About 2 years ago I did my research, became enamored with the concept of mechanical keyboards, then indulged myself with a Ducky Shine II with Cherry MX Blue key switches and blue LEDs. I loved it. That is, until a few weeks ago when the "M" key started failing to register keystrokes, regardless of the angle or pressure with which I depressed the key. Part of my troubleshooting involved switching the keyboard to "reactive" mode, where each key lights up as you press it. About 50% of the time when I pressed the "M" key it didn't light up at all.
Since Ducky's warranty is only 1 year, I went ahead and dismantled the keyboard. I found dust and other gunk that ends up falling between the keys, but the key switch itself was pristine. I pulled out my soldering iron and swapped the "M" key switch with the "E-mail" key switch, which I never use. Thenceforth, "M" has behaved perfectly.
Then, a few days ago, the "3" key started failing to register keystrokes just as the "M" key had. Now it looks like I'm going to have to dismantle my keyboard again, pull out my soldering iron again, and swap the "3" key switch with another unused key that's working properly.
Two Cherry MX Blue key switch failures on the same keyboard after just 2 years of moderate use? At the call center where I work I have lots of junky generic $5 keyboards that are 10+ years old, that still work fine! Why the blazes do we pay $140+ for fancy mechanical keyboards, if they aren't even going to last as long as a "normal" keyboard? How many of you have experienced failure rates like this; how common is it?
