By: Sam Allen
For Writers Not All Keyboards are the Same
If you're like most writers you use the keyboard that came with your computer. Or after your kids spilled something on it ran to the store to pick one up for around $20.
If that sounds familiar you're likely typing on a membrane keyboard. They are pretty nice, nothing special and are super cheap to manufacture. But another type of keyboard is becoming more popular among professional writers called mechanical keyboards.
The gaming industry has brought a demand for such keyboards and demand helps keep costs under control. You're still looking at spending $100 or higher, but here are the benefits you get as a writer:
Lasts FOREVER!
Well maybe not forever but the construction of mechanical keyboards allow them to last a very long time. A mechanical keyboard is built to take abuse from gamers slamming the keys repeatedly for hours on end. A mechanical keyboard has what it takes to outlast any membrane keyboard you can find.
Let’s Get Physical
Mechanical keyboards use an actual physical switch under each key. When you press a key it pushes a switch that sends the signal to your computer representing which key you pressed. Why is that a big deal? With a membrane computer the distance you depress a key is much longer and you know you pressed the key correctly when you hit bottom with the key stopping.
With a mechanical key the distance is much shorter and doesn’t need to be depressed the whole way. Mechanical keyboards feel very different to type on. It's going to be a bit of a learning curve. However, the speed at which you can type with a mechanical keyboard will be noticed right from the start.
What’s That? I Can’t Hear You Over my Typing!
The switches are loud. You can get quiet ones but the benefit of the audible click sound is that it provides audio feedback, which will also make typing faster and more enjoyable.
A number of authors prefer Lenovo Thinkpad laptops due to the audible click their keyboards make. They aren't mechanical but do offer a similar sound.
With the physical feel of the switch and its loud audible click you have a very responsive writing experience. For a taste of the experience between a mechanical keyboard and a membrane keyboard, think of the difference between using a trackpad versus a mouse.
The more feedback you can get from typing the better the experience. If you need a quieter keyboard, Razer sells one called a BlackWidow Ultimate. They may also have others in their “Stealth Edition” that offer softer volume keys.
Heavy!
Mechanical keyboards weigh a few pounds. Doesn't sound like much, but if you have a membrane keyboard that slides around you know that it can be a pain.
You won’t get any sliding around on your desk with a three pound keyboard. Where you place them is where they stay. Again, they are made to be slammed by gamers so you get a very solid tool for writing.
Learning Curve
Once you make the switch, your fingers and hands will get tired quicker. You will need to retrain yourself to stop pressing when you feel and hear the click. There’s just no need to depress the key all the way.
You will also learn you can press more than one key at a time to type even faster. Membrane keyboards can get caught up when pressing more than one key. Not so with mechanical keyboards. You can press one key then another before you pick up your finger from the first key. This will change the way you type over time.