After testing the STN for the last couple of days, here are my thoughts about all the different switch types.
As a comparison: A little more than three months ago I was already able to test the STK and wrote about it
here. For the last two months or so I've been typing on a G80-3000 with MX-Black, which I was able to get for free, since it was lying around. Also my touch typing speed has increased quite a bit and I am now typing faster than I was using only two fingers before. Being able to actually TYPE has shifted my point of view on some of the switch types.
MX-Black:
Having typed on them for a bit now, I know the feeling and I got used to it. After the last test, they were more or less my favorite type. Now, I do find them just a little bit too hard to actuate, especially after typing a longer text.
MX-Brown:
The last type, I wrote that I wasn't so sure about the bump and if I was able to benefit from it. I must say, right now I kind of miss the "bumpy" feeling of my old Logitech and the Browns begin to rise in my favor. I would really love to try a full keyboard full of Browns, as I might actually like it. It's sad, that Cherry doesn't have a G80-3000 with Browns on the market, since all the other keyboard with them are just too expensive for the sake of just giving it a try.
MX-Blue:
The Noise! I still hate it. Despite that, I have to admit, they feel really nice and I do like them much more than I did last time. The bump is a little bit more tangile than on the Browns in my opinion and I like it. I might have to look into silencing Blues.
MX-Red:
The "better" Blacks. There's not much so say really. I realised that my initial "fear" of accidentally pressing them is unfounded, since my fingers are not really lying on the keycaps, but instead more hovering in the air above, so an accidental keypress is highly unlikely and the smaller acutation force compared to the Blacks should reduce the exhaustion.
Ghetto:
I don't feel a difference to the real Reds. Maybe a little bit stiffer, but it's marginal.
MX-Clear:
We're getting there. The bump is heavier than on the Browns, which is good in my opinion, but overall they are a bit too stiff.
Ergo:
There we go. The overall force of a Brown, the bump of a Clear, not the sound of a Blue, what more do you need. I like them a lot. If there was a keyboard full of them, I'd buy one right now. But from what I understand, you have to hack them yourself, right?
Alp White:
I had two friends over the last day, they both tried all the keys and their reaction to these switches was the same as mine: What's wrong with these keys? They just don't feel right. The overall way is too short, for what I am used to and it feels a bit like the key gets stuck half way in. They actually feel very much like my Logitech rubberdome keys.
Alp Grey:
I hate the noise on the MX-Blue, how can I like it here? Other than that it's the same as with the other Alps.
Alp Black:
For me, the same as Alp Whites. If there is a difference, I don't feel it.
ML:
They feel a bit like some kind of mini-Browns, excpet you start to press them right on the bump. Overall actuation length is obviously a lot shorter than on the full size keys.
Conclusion:
First of all, a big thanks to you, Mrinterface. The opportunity to test all the different keys is awesome.
This is the second time for me to test some of the mechanical switches on the market and every time I understand a bit better, why some of you have a collection of dozens of keyboards. All the switches are just so different and all of them have their pros and cons. If they weren't as expensive as they are, I'd go ahead and buy one keyboard of every type and change them, depending on the daily mood or what to do.
Right now, my recommendation would be something like this:
Pure gaming: MX-Red
A lot of typing and no one around or typing purely on construction sites: MX-Blue
Typing with other people around: MX-Brown or Ergo-Clear
Picture:
As per the instructions, here is a picture of my desktop with the STN in action.
I had to take my old Logitech back for this picture, since my mainboard only has one PS/2 so I can't connect the Cherry and the STN.
- CameraZOOM-20120701141601615.jpg (221.23 KiB) Viewed 21548 times
)
