had this discussion with a couple people last night, and i found everyone's reasonings fairly different so i wanted to see what "programmers" thought of this.....

1) what is the best keyboard to type on (mechanical or membrane).... not gaming (obviously mechanical all day)
1.5) if you like mechanical- what color switch do you prefer?
2) do you use your RGB lights (why or why not)
3) do you prefer a full keyboard or a "65%"
4) do you have hot keys? if so do you use them, and for what?

1) i think membrane keyboards feel best for typing personally, mechanical for gaming
2) lights are cool imo and don't seem to distract me in any way... they just feel "fun", and i think that adds to the experience
3) full keyboards are the only thing i can use.... having to use a "fn" key of some kind for the missing buttons just ruins work flow for me
4) i LOVE hot keys.... from simple "alt+4", "shift + win + arrow right", "shift + ctrl + left", they all speed up my flow 5x (for me)

    REVBENT Using membrane, mechanical is too KLAP KLAP KLAP for me.

    I have a keyboard with white illumination, so I can work in dark while not looking at acid trip below.

    Full keyboard, mostly because of Blender shortcuts that rely on numpad.

    I have hotkey for calculator, and I'm not even using it. Using shortcuts is so wired in my fingers that I would probably lose more time to locate hotkey. I know it's about adaptation, but I'm too lazy for that. I have to learn hotkeys on each new keyvoard, while shortcuts work universaly.

        REVBENT

        1. Mechanical for everything. After I tried a mechanical keyboard for the first time I never want to go back. Honestly, I find the feeling of membrane keys kinda disgusting these days.
          1.5. MX-Cherry brown or equivalent, usually. Tactile enough, but not overly so.
        2. I usually have some RGB lights. Generally I hate RGB, but on keyboards it doesn't bother me.
        3. I would prefer a 110% keyboard. But these don't exist. 100% all the time. I can not work with anything less and even these don't have enough keys for me.
        4. Nope. I am on Linux. To difficult to configure. Not worth the trouble.

            Vododovoodvod its so funny that EVERYONE using the term acid trip to describe the lights, and the two people last night that said that both use the white as a back light lmao...

              Zini i have a corsair k57... its membrane, but when you click it actually stops on a surface instead of feeling squishy. i think that is most peoples issue with a membrane keyboard. I like the brown switch for mechanical as well.... it prevents it from feeling too sensitive (which is typically my gripe with mechanical).

                I use a mechanical keyboard. I like the positive feedback from key presses.

                It's a full keyboard, which I prefer.

                I don't know what "color switch" means.

                If "RGB lights" refers to the illuminated keys, which my current keyboard has, I don't like them. I guess it's supposed to look cool, but I want functionality. The printed labels on the keys are faint, so I need to have the lights on to see the keys. The numbers row lights are blue, which is hard to see. I had to put adhesive labels on those keys so I could easily read them.

                I just ordered a new mechanical keyboard, which I think has clearly printed labels on the keys.

                If "hot keys" means programmable keys, I wouldn't use those. It would be confusing, since key mappings vary so much across different applications.

                If "hot keys" means keyboard shortcuts, I use a few, for things I do frequently.

                I like my Wooting analog mechanical, because I can adjust the activation point of each key individually. So I have most keys activate by barely pressing them, but some that I don't want to accidentally press like caps lock or insert require pushing further.

                But I think generally my favorite for pure typing (but bad for games) was the Razer Black Widow with cherry mx blue (loud clicking). Gaming wasn't great on it because rapid tapping was harder due to how the bump and click part worked. But I loved typing on it.

                So for right now:
                1-Analog mechanical
                1.5-Lekker switches
                2-I've got them on at the moment, it's pretty subtle though.
                3-As large as possible. As many extra keys as possible. Although my current one is just full size.
                4-Yep.

                My keyboard doesn't have separate media keys, so I also use a Midi controller (Behringer XTouch Mini with the free Midi Mixer software). It's buttons are bound to the media keys and it's 8 volume knobs can control 8 different applications (with rebinding to different apps on the fly).

                Mechanical, full size, no gimmicks. I prefer them black.
                Up to this point, I didn't know keyboard snobbery is a thing 😃
                I always considered a keyboard to be like a screwdriver or a pair of pliers. Just more disposable.

                Aesthetics-wise I really like this one:

                I'd never use it though.

                  REVBENT 1) what is the best keyboard to type on (mechanical or membrane)....

                  Very strange question… as if from ancient times… when there were no decent alternatives:

                  • membrane — badly imprinted;
                  • mechanics are stiff and noisy.

                  but I live in the III millennium AD (VIII — from the creation of the world) and we already have “optical-mechanical switches” that don't have these disadvantages.

                  But other things about this issue are strange — how can you separate the input media — keyboard and mouse? I haven't used “copy-paste” from the keyboard for a long time, reassigning them to the side buttons of the mouse.

                  I prefer the gaming ones, finding them very convenient for work. Of course full ones with numeric keypad — when you need to type numbers — it's more convenient. With additional keys, which I quickly get used to. And a good keyboard and mouse last long enough. Just looking for a simpler design. Unfortunately, a lot of them are made in black color, to which I am allergic. At best I find (dark) gray. There are almost no white colors on sale. I found a red mouse.

                  The backlight is white, the weakest, which would only see the letters, although it is more useful to work blind.

                  Perhaps Linux does not allow you to program keyboard and mouse buttons — I have not seen any programs to configure them for him - a big disadvantage.

                    Wooting used to use optical switches (in the Wooting One). But around 4 years ago they moved to hall effect magnetic switches (which my Wooting 2 Lekker Edition has).

                    It would be interesting to see one using Tunnelling Magneto Resistance, which is faster, lower power and more precise than hall effect. PB Tails makes a gamepad with Tunnelling Magneto Resistance thumbsticks.

                    I have at home Glorious PC Gaming Race GMMK Full-Size – Gateron Brown, US GMMK-BRN-V2.
                    What i like about this is that you can change switches when you want to, i have khail navy blue or something, very clicky, but switched back to brown, less noise. Also this keyboard has rgb lit keys, so you can see in the dark what keys you press - very usefull.. i dont use the fancy rgb crap, just for the usefullness to be able to see keys in the dark. Also you can change keycaps, i didnt like the original keycap font, so i ordered a different set and color.

                    At work i use wireless logitech k750. it has solar panels. And since i bought it never had to change battery.. maybe its 5 or 6 years old.. very old.. membrane, so its not annoying while you sit next to coworkers, and its wireless so i can chug it away if i need the table space for other things if you know what i mean 😉. keycaps are printed, but from all the wear, they never faded not one bit.. Keys are now smooth but the print is still strong.

                    As for keyboard in general you neeed to look at what is your environment, if noise is a thing you need to control, if you have a use for wireless, if you have good lighting, or bad.

                    Also you need to know if you like long travel switches or short. I know for a fact that i need atleast mx browns because my fingers twitch a little, and when i had linear switches i would press keys when my fingers were resting on ( too sensitive) An khail navy blue were too clicky (sound wise) but were nice to press.

                    5 days later

                    I was glad to see so many peoples opinions on this. I don't believe i have ever used one with optical switches. I wonder what they use for the "feel/resistance".
                    I work in the dark a fair bit and i find being able to see the keys almost invaluable but.... i may find myself staring down at the keys here and there. Makes me understand why people use the white back light.
                    I also did forget about switch travel... and will also admit i have limited experience with the many different flavors out there.
                    The media control board is also a very good idea, especially where some have value knobs etc.... i could see that being super helpful.

                      REVBENT
                      For the "feel" i highly suggest you get one of these:
                      Keyboard switch tester. They include all kinds of switches, original and china ones. Its gonna set you back for 50 bucks but its great to understand what switches are like, before you invest 30 buck for switches on your keyboard.

                      For optical: Razer has this. But your keyboard needs to be set up for optical switches i think.

                      https://www.keychron.com/collections/optical-switches/products/gateron-optical-switch-version-2
                      Scroll Down to see how it works.
                      EDIT:

                      Also look at O-rings:
                      https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/products/mk-pro-rings-silicone-switch-dampening-o-rings-sampler-120-pack

                      They go between keycap and switch stem. They dampen the sound. For longevity you need to lube them or something like that because the rubber dies out and crumples over time and use. I thought i need them, but they make the key travel shorter and they give that mushy feeling which is a hybrid between membrane and mechanical.. also i dont ever want to recap my keyboard ever again... the job is too tedious, taking off keycap and switch one by one.. 😃 That is also you want to look at, if you like to tinker, know that on a full keyboard you will have to do the job x-ammount of times 😃 - pulling off keycap pulling out switch, placing back in..

                          kuligs2
                          That was a very good and education response (complete with functioning diagrams!). I can see where the optical switches are superior for design/customization, with the only real downfall being that they have very proprietary tech and are less interchangeable/available part wise. The switch(s) board would be a great presents that any tech person would appreciate (even those without mechanical keyboards), especially those who you never know what to get (cough cough, i'm jk 😛). I'm sending that to my buddy when i finish this message and im sure he will have one in route very soon lol.

                            xyz
                            golly...... "snobbery" (gasp).... 🙂
                            i actually think the screwdriver/pliers thing is a great comparison.... of which.... KNIPEX - all day long for pliers.... screwdrivers i feel like Klein has a much more ergonomic design in general paired with a decent quality of tips for the price point. With that said... tools have a WHOLE different level of snobbery.... trust me! I did mechanics for MANY years building engines/trans (some performance) and i got teased so bad by people bc i would buy the cheapest tools on the market (harbor freight) and use them much more often than my name brand tools (snap-on mostly). The price to lose a nice socket in a car (somewhere) with a snap-on v a chinease special is 20x in some cases.
                            However just like the tools i agree they "all" do the job, but you use something ALL day long, and the smallest things become so important/niche.
                            I have little argument for RGB lights except the whole..... "they look pretty".... in fact i think i'm getting addicted 😮

                            • xyz replied to this.

                                kuligs2 For optical: Razer has this.

                                Razer is way overrated. You can understand what Mad Catz wants money for, but Razer is completely incomprehensible, you can't even fit their mice to your hand. It's the same story with headphones - Razer costs the same as “pro” headphones, but the sound quality is inferior to Edifer and Axelvox. The price is completely unreasonable.

                                Better to get a keyboard from COUGAR.

                                    Tomcat
                                    Considering these probably would sell, we all need to get into the custom bucket market!
                                    Add some rgb lights and i am IN!!!!
                                    😃

                                      REVBENT I try to stay away from computers as much as possible. One part of the strategy to achieve this is to avoid having stuff that might attract me to a computer, be it hardware or software 😃

                                        Tomcat Chill, it was first thing i got where you can see how switch works.. its just a picture... jees