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Cheap membrane keyboard actuation?

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Valnar

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Does anyone know the weight needed to press down on a standard cheap OEM membrane keyboard? I'm typing on an HP keyboard now and if I move to a mechanical switch, I think I'd like it to be around the same weighting.
 
Valnar said:
Does anyone know the weight needed to press down on a standard cheap OEM membrane keyboard? I'm typing on an HP keyboard now and if I move to a mechanical switch, I think I'd like it to be around the same weighting.
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It's hard to say because the weighting differs from one manufacturer to another as well as age/storage/use/temperature all effecting the feel as well. If I had to take a wild guess, I'd say that peak actuation force was somewhere around 65~70g on the microsoft keyboards I've used ("lightly" used keyboards, I don't recall how the one I bought new felt).

edit: A simple way to measure it would be to stack US nickles 'till the key depresses, each US nickle weighs appx. 5g.
 
If you like the same weight as a mechanical keyboard, I'd suggest Cherry MX Red (linear) or Cherry MX Brown (tactie). Both have an actuation force of 45-60g, so while they are initially lighter (IMO) to a membrane keyboard, by the time you bottom out your close to the weight of a membrane board.

Linear switches are supposedly better for typing than tactile switches. I played with red and brown for my second keyboard and I liked the smoothness of the red. With the brown, once you hit the actuation point (2mm) you feel a slight click sensation - it's very light and if gaming you might not notice it but I found I noticed it when I type and I didn't like the sensation (felt like there was play). Although some people claim it feels nice and it teaches them not to bottom out.

The other linear switch is black (actuation force of 60-80g) and that was my first keyboard (actuation force of 60-80g). I immediately found it way to stiff for my liking and didn't even bother on giving it a chance and went with the red which I liked immediately. I find using other membrane keyboards are similar to my red switch.

Although switches are really a personal preference and something I like you might not like. Its best to try them out in person to see what you like.
 
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