months went on and I was quickly getting up to speed, now I type at 51. Goal is 100.

Not only will your typing be quicker, you will love typing on a mechanical board!

[Findecanor]

It will take you a while to adapt to any new key switch that you try. That includes changing between different mechanical switches.
I experienced the same thing when going from MX Blue to MX Brown, Clear and with the Buckling Spring switches on the IBM Model M.

Another thing with the MX Blue that took a while to get used to was that the hard sound when bottoming out ("clack"), where as my previous rubber dome keyboards had bottomed out more softly. I quickly installed O-rings to reduce the sound. They makes the keys more mushy when bottoming out, but if you are acclimatized to the clicks and tactility of the MX Blues, you won't be too bothered by that.

[terran5992]

Type on 10fastfingers 10 times a day, for 1 month

Id guarantee that you would type faster

[Linkbane]

It will take you a while to adapt to any new key switch that you try. That includes changing between different mechanical switches.
I experienced the same thing when going from MX Blue to MX Brown, Clear and with the Buckling Spring switches on the IBM Model M.

Another thing with the MX Blue that took a while to get used to was that the hard sound when bottoming out ("clack"), where as my previous rubber dome keyboards had bottomed out more softly. I quickly installed O-rings to reduce the sound. They makes the keys more mushy when bottoming out, but if you are acclimatized to the clicks and tactility of the MX Blues, you won't be too bothered by that.

I don't know, I tried black o-rings on Blues and absolutely hated them. In my opinion, Blues should not have rings added.

[grapefruit]

It takes one or two weeks to get used to mechanical keyboards of any type at the first time. You can type without bottoming out every time

After a few days, I think this is another issue. I sensed that I shouldn't be bottoming out the keyboard anymore, and that is indeed taking me time to accomplish. That's another part of the feeling I need to hit the keys more "gingerly."

But it has gotten better already.

[Linkbane]

It takes one or two weeks to get used to mechanical keyboards of any type at the first time. You can type without bottoming out every time

After a few days, I think this is another issue. I sensed that I shouldn't be bottoming out the keyboard anymore, and that is indeed taking me time to accomplish. That's another part of the feeling I need to hit the keys more "gingerly."

But it has gotten better already.

It took me a lot of practice to not even bottom out most of the time.

[tp4tissue]

The cause is because MX keys are much lighter than the Microsoft keys you're used to..

The keys also activate half way down.. whereas with the Microsoft dome board, you have 4mm to decide if that's the right key... on the MX board, you have 2mm..

with practice.. you should become confident in control of the keyboard..

Don't be afraid to make mistakes while typing.. really GET IN THERE.. and USE IT... Feel it out...

The plastic and metal parts also need to be broken in to achieve maximum smoothness.. so... get typing... play some typing games...

[grapefruit]

One more observation, since I think this may be useful for future readers: I think the mechanical keyboard has a much harder landing than my previous membrane keyboards, or my Macbook Pro's scissor keyboard. That's another reason why bottoming it out is more problematic.

[Linkbane]

One more observation, since I think this may be useful for future readers: I think the mechanical keyboard has a much harder landing than my previous membrane keyboards, or my Macbook Pro's scissor keyboard. That's another reason why bottoming it out is more problematic.

Certainly, it hits a metal plate and all there is to cushion your fingers is the plastic of the stem and a spring, not a cushy rubber dome.