PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE54 May 2019 _ PopularMechanics.com
PHOTOGRAPHBYALLIE^HOLLOWAYWHY DO I WANT A
CUSTOMIZED KEYBOARD?
The tools we use most often
should, ideally, be of the highest
quality possible, making your
most repeated actions pleas-
ant and not tiring. The same
as someone who drives screws
every day needs the best drill, if
you spend a lot of time in front of
a computer, you should invest in
a mechanical keyboard.
Most keyboards use rubber
domes that rest underneath
each key to provide resistance
and spring. On mechanical key-
boards, each key has a precision
spring and a piece of metal that
opens and closes to register each
keystroke. It feels like a gated
gear shifter: decisive and satis-
fying. Each keystroke produces
an audible click.
Mechanical keyboards
are typically wired for mini-
mal latency. They’re also more
expensive and durable. It’s best
to start by customizing a fac-
tory keyboard. You can modify it
later, or use its design to inform
your next, more ambitious build.
you could need. The choice for
most people is the 87-key con-
figuration. A keyboard like the
WASD V3 87-Key ($155) is an
ideal medium for people who
would miss arrow keys and
function keys for stuff like
pausing music.STEP 2 :
CHOOSE YOUR SWITCHES
The switch is the internal mech-
anism that moves whenever
a key is depressed. There are
several main designs, each
with a different sound and
tactility. The biggest switch
manufacturer is Cherry, which
classifies its products by color.
Since Cherry’s patents expired
in 2014, other companies havestarted making their own
switches, but most of those fol-
low similar color classification.
One move is to get a sample strip
with every option and see what
you like, then order a keyboard
with those keys. It’s an imper-
fect test, but it will help you feel
out what you like and don’t like.
Cherry MX Red keys give you
a slight click from the external
casing hitting the base. They’re
easy to engage without much
force, which makes them good
for gaming, but tough for typing.
Cherry MX Brown are middle-
ground keys. They’re fairly quiet,
with a barely noticeable bump
while you type. They require
more force to engage than Reds,
making them good for both gam-
ing and typing. If you really want
to annoy your coworkers, go w ith
Cherry MX Blue keys, which
have a slider inside that produces
a loud, high-pitched click sound.
They require the most pressure
to engage, but give you a really
satisfying click.STEP 3 :
LIVE YOUR DREAMS
From here, you can start going
deep into forums and subred-
dits on customization. Star t w ith
custom key covers. For example,
replacing the F and J keys with a
cover that has a deeper, narrower
concave is a slick way to orient
your fingers. The biggest mar-
ketplace for these kinds of parts
is Massdrop.com. Go crazy.STEP 1:
PICK A SIZE
Most keyboards from compa-
nies like Apple or Dell waste
space on keys you might never
use, like a dedicated number pad
or function keys. Pick a layout
that fits with the kind of typing
you do most often.
Sixty-percent keypads, such
as the Vortexgear Pok3r ($139),
pictured, are as minimalist as
you can get, with no arrow keys
or function keys, just letters,
numbers, and modifiers. The
advantage is a streamlined look
that takes up very little desk
space. If you need a full number
pad, try a 104-key keypad, such
as the Matias Tactile Pro
($150). They’re big and wide,
and they come with every keyThe
Customized
Mechanical
Keyboard
It’s durable, completely
personalized, and, unlike standard
keyboards, a joy to use.
/ BY ALEXANDER GEORGE /