Hardware + Software 2 - Mechanical Keyboards
Intro
I’ve used pretty standard and what I would say is low-medium quality equipment for over 10 years to animate. Aside from a few items such as an entry level Cintiq 13 HD and Toonboom Harmony, it really wasn’t until around the time of covid that I began investing in higher end equipment (MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, etc.).
Around 2015 I began hearing about mechanical keyboards, and how amazing they were to use. Initially, this was in relation to gaming but as time passed I began seeing them mentioned more frequently in other circumstances. I figured since I type a lot it would be worth looking into.
Click Clack
After a few years of saving, I decided to upgrade my home workspace (which I still am doing). One of the first upgrades was a mechanical keyboard. There probably wouldn’t be a better time and these things can get pretty expensive. I did some more research on keyboards, and to be honest - there’s just way too much out there. All I really wanted was something that made me feel like a ‘writer’, so when I was typing scripts or blogs, the experience would be a bit more enjoyable. I was looking for something akin to a type writer, with a strong tactile feel with a pleasing sound,
After some time I landed on this keyboard: The Azio Retro Classic
At the time that I bought it, the keyboard was around $200, which IS A LOT FOR A KEYBOARD. However, I saw it as an investment, plus I would have no issue returning it if I didn’t like it. I just wanted something good, and admittedly, I wanted to see if the hype behind mechanical keyboards were real.
Surprisingly, the keyboard is well worth the investment. I love using this thing, and I look forward to typing on it every day. It’s fun to use. The keys feel and sound great, and the there’s a very premium feeling to it. As stated before, I bought the bluetooth version. You can connect it to 3 devices via bluetooth, and it comes with a wire if you want to use that instead or charge the keyboard. Battery life is great. I usually have to charge it once a month or so and the backlight for the keys are nice (though I don’t really use them).
For as long as I’ve been using it, there really is only one issue: the spacebar key seems to be built fairly poorly. This is a little disappointing given the price of the device. The initial keys that came with the device have lasted these years, except the space bar, which broke within 6 months of use. The caps for these are around $30 and they don’t sell keys individually (I’m not sure if this is still the case), so this was a pricey key to fix. That said, since I replaced the space bar, I haven’t had any issues yet.
To Buy Or Not To Buy
Now the question after all of this is: are mechanical keyboards a good investment? I would say yes, they are. I do a lot of typing and the personal enjoyment I get from this keyboard is huge. The upgrade is very noticeable. While typing on non-mechanical keyboards seem to range from “just fine” or “barely noticeable”, when using an actual mechanical keyboard, it becomes pleasurable.
There are so many different options to choose from and key caps so I do suggest you do a lot of research before investing in one. To be honest, it is still overwhelming to me. I’m interested in creating a keyboard collection, or at least get another keyboard (at the time of this I do have a Nuphy Kick75 on the way) that I can use for general tasks and customization.
Outro
While this blog is by no means exhaustive (and I will not be doing that), I did want to share my experience in this area as the difference it has made in my life has been measurably positive. My belief is that if you’re spending more than a few hours a day at a desk, than you have to really enjoy being there. Mechanical keyboards, in that light, do much of the heavy lifting in making your workplace fun and incentivizing you to be there. Definitely check them out!
-Until next time-