Mechanical Keyboards
Table of Contents
- Mechanical Switches
- Keyboard Sizes
- Sub-70%
- Tenkeyless
- Fullsized
- Custom-Built Keyboards
- Additional Resources
Mechanical Switches
Most modern mechanical Cherry MX-style switches come in three flavours:
- Linear
- Tactile
- Clicky
Where the three refer to the tactility and sound profile of the switch when pressed. A linear switch has no additional tactility when fully depressed and the only sounds produced by such is from the switch being fully depressed and un-depressed. A tactile switch has a “tactile point” close to the actuation point from when it is un-depressed to being fully depressed. A clicky switch is similar to a tactile switch except clicky switches produce a typically loud ‘clicky’ sound when the tactile point is actuated. Further reading on the categories of switches can be found in Additional Resources.
Linear
todo?
Tactile
todo?
Clicky
todo?
Keyboard Sizes
Mechanical keyboards come in a variety of keyboard sizes. Conventional keyboards featuring alphanumeric keys, function keys, navigational keys, and a number pad keys are considered to be “100%” or “Fullsized.” Many mechanical keyboards are targeted toward gamers and programmers who may not need the full size of the 100% form factor and as a result a vast majority of mechanical keyboards on the market are smaller than 100%. A short list of keyboard sizes of interest is listed below. Further reading on the sizes of keyboards can be found in Additional Resources.
- 100%: A “fullsized” keyboard with alphanumeric keys, modifiers, function keys, navigational keys, and a number pad. May have additional dedicated multimedia keys.
- 96%: A new-and-upcoming layout that features all the keys of a 100% layout, but with no gaps between the navigation cluster and the numpad.
- Tenkeyless: The same layout as a 100% keyboard but without a number pad, with a gap between the navigation cluster, function keys, and alphanumeric and function keys
- 70%: A tenkeyless layout but without the gaps between the navigation cluster, function keys, and alphanumeric keys. As a result the navigation cluster keys are shifted amongst the right hand side of the keyboard.
- 60%: Alphanumeric keys and modifiers. The navigation cluster and function keys are typically accessible via a “function layer” or by using a function key (sometimes labeled “Fn”) to access them.
- 40%: Alpha keys and modifiers.
Sub-70%
- Royal Kludge RK61
- Motospeed CK61
- Geek GK61
- Akko 3068
- Anne Pro 2
Tenkeyless
- Velocifire TKL02
- Drevo Tyrfing V2
- Drevo Joyeuse V2
- RAKK ILIS
- Tecware Phantom 84
- HexGears GK707
- Keycool 84
Fullsized
- Motospeed CK89
- Hexgears GK705
Custom Keyboards
TODO
Additional Resources:
TODO:
- expand fullsized,
- add “premium” models (ducky, varmillo, lepold)
- add “chinese premium” (plum, noppoo, ikbc, NiZ)
- add text about custom keyboards
- add keycap materials information (or table)