this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2024
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Mechanical Keyboards
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I’d recommend looking for keyboards with hot-swappable switches. They may be more expensive up front, but they are repairable so they will be much more cost effective in the long term. Plus there are fun things you can do like trying out different switches or even mix-and-matching different types.
I usually have a key fail about once a year or so. For a keyboard without hot swappable switches that’s a new keyboard each time one key fails (assuming it’s a key that’s important, which it usually is - keys you use more frequently are more likely to fail sooner). Keys are like $1 a pop (although you usually have to buy them in bulk).
I used to buy the Corsair keyboard for like $50 each. I switched to a $150 keyboard with hot swappable switches. I’ve had my keyboard for about 5 years now and I think I’ve replaced 3 keys.
Out of interest, were keyboards that had "a key fail about once a year or so" all Corsairs?
I think it was Coolermaster actually. But the brand of keyboard isn’t super important because they all use the same brand of switches (Cherry MX). I’m now using different switches (Hako) but I don’t think the failure rate is really any different.