Many of us who use keyboards every day know the benefits of a good keyboard. We take care of the keyboard feels. How sensitive is it? Does it make the right kind of noise when the button is activated? How hard do you have to press and how easy is it to feel the button activation?
A lot of these details are determined by the switches on the keyboard, the base that activates each individual key. Most switches are soldered onto the keyboard during manufacture and cannot be easily changed, but there is an important exception: hot-swappable switches and their accompanying keyboards.
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What are hot-swappable switches?
These are specially designed keyboard switches made to work with interchangeable keyboards so you can easily swap out the current switch for another switch using a basic switch puller.
“Wait, I keep popping keys off my keyboard,” you might be thinking. That’s true, but it’s just a cap, the top cover of the switch, which can be removed when cleaning the keyboard, etc. Most switches aren’t designed to be removed at all — unless you want to do some soldering.
But swappable keyboards allow you to change the switch itself on demand without taking the keyboard apart (that’s what makes it “hot”), by selecting the type of switch you want one key at a time.
What is the advantage of this design?
It allows for very specific customization of how each key reacts. You can experiment with different switches for all the keys, or swap out the switches for just a few of the keys you use the most. Or you can set up different switches to identify certain important, remapped keys just by how they feel when activated.
All of these customizations often offer the best gaming keyboards, but they’re not the only ones, and you don’t have to be a gamer to benefit. Anyone else who likes to control the feel of their keyboard and uses lots of specialized commands can also enjoy the switchable switches in the workplace.
What are the different switches you can replace?
Switchable keyboard sockets are designed to work with standard switches, especially those in common styles like Cherry MX, Alps or Topre, so you have plenty of options. Many switches are color-coded to show their particular advantage: blue switches are very tactile and produce a classic, loud, clicking sound, while red switches are smooth, fast and quiet. The brown switches are somewhere in the middle, with a focus on clear feedback with a tactile bump in actuation. Switches can also be defined by travel distance, actuation force, and other specifications that customers can review.
Switches can also be three-pin or five-pin, which refers to how many contact points the switches have with the keyboard socket. Five-pin designs are more stable, but are otherwise the same as three-pin models.
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What types of keyboards have toggle switches?
There are mechanical keyboards specifically designed for interchangeable switches. Your average keyboard won’t have this capability, and neither will alternative designs like Apple’s Magic Keyboard. Switchable keyboards are more likely to be offered by gaming brands or keyboard manufacturers that specialize in customizable mechanical keyboards. They are also available in compact sizes.
Should I look for hot-swappable switches when buying a new keyboard?
Do you like mechanical keyboards? This design is strictly for a mechanical keyboard setup. If a mechanical keyboard is on your list, do you want a customizable version? Some people like the mechanical design, but they prefer that the buttons don’t make as much noise, so they can replace them with quieter switches. And as we mentioned above, others may want to customize certain frequently used keys to make them look just right.
This makes hot-swappable switches a good choice for a number of serious PC gamers, as well as anyone who wants to design a keyboard with a very special feel.
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How can I change keys with this design?
You’ll need a switch puller, a fairly simple grab tool that’s made to lock onto switches so you can pry them up. Otherwise, the switches are too compact to be removed by hand. You can then insert the replacement switch, making sure the pins are aligned and lock the switch in place. Many hot-swappable keyboards are designed to support multiple switch replacements, although this will increase wear and tear.
What brands offer these types of switches and keyboards?
A number of brands that specialize in mechanical keyboards will have hot-swappable switches that you can buy, as well as compatible keyboards. These include MK, Keycron, Camisyn, KPRepublic, Royal Kludge and many others. The Logitech G Pro X is an example of a more typical keyboard with switches that can be changed in the workplace.
How much do workplace switchable switches cost?
The price of the keyboard itself can vary from $30 to $200, depending on the size and features. An additional set of switches can cost $20 to $50, depending on the number you get and their features.
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Source: newstars.edu.vn