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Home › Articles › An introduction to Cherry MX mechanical switches


AN INTRODUCTION TO CHERRY MX MECHANICAL SWITCHES

Posted on December 7, 2012 by William Judd

Mechanical keyboards are defined by their switches. In the Filco Majestouch-2
and many others, it is Cherry MX switches that are used. In this article, we’ll
look at the many different kinds of Cherry switches on the market and see how
they compare to one another.

A potted history of Cherry

Cherry Corporation was founded in the United States in 1953 and started
producing keyboards in 1967, making them the oldest keyboard manufacturer in the
world that’s still in business. The company was moved to Germany in 1967 and
bought by ZF Friedrichshafen AG in 2008, but keyboards and mechanical switches
are still produced under the Cherry brand.

Their most popular line of switches, the Cherry MX series, was introduced around
1985. These switches are usually referenced by their physical colour, with each
colour denoting the switch’s handling characteristics – whether it is clicky,
whether it is tactile, and how much force is required to actuate the switch, in
centi-Newtons (cN) or grams (g).

Now that we’ve explained a bit of the background information, we can have a look
at the switches themselves – starting with the four most common varieties.



Linear switches

Linear switches have the simplest operation, moving straight up and down without
any additional tactile feedback or loud clicking noise – we’ll come to these
more complicated switches later on. There are two common types of linear
switches – Black and Red.

Cherry MX Black switches were introduced in 1984, making them one of the older
Cherry switches. They have a medium to high actuation force, at 60 cN, which
means they are the stiffest of the four most common Cherry switches. These
switches are used in point-of-sale stations, but typically aren’t considered
ideal for typing due to their high weighting. They have found use in RTS video
games, where the high weighting can prevent accidental key presses that might
occur on less stiff switches. The stronger spring also means that they rebound
faster, meaning they can be actuated quite quickly given enough force – although
you may also find fatigue becomes more of a factor than with other switches.

See Cherry MX Black keyboards here >

Conversely, Cherry MX Red switches were only introduced in 2008 and are the most
recent switch to be developed by the company. They have a low actuation force,
at 45 cN – tied with Brown for the lowest of the four most common switches. Red
switches have been marketed as a gaming switch, with the light weighting
allowing for more rapid actuation, and have become increasingly common in gaming
keyboards.

See Cherry MX Red keyboards here >

Tactile, non-clicky switches

Tactile switches provide, as the name suggests, additional tactile feedback as
the key actuates. As you press the key down, there is a noticeable bump which
lets you know that your key press has been registered.

The most popular type of tactile, non-clicky switch is the Cherry MX Brown. This
switch was introduced in 1994 as a special ‘ergo soft’ switch, but quickly
became one of the most popular switches. Today, the majority of Filco keyboards
are sold with Brown switches, as the switch is a good middle-of-the-road option
appropriate for both typing and gaming. They are also ideal for typing in office
environments, where a clicky switch might annoy some.

See Cherry MX Brown keyboards here >

Tactile, clicky switches

Clicky switches add a deliberately louder ‘click’ sound to the existing tactile
bump, allowing for greater typing feedback. This makes it easier to know that
you’ve hit the activation point. This is achieved by a more complicated
mechanism, with a blue plunger and a white slider. When the actuation point is
reached, the slider is propelled to the bottom of the switch and the click noise
is produced.



The Cherry MX Blue is the most common clicky switch, and was first made
available in Filco keyboards in 2007. Blue switches are favoured by typists due
to their tactile bump and audible click, but can be less suitable for gaming as
the weighting is relatively high – 50 cN – and it is a bit harder to double tap,
as the release point is above the actuation point. Blue switches are noticeably
louder than other mechanical switches, which are already louder than rubber
domes, so these switches can be a bit disruptive in close working conditions.

See Cherry MX Blue switches here >

Less common Cherry MX switches

While the four switches listed above are found on the vast majority of
mechanical keyboards with Cherry switches, quite a few other variants exist as
well. We’ll cover these briefly.

 * Silent Red (Pink) switches are quieter variants of the linear MX Red switch,
   with rubber pieces inside that dampen the sound of the switch returning to
   its default position. The actuation force remains 45 cN.
 * Speed Silver is a shortened version of the MX Red switch, actuating at 1.2mm
   instead of 2mm and with a total travel of 3.4mm compared to 4mm.
 * Clear switches are a stiffer version of Brown switches, with a tactile bump
   and weighting of 65 cN.
 * Grey switches are used for space bars on Clear keyboards, with a weighting of
   80 cN.
 * Green switches are a stiffer version of Blue switches, with a tactile bump
   and audible click, weighted at 80 cN. It is primarily used for space bars.
 * White switches are very similar to green switches, with modern versions being
   weighted the same (80 cN) but being slightly quieter.
 * Super Black switches are extra stiff (150 cN) linear switches designed for
   space bars on keyboards with Black switches.
 * Dark Grey switches are moderately more stiff linear (80 cN) switches designed
   for use as space bars on keyboards with Cherry MX Black switches.
 * Cherry MX Lock switches are locking linear switches that stay down until
   pressed again, typically used for Caps Lock and TTY lock in keyboards before
   the 1980s.

Conclusion

So there we have it – information on the various MX switches produced by Cherry
and now ZF Electronics. I hope this has been useful – if you have any questions,
feel free to share them in the comments below! You can also ask on Twitter or
Facebook. Finally, if you’d like to pick up a few switches to play around with,
then you can do so on our switches page. Thanks for reading and have a good one!

Animated Cherry MX images from Lethal Squirrel on Geekhack.org.

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Posted in Articles, Guides Tagged with: Cherry MX, Filco



117 COMMENTS ON “AN INTRODUCTION TO CHERRY MX MECHANICAL SWITCHES”

 1.  Dio says:
     May 11, 2013 at 1:38 pm
     
     Great. Very comprehensive and useful info. I liked the part that which
     switch is useful for typing. Just bought myself a mech keyboard, with brown
     switches. The blue maybe a little too noisy to type in office.
     
     * Ryan says:
       September 18, 2015 at 5:22 pm
       
       Can confirm the blues annoy everyone. Tried bringing my mx blues board
       into class one day and everyone wanted to kill me haha
       
       * Scott says:
         July 23, 2016 at 7:20 am
         
         You can get a pack of rubber O-ring dampeners for less than $10. Search
         for “Cherry MX Dampeners”. Several of the guys at work have MX Blues.
         One dude has the O-rings and it makes a huge difference.
       
         
       * Lucas says:
         September 29, 2016 at 7:44 pm
         
         Heh, you think blues are loud? Try ALPS/Matias switches, you get typing
         good at 60/wpm, you begin to annoy the neighbors, they really are the
         loudest switch out there, but man, do they have tactility.
       
         
       * new year says:
         September 24, 2017 at 8:29 am
         
         Cherry MX switches that are used. In this article, we’ll look at the
         many different kinds of Cherry switches on the market and see how they
         compare to one another.
       
         
       * january 2018 calendar says:
         November 28, 2017 at 10:43 pm
         
         There are two common types of linear switches – Black and Red.
       
         
       
     * Denker Dunsmuir says:
       October 30, 2016 at 7:22 am
       
       Thanks for the Cherry MX mechanical switches KB explanation. I needed
       that.
       
       I have a CMStorm hand-me-down mechanical keyboard. It’s a low-end KB with
       a mew price point around apprx. $120 thru Amazon. I believe it is a Brown
       switch version because its keys have a middle of the road response which
       I enjoy for writing.
       
       It is also somewhat stiff which keeps my fingers focused upon the
       accurate keys. This KB makes some noise as I type very fast when I am
       writing, and it is a tad sluggish for simple gaming uses. However, a
       board that would have a stiffer touch would cause more arm-wrist fatigue
       for me, and a KB that would be for gaming use would also cause me fatigue
       because it would allow too fast movement leading to too many typos and
       the extra energy to correct them.
       
       I have used an inexpensive, regular PC KB, a Dell, with rounded keys that
       is one of the fastest and most accurate KBs I’ve used. However, I have no
       idea where in my school library it’s located or any model information to
       include in this post.
       
       All that said, I’m going to stick with keeping as much of my money in my
       pocket as possible despite opportunities to buy new hardware. Sometimes,
       new and improved is neither (“new” or “improved”).
       
       BTW: I really enjoy the blue backlighting on this KB.
     
       
     
 2.  Lewis says:
     May 25, 2013 at 2:37 am
     
     Thanks it helped me tones on the search for the best switches for my
     purpose now have I just have to decide between red or brown that’s going to
     be hard
     
     * MM says:
       June 14, 2013 at 8:01 am
       
       Go with browns. Reds are ultra sensitive, very easy to hit the wrong key
       by accident.
       
       * XRI says:
         December 30, 2014 at 5:28 am
         
         This article would have me believe that the actuation force on reds and
         browns is the same. Care to elaborate on what makes mis-actuations more
         common with reds for you?
         
         * Aidan says:
           June 8, 2016 at 9:40 am
           
           Reds have more miss activations because they are a linear switch so
           they just go straight to the bottom but brows have a slightly higher
           activation force as they require a tad more force to overcome the
           tactile bump
           
           * Dave says:
             November 3, 2016 at 4:15 pm
             
             The primary difference between reds and browns is not so much the
             actuation force, but the tactile bump. Reds provide no tactile
             feedback until the key bottoms out, which is about 1.5 millimeters
             below the actuation point. Browns have a tactile bump at the
             actuation point so that with practice and some muscle memory you
             gain the ability to type quickly without bottoming out the keys —
             you can feel for the bump and constrain your keystrokes to the 2mm
             needed for actuation, not the 4mm of total travel. This results in
             less typing fatigue (less distance traveled, and reduced
             bottoming-out impact).
             
             But linear (reds) may be more desirable for gaming, as the tendency
             in gaming is to pound a little more, so bottoming out is not to be
             avoided. That being the case, the tactile bump isn’t necessary, and
             can even slow down the common gaming technique of key bouncing.
           
             
           
         
       
     * Ty says:
       February 28, 2014 at 9:53 pm
       
       I prefer red’s for typing and gaming. As a touch typist I find that the
       tactile bump on Brown’s just gets in the way.
     
       
     * Geneal Chaud Caliente says:
       October 11, 2016 at 11:10 pm
       
       I think you’ll like the tactical feedback of the brown switches better
       than the red. The brown switches make a bump that you can feel, but don’t
       click. If yo are a touch typist and like the feel of a typewriter, but
       don’t want the noice then brown is the right choice.
       
       I love blue because I like the tactical feedback and the clickity clack.
     
       
     
 3.  Brooks says:
     June 22, 2013 at 11:57 pm
     
     I personally love the Blues for gaming. And I really love them for typing
     in the office too. The people around me don’t love it so much due to the
     noise, but I can type so much faster than with any other switches. It has
     the same feel as my very first computer keyboard in ’87. I loved that
     keyboard and I love my new one now.
     
     * Andreszx says:
       November 27, 2015 at 4:53 am
       
       Hello Brook! thanks for your comment, could you please say me what your
       first computer keyboard was? I loved the 486 HP keyboards when I was in
       school in the 90’s!!
       
       * LegendaryVegeta says:
         June 20, 2017 at 8:29 am
         
         i feel like the browns would be the est, bt ive never tried one of the
         red,blue or browns
       
         
       
     * Taurolyon says:
       March 7, 2016 at 5:48 am
       
       The blues remind me of the old IBM PC/XT keyboards.
     
       
     * Karen says:
       May 15, 2016 at 1:20 am
       
       Hi, just reading through this site and I saw your post. I was almost
       convinced to get a Blues keyboard because I type for a living and I have
       heard the Blues are the best for that. I type at home so I’m not worrying
       about the noise bothering anyone. Have you tried other colors (like the
       browns), and do you feel the blues are the best for typists (for speed,
       accuracy, etc?) You said it feels like the old keyboards from the 80’s, I
       remember those well. Are they also like the IBM Selectric typewriter
       keys? Those required a little bit of a push though as I remember. thanks
       so much in advance.
       
       * William Judd says:
         May 15, 2016 at 1:36 pm
         
         Blue switches don’t require as much effort to push down as a typewriter
         key, but they’re towards the upper end of the scale when it comes to
         mechanical keyboards. Blues being a “typists’ switch” is largely a
         matter of reputation; I personally write with brown switches primarily
         and know people that write with every other kind of switch. It’s a
         matter of preference, and it’s well worth trying a few switches to see
         what you prefer.
       
         
       * Matt says:
         July 16, 2016 at 4:55 pm
         
         The blues are easier to push down than you may think, personally I feel
         that blues are as easy to push down as the browns. Cherry MX Greens are
         the stiffer version of the Blues, they will be a much closer feel to
         the typewrite feel you’re looking for.
         
         The browns and the reds aren’t that much different in terms of required
         force for actuation. The reds are very quiet and smooth, but are way
         too mushy for my preference. The browns are just as easy to press, but
         they have a slight bump when actuated.
         
         If you’re still having trouble deciding, get a sampler off of amazon.
         It’s a little pricey (20 bucks for the 8 switch sample) but totally
         worth it. I was convinced that I wanted the browns, but after trying
         all of them I actually preferred the greens (Tactile and clicky) and
         the clears, which are just the stiffer versions of the browns (tactile
         and silent, you feel a bump when actuated).
         
         Unfortunately those switches are hard to come by and are not included
         in most of the popular gaming keyboards. I was gunning for a Corsair
         Strafe RGB, but after trying all of the switches I was disappointed to
         see that they typically come in the 3 common switch types; red, blue,
         and the browns. I have been noticing more and more that they are
         offering a new “rapid switch”, but that doesn’t interest me, and
         assuming our tastes are similar it wouldn’t catch your eye either.
         
         Anyway, I hope this helps; albeit it is two months late so probably
         not.
       
         
       
     * January 2018 says:
       December 13, 2017 at 2:07 pm
       
       does anyone know what the difference with a green mx switch is?
       
       * William Judd says:
         December 13, 2017 at 4:05 pm
         
         The MX Green is the heaviest clicky switch you can get — you usually
         find them as the spacebars in keyboards that use MX Blue switches
         elsewhere. It has a very firm feeling, almost like using a typewriter
         or old IBM Model M-style buckling spring keyboard. They’re very clicky
         and very tactile, so an interesting switch for sure.
       
         
       
     
 4.  Melissa says:
     August 10, 2013 at 1:20 am
     
     Very informative and I love the animations! The feel and sound of the keys
     are really important to me considering how much time I spend on a keyboard
     both at work and at home.
     
     * Anders says:
       June 16, 2014 at 10:46 pm
       
       Here’s the original creator of those animations …
       
       on a youtube video with samples of the sounds of the different keys.
       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp46JeDDTCw
       
       dacasman3 months ago
       You’re probably not going to believe this but I am the one that created
       those switch animations. (lethalsquirrel from geekhack)
       the entire internet has stolen my animations that were simply avatar
       .gifs for my geekhack account. 
       
       Here’s a reddit thread about it:
       http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/216661/found_the_creator_of_the_cherry_mx_switch_gif/
       
       * The Raven says:
         December 8, 2015 at 10:39 pm
         
         No one stole anything, you chose to share it. The animations are very
         basic and a 3d version would be nice to see. Maybe it’s time to remake
         them and add the new switches like the Romers and others to the list.
         3DS Max would be a good way to produce the animations.
         
         The Xerox iGen digital presses I am a Technician for use a lot of
         cherry switches for things like the door interlocks and I can’t believe
         how cheap they are and how fast they wear out and how easily they
         break, I’d avoid having a KB with them if possible.
         
         The only advantage to Cherry is the extremely low price, they are dirt
         cheap which is why a lot of KB makers choose them, but there are some
         companies that choose better alternatives to cheaper ones, but will
         cost the consumer a little more to buy, but will outlast the cheaper
         ones by far.
         
         * William Judd says:
           December 9, 2015 at 12:24 am
           
           Cherry switches are actually pretty damn expensive, compared to Kailh
           clones, and they’re made in small numbers by a company that doesn’t
           have maximum production as their primary aim. Cherry switch keyboards
           from 20+ years ago are still working fine, so I think they’re fine in
           terms of reliability…
           
           It would be cool to see new animations, although I guess this guy
           LethalSquirrel probably isn’t up for it
           
           * The Raven says:
             January 1, 2016 at 6:45 pm
             
             Nope, they are very cheap switches, sorry you didn’t know that.
             They are the cheapest switches we have access to at work, so we go
             through a lot of them as they break constantly.
           
             
           
         
       * Paul Adrian says:
         April 25, 2017 at 4:23 pm
         
         Yup, douchebaggerry confirmed.
       
         
       
     
 5.  Jimbob says:
     August 20, 2013 at 7:59 am
     
     Thank you for clarifying this so well. Bonus points for the animations
     
     * Anders says:
       June 16, 2014 at 10:44 pm
       
       http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/216661/found_the_creator_of_the_cherry_mx_switch_gif/
     
       
     
 6.  Gaye Laing says:
     August 20, 2013 at 5:28 pm
     
     Has anybody tried the full hand keyboard? If so, do you prefer it to the
     standard one?
     
     * William Judd says:
       August 21, 2013 at 8:25 am
       
       Sorry, what do you mean by full hand keyboard?
       
       * Gaye says:
         August 21, 2013 at 1:31 pm
         
         The casing is extended at the bottom so that you can rest your wrists
         on it. I’m just wondering how big it is and if it’s practical or just a
         selling feature.
       
         
       * Gaye says:
         August 21, 2013 at 1:33 pm
         
         I think I’m in the wrong place. I’m not sure how I ended up here. I was
         looking for a thread for Ergodox.
         
         * William Judd says:
           August 21, 2013 at 1:42 pm
           
           Haha, don’t worry about it. Regretfully I haven’t tried the Ergodox
           so I can’t really help. Maybe try asking on
           mechanicalkeyboards.reddit.com?
           
           * Gaye says:
             August 21, 2013 at 3:27 pm
             
             I was researching the different switches I guess because you can
             pick which ones you want and I forgot what forum I was in. I’m
             pleading heatstroke and age LOL!!!
           
             
           * William Judd says:
             August 21, 2013 at 3:29 pm
             
             OK, I’ll let you off the hook then
           
             
           
         
       
     
 7.  Michael Nilsson says:
     August 23, 2013 at 3:59 pm
     
     Thanks a lot! This was helpful! GREAT!

     
 8.  JJ says:
     September 19, 2013 at 7:20 am
     
     Great summary! And I agree with the others, the animations are very helpful
     too.

     
 9.  Weaver2 says:
     November 29, 2013 at 7:02 pm
     
     The reds are just a slight bit too easy to press down to me, to where if I
     rest my hand on the keys i might accidentally press one down!

     
 10. billy says:
     December 7, 2013 at 6:27 am
     
     does anyone know what the difference with a green mx switch is?
     
     * William Judd says:
       December 7, 2013 at 8:28 pm
       
       A green switch is essentially a heavy blue switch, designed to be used
       for spacebars.
     
       
     * rehndum guehst says:
       April 17, 2015 at 11:39 am
       
       “Green switches are a stiffer version of Blue switches, with a tactile
       bump and audible click, weighted at 80 cN. It is primarily used for space
       bars.”
     
       
     
 11. VirensPocket says:
     December 15, 2013 at 10:37 pm
     
     Really helpful article! Good job

     
 12. Ishter says:
     December 24, 2013 at 2:35 pm
     
     HAH! Now I can prove my friend wrong about how heavy blue switches are.

     
 13. issac says:
     January 9, 2014 at 8:37 pm
     
     you forgot the cherry mx RGB…
     
     * William Judd says:
       January 9, 2014 at 11:43 pm
       
       Haha – those were announced a fair while after this article was written!
       In addition, Cherry MX RGB switches are still red, blue or brown – they
       don’t affect the function of the switch, only its look.
     
       
     
 14. Michael Ruf says:
     March 11, 2014 at 3:30 pm
     
     Great article! I have always been intrigued by mechanical switches and wish
     there was somewhere I could go to compare all four. I’m a heavy-handed
     “angry” typist so the black switches appeal to me the most although as a
     FPS gamer that probably wouldn’t be a wise choice =).

     
 15. Victor says:
     May 21, 2014 at 12:06 am
     
     Best explanation ever, thanks! I guess I’ll be sticking with the MX Brown
     as I had originally thought.

     
 16. Derpopolis says:
     June 27, 2014 at 9:45 pm
     
     Just get a Model M keyboard. Cherry MX switches are a joke compared to
     buckling spring.

     
 17. Oinkers says:
     July 15, 2014 at 6:43 pm
     
     Vote on which you like the best! http://strawpoll.me/2121260

     
 18. Dom Di Stroia says:
     August 18, 2014 at 12:48 am
     
     I’m curious to try the Clear switches.
     
     I’m using the Brown ones. But, at times, they feel too light.
     
     * Poppers Dogton says:
       April 12, 2016 at 12:23 am
       
       I like the greens, whites, and blues the best.
     
       
     
 19. COSH666 says:
     September 14, 2014 at 9:10 pm
     
     I have a SteelSeries 6G V2 with Cherry MX Black switches.
     
     The keys have no annoying click or bump but have a
     satisfyingly weighty feel without feeling too heavy.
     
     It doesn’t have macros of fancy lighting, just basic extremely
     sturdy construction.
     
     It’s really nice to game on without the distraction of the
     noise and bump but I do wonder if the blues would be better suited to
     typing.
     
     * Oscar says:
       April 24, 2017 at 10:58 pm
       
       I have that same keyboard. When playing FPSs, since you have to keep
       pressing W to advance for a long time, I get kinda tired… do you feel
       something like that?
       
       * Deus Dex says:
         April 26, 2017 at 6:26 pm
         
         No, but I’m pretty heavy handed and appreciate the extra resistance of
         the Cherry Black switches.
         SteelSeries make a Cherry Red switch version now that’s much easier on
         the fingers.
         
         * Oscar says:
           April 27, 2017 at 9:26 am
           
           Ok, thanks for answering, I did not know about the Cherry Red
           version. I am overall satisfied with the 6gv2, it is just the W key
           that bothers me a bit because it is by far the most used key.
           
           It was my first mechanical keyboard. I think it feels great for
           typing, I get that exact “weighty feel” you talked about in your
           first remark.
           
           I am a bit limited because I don’t like lights or a iluminated
           keyboard at all. In fact, in the 6gv2 I have covered the Num Lock
           white light with a small bit of tape because that bright light
           bothers me, believe it or not…
         
           
         
       
     
 20. nop666 says:
     October 9, 2014 at 8:30 am
     
     Thanks so much for this very informative article, William. Based on this
     advice, I decided on a Das Keyboard Pro with Cherry Brown switches, as a
     quieter replacement for my increasingly flaky IBM Model M. The new KB
     arrived today, & it’s pretty much exactly what I wanted. It’s worth noting
     that while it’s quieter than a Model M, it’s still quite loud in comparison
     to your typical cheap keyboard, but I’m okay with that.
     If you’re a long time Model M user, I highly recommend the Cherry Brown
     switches. They’re not identical to the Model M’s, but I think they’re as
     close as there is on the market.
     
     * January 2018 Calendar says:
       December 10, 2017 at 10:42 pm
       
       While the four switches listed above are found on the vast majority of
       mechanical keyboards with Cherry switches, quite a few other variants
       exist as well. We’ll cover these briefly.
     
       
     * January 2018 Calendar says:
       December 11, 2017 at 1:02 pm
       
       Now that we’ve explained a bit of the background information, we can have
       a look at the switches themselves – starting with the four most common
       varieties.
     
       
     
 21. Geokid pro says:
     January 24, 2015 at 7:24 pm
     
     the lock switches tho

     
 22. Derpopolis says:
     February 9, 2015 at 2:55 pm
     
     Just get a Model M keyboard. Cherry MX switches are a joke compared to
     buckling spring.
     
     * Paul Adrian says:
       April 25, 2017 at 4:28 pm
       
       agreed, or you can get a unicomp.
     
       
     
 23. Ander says:
     May 8, 2015 at 2:14 am
     
     Great piece! I must take issue with one thing, though—the widespread
     misunderstanding that stiffer switches are harder to use:
     
     > [re MX Blacks] The stronger spring also means that they rebound faster,
     >meaning they can
     be actuated quite quickly given enough force – although
     > you may also
     find fatigue becomes more of a factor than with other switches…
     
     The purpose of making a stiffer switch isn’t just to make it harder to
     press. It’s to make it easier to choose how FAR to press it.
     
     Like most KB switches, Cherrys actuate 50% through their travel. This means
     that any motion beyond that point is wasted time and energy.
     
     Lighter switches move so easily, it’s hard to control their travel, so you
     almost always bottom out. Stiffer switches like Blacks offer more
     resistance, making it easier not to bottom them out every time. If you use
     them correctly, with that in mind, they let you develop a quicker and LESS
     tiring typing technique by consistently pressing them only partway down.
     
     It’s hard for KB companies to describe all this, so they don’t try. Instead
     they let people think lighter = better, and sell lots of light KBs and and
     let people pound away on them. Only those who take a bit of time and
     trouble to educate themselves will benefit from stiffer switches’ superior
     design.
     
     * Vakuum says:
       October 31, 2015 at 3:56 pm
       
       > Lighter switches move so easily, it’s hard to control their travel, so
       you almost always bottom out.
       
       Hard is relative here. I have no problem typing on my MX Brown switches
       without bottoming out. I only accidentally bottom out every once in a
       while if I’m in a hurry.
       
       Though, I can imagine that it would be harder to develop a light and good
       writing technique coming from a keyboard with stiffer switches. Like
       going from Black or Clear to Brown switches.
     
       
     * The Raven says:
       December 8, 2015 at 10:26 pm
       
       I like a very light switch and then set the ‘bottom’ to be at the
       actuation point so I can use it very fast, a lot faster than a heavier
       switch trying to locate the AP manually. I always mod everything I buy so
       it makes sense to do the same to a KB. I prefer custom built to off the
       shelf in everything from cars to clothes to computers and perhephrials.
     
       
     * Paul Adrian says:
       April 25, 2017 at 4:22 pm
       
       Wow, you sound like a douchebag
     
       
     
 24. Peter Tierno says:
     July 30, 2015 at 8:27 pm
     
     Great post. Thank you. Made my search for a mechanical keyboard a lot
     easier.
     
     * William Judd says:
       July 30, 2015 at 9:40 pm
       
       Great, glad you find it helpful!
     
       
     
 25. JOKERNAUTZ! says:
     August 18, 2015 at 11:39 pm
     
     will, what is your favourite cherry mx switches? you prefer me to brown or
     blue? i’m a lil bit confuse to choose
     
     * William Judd says:
       August 19, 2015 at 10:10 am
       
       My favourite is brown, but the clicky feel of Blue switches can also be
       very satisfying.
     
       
     
 26. Soft Touch says:
     September 2, 2015 at 3:42 pm
     
     Which keyboard requires the least amount of pressure? I type more than
     500,000 words a year for work and desperately need a soft touch keyboard.
     Thank you.
     
     * William Judd says:
       September 2, 2015 at 4:00 pm
       
       Try a keyboard with Topre or Cherry Red switches. If you email us
       (sales@keyboardco.com) with your requirements, we’ll try to suggest the
       perfect keyboard for you!
       
       * Emma says:
         October 16, 2015 at 4:46 am
         
         I second Topre. I find them to be a lot less vulnerable to damage from
         dust and other foreign objects. The only bad thing is that they’re
         difficult to find in physical stores. I like to touch and play with
         keyboards before I purchase them.
       
         
       
     * The Raven says:
       December 8, 2015 at 10:58 pm
       
       I’d go with Romer G switches. Light and the fastest switch.
     
       
     
 27. James Cohen says:
     October 28, 2015 at 9:12 pm
     
     So left out of this discussion is the “buckling spring” keyboard switch
     from the old IBM style keyboards. This type of keyboard is still made IN
     THE USA and is considered to be the best tactile feedback style. It’s
     available for Mac and Win. And it’s actually cheaper than all these newer
     types: http://www.unicomp.com/
     
     * William Judd says:
       October 28, 2015 at 9:18 pm
       
       Hey JSC! It’s true, but the article is only about Cherry MX switches, not
       all mechanical switches. I agree that buckling springs are a lot of fun.
       We even sell Unicomp / buckling spring keyboards ourself!
       http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_search.asp?sr=buckling&submit=Go
     
       
     * The Raven says:
       December 8, 2015 at 10:52 pm
       
       Greens are the closest to a buckling spring I’ve found. Coolermaster made
       a Trigger KB that used greens, I am not sure what models they currently
       feature that have them though.
     
       
     * dwasifar says:
       September 1, 2016 at 7:08 pm
       
       +1 for buckling spring, either the Unicomp or an original IBM Model M if
       you can find one in good condition (or are willing to do the work to
       restore it). I’m typing right now on a 25-year-old Model M, meticulously
       restored for me by Maxx at Phosphorglow.net. I have two of his, and one
       Unicomp space saver, and they’re all really good (though the IBMs are
       higher quality). Hard to beat this design for professional typing, though
       your co-workers will hate you for the noise.
     
       
     
 28. Rick Reid says:
     October 29, 2015 at 5:08 pm
     
     this was great, I had no idea what all the Cherry MX hopla was about until
     doing a search and running across this story, thanks

     
 29. Mads Thomsen says:
     November 24, 2015 at 12:49 pm
     
     Where can I get these?
     
     * William Judd says:
       November 24, 2015 at 12:50 pm
       
       Hi Mads! You can get switches individually if you want to build a
       keyboard from scratch, or you can buy keyboards that already include
       these switches inside.
       
       * Mads Thomsen says:
         November 24, 2015 at 1:10 pm
         
         we are a group of students from a technical college in Denmark. We are
         about to develop a new keyboard. do you know, which software to use?
         
         * William Judd says:
           November 24, 2015 at 3:03 pm
           
           Hmm, I don’t know! But I know someone who will: Reddit! I posted your
           question there, and there’s already one response. Hopefully you’ll
           get more responses
           
           https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/3u2ti3/help_we_are_a_group_of_students_from_a_technical/
         
           
         
       
     
 30. The Raven says:
     December 8, 2015 at 11:46 pm
     
     Razer has recently released a line of gamer switches that are improved
     clones of the cherry mx switches but activate and reset faster, so that
     might be the choice if you are interested in better gear for gaming and
     e-sports.
     
     * William Judd says:
       December 9, 2015 at 12:22 am
       
       I don’t think the changes that Razer have made are substantial enough to
       make any difference in their suitability for eSports; most pro players
       just use what their sponsors provide and do fine.
       
       * The Raven says:
         January 1, 2016 at 6:43 pm
         
         Nice thought, but it’s wrong. What testing have you done? Just an off
         the cuff knee jerk reaction? Thought so.
       
         
       
     
 31. envy sucks says:
     December 24, 2015 at 2:23 am
     
     i think this is shitty ghame 0&//10

     
 32. Steve Ocasio says:
     January 9, 2016 at 11:05 pm
     
     I have the Compaq PS/2 Slim Keyboard Model 5137, does anyone know what type
     of switch this keyboard uses?
     
     * William Judd says:
       January 10, 2016 at 10:22 am
       
       I would assume it has rubber dome (e.g non mechanical) switches. If
       you’re feeling brave, then pull off one of the keycaps and take a picture
       of what you see underneath.
       
       * Steve Ocasio says:
         January 10, 2016 at 11:08 am
         
         Yeah I realize it is a membrane type keyboard. Thank you
         for responding
       
         
       
     
 33. Alex Povolotski says:
     January 23, 2016 at 9:17 pm
     
     Wow! What a comprehensive review. It should be on Wikipedia!!!
     
     * William Judd says:
       January 23, 2016 at 9:36 pm
       
       Thanks for the kind words — much appreciated.
     
       
     
 34. Elzworth says:
     January 27, 2016 at 3:33 am
     
     This is great, really helped my decision. I decided to go with a Corsair
     K70 with brown switches. I think the balance will be nice for someone who
     is in IT along with both gaming and typing for papers, documents, etc.

     
 35. Curious Noob says:
     March 8, 2016 at 1:25 am
     
     Heck yeah. This article is easily the best source of Cherry switch info
     I’ve found.

     
 36. Matej Hrabal says:
     April 22, 2016 at 6:20 pm
     
     I would like anything from filco

     
 37. Franck Dernoncourt says:
     April 27, 2016 at 12:20 am
     
     and now there is the Cherry MX Silver. (1.2mm actuation point)

     
 38. Westwoodo says:
     June 9, 2017 at 3:37 pm
     
     A very good read but it needs updating with such switches as the mx speed
     available.
     
     * William Judd says:
       June 9, 2017 at 4:20 pm
       
       Good point. Updated!
       
       * Westwoodo says:
         June 9, 2017 at 4:22 pm
         
         That was quick!
         
         * William Judd says:
           June 9, 2017 at 4:28 pm
           
           Hey, we don’t mess around when it comes to keyboards. Thanks for
           reminding us of the missing switches, and enjoy your weekend!
         
           
         
       
     
 39. docdj says:
     June 19, 2017 at 9:53 pm
     
     I recently started looking at some high end keyboards and noticed something
     strange, specifically referencing Corsair K70RGB and Razer Chroma V2: All
     the keys with 2 symbols, such as numbers and the “<" etc. have the
     lowercase symbol etched at the TOP of the key-face, while the uppercase
     symbol is etched at the bottom of the key-face. This is just the reverse of
     all standard keyboards. I know that makes it possible for the lowercase to
     be lit up, but why do the key makers (Cherry, Razer) not insert the LEDs in
     the keys such that these keys have standard layouts? Touch typists will be
     OK, but I think those of us who are not well trained in keyboarding would
     have trouble pressing the shift key when we shouldn't. Any enlightenment on
     this design would be welcome. I'm holding off my purchase until I get some
     understanding.

     
 40. docdj says:
     June 19, 2017 at 9:53 pm
     
     I recently started looking at some high end keyboards and noticed something
     strange, specifically referencing Corsair K70RGB and Razer Chroma V2: All
     the keys with 2 symbols, such as numbers and the “<" etc. have the
     lowercase symbol etched at the TOP of the key-face, while the uppercase
     symbol is etched at the bottom of the key-face. This is just the reverse of
     all standard keyboards. I know that makes it possible for the lowercase to
     be lit up, but why do the key makers (Cherry, Razer) not insert the LEDs in
     the keys such that these keys have standard layouts? Touch typists will be
     OK, but I think those of us who are not well trained in keyboarding would
     have trouble pressing the shift key when we shouldn't. Any enlightenment on
     this design would be welcome. I'm holding off my purchase until I get some
     understanding.
     
     * William Judd says:
       June 19, 2017 at 11:43 pm
       
       It’s to correspond to where the LED is on the switch, that’s all. You can
       always buy a keyboard and replace the keycaps later if you want.
       
       * docdj says:
         June 20, 2017 at 12:38 am
         
         But then why do manufacturers not MOVE the LED and put the “proper”
         keycaps on in the 1st place. Or offer a keyboard with the “proper”
         keycaps. Seems a shame to spend all that money on a great keyboard then
         have to spend a few hours swapping keycaps you have to go buy
         separately. Or do most users not really care?
         
         * William Judd says:
           June 20, 2017 at 8:33 am
           
           Moving the LED requires significant engineering; only recently have
           we seen multiple options for its placement. In addition, most users
           don’t really care. Once you learn the position of the keys, it’s a
           non-issue; people can happily use keyboards without any printed
           legends at all. But if you don’t like this style of keycaps, simply
           choose a different keyboard or swap the caps.
           
           * docdj says:
             June 20, 2017 at 11:48 am
             
             It seems CoolerMaster has solved this for their MasterKeys Pro
             series keyboards using standard Cherry MX switches. Maybe the
             symbols are not as bright, but at least they are in the visually
             “proper”places.
           
             
           
         
       
     
 41. Bella Hwang says:
     August 1, 2017 at 10:24 am
     
     hello,have you ever consider the kailh switch?
     https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/07ae812198acb6d12083c63a4e2b6854ca88fa7b0a065feb83efee4bf4babeba.jpg

     
 42. Bhagyashri says:
     November 24, 2017 at 7:58 am
     
     If anyone is looking for info on switches not covered in this guide,
     deskthority is a much better resource. The less common switches are often
     some of the most-loved, but they might just not come in many pre-made
     keyboards. Cooler Master helped to increase the production and availability
     of Greens, luckily, but they’re still not in many boards from other popular
     brands, the ones marketed at ‘gamers’ especially.

     
 43. Ryan says:
     December 5, 2017 at 2:14 am
     
     This helped me to pick which kind of switch I want, and the difference
     between them.

     
 44. Ryan Parhizi says:
     December 5, 2017 at 2:15 am
     
     Great article, and this helped me pick the switch I want and how they work.

     
 45. nnnn says:
     December 20, 2017 at 2:30 am
     
     what is TTY
     
     * William Judd says:
       December 20, 2017 at 8:12 am
       
       It could mean a number of things, but here’s one:
       https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_device_for_the_deaf
     
       
     
 46. Dying_in_this_Crap_World says:
     January 21, 2018 at 7:58 pm
     
     forces are different too.

     
 47. TaraXaverie says:
     February 8, 2018 at 6:20 pm
     
     if I understand the way these switches work correctly, they’re rated for so
     many grams of force to activate? So if I wanted to so a metal and glass
     typewriter style keycap I would need to figure out how much each keycap
     would weigh to choose a good switch to use with it so the weight of the
     keycap doesn’t activate the switch on its own?
     
     * William Judd says:
       February 11, 2018 at 4:36 am
       
       Yes, that’s more or less correct.
       
       Cheers,
       
       Will
     
       
     

98 PINGS/TRACKBACKS FOR "AN INTRODUCTION TO CHERRY MX MECHANICAL SWITCHES"

 1.  Cherry MX-Board 3.0 (G80-3850) First Impressions | The Keyboard Company
     says:
     June 3, 2013 at 5:22 pm
     
     […] […]

     
 2.  Mechanische Tastatur gesucht! says:
     June 23, 2013 at 2:01 pm
     
     […] […]

     
 3.  Anonymous says:
     June 26, 2013 at 2:08 pm
     
     […] […]

     
 4.  Best Cherry MX Keyswitch for all around stuff - XboxMB - Xbox Message
     Boards says:
     September 2, 2013 at 4:21 am
     
     […] Re: Best Cherry MX Keyswitch for all around stuff Reds suck in my
     opinion. I bought a ducky 3 with it and returned it and got browns Here is
     an explanation of them all: An introduction to Cherry MX mechanical
     switches | The Keyboard Company […]

     
 5.  Choosing a Mechanical Keyboard | fergyblogs says:
     September 14, 2013 at 9:29 am
     
     […] deciding which keyboard to buy, I also had to decide which type of key
     switch to get. This post covers the main ones. I ended up choosing between
     brown and blue switches, and decided to go for […]

     
 6.  Cherry MX Mechanical Key Switches « Life Codecs says:
     September 18, 2013 at 10:02 am
     
     […] across this article recently explaining the Cherry MX key switches used
     in mechanical keyboards. Very […]

     
 7.  Raju Menon's Blog says:
     December 23, 2013 at 3:54 am
     
     […] Introduction to different types of Mechanical Switches. Cherry MX Blue
     Switch […]

     
 8.  QPAD MK-85 Mechanical Keyboard Review - Play3r says:
     January 9, 2014 at 1:24 am
     
     […] those interested in extra information, a good run-down and comparison
     of switches can be found here and anyone considering a mechanical keyboard
     should check it […]

     
 9.  Introducing the Max Keyboard switch tester and keycaps | The Keyboard
     Company says:
     February 4, 2014 at 3:56 pm
     
     […] first accessory is a rather cool one – a switch testing kit with the
     four most popular Cherry MX mechanical switches. There’s red, black, blue
     and brown here, all embedded in a smooth plastic board and topped […]

     
 10. Which switch? | The Keyboard Company says:
     February 7, 2014 at 9:35 pm
     
     […] If you’d like to learn more about the different Cherry switches, you
     can view our introduction to Cherry switches. […]

     
 11. Anonymous says:
     March 26, 2014 at 4:04 pm
     
     […] […]

     
 12. I Am Youth | MSI is putting a legitimate mechanical keyboard in a laptop
     says:
     October 30, 2014 at 9:18 pm
     
     […] the GT80 Titan will feature Cherry’s MX Red keys, which are actually
     well-suited for gaming thanks to the way they’re built (light with quick
     actuation). They keyboard will still add weight, but for mechanical
     keyboard […]

     
 13. THE HYPERTEXT says:
     November 20, 2014 at 4:47 pm
     
     […] would be easier to work with and would provide better tactile feedback
     for users. After doing a significant amount of research on mechanical
     keyboard components, I settled on Cherry MX Blue switches, due to their
     tactile feel and clicky […]

     
 14. Hardware Review - Roccat Special - Krambl says:
     December 22, 2014 at 5:00 pm
     
     […] exemplaren die we hadden uitgerust met de MX Black switches, de wat
     stuggere variant van de bekende Cherry MX switches. Echter, het toetsenbord
     is verkrijgbaar met alle doorgaans gebruikelijke […]

     
 15. Welche Tastatur zum zocken? says:
     December 23, 2014 at 2:54 pm
     
     […] […]

     
 16. Going Green | Freecision Blog says:
     December 25, 2014 at 6:14 pm
     
     […] “standard” green switch, as the Cherry Reds and Blacks are simpler in
     construction and typically more suited to gaming. But if it sells, it […]

     
 17. Really Nice Keyboards : David Szpunar Exists Differently says:
     January 18, 2015 at 7:27 am
     
     […] switches in cheaper ones), that’s been done to death elsewhere. Das has
     a good guide, and The Keyboard Company has good details about Cherry MX
     switches in specific (Cherry MX switch types vary and are differentiated by
     color as to the feel and […]

     
 18. The Rapoo KX Takes My Mechanical Keyboard Virginity says:
     January 27, 2015 at 4:08 pm
     
     […] looking at different types of keyboard switches, there are many
     different types of switches, but the main four are Cherry MX Blues, Cherry
     MX […]

     
 19. QPAD MK-85 Review | Play3r.net says:
     February 1, 2015 at 7:17 pm
     
     […] those interested in extra information, a good run-down and comparison
     of switches can be found here and anyone considering a mechanical keyboard
     should check it […]

     
 20. Ducky DK2108 Zero Mechanical Keyboard review says:
     February 8, 2015 at 10:03 am
     
     […] one so different. However, I’m not nearly knowledgeable enough so I’d
     suggest going here for a breakdown. The essential difference is how heavily
     weighted each key is, and how much noise […]

     
 21. ה-Cherry MX הראשונה שלי | רויטל סלומון says:
     February 10, 2015 at 8:13 am
     
     […] ות מקלדת עם מקשים ורודים וציורים של גולגלות, והלכתי על Cherry MX Brown
     סולידית […]

     
 22. Why You Should Buy a Mechanical Keyboard | Go Mechanical Keyboard says:
     February 16, 2015 at 9:31 pm
     
     […] The distinction that a mechanical switch brings to your typing isn’t
     readily visible from the outside. When you start typing with them however,
     you’ll ask yourself how you’ve gone so long without one. Similar to when
     you got your first smartphone and realized you could never live without
     one, the jump is really that large. The tactile feel of the switches can’t
     truly be put into words, it’s something you need to experience to
     understand. The keys give pleasant feedback to your touch and snap back to
     the “ready” position quickly after being released and feel much more lively
     than a conventional keyboard. For a more technical and detailed approach,
     read this guide. […]

     
 23. Mechanical keyboard glossary | The Keyboard Company says:
     February 18, 2015 at 9:01 pm
     
     […] Cherry MX Red), each of which has a unique combination of weighting and
     feedback. For more, see our Intro to Cherry MX mechanical switches. Adapted
     by Kaihua into Kailh and Razer switches, among others. Cherry MX are the
     most popular […]

     
 24. Which keyboard is the best ? says:
     February 20, 2015 at 8:01 pm
     
     […] purpose. If you are interested to find out more info about mechanical
     switches, check out this link, it'll probably give you some idea on what
     direction to take. Reply With […]

     
 25. Where to begin. | Making custom desktop PCs including water cooling. says:
     February 21, 2015 at 6:08 pm
     
     […] terms of keyboards, I personally like the look of mechanical cherry-mx
     keyboards. Here is an article discussing the various types. In essence if
     you are a hardcore gamer then red is the way to go, but […]

     
 26. Mechanical Keyboards | The In Cloud says:
     March 1, 2015 at 3:17 am
     
     […] More info on Cherry MX
     Switches: http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduction-to-cherry-mx-mechanical-switches
     […]

     
 27. Craft and Draft: The Most Important Tool of the Writing Trade | Literature
     and Libation says:
     March 2, 2015 at 7:42 pm
     
     […] technical details of each switch, but if you’re curious, more
     information can be found here: Overview of Cherry MX Switches. If you’re
     curious about how the keys actually feel when pressed, visit a computer
     supply […]

     
 28. nKeyboard Mechanic LED mech KeyBoard review | MikesGear says:
     March 5, 2015 at 5:10 am
     
     […] This particular board features Cherry MX Red mechanical linear (no
     bump) light-weight switches – if you need to know what the Cherry colour
     coding means, head over here for an introduction. […]

     
 29. Problems with a mechanical keyboard says:
     March 8, 2015 at 4:23 pm
     
     […] a good description of the different Cherry switches here:
     http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index…ical-switches/ The blues are described
     as 'tactile clicky' switches, which need more pressure to actuate that the
     […]

     
 30. Cea mai buna tastatura pentru jocuri says:
     March 9, 2015 at 11:46 am
     
     […] mai folosite contacte mecanice sunt cele de tip Cherry MX. Acestea sunt
     livrate intr-o varietate de culori, fiecare culoare reprezentand un set de
     […]

     
 31. Keyboard is Coming! : David Szpunar Exists Differently says:
     March 21, 2015 at 10:12 pm
     
     […] finally picked one. A mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX switches.
     You’d think it would be easy given my last post, where I said I wanted the
     Filco Convertible […]

     
 32. Review of the Cooler Master QuickFire Ultimate keyboard | Information
     Overload says:
     March 29, 2015 at 2:08 pm
     
     […] faster, even though I don’t gain much because I only use my two index
     fingers to type. Compared to the other types of Cherry MX switches, the
     brown switches occupy the middle ground and are […]

     
 33. Y por qué me he comprado un teclado mecánico, nórdico y sin teclas de
     cursor | Resistance is Futile says:
     April 26, 2015 at 10:52 pm
     
     […] a Dios casi totalmente estandarizados en unos pocos, los Cherry MX,
     bastante bien explicados aquí y en este vídeo demo y en este otro. Así que
     después de tragarme reviews y opiniones […]

     
 34. Tastatura mecanica și farmecul ei incredibil says:
     May 4, 2015 at 8:39 am
     
     […] Photo credit: keyboardco.com […]

     
 35. El mejor teclado para el escritor. El teclado Cherry says:
     May 28, 2015 at 6:58 am
     
     […] qué tacto o experiencia de teclado nos gusta más. Extrayendo la
     información y las imágenes de la página de The Keyboard Company, podemos
     mostrar las diversas […]

     
 36. Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate, por que si no es un teclado mecánico ni
     merece la pena tocarlo… says:
     June 5, 2015 at 7:31 pm
     
     […] modelo de teclado se vende en dos versiones, una con los mecanismos
     azules de Cherry y otro con los marrones. Después de mucho leer sobre las
     diferencias entre ambos, para teclear todo el mundo recomendaba […]

     
 37. Review: Corsair K70 Vengeance | Accidental Programming says:
     June 12, 2015 at 6:35 am
     
     […]
     http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduction-to-cherry-mx-mechanical-switches/
     […]

     
 38. Do you have RSI? This keyboard could change your life | New Feeds UK says:
     July 6, 2015 at 7:38 am
     
     […] Cherry MX Blue was first made in 2007 and has become the most popular
     model for people who, like myself, have to […]

     
 39. Corsair STRAFE Mechanical Keyboard review | Mobile Apps Club says:
     July 20, 2015 at 2:03 am
     
     […] The MX Red switches (which I received) were designed for gaming and
     have a low actuation force, allowing for rapid actuation. The Cherry MX
     Brown switches provide tactile feedback upon actuation. They’re well suited
     for gaming and typing. To learn more about the differences between Cherry
     MX switches, visit The Keyboard Company. […]

     
 40. Corsair K70 (Cherry MX Brown) - S^2 Blog says:
     August 10, 2015 at 9:29 pm
     
     […] There are a lot of different types of Cherry MX switches, there are
     Blue, Brown, White, Red, just to name a few and they all have slightly
     different characteristics. You can find a really good reference to Cherry
     MX switches here, keyboardco.com. […]

     
 41. W poszukiwaniu klawiatury optymalnej | Piszę o komputerach says:
     August 11, 2015 at 10:22 pm
     
     […] reakcji, z kliknięciem bądź bez itp. – więcej o wariantach można
     przeczytać np. w tym artykule). Niestety, klawiatury takie są bardzo drogie
     (co w przypadku konieczności zakupu identycznej […]

     
 42. Desktop vs. Laptop | Unikrn Community says:
     August 12, 2015 at 8:55 pm
     
     […] comes with an 18” screen, GTX 980M graphics card and a minimum 16GB of
     ram—all packaged with aCherry MX Brown […]

     
 43. Mechanocommander – An Introduction to Keyboards | Metanophilia says:
     August 23, 2015 at 4:53 pm
     
     […] of mechs today use Cherry MX switches, I’ll only discuss the main
     Cherry MX switches here. This article already sums up the info quite
     nicely, but I’ll place a few key details here concerning the […]

     
 44. Hurt fingers equals a new keyboard | Lair of the Wolf Dragon says:
     September 10, 2015 at 12:03 am
     
     […] with 3 switchable profiles gives me 18 keys per game, which is plenty
     for me. I discovered that there’s a whole slew of different kinds of key
     switches, but I chose the MX Brown out of them all because I liked that I
     could feel the little […]

     
 45. Matias update: linear switches & 60% size keyboard | The Keyboard Company
     says:
     September 11, 2015 at 6:39 pm
     
     […] feel there’s only one viable option for your activity of choice! Read
     more about different Cherry MX switches here; we’ll have a guide to
     different Matias switches up […]

     
 46. Episode 35 – Discombobulated Doohickeys | Square Waves FM Podcast says:
     September 27, 2015 at 12:40 am
     
     […] Cherry MX animated 1diagrams […]

     
 47. New keyboard suggestions says:
     October 13, 2015 at 5:17 pm
     
     […] the force you need to put to push the key down. I think that it's best
     if you give a read to this: An introduction to Cherry MX mechanical
     switches | The Keyboard Company It explains how the switches work. Is the
     investment worth it? It depends on your finances I […]

     
 48. Devastated: what I know about computer keyboards | losing track of my
     thoughts says:
     October 19, 2015 at 4:29 am
     
     […] Cherry MX is a company that until recently had a patent on certain
     kinds of keyboard switches. The switches control the way the key clicks,
     sounds, and responds to pressure. The switches come in blue, brown, red,
     and black, and maybe green? Go here to figure them out. […]

     
 49. Mechanical Keyboards - Why? says:
     October 27, 2015 at 11:09 pm
     
     […] they are categorized by colour. You can read more about each switch and
     the colour they are given here, which even features nice animations to
     explain how each switch works. It should help you decide […]

     
 50. Kinesis Advantage pro - Polarios says:
     November 12, 2015 at 1:25 pm
     
     […] Each keys are made of mechanical switches and there are several types
     of them, see exhaustive list there. I first used brown switches and then
     upgraded for red ones (linear), I find them more relaxing. It […]

     
 51. KUL ES-87 Mechanical Keyboard Review | MikesGear says:
     November 18, 2015 at 3:27 am
     
     […] just feel so much better to type on. If you are not up to speed on
     mechanical keyboards, they use spring-loaded switches for their keys
     instead of a rubber dome sandwich to achieve better springiness and
     auditory […]

     
 52. Price of Tt eSPORTS Poseidon Z Blue Switch Illuminated Keyboard
     (KB-PIZ-KLBLUS-01)... Buy Now says:
     November 25, 2015 at 1:45 am
     
     […] The main mechanical blue/brown change actuates a bit after the tactile
     suggestions of the important thing, however the Tt eSPORTS Licensed
     Mechanical switches actuates earlier and nearer to the tactile suggestions.
     Providing a extra correct really feel and quicker response time than the
     opposite extra generally discovered mechanical switches. […]

     
 53. Computer Keyboards says:
     December 2, 2015 at 11:42 am
     
     […]
     http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduction-to-cherry-mx-mechanical-switches/
     […]

     
 54. Computer Keyboards – 1 says:
     December 5, 2015 at 12:52 pm
     
     […]
     http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduction-to-cherry-mx-mechanical-switches/
     […]

     
 55. Vuelta a los inicios | says:
     December 8, 2015 at 3:16 pm
     
     […] ve directamente reflejada en su precio, pero si éste no va a ser un
     problema, no dudes en entrar a éste enlace para ver en formato gif cómo
     funcionan cada una de las distintas variantes -representadas en […]

     
 56. Cougar Launches Attack X3 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard | pcgamer says:
     January 2, 2016 at 11:50 pm
     
     […] for its punchy response and audible clicks, though there are definitely
     quieter options available (see here for a basic primer on the different
     Cherry MX key […]

     
 57. KeyMouse: Ergonomic keyboard-mouse all-in-one! - Assistive Technology at
     Easter Seals Crossroads says:
     January 14, 2016 at 8:40 pm
     
     […] the popular Cherry MX Brown switches for a “great tactile feel when […]

     
 58. Materials (Building a Keyboard, Part 2) – No Plans, No Prototype – No
     Problem says:
     January 24, 2016 at 5:10 am
     
     […] really spend any time talking about them (I don’t wanna spread false
     information). Many websites discuss in great detail Cherry switches and the
     differences between them, so I won’t try to […]

     
 59. The real keyboard. – FJ says:
     February 4, 2016 at 11:25 am
     
     […] or maybe one of the other variant, for some detail about the available
     switches have a look here. Each and every switch offers a different tactile
     experience and is designed to fit a certain kind […]

     
 60. Logitech G810 Orion Spectrum mehanička tipkovnica says:
     February 5, 2016 at 2:13 am
     
     […] razliku od većine proizvođača koji koriste Cherry MX mehaničke
     prekidače u tipkovnici, Logitech je među rijetkima koji koristi svoje, a za
     ovu […]

     
 61. Moja opinia o mechanikach – Blog Alberta says:
     February 15, 2016 at 11:30 am
     
     […] Przełączniki mechaniczne są bardzo precyzyjne i zależnie od rodzaju
     różnie się zachowują. Obrazek po prawej przedstawia działanie
     najpopularniejszego rodzaju przełączników mechanicznych – Cherry MX Blue.
     Po wciśnięciu na 2mm klawisz jest aktywowany, natomiast maksymalna
     głębokość na jaką możemy klawisz wcisnąć to 4mm. Aby aktywować klawisz
     musimy przyłożyć siłę 50g. Aktywacja takiego przełącznika wydaje
     charakterystyczny dla klawiatur mechanicznych klik. Ten dźwięk jest dla
     niektórych jednym z ważniejszych czynników podczas wybierania rodzaju
     przełączników. Jeżeli chcesz poczytać o innych rodzajach przełączników,
     kliknij tutaj. […]

     
 62. Why haven't there been any keyboard innovations in decades? - off on a
     tangent says:
     March 1, 2016 at 9:50 pm
     
     […] look at the various Cherry Switches, used in many many keyboards on the
     market today, see An introduction to Cherry MX mechanical switches from the
     Keyboard […]

     
 63. Mekanik klavye nedir? | Mühendis Bloğu says:
     April 1, 2016 at 7:35 pm
     
     […]
     http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduction-to-cherry-mx-mechanical-switches/
     […]

     
 64. Byt till mekaniskt tangentbord och bli en bättre skribent | bearbooks says:
     April 4, 2016 at 2:34 pm
     
     […] Image via Keyboard Company […]

     
 65. Pseudorandom 04: Mechanical Keyboards « Adafruit Industries – Makers,
     hackers, artists, designers and engineers! says:
     April 19, 2016 at 6:38 am
     
     […] links: • Standard keyboard sizes • Keycap families/profiles • Cherry MX
     switches • Alps switches • Gateron KS-3 switches • USB NeXT Keyboard with
     an Arduino Micro […]

     
 66. Hands On With The Slick New HP Elite X2 Tablet - Wahl Network says:
     April 25, 2016 at 2:31 pm
     
     […] meat to the key switch pressure, which results in a pleasant tactile
     experience without making any clicky key noises that I find […]

     
 67. Guest blog: A translator’s conversion to a mechanical keyboard | The
     Keyboard Company says:
     April 26, 2016 at 1:12 pm
     
     […] Cherry MX Brown switches are a joy to type on. They have a bright,
     crisp feeling, with a slight bump (tactile feedback) to […]

     
 68. Episode 19 – MAC Address Podcast says:
     May 2, 2016 at 2:31 pm
     
     […] Mechanical keyboards […]

     
 69. Hilfe beim Kauf says:
     May 10, 2016 at 11:52 pm
     
     […] Browns sind irgendwie etwas weicher und einfach der beste All-Round
     Switch. More Info: An introduction to Cherry MX mechanical switches | The
     Keyboard Company […]

     
 70. Logitech Orion Spark |The Better Late than Never review - The Akiatech
     Solutions Blog says:
     May 19, 2016 at 3:42 pm
     
     […] 0’s. In modern mechanical keyboards, each key has a dedicated switch
     typically made by the Cherry Corporation that converts the mechanical key
     press into the electrical impulses required by the CPU to be able […]

     
 71. Review of the Month; Logitech G710+ Keyboard – Aaltomies says:
     May 30, 2016 at 11:28 pm
     
     […] clicky, physically responsive and tactile keys instead of the smooth
     linear ones. You just need to read on them and try them out, there’s no way
     getting around of it. Despite some saying one type […]

     
 72. Mechanical Keyboards Are the New Fountain Pens says:
     June 15, 2016 at 12:12 pm
     
     […] switch. At right is the action of the Cherry MX Brown (the Keyboard
     Company has a page with all the Cherry MX switches). You get a tactile bump
     when the switch actuates. The rest of the key travel just gives your […]

     
 73. Ozone Strike Pro Keyboard Review: Good Keyboard, Bad Software | Lifehacker
     Australia says:
     July 15, 2016 at 7:32 am
     
     […] All of these switches have different characteristics (it’s worth
     checking out this guide by The Keyboard Company for a detailed […]

     
 74. Ozone Strike Pro Keyboard: Good Keyboard, Bad Software | Kotaku Australia
     says:
     July 18, 2016 at 6:02 am
     
     […] brown. All switches have different characteristics and it’s worth
     checking out this guide by The Keyboard Company for a detailed […]

     
 75. I love this Keyboard… – The Leies says:
     July 18, 2016 at 2:15 pm
     
     […] list of bare essentials. Top billing goes to the wonderfully clacky
     mechanical keyboard. Built atop Cherry MX brown switches, it sounds as
     great as it feels. The ten-line E-Ink screen is front-lit, and it pulls
     triple […]

     
 76. A Smart Typewriter Is a Thing and I’m in Love With It - GeekTechTalk says:
     July 18, 2016 at 11:55 pm
     
     […] list of bare essentials. Top billing goes to the wonderfully clacky
     mechanical keyboard. Built atop Cherry MX brown switches, it sounds as
     great as it feels. The ten-line E-Ink screen is front-lit, and it pulls
     triple […]

     
 77. ErgoDox Like a Kinesis « Sputnik's Orbit says:
     July 22, 2016 at 6:06 am
     
     […] About Cherry Keyswitches […]

     
 78. Ozone Strike Pro Keyboard: Australian Review | Gizmodo Australia says:
     July 28, 2016 at 2:02 am
     
     […] brown. All switches have different characteristics and it’s worth
     checking out this guide by The Keyboard Company for a detailed […]

     
 79. Gadget do dia: Máquina de escrever "digital" Freewrite – ZTOP says:
     August 2, 2016 at 12:52 am
     
     […] cm (LxAxP), seu gabinete é feito de alumínio e o seu teclado é do tipo
     mecânico (tecnologia Cherry MX Brown) o que deve explicar em parte o seu
     peso de 1,8 kg, o que inclui uma bateria interna de Li-Po com […]

     
 80. Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma | I'd Fancy a Refund says:
     August 9, 2016 at 5:41 am
     
     […] Razer’s equivalent to Cherry MX Blues (if you are not too familiar with
     mechanical switches, I’d give this a read). Due to the lack of availability
     at BestBuy and my incessant need to have cool tech in hand as […]

     
 81. The Best Keyboard in the World – Dom's Blog says:
     August 19, 2016 at 5:06 pm
     
     […] 1If you want a good explanation of how these switches work click here.
     You will notice that these switches use springs. So, what is so special
     about the IBM Model […]

     
 82. Computer Keyboards - The Keltia4 blog says:
     August 25, 2016 at 11:56 pm
     
     […] of the above with diagrams and the more obscure types of switch is in
     the very detailed guide from The Keyboard Company […]

     
 83. My Computer – 2016 – Just another WordPress site says:
     August 28, 2016 at 3:57 pm
     
     […] Coolermaster Quick Fire Pro mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Brown
     switches. Appropriately […]

     
 84. Acer unveils world’s first curved screen laptop at IFA 2016 – Found It
     Elsewhere says:
     September 1, 2016 at 9:58 am
     
     […] paths and roads in a game. The Predator 21 X has a full-sized
     mechanical keyboard featuring Cherry MX switches, with customizable RGB
     backlight settings for each individual key. Aside from its unique curved
     […]

     
 85. Corsair Vengeance K95 Unboxing & Overview says:
     September 9, 2016 at 7:52 pm
     
     […] just use the included Corsair software to do all the programming that
     way. His last point is on the Cherry MX Red switches, which Corsair
     believes are the most optimal due to their “extremely light tactile […]

     
 86. Animated GIFs Help Visually Explain Cherry MX Mechanical Keyboard Switches
     « Adafruit Industries – Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers!
     says:
     September 16, 2016 at 6:37 pm
     
     […] Keyboard Company have a fun blog, An introduction to Cherry MX
     mechanical switches, accompanied by these great animated GIFs that visually
     explain the differences in the colors of […]

     
 87. Best Gaming Keyboards 2016 - Top 5 | Typing Lounge says:
     September 21, 2016 at 8:47 am
     
     […] resources: Guide to Switches | Intro Mechanical Switches | Keyboard […]

     
 88. Logitech Gear Review | Ringmasters says:
     September 29, 2016 at 11:06 am
     
     […] (If you’re a nerd like me and are interested in this sort of mechanical
     feedback, you can check out this lovely article that gives a general
     introduction to Cherry MX mechanical switches: The Keyboard Company) […]

     
 89. Tastiera e Mouse Gaming Corsair – MSD – Mi stai diludendo – Diablo 3 Clan
     says:
     October 6, 2016 at 12:12 pm
     
     […] MX Red per chi volesse approfondire la tematica di funzionamento di
     suddetti switches consigliamo:
     http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduction-to-cherry-mx-mechanical-switches/
     Per una panoramica dettagliata e una visione preliminare è assolutamente
     consigliabile dare una […]

     
 90. Why you should spend $350 on a computer keyboard | Virtuous Code says:
     October 6, 2016 at 6:26 pm
     
     […] to go on and on (and on) about why mechanical keyswitches are best, and
     which “color” Cherry switches they prefer, etc. […]

     
 91. Mechanical Keyboards: Why They’re Awesome – Jeff's Tidbits in His Life
     says:
     October 25, 2016 at 7:58 am
     
     […] The switches of mechanical keyboards are the most obvious reason as to
     why they’re awesome. First of all, these switches are what make the typing
     experience on the keyboard so satisfying. You probably know about those
     mushy plastic keyboards you see in offices and computer shops. You’re
     probably fine with typing on them since you’ve grown accustomed to the
     feeling but once you try out a mechanical keyboard’s switches, your typing
     experience will change forever. I’ll leave a link here to explain all the
     different types of switches, how much force they need to actuate, how
     “clacky” they are, and why they just feel great to type on in general.
     http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduction-to-cherry-mx-mechanical-switches
     […]

     
 92. Plugable’s New Mechanical Keyboards for Typing Enthusiasts and Gamers |
     Plugable says:
     November 2, 2016 at 4:46 pm
     
     […] for the compact model and $59.95 for the full size, they offer an
     impressive array of features: Cherry MX style Outemu Blue “clicky” feel
     switches, sturdy steel switch mounting plate to reduce […]

     
 93. Rosewill Apollo Mechanical Keyboard with Blue Backlight (RK-9100xBBR)
     ($29.99 was $79.99) @Newegg – Payblast says:
     November 11, 2016 at 6:31 pm
     
     […] blue switches without the clicking noise. For more info on the
     differences between MX switches see here. The short answer is if you aren’t
     a hardcore gamer and would like to have a …read […]

     
 94. Vortexgear KBC Pok3r Mechanical Keyboard | Dead Wallet says:
     November 13, 2016 at 4:52 pm
     
     […] 60% the size of a full width keyboard, has a metal casing and PBT
     keycaps sitting on your choice of Cherry MX switches, giving you control
     over key pressure and click loudness. The keycaps are easily
     interchangeable if […]

     
 95. Corsair Vengeance K65 Keyboard ReviewEduMuch says:
     November 21, 2016 at 11:19 am
     
     […] design is tough enough that you won’t be paying it much – if any –
     mind. The Cherry MX Red switches make for a comfortable and satisfying
     typing experience, but we’ll cover that […]

     
 96. Roccat's frameless Suora keyboard looks good and plays great | عفاف دوت كوم
     says:
     November 26, 2016 at 10:58 am
     
     […] with every peripherals manufacturer offering a variety of models
     featuring a range of different key switches. But another regular feature of
     gaming gear is the encumbrance of superfluous […]

     
 97. Recenze: Das Keyboard 4 Professional - luxusní psaní pro vaše prsty says:
     December 3, 2016 at 5:12 pm
     
     […] dalších variant, které zde nemá smysl rozepisovat. Kompletní souhrn
     snímačů MX najdete zde. Tyto čtyři druhy se dělí na dvě skupiny a to na
     snímače lineární […]

     
 98. Story #7: the mechanical! DAS keyboard – Ergofip (English blog) says:
     December 8, 2016 at 11:07 pm
     
     […] You will find a very precise explanation of “what are switches and why
     keyboards with mechanical switches are better on all points”. […]

     

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