10 Tips For Buying The Right Keyboard For Your Computer

A keyboard is an essential peripheral in your desktop or PC. whether it is typing accurately or winning and defeating margin at the crucial stage of the game, a quality keyboard can actually spell the difference between frustration and satisfaction. Most people pay lesser attention and less time to research which keyboard to buy. But, not only the performance, a keyboard is also responsible for your joint health also. You can avail of this device at a price of as little as rs.250 and some really good ones can cost you beyond rs.10000.

So, Here are some tips to know which is the right fit for you while buying a keyboard.

1. Purpose

Most people are buying keyboards for their laptops or desktops. A lot may use it on smart TVs, phones or tablets. so, the work scope is varied and there are lots of varieties designed for a specific course of the task. 

For a desktop, it is generally a wired and bulky full-sized keyboard, while for laptops people often prefer a lightweight, compact and portable keyboard. Likewise, a larger keyboard appears useful for the PC but may not be suitable for the tablet because you need something as compact to match the size and easy to carry.

So, you always need to look for the right format that fits in your requirement.

2. Layout and keystrokes

The next important thing to look after is the layout and mechanism of the keyboard. After all, a keyboard is all about a bunch of keys aligned in a certain position. There are three primary types of switches for keyboards available are, silicon dome, mechanical keys, and scissors keys.

Silicon Dome Keys

Budget keyboards generally use silicon dome keys which use two rubber membranes formed into domes that complete the circuit while you press any key. These keyboards are typically less precise than the other two options and use taller keys and require greater travel distance to register a key press. 

Scissor Keys

The scissor keys are generally having a low profile and require lesser key travel to register the key press. This mechanism is often inbuilt into laptop keyboards, which gives you a buttery smooth typing experience with minimal noise.

These types of keyboards are preferable for writers or office work that involves a lot of typing to give you a longer operation with less strain. The scissor-switch keyboards are more durable than the silicon dome types.

Mechanical Switch Keys

Finally comes the mechanical switches which are available in designs and profiles of keys, but use the metallic spring underneath that is depressed while a key is used. They tend to provide a longer life span and more accurate keystrokes to the user in comparison to other options.

The keys getting stuck or clattering keys experience is absolutely negligible in the mechanical keys. These keyboards are often preferable for gamers due to the demand for rigorous keystrokes and accuracy during the game.

The spring-loaded keys can also be arranged by eliminating the spacing between the group keys, making it a comfortable and compact typing device on your working desk.

Apart from the key mechanism, there is also the layout of letters and colours on the keyboard that attracts a buyer’s attention. You can also go for the subtle-looking option to the funky letter styles that match your persona. 

3. Size

Size is also a crucial factor when choosing a keyboard. Whether you are looking for a portable typing option or a steady, full-sized one, the right dimension will give you a more pleasant experience with a keyboard.

A keyboard typically contains 101 keys on it. If you avail a little space on your desk or want to use it for a tablet, then eliminating the extra num-keys could give you a compact option. Also, a sim keyboard like the apple magic keyboard will give you an optimum typing experience. 

4. Ergonomics

Typing is a repetitive task and often involves hours to get the task finished. The inappropriate operation and keyboard profile could cause repetitive stress injury to your arms and wrist. The ergonomic features such as the palm rest and curved key profile may seem like a small change, but it has a huge impact on the longer period of action and a comfortable typing experience. So, you should always pay attention to the ergonomics of the keyboard whether you are a regular, moderate or pro-level typist.

5. Connectivity Type

Like the mouse, There are also two types of connectivity options available for the keyboard, that is wired and wireless. While a wired keyboard is generally made of a large size with dedicated num keys, the wireless ones are available in different sizes. 

The wireless keyboards are available in both USB receivers and Bluetooth options. Choosing a keyboard-mouse combo is a wiser move when choosing a USB-type keyboard for your laptop. It will save your occupied usb port if you need a mouse in future. However, the Bluetooth option is preferable for tablets as they don’t have USB ports for the receivers.

While it all depends on personal preferences, pro gamers often complain about a latency issue in wireless keyboards over wired ones. So, you should always check the specification about the speed of the wireless keyboards if you’re buying for gaming purposes.

6. Backlit Option

If you are someone who has to work at night and has a workspace in the shared bedroom or your workspace is not very well lit at night, a backlit keyboard can actually do the magic. 

Gamers also typically require integrated multi-coloured LEDs on the keyboard to identify the customised programmable keys during the game. The backlit keyboards are available in both wired and wireless variants, but they are costlier than the regular ones due to obvious reasons.

7. Standard vs Gaming

While a keyboard is meant for typing, sometimes typing is not the only concern for you. Gaming keyboards are specifically designed for gaming purposes with programmable keys and built with the standards of responsiveness and durability. Read this article to know more about the difference.

Gaming keyboards often support lighting effects to highlight certain programmable keys. There are always repetitive actions on certain keys like W, A, S, D and the arrow keys intensively during the game. For this purpose, mechanical keys are always prefered for gaming keyboards for better longevity.

So if you are a person who uses the keyboard only for typing whether at a moderate or a professional level and want to invest in a good keyboard, buying a gaming keyboard will not be a good move. It will be overpriced and give you a lot of unused features that you are paying for. You can rather opt for a non-customisable mechanical or scissor-type keyboard by considering the above points to enhance your typing experience.

8. Cost

Cost is another serious factor you should always look up to. If your need demands a certain type of option, you should not hesitate to invest in it. Like I said earlier in this blog, you can avail of a keyboard from as cheaper as rs.250 to as expensive as rs.10,000. But, the point is, you should invest right in the right kind of keyboard for you. 

9. Hotkeys & Media keys

These are the features meant for programmers and gamers. While some budget options provide some predefined hotkeys to managing the multimedia like brightness, volume, fast forward, etc. the more advanced ones provide extra keys pre-arranged with some complex codes, letting you customise the command with a few button presses according to your preference. 

The number of macro commands you can save can vary from model to model. So, you should look for how many options you need depending on your usage and budget. 

10. Battery Life(For wireless Options)

Battery life is an important aspect of wireless keyboards. For good brands like Logitech and Dell, you can expect a battery life of 1 to 1.5 years which is pretty decent for an average user. 

You may expect lesser battery life in a wireless gaming keyboard due to extensive use and features like led keys. The battery life may also depend upon the way you use the keyboard. Like, you should turn it off while not in use, if a dedicated button is provided.

Some brands have omitted the LEDs from the num-key and the caps lock key to give it a boost to battery life, while some give a feature of auto sleep after a certain time of inactivity to maximize the battery. You should always check the specification for these special options.

Conclusion:

So, here are some tips which you may consider while buying a keyboard for your PC. Buying a keyboard is a complicated process, and a lot depends on your choice to enhance your computing experience. Consider your need carefully and narrow down the options to pick the right one for you. Meanwhile, If you need any suggestions you can always visit the dedicated keyboard section of Click and Enter where you can compare and get the updates on new keyboards available for your need.

Roy

Roy is a seasoned technical blog writer with a passion for unravelling the complexities of cutting-edge technology. With a background in Electronics Engineering, he has a keen interest in writing about the intricacies of keyboard and mouse in a simple way.