# Mechanical keyboards vs. normal modern "membrane", I guess? Will I like it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 8, 2012, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-keyboards-vs-normal-modern-membrane-i-guess-will-i-like-it/643398 "2012-12-08T06:08:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-keyboards-vs-normal-modern-membrane-i-guess-will-i-like-it/643398/1 "2012-12-08T06:08:10Z")
I need a new keyboard, stat. Last night I spent about 45 minutes googling around, looking for a keyboard that was: A) Sturdy B) Lit keys (I just like this little aesthetic perk) C) Not ridiculous looking. I ended up on Logitech’s page since I have the Logitech MX Revolution, and it’s the best mouse I’ve ever owned. I figured if they can do a mouse that well they can probably do a nice keyboard. I ended up ordering the [G710+ Mechanical Gaming Keyboard](http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Mechanical-Keyboard-Tactile-High-Speed/dp/B009C98NPY/ref=gl_it_dp_o_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=FEC6IK3B7VB0&coliid=I2ZUVH237AJAUI) Now, I don’t care so much about the “gaming” part - I am a serious gamer, but I’ve had keyboards with fancy macro keys and slick LCD displays and I never used the things. I liked the looks of this one because it looked sturdy, had backlighting without being too flashy, and well, I was intrigued by the idea of a “mechanical” keyboard. How different is using a mechanical keyboard from a membrane one? I’m a bit too young to really remember ever seriously using a proper mechanical keyboard. There are plenty of people on the internet that take strong positions on this (usually they profess to love mechanical keyboards above all else) but from my perspective, I already type hella fast on a junk keyboard, suffer no hand/finger pain from such and am just curious what mechanical keyboard enthusiasts think will be the difference in my experience. One of the old guys I work with still carts around and insists on using his old-school IBM mechanical switch keyboard, and I’ve used it. Seems fine, and I do enjoy the clickyness of it; I’m just wondering if the new mechanical keyboard I just ordered will be an epiphany or just an “eh, that’s different and interesting. But I don’t care either way.” ? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-keyboards-vs-normal-modern-membrane-i-guess-will-i-like-it/643398/2 "2012-12-08T07:00:14Z")
Frankly I think they are annoying and I vastly prefer laptop keyboards. They do have their fanbase though. ---
**Author:** ![mil0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mil0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mil0)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-keyboards-vs-normal-modern-membrane-i-guess-will-i-like-it/643398/3 "2012-12-08T10:20:54Z")
This might be of use to you > **[\[Official\] Mechanical Keyboard Guide](https://www.overclock.net/threads/official-mechanical-keyboard-guide.491752/)** > > \[Official\] Mechanical Keyboard Guide > > Fact: Nearly all keyboards sold bundled with computers or at retail stores use rubber domes under their keys. This is the same technology used in cheap TV remotes. They're made to be as cheap as possible to... ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-keyboards-vs-normal-modern-membrane-i-guess-will-i-like-it/643398/4 "2012-12-08T22:57:38Z")
I have two of the G710+; obviously I like it :). I too have had the other Logitech gaming boards, and I have a [Ducky](http://tigerimports.net/sunshop/index.php?l=product_list&c=117)Shine II also with the brown cherries. The G710 isn’t nearly as clicky as the IBM. It won’t be an epiphany but it’s a nice solid board and to me a big improvement over a membrane. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-keyboards-vs-normal-modern-membrane-i-guess-will-i-like-it/643398/5 "2012-12-10T03:50:18Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > How different is using a mechanical keyboard from a membrane one? For one thing, they go “clickity-click”. You can pretend that you are typing in a movie! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mechanical-keyboards-vs-normal-modern-membrane-i-guess-will-i-like-it/643398/6 "2012-12-10T04:38:33Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > For one thing, they go “clickity-click”. You can pretend that you are typing in a movie! But it only really works if your screen is set up in 40 column mode-