[vcf-midatlantic] OT: Modern keyboard question

[Mark Whittington]

Generally a decent quality mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches will
cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $100.  You can go a lot higher, and
occasionally you'll find something a bit lower.  There are a number of
variants of the Cherry MX switches with different characteristics (tactile
response, audible click, etc).  Here's a primer on the various types:
https://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduction-to-cherry-mx-mechanical-switches/

Since you're looking at silicone keycaps, you probably want a non-click
switch like the Cherry MX Brown.  Something like this perhaps:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126445

You're not likely to find a keyboard with those keycaps preinstalled, so
figure out what type of key switch you'd like and then find a keyboard with
those keys.  Any of the Cherry MX "colors" should work with those keycaps.

Massdrop doesn't seem to be running that drop right now, but as usual
there's a seller on aliexpress that can sell you some.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Arrival-104-Silicone-Keycaps-Blank-Keycaps-OEM-Height-For-Wired-USB-Cherry-MX-Switches-Mechanical/32794525459.html

Let me know if you have other questions.


On Tue, Nov 20, 2018 at 11:50 PM Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic <
vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:

>
> >> I'm thinking about getting a new keyboard for my modern PC.
> >>
> >> I want to use squishy keycaps such as these:
> >>
> >> https://www.massdrop.com/buy/silica-gel-keycap-set
> >>
> >> It says they're Cherry MX compatible.
> >>
> >> Does that mean they only work with official Cherry-branded keyboards? Or
> >> is there some other search term to use (etc.) for keyboards that are
> >> Cherry-compatible?
> > It suggests that those keycaps will fit on Cherry MX key switches.
>
>
> But how do I know what keyboards have such switches?
>
>