If you’ve ever found yourself browsing through a tech store or searching online for a new keyboard, you may have encountered the phrase “75 keyboards” without understanding what it means.
Well, fear not! In this article, we’ll break down what 75 keyboards are all about and give you a comprehensive overview of their features, benefits, and why they might just be the perfect fit for your typing needs.
So, get ready to unlock the secrets of the 75 keyboards and discover a whole new world of typing pleasure!
Mechanical Keyboards
Mechanical keyboards are known for their superior typing experience and durability. They use individual mechanical switches underneath each keycap, providing satisfying tactile feedback and a distinct clicking sound.
Cherry MX Switches
Cherry MX switches are widely regarded as the gold standard in mechanical keyboards. They come in various types, each color-coded to indicate its characteristics. The Cherry MX Red switches are linear and have a light actuation force, making them ideal for fast typists and gamers. On the other hand, the Cherry MX Blue switches have a distinct clicky sound and tactile feedback, providing a satisfying typing experience.
Kailh Switches
Kailh switches are known for their affordability and versatility. They offer many options, including linear, tactile, and clicky switches. Kailh switches are often a more budget-friendly alternative to Cherry MX switches.
Gateron Switches
Gateron switches are similar to Cherry MX switches but are often considered smoother and less scratchy in their typing experience. They come in various colors, including linear, tactile, and clicky options. Many enthusiasts favor Gateron switches for their smooth and buttery feel.
Topre Switches
Topre switches are unique in the mechanical keyboard world. They combine the benefits of mechanical and rubber dome keyboards, providing a tactile experience with a pronounced “thock” sound. Topre switches are known for their exceptional quality but come at a higher price point.
Buckling Spring Switches
Buckling spring switches have a distinctive tactile feel and a loud, satisfying “click” sound. These switches are commonly found in classic keyboards like the IBM Model M. Buckling spring switches are popular among enthusiasts who appreciate a nostalgic and tactile typing experience.
Alps Switches
Alps switches are known for their tactility and smooth keystrokes. These switches have a range of options, including tactile and clicky switches. Alps switches are often used in vintage keyboards and are favored by those who enjoy a unique typing experience.
Romer-G Switches
Romer-G switches are specifically designed for gaming keyboards. Developed by Logitech, these switches provide a tactile feel and quick actuation, allowing gamers to press multiple keys simultaneously. Additionally, Romer-G switches are known for their durability, making them ideal for intense gaming sessions.
Omron Switches
Omron switches are commonly used in gaming mice and keyboards. These switches are known for their light actuation force and fast response time, providing a competitive advantage to gamers. Omron switches are often found in gaming keyboards designed for fast and precise keystrokes.
Membrane Keyboards
Membrane keyboards utilize rubber domes, or scissor switches underneath the keycaps. While not as sophisticated as mechanical keyboards, they can offer a quieter and more affordable typing experience.
Rubber Dome Keyboards
Rubber dome keyboards are the most common type of membrane keyboards. They use rubber domes with a conductive layer underneath each keycap. When a key is pressed, the rubber dome collapses, completing the circuit and registering the keystroke. Rubber dome keyboards are often quieter and more affordable compared to mechanical keyboards.
Scissor Switch Keyboards
Scissor switch keyboards use scissor-like mechanisms under each keycap to provide stability and enhance typing comfort. These switches are often found in laptops and low-profile keyboards. Scissor switch keyboards balance affordability and improved typing experience compared to rubber dome keyboards.
Wireless Keyboards
Wireless keyboards offer the convenience of a cable-free setup, allowing you to declutter your workspace and have more flexibility in keyboard placement.
Bluetooth Keyboards
As the name suggests, Bluetooth keyboards connect to devices using Bluetooth technology. They can be paired with smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Bluetooth keyboards offer a wireless solution without the need for a USB receiver.
RF (Radio Frequency) Keyboards
RF keyboards use radio frequency signals to connect to a receiver plugged into the computer. Unlike Bluetooth keyboards, RF keyboards often require a dedicated USB receiver for the wireless connection. RF keyboards generally have a more extended range than Bluetooth, making them suitable for setups requiring more distance between the keyboard and the device.
Gaming Keyboards
Gaming keyboards are designed specifically for gamers, offering features tailored to enhance gaming performance and experience.
RGB Backlit Keyboards
RGB backlit keyboards allow you to customize your keyboard’s color and lighting effects. With individually lit keys, you can create stunning visual displays, synchronize lighting with other gaming peripherals, and enhance the overall gaming ambiance.
Macro Keyboards
Macro keyboards feature dedicated programmable keys that allow you to assign complex commands or shortcuts to a single key press. This feature is handy for gamers who want to execute multiple actions quickly and efficiently.
Anti-Ghosting Keyboards
Anti-ghosting keyboards are designed to prevent key ghosting, where multiple vital presses are registered as a single keystroke. This is crucial for gamers who need precise and accurate input during intense gaming sessions.
N-Key Rollover Keyboards
N-Key rollover keyboards ensure that every keystroke is registered, no matter how many keys are pressed simultaneously. With N-Key rollover, you can execute complex key combinations without missing any inputs, making these keyboards essential for competitive gaming.
Multimedia Keyboards
Multimedia keyboards cater to those frequently using media playback functions and need quick access to volume and media controls.
Keyboard with Volume Controls
Keyboards with volume controls provide dedicated buttons or knobs to adjust your device’s volume. This eliminates the need for external volume controls or on-screen volume controls, offering convenience and efficiency.
Keyboard with Media Playback Controls
Keyboards with media playback controls include dedicated keys for play, pause, stop, previous, and following track functions. These keyboards allow you to control media playback without switching to another application or using additional peripherals, streamlining your multimedia experience.
Programmable Keyboards
Programmable keyboards offer customization options beyond the standard key layout, allowing you to remap keys, create macros, and personalize your typing experience.
Key Remapping Keyboards
Key-remapping keyboards enable you to remap specific keys to different functions or create custom vital combinations. This allows for greater versatility and customization, ensuring the keyboard layout is tailored to your needs and preferences.
Macro Keyboards
As mentioned earlier, Macro keyboards have dedicated programmable keys for creating macros. Macros are sequences of commands or actions that a single key press can trigger. This feature is handy for automating repetitive tasks or executing complex commands with a single keystroke.
Customizable Keyboards
Customizable keyboards take personalization to the next level. These keyboards offer modular or swappable keycaps, allowing you to replace individual keys with different shapes, sizes, or colors. With customizable keyboards, you can create a truly unique and personalized typing experience.
Ergonomic Keyboards
During extended typing sessions, ergonomic keyboards promote better posture and reduce strain on the wrists and hands.
Split Keyboards
Split keyboards physically divide the keyboard into two halves, allowing you to adjust the positioning and angle of each half to fit your natural typing posture. This design helps reduce strain on the wrists, providing a more ergonomically friendly typing experience.
Angled Keyboards
Angled keyboards feature a sloping design that raises the back of the keyboard slightly higher than the front. This creates a more natural and comfortable typing angle, reducing the risk of wrist and shoulder discomfort.
Adjustable Keyboards
Adjustable keyboards offer the flexibility to adjust the keyboard’s height, tilt, and sometimes even the angle of each key. These keyboards allow you to find the most comfortable typing position for your specific needs, minimizing stress and strain on your wrists and hands.
Compact Keyboards
Compact keyboards are designed for those who prioritize space efficiency or prefer a minimalist aesthetic.
Tenkeyless Keyboards
Tenkeyless (TKL) keyboards, also known as 87-key keyboards, omit the number pad found on standard full-sized keyboards. This size reduction allows for a more compact form factor, saving valuable desk space while maintaining the essential keys for typing and gaming.
60% Keyboards
60% of keyboards take compactness to the next level by removing the number pad and the function row and arrow keys. With only 60% of the total keys found on a full-sized keyboard, these compact keyboards are excellent for those who value a minimalist setup and prefer a smaller footprint.
40% Keyboards
If you thought 60% of keyboards were compact, 40% would take it even further. With only the alphanumeric keys and a few additional function keys, these ultra-compact keyboards are perfect for those seeking the smallest possible footprint while retaining essential typing functionality.
Ortholinear Keyboards
Ortholinear keyboards feature a grid-like layout where each key is arranged in straight columns and rows, unlike the staggered layout found on traditional keyboards. This design promotes a more natural finger movement and reduces finger fatigue, making it popular among keyboard enthusiasts and programmers.
Backlit Keyboards
Backlit keyboards incorporate LED lighting underneath the keycaps, providing illumination for typing in low-light environments and adding a touch of style.
Single-Color Backlit Keyboards
Single-color backlit keyboards feature a single LED color (commonly white) that illuminates all the keys uniformly. While not as flashy as multi-color options, these keyboards still offer the convenience of typing in the dark and are often more affordable.
Multi-Color Backlit Keyboards
Multi-color backlit keyboards provide a greater level of customization. They feature individual LEDs underneath each keycap, allowing you to choose different colors for each key or create dynamic lighting effects. This adds a visually stunning element to your keyboard setup and can be synchronized with other RGB peripherals for a cohesive lighting experience.
Silent Keyboards
Silent keyboards are designed to minimize the noise produced during typing, making them ideal for quieter environments or those who dislike the audible click of mechanical switches.
Rubber Dome Silent Keyboards
Rubber dome silent keyboards utilize rubber domes similar to traditional rubber dome keyboards but incorporate noise-dampening materials to reduce the noise when keys are pressed. These keyboards offer a quieter typing experience without sacrificing membrane keyboards’ affordability and ease of use.
Mechanical Silent Keyboards
Mechanical silent keyboards feature specially designed switches that reduce noise while providing a tactile or linear typing experience. These switches often include dampening or silencing materials to muffle the sound of the switch and keycap bottoming out. Mechanical silent keyboards offer a compromise between the satisfying typing feel of mechanical keyboards and a quieter typing experience.
