Mechanical Keyboards: How They Differ from Ordinary Ones, Which Switches Exist and Whether It's Worth Switching

The keyboard is a device you use every day, sometimes for many hours. Most people type for years on the most basic membrane keyboard that came with their computer and never think that it could be different. Mechanical keyboards were once seen as a toy for gamers, but today they're chosen by programmers, writers, accountants — anyone who types a lot. Let's look at how mechanical keyboards differ from ordinary ones, which switches and sizes exist, and whether it's worth switching.

Membrane versus mechanical: the difference

In an ordinary membrane keyboard, under the keys there's a rubber dome and a film with contacts. When you press a key, the dome collapses and closes the contact. These keyboards are cheap and quiet, but the keypress feels "mushy" and you have to push each key all the way down. Over time the domes wear unevenly, and some keys start to respond less well.

In a mechanical keyboard, each key has its own switch with a spring. It actuates halfway through the travel, the feel is crisp and identical on every key, and the switches are rated for tens of millions of presses.

Switch types

• Linear — a smooth press with no noticeable "bump", and quiet. Gamers like them for their fast, even response. Many people type on them at the office too.
• Tactile — a slight "bump" is felt halfway down, telling you the key has registered. Comfortable for typing and relatively quiet. The all-round choice.
• Clicky — a tactile bump plus a distinct click. Very satisfying to type on, but loud — in a shared office or near sleeping family members they can be irritating.

Switches also differ in actuation force: light ones suit fast typing, while heavier ones reduce accidental presses. There are also low-profile switches for people used to flat laptop keyboards. Many modern keyboards support hot-swap switches: you can change them without soldering if you want a different feel.

Size and layout

• Full-size — with a number pad; handy for accounting and working with figures.
• TKL (tenkeyless) — more compact, putting the mouse closer to the centre, which is easier on the shoulders.
• 75% and 65% — more compact still, with some keys on a function layer.
• 60% and smaller — minimalist, but without arrow keys and many familiar keys; not everyone finds them comfortable.

Layout and legends

In Georgia, people often need a keyboard with three alphabets — Latin, Cyrillic and Georgian. Ready-made mechanical keyboards with Georgian legends are rare. The options are a keyboard with bilingual legends plus stickers or engraving for the third language, a separate set of keycaps, or touch typing. Keycaps with printed legends wear off over time, while double-shot moulded keycaps keep their characters for years. You can set a convenient shortcut in Windows for switching layouts.

Wired or wireless

A wired keyboard needs no charging and has minimal latency. Wireless models with their own radio receiver are now almost as good as wired ones and suit even gaming. Bluetooth is handy for working with several devices — a computer, laptop and tablet — but can have slightly higher latency and sometimes loses the connection after the computer wakes from sleep.

Pros and cons of mechanical keyboards

Pros: a crisp keypress, fewer typos, less fatigue during long typing sessions, durability, and the option to replace a single switch or keycap instead of the whole keyboard.

Cons: a higher price, many models are louder than membrane ones, the tall profile may call for a wrist rest, and it takes a few days to get used to.

Common problems

• Double typing (chattering) — one press types two characters. The cause is worn or dirty switch contacts.
• A key doesn't register — the switch or its connection to the board is faulty.
• Spilled liquid — sugary drinks are especially dangerous: keys start sticking and contacts corrode. Disconnect the keyboard straight away.
• A wireless keyboard drops out — interference from the router and USB 3.0 ports, a flat battery, Windows power saving.
• The wrong layout or media keys not working — a driver or manufacturer software issue.

What our technician does

1. Helps you choose a keyboard to suit how you work, your workspace and the languages you need.
2. Connects and sets up the keyboard, the manufacturer's software, macros and lighting.
3. Sets up ru/en/ka layouts and convenient language switching in Windows.
4. Fixes wireless connection problems, interference and wake-from-sleep issues.
5. Diagnoses faults — double typing, dead keys and the aftermath of spills.

A real example

A programmer in Ortachala bought a wireless mechanical keyboard, but it kept "falling asleep" and losing the connection, and after the computer woke up he had to re-pair it over Bluetooth. On top of that, only two of his three languages were marked on the keys, and he kept getting lost in the Georgian layout. Our technician connected the keyboard through its own radio receiver, placing it in a front port away from interference, disabled power saving for USB devices, updated the keyboard firmware and set up convenient switching between the three languages. The connection became stable, and we found clear stickers for the Georgian letters.

Call a technician

If you need a keyboard or other peripherals chosen, connected or set up, we'll come to any district of Tbilisi around the clock. Learn more on our computer setup, driver installation and computer diagnostics pages.