A mechanical keyboard is a keyboard built with high quality, typically spring activated, key switches. Different switches have different preferred aplications - from typing to gaming.
The first mass-produced mechanical keyboard was the IBM Model M, which entered production in 1980-s. In 1990-s the membrane technology became the industry standard, due to being a lot cheaper to produce. Today, over 90% of keyboards are membrane keyboards, that do not provide the user with a satisfying experience.
Modern mechanical keyboards use different types of switches. The most common producer of these switches is Cherry, that was founded in 1953 in the USA. The company moved to Germany in 1967 and was bought by ZF Friedrichshafen AG.
Cherry has become famous thanks to the Cherry MX switches, that have become the industry standard for switch design. Switches are named after their colour - every colour represents a switch with different characteristics - clicky, tactile or linear.
Actuation force is the force required to press the key on the keyboard. It’s the key travel distance where the key is actually recognized by the keyboard. In other words, it measures how hard you need to press the key so that it’s recognized by the keyboard. Most mechanical keyboards range from 45 to 60 grams.
Actuation distance istance is the distance which the switch needs to depress to register as an input. It’s measured from the top of the keycap. An average rating for most mechanical keyboards is 2 mm, though there are some as low as 1 mm.
Tactility refers to the feedback and resistance that you receive when typing. It’s associated with the position that the key travels to when generating a keystroke. The feedback can be audible through a clicking sound, for instance, as well as visual in that you’re watching your fingers press the keys, which spring back and raise the keycap. Mechanical keyboards tend to be more tactile. Conversely, many membrane keyboards are not tactile and feel somewhat softened after normal wear and tear thanks to their design. While membrane keyboards can be engineered to provide some tactility, they usually lack the more durable feel of the keys in mechanical keyboards or even scissor-switch keyboards.
Noise and sound levels n keyboards can be important depending on the type of application you’re using or the game that you’re playing, and where you’re playing it. Mechanical keyboards, for instance, are noisier than any other type of keyboards because there are clicks at both the beginning and end of keystrokes. On the other hand, membrane keyboards have the quietest switches because they have rubber or silicone cushioning that mechanical keyboards lack for the most part. Scissor-switch membrane switches are noisier than regular membrane switches since they have less rubber cushioning.
The switch type determines the user's experience. Since different switches feature different characteristics, it is important to choose one that suits your preferences.
Linear switches are the simplest, moving straight up and down without any additional tactile feedback or loud clicking noise – we’ll come to these more complicated switches later on. There are two common types of linear switches are MX Red and MX BlackThese switches are preferred by computer gamers.
Cherry MX Red switch. Source: cherrymx.de 
Cherry MX Black switch. Source: cherrymx.de
Kombatava tagasisidega (tactile) lülitid provide, as the name suggests, additional tactile feedback as the key actuates. As you press the key down, there is a noticeable bump which lets you know that your key press has been registered. The most common tactile, non-clicky switch is MX Brown. A universal switch for typing and gaming.
Tactile, clicky switches Clicky switches add a deliberately louder ‘click’ sound to the existing tactile bump, allowing for greater typing feedback. This makes it easier to know that you’ve hit the activation point. The most common switch is MX BlueThese switches are great for typing.
Cherry MX Brown. Source: cherrymx.de 
Cherry MX Blue. Source: cherrymx.de
In addition to Cherry switches, there are many others - Matias, Kailh, Gateron, Zealios etc. These switches use the same design principles as Cherry, but add their own configurations when it comes to tactile or clicky feedback, and the force required to activate the switch.
Mechanical keyboards give the most common computer accessory a completely new value. Switches, build quality, functions, lightning, and many other features are produced with a much higher quality than most membrane keyboards.
Pros of mechanical keyboards
- They last longer than membrane keyboards
- They’re faster and easier to type on
- They’re more responsive to keystrokes
- They provide stronger feedback while typing
- They’re more precise
- They’re more comfortable
Cons of mechanical keyboards
- They’re more expensive than membrane or rubber dome keyboards
- They’re heavier than membrane keyboards
- They’re louder than membrane keyboards
- There is a huge selection so choosing the right one can an overwhelming experience
