Many users before buying a new keyboard often can not decide on a particular model. Indeed, in the acquisition of a new device there are many subtleties. For example, which is cheaper: a mechanical keyboard or a membrane? Which keyboard is more convenient? What is the difference between a mechanical keyboard and a membrane one? Which will last longer? What are the pros and cons of a particular design? You will get the answer to these and other questions in this article.
Membrane Keyboard
Membrane - the most common type of input device in any of the markets. In any store, even the most expensive one, most of them will have membrane keyboards on the shelves.
The explanation is simple - low manufacturing costs and simplicity of design. Basically, these keyboards consist of a cable from a meter and a half in length (most often with a USB connector, but are also found with the PS \ 2 connector) and the case itself. But this is only the external part, and the most interesting is waiting for us inside.
If you turn the device upside down and unscrew the screws on its back wall, we will see a strange plastic substrate attached to the controller board from above. The entire substrate will be penetrated by many tracks - this is the thinnest conductive coating, along which the signal will be transmitted from the keys to the board, and from the board to the computer (be careful with them, since they are practically not protected).
Under the substrate you will find many recesses in which there will be so-called membranes, from which the keyboard got its name. They perform two functions:
The first - when you press a key, they bend inward and close the contacts, the signal from which is dressed along the conductive paths.
The second is pushing the keys from the bottom position. When you release the key, the silicone membrane straightens and returns the key up.
Mechanical keyboard
On any forum, when you ask for advice on choosing a keyboard, they will immediately tell you that it is best to buy a mechanical one. Let's find out how mechanical differs from membrane.
First of all, the absence of any membranes. Their function is performed by mechanical switches, which at the moment are already a great many. This variety of switches will help any user to choose a keyboard for specific needs, because many manufacturers have the opportunity to order the same model, but with different switches.
The next difference is that in most cases the switches are mounted directly on a metal board, which affects the weight of the device.
Switches
As already mentioned, mechanical keyboards use different types of switches, unlike membrane keyboards, in which the membranes are basically the same. Therefore, it will be useful to say a few words about this.
CherryMX switches are gaining more and more popularity among manufacturers. There are already at least five varieties of them: “green”, “black”, “blue”, “red” and “brown”. Each of them differs, first of all, by the force of pressing, the long stroke of the key, tactile feedback and clicking when triggered.
Which keyboard is better: mechanical or membrane?
For any buyer, first of all, the purchase price is important, so first of all it should be said about it. And here you still should come to terms with the fact that even the cheapest mechanical keyboards will be more expensive than membrane keyboards. There is nothing to be done about it: manufacturing mechanics is too expensive. But for the money you get a reliable device that will not lose its original qualities even after five years, as is often the case with membrane keyboards, which stretch rubber membranes over time, which causes a loss of tactile response and has to be pressed harder and harder to close the contact. It is worth noting that in both cases the account goes to years of use and millions of clicks.
Membrane keyboards are also less heavy than mechanical ones, but their strength is not the best. As for the mechanical keyboard, it is not so tight, but the conductive grid on the board is almost always protected by varnish, which is not in membrane keyboards.
I would like to mention features when typing. In mechanical keyboards, the switches are designed so that they do not need to be pressed all the way to close the contact, which means that you will type more and faster, without getting tired. Add to this tactical feedback, which has not diminished over the years of service, and if someone is annoyed by clicks when typing, you can order a keyboard with specially selected switches. However, mechanical keyboards are more difficult to clean, so you have to tinker with them.
So what to choose?
Now you know the main pros and cons of both keyboards. Further advise choose a device by necessity and, of course, by price. If convenience at work is important to you, if you want your device to serve you well for many years, do not lose your qualities and at the same time you have a sufficient amount of money, then feel free to take the mechanics. But if you prefer to save money and don’t really care about ergonomics, convenience and other things, then membrane keyboards will suit you.