Maximum PC

Does anyone use a mechanical keyboard? If so do you consider them to be better or is it just personal preference? Also what is the difference between a mechanical keyboard and a standard? I have been reading quite a bit here lately on them, seems like they are everywhere, when last year I never saw them mentioned.

I used mechanical for years, they are noisey compared to membrane type boards, but they will last longer. Northgate and IBM were the ones that I liked the best, oh they are more expensive too, but worth it if you dont mind the noise. I learned to type on a real typewriter so the noise never bothered me. there is a feel to them as well, the keys are actually mechanical switches so it takes more force from the fingers to trigger them.

more people are making them again, but I dont know if that is a good thing, might be to much competetion in a limited market.

Actually, I learned to type on a typewriter too. It was one of the fancy late models with 5 whole bytes of memory. I want a mechanical keyboard.

there are people in the business of rebuilding the old IBM and Northgate keyboards, which were the best in their time. my Northgate was over 200.00 but lasted more than 15 years, the switches were still good and worked fine, but the plastic keys didnt last because of the way I beat them, typing on a computer keyboard has a tenancy to kill off keyboards quick, i have used up three logitech G15s and a G11 since they came out.

Take a look at Unicomp: http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/keyboards.html
All these models are either the mechanical "buckling spring" type, or membrane/rubber dome type.

Nuhuuh, not a mechanical one.

I know. I posted the site because every one of this company's keyboards are available with either membrane/dome switches or the mechanical ones referred to earlier in this thread.
This company bought Lexmark's/IBM's keyboard technology, according to the site and Thompson and Thompson's Building The Perfect PC book.

Proud IBM Model M user here. I own 3 Model M keyboards (2 1991 and 1 1995).

Feels awesome to type on.

A friend of mine had one. I liked the feel.
I wonder how hard it would be to just add diodes instead of going with the whole Cherry switch replacement. The buckling springs are probably fine.

try these....

http://www.deckkeyboards.com/

bought a new one today, Corsair vengeance k90, http://www.corsair.com/vengeance-gaming/vengeance-gaming-keyboards/vengeance-k90-performance-mmo-mechanical-gaming-keyboard.html brandnew should be available for shipping tomorrow. got a G500 to replace my G7 that the batteries are dying have to replace them three times a day, four if im gaming, just will not hold a charge anymore. whoa, must have got the last preorder from the egg, they are not listed on their site anymore.

I want a Leopold

Northgate Omni owner...and Avant Stellar clone. Best keyboard ever IMNSHO. The group selling Avant went out of business last year and last I saw the remaining inventory was selling for almost $300 each...for a keyboard with a PS/2 connector! They weren't that good.

Unless you spend a lot of time writing (typing) I wouldn't worry about it. Truthfully now that I mainly write on a laptop I rarely turn my desktops on. Kind of sad.

I spend a lot of time typing.
I also got a Unicomp for xmas.

Yes, they have some very nice mechanical keyboards (IBM "M" clones and the like). I had forgotten about them and you reminded me Lexmark and Logitech also have some nice mechanical keyboards (that mimic the old IBMs) as well. And I think Keytronic had some pretty inexpensive ones too.