Alright, let’s talk about keyboards. I’ve been messing around with mechanical keyboards for a while now, and the other day I found myself in a bit of a pickle. See, I wanted to build a new keyboard, and I couldn’t decide between two kinds of switches: Cherry MX Brown and Cherry MX Red. They’re both super popular, but they feel pretty different.
First, I grabbed my old keyboard with Cherry MX Brown switches. These are known as “tactile” switches, which means you feel a little bump when you press them. I started typing away, just to get a feel for them again. The bump is kinda nice, it gives you some feedback, like, “Hey, you pressed the key!” But, it’s not super strong or anything. It’s subtle.
- Pros:
- That tactile bump. It’s satisfying.
- Good for typing.
- Not too loud.
- Cons:
- Some people find the bump annoying.
- Not the best for gaming, if you are into that sort of stuff.
Then I dug out another keyboard, this one had Cherry MX Red switches. These are “linear” switches, which means they’re smooth all the way down. No bump. I started typing on this one, and wow, it’s different. It felt so light and easy to press. Like, I barely had to touch the keys.
- Pros:
- Smooth and fast.
- Great for gaming.
- Quiet (well, quieter than some other switches).
- Cons:
- Almost too easy to press, maybe you will make more typos.
- Not as satisfying to type on for some folks.
The Verdict
So, which ones did I choose for my new keyboard? Well, I thought about what I use my computer for the most. Turns out it’s a mix of typing and gaming. I do a lot of writing, but I also like to play games sometimes. After going back and forth for a while, I ended up going with the Cherry MX Brown switches. It is a safe bet. While I love how smooth the Reds are, I just couldn’t get over that tactile bump on the Browns. It just feels right to me. Plus, I figured they’d be better for my typing, and I do a lot of that. However, Reds are always my backup plan.
But hey, that’s just me. Everyone’s got their own preferences. If you’re trying to decide between these two switches, I’d say the best thing to do is try them out yourself. If you can get your hands on a keyboard with each type of switch, give them a test run and see which ones you like better. Happy typing (or gaming)!