What different types of keyboards are there? What do they have in common and what not a mechanical one of a membrane? Read this guide to know all about it
Either because we don’t clean it regularly or, directly, we choose any model to get out of trouble. Now, what if we want to buy the best?
Although for many of us any keyboard “will do”, the reality is that it is an essential peripheral and that, for those of us who telecommute, it becomes very difficult to replace. In addition, more and more brands are venturing to make their own keyboards, whether mechanical, membrane, hybrid or with different extras or sizes.
Being a peripheral that, in many cases, is used on a daily basis, it can be really useful in the long run to choose one that suits our needs and our use. For this reason, in DownGamer we have prepared a brief guide so that you do not make a mistake when choosing one.
All keyboards…
Many of us are quick to think of keyboards as a “ready-made” device; that is to say, that between one and the other the main difference is the budget. This, being true, is only part of the reality.
Keyboards are an industry unto themselves and the possibilities are huge. Before buying one of these peripherals, it is good to take into account the types that exist.
They can be distinguished according to their technology:
– Membrane. Under the keys is a piece of plastic that emits an impulse through a plastic surface – the “membrane” -. In this way, it can be understood that all the keys share the same interruption system, since the plastic membrane occupies the same space as the keyboard.
– Of scissors. Each key has two pieces of plastic underneath that interlock with each other – hence the name “scissors”. It is the most common technology in laptops.
– Mechanics. Each key has a switch under it that works much like the switch on our wall: pressing the key sends a pulse to the keyboard controller. Therefore, unlike the membrane, each key has its own system.
They are the most complex, since there are dozens of types that vary according to their route, sound, etc. In addition to making the product more expensive. However, it is a much more resistant and durable system than the rest.
According to the distribution:
To find this type of distribution, it is usually indicated as “ISO” followed by the initials of the country.
-ANSI . _ The most widespread distribution worldwide and, therefore, the easiest to find. Unlike ISO, ANSI has a horizontal “Enter” key (similar to our “Crtl” or “Shift”) and a plus key above “Enter”. It also doesn’t have the extra keys we were talking about before.
Depending on the format:
– Standard. The typical keyboard that we can find in any computer or place. In this type, the format is rectangular and, if we look at the position of the keys, we can see that the first line (from Q to P) is not at the same height as the next two (from A to L and from Z to M), but are displaced to the sides.
– Ergonomic. They are keyboards specially designed to be comfortable and avoid pain. On these keyboards, there is usually a split in the middle and a small bend; thus, it is much more comfortable to rest your hands on it -you can see an example here- .
– Ortho linear. The strangest of all. Unlike the standard ones, these keyboards are completely straight: there are no height differences, no bigger or smaller keys -except for “Space”, which is the size of two keys-, they are all the same and are distributed in the same way – you can see one in the following link -.
It could also be distinguished by the alphanumeric base they use, but in the vast majority of the western world, keyboards are QWERTY and it is very rare to use other types. Therefore, it is not necessary to know it.
… and their sizes
The keyboards have different sizes, and can range from 60 keys to 105. Depending on the use we want to give it, this absence of keys can be fatal or, on the contrary, make its use much more comfortable.
Before going into what sizes exist, you have to understand that the keyboard is divided into four parts:
– Alphanumeric keyboard: with which we write and do most tasks.
– Keyboard function: the F keys (F1 to F12).
– Control keyboard or cursor: it is the area made up of the dates, “Insert”, etc.
– Numeric keypad: the area, usually placed to the right of the keyboard, where there are only numbers and numeric commands.
The size of the keyboard usually depends on which zones compose it:
– 100% or Full Size. In ISO distribution, there are 105 keys and it has all the zones.
-TKL or 80 % . In this size, the number pad is removed.
– 70-75%. Although it has the arrows and some function keys, its layout is much more compact.
– 60-65%. They only have the alphanumeric keyboard and in the case of 65%, also with the arrows.
– 40%. It is the smallest functional keyboard as it also eliminates the number row.
There is an even smaller type of keyboard, the Tenkey, which is the separate numeric keyboard, although its use is even more particular.
So which one is the best for me?
After reviewing keyboard types and sizes, what do we need to look at?
The first thing to consider, obviously, is the budget. Like any peripheral, the price can vary greatly and we find options ranging from 20 euros… to 500 euros. Despite this, there is no point in rushing the money too much.
In other words, the price difference is due, in most cases, to technical issues -in mechanical keyboards, for example, the price of a Marsmallow switch varies a lot compared to a Cherry MX- or to design (handmade keys, etc.) , so in most cases we can find a keyboard that suits our budget.
From there, we must rethink the use that we are going to give it. Are we going to use it every day? Just to write? Or also to play?
Mechanical keyboards are much more resistant and durable than membrane keyboards, although they are not the most comfortable to type on. Therefore, it can be a good option for those who spend many hours using it and not only write with it, but also play games, program, etc.
On the other hand, membrane ones can be much cheaper and more comfortable to write on, especially if we are not going to use them for long periods of time. In addition, they are usually smaller and their use is more tiring. Despite this, they are very complicated to clean and, if they break, their repair will be more difficult.
We must also take into account the space we have. As we have seen before, there are different sizes and types that make it very easy to adapt them to any situation. If we practically have nowhere to put it, 60% may make us gain a lot of space on the table.
