I really like tactile switches. Out of the few different brands and types, I tried, the Gateron Baby Kangaroo 2.0 (59 g) are my absolute favourite. I use them with my main keyboard atm.
My portable keyboard has some Banana low profile switches (60 g, also Gateron) and they are great, too. But low profile don't feel as nice to type for me, as proper switches.
The Cherry MX Browns are a sad excuse for a tactile switch.
I should try Gaterons sometime. I've only ever used Cherry MX Brown. Happily using those atm with my second mech keyb, a Filco TKL. First was a Corsair full-size, also Cherry Brown.
And I've tried linear in a shop once, but I hate those. Feels empty to me, like there's no switch and only makes me push into the frame harder.
For my next keyboard, I'd like something programmable (Caps Lock as Ctrl, hjkl with Fn as arrows, etc) and smaller, no need for F-keys and separate arrow keys.
Yeah, I am with you there. My Keychton K7 Pro came with linear switches. Ist is pretty nice for gaming, but writing just isn't fun with them. There is something missing.
If you are happy with the Browns, that is totally fine. They are okay. Totally usable switches and waaay better than any rubber dome keyboards. They just suck a bit in comparison with better tactiles.
I love the Gazzew Boba U4. I think I have the 68g ones. They are super super quiet with a tactile bump perfectly at the top.
I started with the Zeal Zilent V2 (67g?) which are great but the switch has a little play at the top then the bump. I like that the U4 has the bump before anything else
I’ve been looking for these, except I didn’t know they were silent. I don’t want silent 😕
You might have been looking at the U4T which is a not silent switch
I’ve been using Tecsee Coral switches for about 3 years now. Tactile, 55g actuation and 65g bottom out force. I like them a lot.
My only complaint with them is they do have a tiny bit of wobble. I wish they felt more solid in that regard.
I’m also starting to feel like it’d be fun to play around in slightly higher spring forces.
That’s exactly what I have been doing
I have Choc Browns(?). They're supposed to be tactile, but they're squishy, and I don't care for them. It's my fault for going for aesthetics; I doubt it's possible to build a truly tactile switch in so low profile.
I haven't found a good switch yet. I want buckling spring, but need the columnar, staggered ergonomic layout, and I think IBM is jealously holding onto that patent. I can't think why else nobody has put out a buckling spring switch.
Yeah I have never seen a buckling spring switch offered. I thought they only existed in vintage IBM boards. I am totally intrigued to try them.
You can get them new if you're OK with row-stagger, non-split keyboards. Unicomp sells them.
I'm really tempted to try to find an old Model M to refurbish, just to have it. I don't think I can use them anymore; holding my hands like that is just painful now. But I'd like to have one, for nostalgia.
Ergo is next up on my bucket list
Board I am using today its Moyu Blacks/Dark Jades with I think 55g progressive springs from Spirt, but I built this board a while ago so I might have put in a slightly different weight. As I like the sound a lot and they represented good value I purchased several batches of these and I have at least five or six PCBs built with them, its fairly typical for me to have more than one PCB per keyboard case.
Very tactile switches and I really enjoy the bottom out sound of these, they are very loud for tactiles and will not be for everyone.
Favorites I have built are either some zealios I put in a long stem and progressive spring or some primekbs (smokes with red stem) that are ball bearing modded. I really like that utlra clacky nature of these three switches.
Where do you like to get your PCBs from?
I normally order extra with whatever GB I picked up the board from. I only use 40% keyboards, so it tends to be rare that they are freely available in a keyboard shop, least of all the UK. Last one I remember was monorail, I purchased three of v1 (direct) and v2 (mechboards) each.
Sometimes you get third parties making new versions that are often re-imagined layouts for the same board or a continuation of an out of print board, for both see monorail for both. Some of the fun ones convert an existing layout into something else, like the wolfjaw xl for the equinox xl. They tend to be advertised by the 40% discord.
If you like a common layout like 60% they tend to be a lot easier to find, as long as its not been heavily customized. Mechboards have a bunch in stock right now
Welp. There does what sounds like a long and delightful branch of my keeb rabbit hole. I am mainly a 96-100% board man myself, however. Except next on the bucket list is an ergo, so who knows what might happen!
Just make that ergo hotswap and its a lot easier to play around with different switch builds.
Switch collecting/modding does pander towards hording tendencies, I have thousands of switches that are in jars so I stopped buying new ones till I cleared out some of my back log.
I am the same. Let me know if you want to trade. I have 110 Gateron Quinns in need of a good home.
Appreciate the offer, will come back to you if I dont like these hall effect switches I picked up for my new board thats coming next week
Stiff linear ones are my thing, currently using Durock L7 78g ones. Haven't really felt the need to seek alternatives as they're nice, smooth and my sausage fingers don't cause accidental keypresses when just resting them on keys :D
This is a solid argument lol
The Cherry MX greens I have in my WASD code are amazing. I also like my Kailh ancient greys in my keyboard at work
Somewhere in my closet I have an old AT keyboard thats just rubber domes, but have to be 120+ gram actuation force and I love it. They’re weirdly stiff then just give out randomly.
At home I use Kailh Box White.
White because I like clicky but not as heavy as Jade or Navy
Box because less wobble on the stem.
At first I had Cherry Blue but they felt very scratchy and not smooth at all. So I went with Kailh.
Edit: I recommend you a switch tester/sampler. They can be bought pretty cheap on AliExpress and can contain multiple switches. Usually split by manufacturer like Kailh and Cherry.
Edit 2:
At home: GMMK PRO ISO-Layout with Kailh Box White (Clicky)
Work: Varmillo 110% Moonshine ISO with Orange Box (dunno the brand. But they are linear)
I've got Durock T1 switches with I believe 67 gram springs.
Chosfox Poison Gas tactile switches, 45g actuation force? I haven't felt a need to try new ones this year
I have been looking chosfox, although I would need to swap in stronger springs. What do you like about them?
They have a clicky feel and not too mushy for me. I love the sound and they are transparent purple. They looked really, really good in a pi40
I wish there was a keyboard like the kinesis advantage with buckling springs. I'm stuck with mx browns for now.
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