Which Cherry MX Switch Feels Most Like A Traditional Dome/Membrane Keyboard?

[WAZ]

I've had Logitech gaming keyboards for ages (G510 now), but am now looking at the Corsair K70 — with either Cherry MX Red or Brown switches. I have no way to "demo" a mechanical keyboard at all, let alone compare specific switches; nowhere near me sells them so I'll have to pick one online.

Now I know, I know, mechanical keyboards will NOT feel like my Logitech dome keyboards. I get that. I'm anxious to try and benefit from the new feel of one. But my issue is I work between home and an office, and do quite a bit of typing and web design work, as well as some gaming at home (FPS mainly). So when I jump from 8 hours at the office one day to working from home the next, I don't want a keyboard that feels 1,000% different and takes "getting used to" every other day. I know I'll get a nice, new, different, better feel with the K70, but have also read that certain switches just feel too weird for some people to adjust to... i.e. if you're used to a membrane keyboard then some switches feel bad for typing.

So between Red (linear, lighter, smoother) and Brown (tactile) switches, which will provide me the more overall traditional feel so my brain doesn't break when I use it?

 

[BrightCandle]

Wasd keyboards do a tester kit for $12 that will allow you to try one of all the keys as well as the dampeners and see how they key caps feel.

But to answer your question the closest to membrane is the cherry red. Its similar in force, has no feedback and is linear. But its still quite unlike a membrane keyboard because you can actually hold it partially down due to the linear pushback.

 

[Ben90]

Your question is a bit like asking: "Which of these Bentleys drives the closest to my forklift at work". I don't feel you are asking the right question.

I agree with BrightCandle that Reds are probably the closest to a membrane, but I wouldn't recommend them just from your question alone. Browns are probably the best all around switch from the MX line and after getting adjusted to the weight difference, it won't be jarring for you to switch back and fourth. I'm sure you do quite fine using a different mouse.

Unfortunately there is a negative side effect of buying the right switch for yourself. You will become quite sensitive to bad keyboards and may start disliking your work board depending on what shape it is in. If you are worried about this, definitely buy MX Blacks because it will make you love your work board all the more.

Get a Topre

 

[WAZ]

Yeah, I know a mechanical will feel completely different (and better). I've just read enough from people who came from a lifetime of membrane keyboards and just HATED the feel of a certain switch they bought. i.e. too mushy or too heavy or caused too many errors/typos when typing. I'm not looking for the best-of-the-best for professional Battlefield 4 gaming; I just want it to be comfortable, good for typing (I know red or brown will be an improvement for the gaming I do either way), and not TOO jarring coming from years and years of Logitech membranes.

I'm ready to make the leap; I just don't want to pay $10 shipping and a restocking fee somewhere because I guessed wrong and chose the wrong switch for me. Since I don't have anywhere to demo them first I may have to check out that $12 tester kit... not ideal to get a feel for typing, but at least I could get a slight sense of the difference between red and brown.

 

[mindbomb]

i don't think a mechanical keyboard would even matter for fps gaming.
it's more for better typing really.

the answer to your question is red, but the bigger question is why you would spend so much on a keyboard that tries to emulate the feel of a $5 keyboard.

 

[WAZ]

the answer to your question is red, but the bigger question is why you would spend so much on a keyboard that tries to emulate the feel of a $5 keyboard.

Again I'm not looking to emulate the feel of a membrane; those are just what I'm used to and don't want the transition between the two to be unnecessarily, colossally different. i.e. it sounds like blacks would be too heavy, blues too loud, etc.

I'll likely try the sampler kit or end up springing for the K70 reds... and if I have any issues with the linear/non-tactile feel, I could suck it up and try the brown. Red sounds like the smoothest transition, at least as a good starting point with the least chance of me wanting to return it... which is all I really needed to know. So thanks. :awe:

 

[BrightCandle]

I found the tester kit to be enormously useful in choosing. You do get to feel the difference that a key has, although of course you don't get to see what happens when you miss a key or hit half way between them. It did however really highlight the noise and pressure differences very clearly. Its a cheapish way to really get a good feel for what difference a mechanical keyboard could make.

 

[WAZ]

Yeah, thank you for the advice. I wish I had a computer shop nearby that wasn't Best Buy so I could test the full keyboards. But it sounds like the sampler kit may be $12 well spent. That's at least what I'd pay in return shipping and/or restocking fees if I picked a switch I really didn't like and needed a whole new keyboard.

 

[gorb]

Just buy the same board for home and work. Problem solved.

 

[bononos]

......
Unfortunately there is a negative side effect of buying the right switch for yourself. You will become quite sensitive to bad keyboards and may start disliking your work board depending on what shape it is in. If you are worried about this, definitely buy MX Blacks because it will make you love your work board all the more.

....

Lol so cruel.

 

[atm743]

i wish there was computer outlets where i live that sold mech keyboards. i want to get one but im very picky and i dont want to buy something then turn out i dont like it. im still using a 5 year old PS/2 logitech keybord lol.

to be honest i dont mind this keyboard to much but its getting old and some of the keys feel sticky and its just old. plus idk if ill like how you only have to press the switch half way for it to activate. im so used to pressing the key all the way down with this membrane keyboard.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Closest to membrane would be Topre, no question. It also happens that they just released an "affordable" model that uses uniform 45g switches.

http://techreport.com/review/25558/topre-type-heaven-mechanical-keyboard-reviewed

Avoid Corsair K70 unless you like the look of LED-backlit keyboards with several burnt-out LEDs. If you do decide to go Cherry, get something decent like Filco, WASD, or even Cooler Master Rapid.

 

[Ben90]

I would argue getting a budget MX board and buying third party keycaps would lead to a better experience than buying any of those more premium boards you listed. ABS just feels gross compared to textured PBT keys.

 

[vbuggy]

Closest to membrane would be Topre, no question. It also happens that they just released an "affordable" model that uses uniform 45g switches.

http://techreport.com/review/25558/topre-type-heaven-mechanical-keyboard-reviewed

Avoid Corsair K70 unless you like the look of LED-backlit keyboards with several burnt-out LEDs. If you do decide to go Cherry, get something decent like Filco, WASD, or even Cooler Master Rapid.

Zero failed LED's on my K90's.
Filco's warrantied for casing or switch issues in same timeframe: 2
Topres returned & replaced due to crud QA in same timeframe: 2

Do concur with Topre suggestion however, since it is basically a dome keyboard. It has a slower clunkier return than many shorter-travel gaming dome keyboards though.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Zero failed LED's on my K90's.
Filco's warrantied for casing or switch issues in same timeframe: 2
Topres returned & replaced due to crud QA in same timeframe: 2

Do concur with Topre suggestion however, since it is basically a dome keyboard. It has a slower clunkier return than many shorter-travel gaming dome keyboards though.

I've just heard a lot of complaints about the LEDs in the corsair mechanicals, but of course other brands are also bound to turn out a few lemons too. Honestly I've never had a problem with any of the mechs I've owned over the past three years, including Das, WASD, QFR, Filco, and Realforce.

Out of curiosity, what specifically happened to your Filcos and Topres?

 

[vbuggy]

I've just heard a lot of complaints about the LEDs in the corsair mechanicals, but of course other brands are also bound to turn out a few lemons too. Honestly I've never had a problem with any of the mechs I've owned over the past three years, including Das, WASD, QFR, Filco, and Realforce.

Out of curiosity, what specifically happened to your Filcos and Topres?

Oh as I said, switch and other issues - but I was pretty surprised with one of the Topres. It was warped so that one end of it was floating like at least half an inch off the desk. I have no idea how that managed to get through QA - never even seen the cheapest, nastiest pack-in with that kind of issue.

 

[WAZ]

So my local Best Buy had a couple mechanical keyboards I could try on the shelf... the Razer BlackWidow (Cherry MX Blue) and Logitech G710+ (Cherry MX Brown).

Unexpectedly, I found the Razer (with its loud, clicky blue switches) to feel De. Light. Ful. At least when typing. Hard to know how that would be for gaming, but I did like the feel. The noise, however, would be too much for where my computer is in my house — my wife would punch me — so I figured brown switches would be a good alternative. They SHOULD feel about like the blues, right?

Well I didn't realize the Logitech even HAD brown switches until I googled it... it felt SO different from the Razer's blues. There just wasn't nearly as much clicky tactile feedback; almost felt like the reds on the sample kit I got, only with a very subtle click. The blues' clicks were MUCH more defined. Now is this because the Logitech G710 sucks and is not a very good representation of brown mechanical switches? Or do browns feel that much less clicky than the blues on the Razer that I liked?

At the end of the day I'd love to have the FEEL of the Razer BlackWidow blues I tried, minus the sound. I thought the Logitech's browns would be just that, but they're not...

 

[bononos]

Razer is not recommended due to its reputation for mediocre reliability, and its oem is also not considered to be as good as other brands.
If you want a more tactile switch without the clicky sound, the cherry mx clear switch sounds like the one for you but its is rare and I've never seen it in stores for popular models. Another problem is that it is heavy unless you've got the technique down to not bottom out while typing. A popular mod is to swap the springs of lighter switches like the browns to put into the clears to give it a lighter feel.
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_MX_Clear
http://keyboardlover.com/switches.php

 

[Athadeus]

I have a BlackWidow brown at work and have tried it side by side with BlackWidow blues, and they felt the same to me.

I also use a K70 with reds at home and it is not difficult to adjust to. I feel like the reds are the best for gaming (double taps supreme), and browns best for typing unless you can handle the horrible noise of the blues.

The one thing I have to absolutely recommend against is the K60. Using a partial mechanical switch board is so frustrating when you have to touch the function keys, delete, or the numpad. I ended up paying 2x the cost of the K60 for the K70, but I still feel like it was worth it.