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Mechanical Keyboard Guide


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This applies to all mechanical keyboards, not just the Das. Long article but very informative:

 

Are you sitting there typing on your computer wondering what makes Das Keyboards such high quality keyboards? Maybe you think mechanical keyboards are only 80′s IBM keyboards. Either way, a little education into the differences in keyboards will explain why so many people are making the move to mechanical keyboards. In order to fully understand the more technical differences between keyboards, you need to understand some of the terminology first. Read on to learn about the differences. At the end of the first section is a helpful glossary of common keyboard terms in case you are unfamiliar with any keyboard terms and definitions.

 

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Membrane vs. Mechanical

 

Most inexpensive keyboards, like the ones that come with computers, utilize a flexible membrane layer beneath the keys. When you press a key, it causes the membrane to press down and make contact with a bottom layer. This allows current to flow “closing” the switch so that the parent device registers the key press. The biggest problem with this type of keyboard is that you have to completely depress the key, also known as “bottoming out.” There is also little to no tactile feedback. Without tactile feedback it is very difficult to type without bottoming out every keystroke, causing over-exertion and finger/hand fatigue that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. Mechanical keyboards, however, use a switch underneath every key. Depending on the type of switch, they have a variety of response and travel times. Key switches will be explained in full detail in future installments, but the differences amongst them include the tactile feel and audible click each produces. Switches on a mechanical keyboard are made to last up to 50 million keystrokes. Think about how often you press a single key, and you’ll realize that’s a long time! Compare that to membrane switches, which typically last around 5-10 million keystrokes, and you’ll see why the initial investment in a mechanical keyboard is well worth it. A mechanical keyboard is the only keyboard with the capability to register all keys at one time (PS/2 permitting), also known as full N-Key Rollover. This is helpful for folks who type really fast and need to be able to hit keys in quick succession. Gamers who need to mash key combos quickly to frag their enemy also benefit. Try it on a membrane keyboard and you may be the one fragged. Certainly the clicking sound on a mechanical keyboard can be an acquired taste, but what is interesting is how many people find it relaxing. You get the rhythm of clicking while you type and often it is a calming sound. Some people find that listening to the clicks helps them create a faster typing speed. Plus, not having to bottom out with each key allows you to move to the next letter more quickly with less energy wasted. Try it for yourself and see if it doesn’t make a difference in how quickly you type.

 

Keyboard TerminologyCommon Keyboard Terms:

 

Actuation Point is the point at which the contact mechanism registers a key press. Key Blocking is when multiple keys are depressed simultaneously, your keyboard will not recognize future keystrokes until the original keys are lifted. Keyboards have a maximum number of keys it can register at one time and if you depress more than its limit, it won’t register the other key presses. Key Ghosting can occur when three keys are pressed at once and a fourth keystroke you did not press is registered by your computer. Key Rollover is the number of keys that can be pressed in succession without having to lift a finger from any of the previous keys. Keyboards use the term KRO to represent the maximum number of keys you can press without experiencing any key blocking. So a 3KRO keyboard is a keyboard that can register 3 keys being pressed at once without experiencing key blocking. NKRO refers to N-Key Rollover, the ultimate in keyboards. A keyboard with N-Key Rollover can register as many keys as you can press at once without any key blocking issues. Currently, this feature is only available in keyboards with PS/2 connectors. PS/2 is a 6-pin Mini-DIN connector used for connecting some keyboards and mice to a PC compatible computer system. While most modern connectors are USB, PS/2 has the benefit of full N-Key Rollover. Reset Point is the point when the mechanism ceases to register the key press. Tactile Point is the point during the keypress at which the bump occurs to indicate to your finger that the key has been actuated. USB, or Universal Serial Bus, is the current industry standard for the connection of computer peripherals to personal computers....

 

http://www.daskeyboa...-keyboard-guide

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