Choosing a Keyboard: Mechanical or Membrane Keyboards?

Over the years, even the most durable keyboard can break down. The causes vary – key sticking, physical wear, spills, or paint fading. Repairing an old keyboard is not always appropriate – it will take a lot of time, and the result may be disappointing – the device still won’t work. The solution is to purchase a new equivalent that will work for a long time without serious malfunctions.

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Connection Interface

Before choosing a keyboard, it is recommended to consider the connection interface, which is found in the following types:

  1. PS/2: In older versions, this interface used a 6-pin Mini-DIN technology, allowing the device to be directly connected to the computer’s motherboard.
  2. USB: Today, this interface is considered more popular – you can easily connect the keyboard to a PC or laptop. You may have to wait a bit while the drivers are installed, but then everything will work as expected.
  3. Bluetooth Interface: This interface is used in wireless keyboards and is considered quite convenient for working with tablets or smartphones that have a virtual text input.
  4. Wi-Fi: It uses the 2.4 GHz standard and may sometimes experience delayed commands, as this frequency is widely used in households.

In any case, it is recommended to choose branded versions of both wired and wireless keyboards, which inherently exhibit a high level of quality – keys don’t stick, and they have a long service life. Branded models may also come with RGB backlighting, which is considered exceptionally convenient for working during the evening hours. Budget solutions usually do not feature key backlighting.

Mechanical or Membrane Keyboards?

Mechanical keyboard versions can be considered budget solutions, in which keys need to be pressed to a depth of 4-5 mm, and they often have an operating resource of about 50-100 million touches. However, mechanical keyboards can sometimes be noisy when in use. In such cases, if you need to ensure comfort for those around you, it is recommended to opt for membrane keyboards. A slight touch is all it takes for everything to work. For gaming, membrane alternatives are not always the preferred choice. However, if you need to type text quickly, quietly, and efficiently, choosing membrane keyboards will be the best solution for most copywriters.