Kailh Box

I also picked up and heavily customized a minimal (3x5+3 or 3x4+2) columnar split and a novel keyboard layout during Lockdown, and now can type faster with it than I could originally with greater comfort and accuracy. The high number of rolls actually felt pleasurable to type on compared to the scattered movements of QWERTY; at higher speeds, though, it's more demanding as the movements are so minimal and the sequences are more intricate. On long sessions, I can feel some strain on the tendons on the back of my hands; a keyboard with wells or something to grip like a Twiddler could help. Over time, I expect my speed to continue to advance as I sync my keystrokes faster; there is just substantially less finger travel from home row. I also retained my ability and speed typing QWERTY by continuing to use it on a standard keyboard the majority of the time. Really, I just kept practicing the alt layout by typing out articles and books on the ortho and a laptop. At this point I think I'll maintain muscle memory for vi/emacs in QWERTY and switch on the fly to the alt layout for long entries. I use Miryoku style meta keys, and layers for arrows, home-page(up/down)-end, mouse-keys, scroll-wheel, numpad, symbols, media, and F-keys. I'm thinking of adding combos for international letters and symbols next. backspace-delete and enter-space+tab are under thumbs like a Kinesis. Escape is a left hand combo. I also set a lock function for the layers with tap+hold and release with a designated…

I think, to a degree, ergonomics are a complete package and sound can be part of it. I tend to err on the side of loud-click switches (Alps/Matias, buckling spring, Gateron Melodic or Kailh Box switches lately) in part because I beat a series of late-1990s dome keyboards to death because I needed some sound to feel like a key was registering. A family member has a light linear board basically because he wanted a Pride-exploded-on-his-desktop lightshow and it's very awkward for me to use.

"Endgamed" keyboard nerd here, and I was able to find different boards that were better for certain roles, until I got to WFH full time. These newfangled magnets aren't convincing enough for me to ditch my workhorses. I had an HHKB-looking mechanical 60%, and just remapped a few things to be nicer for programming. Function key instead of caps lock, and suddenly so much was at my fingertips. Something like Fn-IJKL for arrows, and pageup/dn, home/end, located somewhere reasonable relative to the arrows. And, a bright red anodized aluminum case, which had a built-in angle, making it very nice to use. More pinky movements than usual, but I made sure to have Fn keys on both sides, to be able to give one or the other a break. The Preonic '50%' is also pretty neat, and I was pretty productive with the default layout. Hand size was a bit of an issue, but once again, everything I could need was under my fingers with a layer change or two, or some 2-key-combo layer. Gaming was a nonstarter on either of those boards. I need to at least have a TKL or 65+%, and have it be a sturdy tank. I love my NK87, and use it with Kailh Crystal Box Pink switches. Used to use Box Jades, but these Pinks are crispy. If someone wanted to get crazy about their mech board and individual key strength, properties, etc, there's a dead simple option of "Buy the stiffer/softer switch as well, install in desired position". Hot-swap sockets are on plenty of keyboards these days, and I've totally heard of people us…

I think a lot of nostalgia built up in that ~10 year period where it was really difficult to find a new mechanical keyboard, so the old Model M (and to a lesser extent the Apple Extended Keyboard) developed something of a cult following. Personally I've settled on Kailh BOX White switches as pleasantly clicky without too much resistance.

I prefer Topre for extremely fast typing, but for "casual use" I prefer really heavy really tactile switches like Kailh Box Navy. The 3.5mm travel bothers me when I'm typing extremely fast, but the heavy weight and strong tactility helps prevent misinputs otherwise. Additionally, I can have Box Navy in an ergo layout. I have a Model F reproduction (F77) but I prefer Topre over it.

A huge fan of the Kailh Box Jades or Navies. They feel "heavier" when I type, and create an awful amount of rattle, but the most satisfying to type! Using a lightly modded keyboard, and can't comment much on the build quality, but needed a decent Bluetooth keyboard. A tip for beginners - get testers and find out the differences between the switches. Choose the ones that sound most aesthetic to you. It's about sound (and typing experience) that makes the mechanical keyboards stand out. Besides, the quality of the keycaps requires a careful deliberation. Thin PBT types can sound "tinny" or change the perception; use the double shot. Always settle for a hot-swappable board - you can easily change switches and caps and use them in any combination. Happy typing!

I'm just gonna say that as someone typing 120+wpm for years now, I hate to see high actuation force vilified like this. It's my preference and I quite enjoy the higher force needed. Fewer accidental presses, and you can even lightly drum on your keys without them activating, which is fun and relaxing. I went from cherry mx blues to cherry mx greens to kailh box navies and I love them to pieces. I find that the people who swear by very light linear switches rarely type as fast as me, take that as you will. I think they fell down a strange rabbit hole.

I have a Model M that's a few years older than I am. It's great, and it still works, but is not as good for long-term typing as the keyboards I've used as daily drivers. Clicky switches are a big plus for me, since they provide the audio and tactile feedback, and are just plain fun to use. The best clicky switches (imo) are the Kailh Box types with a little spring dedicated to the sound + feel of the click, but you're never going to find those preinstalled in a keyboard because they're still considered niche.