Are Half-Mechanical/Mechanical-feel keyboards worth it?

[Ruben_Samich]

So I'm going to build my first gaming PC pretty soon, and I want a mechanical keyboard, but they're expensive and the only few cheap ones that I could find I didn't like. But I really don't want to settle for a membrane keyboard. So I was wondering if anyone knew if Half-Mechanical keyboards were any good, or if they were just BS they used for marketing. For those of you that don't know, (although most of you probably do), a half-mechanical keyboard is a membrane keyboard that has a mechanical switch on top of it, sort of, I'm not really good at explaining stuff.

 

[RektSkrubz]

I've used one before, and it's not really close to what a real mech feels like... Just too squishy for me...

 

[rhysiam]

Newegg has the excellent tenkeyless Corsair K65 for $60 at the moment: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823816015&cm_re=mechanical_keyboard_cherry_mx-_-23-816-015-_-Product

There are also a range of boards with non-cherry mechanical switches (still probably fine - and definitely better than membrane) for $10-20 less.

Given you can get mechanical keyboards for ~$50, and good ones (like the Corsair) for $60, I personally wouldn't spend more than $25 on a non-mech keyboard. Otherwise you may as well just pay a bit more and get a proper one.

 

[rhysiam]

The other option, of course, is that you just get a cheap ~$10 membrane keyboard for now and save up, or wait until your birthday (or whatever) and then get the keyboard you really want then. A good mech keyboard will last you 10 years easily, so I'd prefer to wait a while and get something I really like, rather than get something I don't really like earlier, and then have to live with it for years and years wishing I'd got something better.

 

[HEXiT]

its a marketing gimmick mate. there just membrane keyboards with a slightly more complex key. gimmick design adding 20 bux to a keyboard for maybe 2 cents increase in bump cost... while adding nothing performance wise.

you would be better served by getting something like a microsoft sidewinder keyboard. sure it aint as pretty as some but it will be more functional.
with its 20+key roll-over.
the sidewinder has better anti-ghosting than pretty much every other membrane and some mechanical, cough* Razer black widow cough* keyboards.

 

[Karadjgne]

I have a Cougar K500, that's the hybrid version of the full mechanical K600. Not had any issues. Yes it does have the mechanical 'feel' to it, but not really the mechanical 'experience'. Yes, the keys feel more like a membrane, but they are snappier like a good mechanical should be. Are they a gimmick? Depends on the user, but for the most part, they are. Prior, I had an old Dell that went through me, my wife and 2 out of 4 kids pc's and still worked great, just couldn't read wasd anymore. Do I like the Cougar better? Yep. Is it as good as a mechanical for games like cs:go? Nope.

Bit in the end, it's still a kb, therefore extremely personal to you, so without bias of testimony you really should get your fingers on one to really answer your question. You may or may not like it.

 

[Ruben_Samich]

I have a Cougar K500, that's the hybrid version of the full mechanical K600. Not had any issues. Yes it does have the mechanical 'feel' to it, but not really the mechanical 'experience'. Yes, the keys feel more like a membrane, but they are snappier like a good mechanical should be. Are they a gimmick? Depends on the user, but for the most part, they are. Prior, I had an old Dell that went through me, my wife and 2 out of 4 kids pc's and still worked great, just couldn't read wasd anymore. Do I like the Cougar better? Yep. Is it as good as a mechanical for games like cs:go? Nope.

Bit in the end, it's still a kb, therefore extremely personal to you, so without bias of testimony you really should get your fingers on one to really answer your question. You may or may not like it.

The keyboard I had my eye on is a membrane keyboard but it has raised keys and according to reviews the keys are very clicky and tactile compared to most membrane keyboards. The same company also makes a very similar looking one that's the "half mechanical" kind for only $6 more. But if it really doesn't change anything I'll just get the normal one, and save up for a full mechanical one later on.

 

[Karadjgne]

Good idea.