We enthusiasts have our keyboard preferences based on considerations of such things as form factor, layout, switch type, keycaps, aesthetics, sound, and feel. I was wondering how our preferences might agree or differ from those held by non-enthusiasts in our midst, such as spouses, significant others, friends, or colleagues.
For example, today I had three 60% keyboards on my desk. All had black or dark gray modifiers and white alpha keys. My wife was curious about the differences among these keyboards that outwardly looked the same (V60MTS-C, V60MTS-Q, and HHKB Pro 2). The V60MTS-Q and HHKB Pro 2 are shown below. The V60MTS-C looks exactly like the V60MTS-Q.
- V60MTS+HHKB.jpg (927.48 KiB) Viewed 3771 times
I explained that while they looked the same and they were all mechanical keyboards, they were rather different inside, owing to different switch types. I typed a few words on each, and she immediately chose her favorite, based on sound alone. She much preferred the V60MTS-C. When I asked why, she said, "Because it makes a happy clicking sound. The others sound unhappy, as if they were shackled in rubber chains." She did add that if I were to use the Matias Click keyboard at work that nearby colleagues might not like the happy clicking sound. I haven't tested this yet.
Although my wife and I agree on my current favorite keyboard, she is indifferent to real or perceived keyboard quality for her own use, and despite my many offers to replace her keyboard with something better, she is quite content to keep using her mushy rubber-dome Dell.
