How to choose a keyboard for a computer?

If you do not spend too much time at the computer, are not fond of computer games and your work is not related to text input, then in this case you can buy a computer keyboard of the lower price segment — this will be quite enough.

But this option is not suitable for those who spend a significant part of their time at the computer. Here it will be useful to purchase a keyboard with additional multimedia keys that will make life much easier, providing quick access to the most requested functions. Many models have built-in backlight, calculator and web browser quick launch buttons, as well as other useful features. The selection of the optimal device will allow you to achieve the perfect combination of convenience and speed, and gamers will be able to be one step ahead of rivals.

Membrane and mechanical keyboards: what to choose?

All keyboards on the market can be divided into two large groups, depending on the design of the keys: membrane and mechanical.

The mechanical keyboard has a higher response rate and is more durable, but at the same time it is noticeably more expensive than the membrane analogue

Under the keys of the "membranes" there are rubber buttons that, when pressed, close the contact and the personal computer receives a signal. The main drawback of this design is that over time, the elastic band wears out and stretches, which makes pressing less pleasant, and the tactile return is weaker. At the end of the life cycle, which is about five million clicks, you will have to press the keys harder and harder until they stop working at all. If you ever had to work at old office computers with a yellowed keyboard, you probably remember how you had to practically knock on individual buttons!

The construction of "mechanics" it does not contain membranes, springs and switches are used instead. Thanks to this, even after a long time of use, the keys are pressed with the same ease as on the day of purchase. The most popular switches included in the design of the "mechanics" are Cherry MX (for such keys, the manufacturer claims 50 million clicks).

Mechanical keyboards are more durable than their membrane counterparts. And their response speed is higher, which gives them an advantage in games. It is more convenient to print on the "mechanics", there is no need to press the button until the end, which increases the printing speed. The only disadvantage of mechanical keyboards is the high price. But once you've worked with the "mechanics", you probably won't want to go back to the usual keyboard.

Wired or wireless keyboard?

The connection interface is another important parameter when choosing a keyboard. The wireless keyboard is great because it allows you to get rid of unnecessary wires on the desktop. But its main drawback is, in fact, the same – sooner or later the battery or batteries will run out, and therefore the working day may be unexpectedly interrupted by the need to urgently charge the keyboard or find new batteries to finish the monthly report.

Wireless keyboards use either Bluetooth or a radio interface to transmit the signal. Their maximum range is approximately the same, but at the same time the radio interface boasts a lower response time, although it requires a special receiver to be connected to the computer (it always comes with a keyboard). But Bluetooth, perhaps, will serve as the best solution for laptops and tablets, many of which are initially equipped with an appropriate module for receiving a signal — the advantage of such a solution is that the user keeps the USB port free.

Wireless keyboard with touchpad designed for use with TVs (model — Logitech Illuminated Living-Room Keyboard K830)

Wired keyboards are also divided into two main types, depending on the connection interface: PS/2 or USB. The first of them is already gradually leaving the market, and motherboard manufacturers often make a combined one instead of two PS/2 slots (one under the keyboard, the other under the arm). On the contrary, the USB interface is more versatile — it is almost impossible to find a laptop or computer on the market without such a port.

But it's still not worth writing off a keyboard with a PS/2 connection interface. The advantage of such a solution may be the absence of keyboard polling, unlike USB connection. A high polling frequency simply loads the processor with unnecessary operations, while the PS/2 is not polled once, but sends a signal only when a key is pressed. When creating a hardware interrupt, the processor notices and registers a command coming from the device.

How to choose a gaming keyboard?

Gaming keyboards are improved and specially sharpened devices for games, the arsenal of which may include programmable keys, LCD displays, adjustable backlight, as well as proprietary software that helps to customize the keyboard to your taste. Frequently used keys are usually made rubberized, which also increases convenience. This approach is used among A4Tech keyboards, the X7 gaming series.

The Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 gaming keyboard is one of the most advanced solutions on the market

The main difference between gaming devices is the presence of programmable keys on which the user can set various macros. In simple words: you can assign a whole combination of actions to one button. This is especially convenient when playing RPG and MMORPG games, when you need to drink a potion that increases damage, increase armor indicators, charge weapons with spells, etc. And all this by pressing one key.

Most often, macros are configured and installed in specialized programs that come with keyboards. In some cases, there is a special button on the devices that allows you to record key combinations and set them right during the game. Some other models allow you to change the response speed on the fly – usually, 4 modes are implemented, from standard to the fastest: off, accelerate, speedy, turbo. Each of them has a corresponding indicator colour.

Thanks to the built-in memory that many gaming keyboards have, various settings (macros, backlight options, etc.) will remain even when the device is connected to another personal computer.

The LCD display mounted on the keyboard allows you to output network battle data or information about the system load, temperature or clock directly to your gaming device. But claves with LCD displays are not cheap, and often for their price you can buy high-quality "mechanics", even without visible bells and whistles in the form of a screen and zonal illumination.

An important factor is the weight of the keyboard. Usually high-quality gaming devices, especially mechanical ones, weigh more than a kilogram, which firmly fixes them on any surface with rubberized legs, preventing them from sliding on the table in the most tense moments of the game.

It is worth noting that if the keyboard refers to gaming solutions, this does not mean that you can only play on it — it is perfect for any everyday tasks, and typing on expensive gaming "mechanics" is several times more convenient than on a conventional membrane keyboard. The whole point lies precisely in the fact that the gaming keyboard provides advantages in computer games.

Number of simultaneous keyboard taps

This parameter determines how many simultaneously pressed keys a computer can register from a particular keyboard. There are two types of devices – #KRO and NKRO. Instead of the # symbol, there is usually a number — how many keys can be pressed and registered at the same time. Many gaming keyboard companies, such as Razer, usually make only six simultaneous taps available.

NKRO keyboards are devices that support an unlimited number of keystrokes. This function is only available for the PS connection interface/2. Some models, however, have two connection interfaces at once – both USB and PS/2. But the manufacturer, usually, strongly recommends using PS/2 once to get a completely unblockable keyboard.

Optional: Backlit keyboard, USB hub and touchpad

A visual demonstration of the advantages of a moisture-proof keyboard. The model in the photo is Logitech Washable Keyboard K310

A distinctive feature of more expensive devices is the built-in backlighting of the keys. This greatly simplifies work at night, when you don't want to sit with the light on, and the monitor lighting is not enough to hit the right key without lifting the key to the monitor itself. Some solutions allow you to adjust the intensity of the backlight, as well as its colour using proprietary programs. In a few devices there is a zonal illumination, the illumination of which is divided into several zones, each of which supports the possibility of installing a different colour scheme and different lighting intensity.

Among the additional chips, most often there are headphone and microphone slots, as well as additional USB ports. Some devices have a touchpad in their arsenal that can replace a mouse. No one says that a touchpad will be a good solution for games or tasks where precise and smooth cursor control is required, but for Internet surfing it is quite a passable option, which you get used to very quickly — after all, they get used to laptops.

There are also keyboards, such as the Defender touchboard, in which the touchpad also performs the role of a touch digital unit. Some models have a scroll wheel that duplicates the mouse wheel, allowing you to scroll through web pages and documents. For those who like to drink tea or coffee at the computer, we can recommend paying attention to moisture-proof models.