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The People's Republic of Clogher
Yep linear is smooth. The different actions of mechanical switches are indicated by their colour, so you'll see keyboards advertised with 'red switches', 'blue switches' etc. The most common are red, blue, black and brown.

Red - Smooth, light pressure needed to activate
Black - Smooth, heavier pressure needed to activate
Blue - Clicky
Brown - In between smooth and clicky

You'll find people are VERY fond of one particular colour over another.

If you're curious to compare the keys without buying multiple keyboards, you can buy a sampler such as this one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cherry-Swit.../dp/B01GZHU1EG
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I’ve always been partial to green switches, but they ain’t for everyone.

This might help or confuse ya more. Bunch of reviews and scores for each switch. You can’t go wrong with blue, though. Those tend to be the most popular for basic typing.

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/switches/



I’ve always been partial to green switches, but they ain’t for everyone.

This might help or confuse ya more. Bunch of reviews and scores for each switch. You can’t go wrong with blue, though. Those tend to be the most popular for basic typing.

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/switches/
I read some negative reviews on Amazon, 'cause those are the funnest...and I kept reading about how noisy mechanical keys are. Are they nosier than standard key boards?



I just bought myself a tenkeyless couple of weeks ago. My right hand is still learning the new setup but the keyboard itself is much nicer to write than my old Logitech. The model is https://xtrfy.com/keyboards/k4-tkl/. I also like how it doesn't need any software installed.
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I read some negative reviews on Amazon, 'cause those are the funnest...and I kept reading about how noisy mechanical keys are. Are they nosier than standard key boards?
It really just depends on the switch you get as some are more clicky than others. If you are concerned about the noise level just pick you up a brown switch keyboard and call it a day.

https://www.newegg.com/1stplayer-death-knight-brown-switch-tactile-quiet-black/p/32N-001X-00021

https://www.pcgamingrace.com/products/gmmk-tkl-tenkeyless-brown-switch

That second one seems expensive but that’s because it is designed to be modular. They even include a key cap removal tool so you can change the switches. So for instance, if you like some keys to have more force than others you can intermingle them. But since you’re new I highly suggest brown because it’ll give you the tactile feel but keep the noise at a minimum.



It really just depends on the switch you get as some are more clicky than others. If you are concerned about the noise level just pick you up a brown switch keyboard and call it a day.

https://www.newegg.com/1stplayer-dea...32N-001X-00021

https://www.pcgamingrace.com/product...s-brown-switch

That second one seems expensive but that’s because it is designed to be modular. They even include a key cap removal tool so you can change the switches. So for instance, if you like some keys to have more force than others you can intermingle them. But since you’re new I highly suggest brown because it’ll give you the tactile feel but keep the noise at a minimum.
Thanks for the links. How much nosier would you say a brown switch keyboard is over a conventional rubber dome (which is what I'm using) and also how would the brown switch compare to the red switch (linear and quiet according to newegg)



Might end up being too late for Santy to get you one at this rate



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Thanks for the links. How much nosier would you say a brown switch keyboard is over a conventional rubber dome (which is what I'm using) and also how would the brown switch compare to the red switch (linear and quiet according to newegg)
Mechanical is going to be noticeably louder to membrane.

And that’s an excellent question: https://www.wepc.com/tips/cherry-mx-red-vs-brown/

That article gives a good break down between red and brown. Reds will be quieter than brown but I think the browns are a better typing experience because they give a more pronounced feedback (I.e. you feel when the switch has been activated) so you will tell right away when you’ve missed a key press.

If most quiet is important than red is a good option.

If it helps with your decision process the brown switches are a much older design (1980s). They are tried and true for typists. Reds were introduced in 2008 in response to gamers, but funnily enough a lot of competitive gamers use heavier switches.

https://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduction-to-cherry-mx-mechanical-switches/



Might end up being too late for Santy to get you one at this rate
I'm still considering the hacksaw method

Mechanical is going to be noticeably louder to membrane.

And that’s an excellent question: https://www.wepc.com/tips/cherry-mx-red-vs-brown/

That article gives a good break down between red and brown. Reds will be quieter than brown but I think the browns are a better typing experience because they give a more pronounced feedback (I.e. you feel when the switch has been activated) so you will tell right away when you’ve missed a key press.

If most quiet is important than red is a good option.

If it helps with your decision process the brown switches are a much older design (1980s). They are tried and true for typists. Reds were introduced in 2008 in response to gamers, but funnily enough a lot of competitive gamers use heavier switches.

https://www.keyboardco.com/blog/inde...ical-switches/
Thanks for that I might have to try and find a compact, but full sized keys, membrane keyboard. I wonder if they even make one?



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Thanks for that I might have to try and find a compact, but full sized keys, membrane keyboard. I wonder if they even make one?
If your computer has Bluetooth than this is your best option in my opinion. Versatile and useful extra functions like the ability to switch between 3 devices, quick snapshots of your screen, and emojis.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/microso...?skuId=6430231



If your computer has Bluetooth than this is your best option in my opinion. Versatile and useful extra functions like the ability to switch between 3 devices, quick snapshots of your screen, and emojis.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/microso...?skuId=6430231
Nope no bluetooth, my computer is nearly a collectors item! It's going to be 12 years old soon.



I GIVE UP on finding a keyboard! Ergggh!

I've searched and searched and I can't find a keyboard that will work for me. I decided a mechanical keyboard isn't what I wanted due to the noise issue, and I couldn't find a membrane domed keyboard that was 'ten keyless'. You would think that would a common product, but nope.

I searched Newegg, Amazon (which sucks as they won't allow you to refine your search parameters and there's no freakin' way I'm looking at 90,000 keyboards on Amazon...I looked at ebay too, which as a MUCH better search than crappy Amazon...still I can't find a keyboard...so that's it...

Thanks guys for the help...now on to my next computer challenge (see my next post)



I'm thinking of updating my BIOS in my old computer, which has never been updated. The BIOS are on the 1st version released. I know flashing the BIOS update can brick a computer and turn it into junk...but how common is that?

Has anyone ever updated their BIOS? How many times? Any problems?



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I'm thinking of updating my BIOS in my old computer, which has never been updated. The BIOS are on the 1st version released. I know flashing the BIOS update can brick a computer and turn it into junk...but how common is that?

Has anyone ever updated their BIOS? How many times? Any problems?
I do it a ton at work. Personal computers I usually only do it if there's something I need to fix, a new feature, or a big security flaw.

As long as you don't lose power during the install there should be no glitches.
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I do it a ton at work. Personal computers I usually only do it if there's something I need to fix, a new feature, or a big security flaw.

As long as you don't lose power during the install there should be no glitches.
Have you ever bricked a computer doing that? I've only did it once to another computer and it was fine, but every article I read online makes it sound like it's highly risky.



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Only time I have ever bricked anything was when I was doing stuff that a normal user wouldn't do, but even then I was usually always able to recover it. You gotta work pretty hard to brick devices these days.



The People's Republic of Clogher
One thing I'd say about updating a motherboard BIOS - Unless there's a security flaw in the BIOS you're using or a new feature has been released on a new version, personally I'd leave it alone.

No use tempting fate.



NEED COMPUTER HELP!

My wife's laptop just went black screen all of a sudden. I had to do a hard power off and reboot...it powered on but the screen was dim then after a minute went black.

I tried restarting again and this time all I seen was the splash screen which was very dark and a weird orange color, then it went black again. If I tilt the screen I can just make out the desktop, it's like it's there and loaded but the screen is to dim to see it.

I'm pretty sure it's not the power supply as the power indicator and wireless lights all come on. I don't think it's the harddrive on ram memory as I can't even see bios.

It doesn't have a graphics card but uses integrated Intel graphics on the motherboard, could that have went out?



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can be the monitor itself. can you plug another screen, beamer, or whatever display in it, and check if the image is correct over there ?
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I think it can be Intel graphics. But orange color... It's so weird..