5 reasons people hate mechanical keyboard enthusiasts

By now, you may or may not know that I adore mechanical keyboards. From the typing experience and looks, to the degree of customization, I’ve talked about everything that makes mechanical keyboards great. If you’re a fellow enthusiast, you’ll agree with me wholeheartedly. If, on the other hand, you’re a relatively sane human being, you’ll probably be annoyed or fuming.

Those who haven’t been bitten by the mechanical keyboard bug seem to harbor a not-so-secret resentment towards users like us. They see us singing the praises of mechanical keyboards, hoping to convert as many newbies to fellow hobbyists and fanatics. Whether the hate is unjustified or not, there are many reasons mechanical keyboard lovers have pissed off everyone else, and I’m openly discussing it here.

5 They see us peddling complicated and expensive keyboards

We do that, but not always

One of the biggest misconceptions people have about mechanical keyboards is that they’re all overly complicated and cost an arm and a leg. It isn’t true, but often the noise surrounding expensive models is the loudest, making those outside the community think that’s all there is to it. Seasoned users might enjoy building their own mechanical keyboards, and want to show and share this love with others, often to an annoying degree.

This doesn’t mean that a newcomer needs to go through the seemingly complicated rite of passage of building a custom keyboard. Pre-built keyboards are seriously amazing these days, and many of them cost only $70-$80. With the features available on budget mechanical keyboards, you’d be hard-pressed to justify spending more than $100 on your first mechanical keyboard.

They often use premium materials, have quality construction, and sound positively splendid out of the box. You don’t have to “mod” your new keyboard to make it good. So, the next time you see a keyboard nerd swearing by their custom-built keyboard, remember that your first mechanical keyboard can be a pre-built model. Once you’ve used several models, you’ll know exactly which type you prefer, and you might even want to build your own someday.

4 Most people don’t care about customizing their keyboard

A lot of the conversation revolves around it

Well, it’s true — even though many users are happy with their pre-built keyboards, customization is always on their minds. Whether it’s swapping their keycaps for a matcha green, pastel, or side-printed legend set, or installing different switches, many of us keep our online carts and wishlists full. Some users go a step further, dismantling their keyboards to install additional tape, foam, weights, or sand.

It’s easy to see why this can overwhelm or even annoy newbies. If you’re simply looking for a simple, easy-to-use mechanical keyboard that just works, you’d probably not be looking for features like hot-swappable switches or adjustable actuation points. Lubing switches and stabilizers to make them less “scratchy” would probably be the last thing on your mind.

However, just remember (again) that many of these customization enthusiasts are probably deep into the hobby, and are now exploring fun new ways to keep things fresh. As a first-time mechanical keyboard user, you can happily ignore the aspects of the hobby you don’t like, and enjoy your new pre-built mechanical keyboard for as long as you want.

3 They see us paying more for less keyboard

Seeing half the keyboard missing can be a gruesome sight

I can understand this one more than the other objections. After all, I had never used mechanical keyboards before I bought my first one around three years ago. I had a full-sized membrane keyboard, and I never thought, “It would be great if 30% of my keys went missing.” Those looking from the outside in feel that mechanical keyboard lovers advocate paying more for what’s basically a cut-down keyboard – and it baffles their minds.

As a newcomer, being okay with fewer keys, forced key combos for simple tasks, needless software for remapping keys, and in the worst cases, multiple “layers” in the name of productivity can be a tough pill to swallow. It can feel like you’re willingly taking away functionality AND paying more for the privilege. Personally, I stand somewhere in the middle, and believe that the 65% layout is the cut-off for a compact yet functional keyboard.

Of course, others would disagree, arguing that a 40% or 100% keyboard (depending on their preference) is the only way to go. That’s the thing with mechanical keyboards, though. There’s something for everyone, and if you don’t like the idea of compact keyboards, you can always pick full-sized or even TKL mechanical keyboards.

2 They think all mechanicals are loud as heck

It couldn’t be further from the truth

Yes, mechanical keyboards still have the image of being annoyingly loud. While many models are indeed quite loud — many users prefer them that way — it’s not a fundamental property of a mechanical keyboard. The sound of a keyboard depends on various factors, such as the switch type, case material, mounting style, internal foam, key travel, and more.

If you hate loud keyboards and want something that you could use next to your coworkers without attracting too much attention, all you need to do is buy the right keyboard. Avoid clicky switches, cheap plastic keyboards, and models without any pre-installed foam. For the most silent experience, you could even go for a Hall effect keyboard, which has magnetic switches instead of mechanical ones, and is typically more silent than most mechanical keyboards.

You can even pick a low-profile keyboard for a silent yet satisfying typing experience. Many low-profile models come with silent switches and sound-dampening foam to eliminate most of the typing sound.

1 They blame us for the lack of full-sized keyboards

This is a divisive one. Many believe that mechanical keyboard enthusiasts have driven full-sized keyboards out of the market by popularizing compact form factors. There’s some truth to this, as you don’t find many full-sized mechanical keyboards on the market, with most companies focusing heavily on TKL, 75%, and 65% layouts.

Indeed, the industry often caters to the enthusiast community, producing more and more compact models instead of full-sized ones. Those who love their numpads can’t imagine using anything other than a full-sized or, at the most, 98% keyboard. There are some good mechanical keyboards available that retain the numpad, but they’re dwarfed in number by the rest of the market.

The real issue here is the complaint that mechanical keyboard lovers have embraced form over function, hurting the industry as a result. I don’t find a full-sized keyboard necessary for optimum functionality (I like TKLs, 75%, and 65% keyboards), but I can see the point made by the other side. Whether manufacturers will shower more love on full-sized mechanical keyboards remains to be seen, but in the meantime, you can always pick an office keyboard if nothing else suits your fancy.

Mechanical keyboard enthusiasts need to chill (maybe)

I now consider myself a mechanical keyboard nerd, but maybe we need to take it down a notch, and not be too elitist about the hobby. At the end of the day, a keyboard needs to serve a few key purposes — provide a satisfying typing experience, remain functional as per the user’s needs, and look good while doing it. Mechanical keyboards might have perfected all three areas, according to enthusiasts, but not everyone is mandated to feel that way.

The reasons that mechanical keyboard enthusiasts annoy others might not all be reasonable, but some of them are rooted in a grain of truth. It will do everyone good if the community is more welcoming to newcomers, and doesn’t instinctively pounce on every single objection.