update switches

drafts/switches.md

@@ -1,3 +1,126 @@
+title: Mechanical keyboard switchees
+tags: computers, keyboards
+date: 2022-04-24 00:00
+---
+
+I am trying something new. Here I will be recording my thoughts about
+various keyboard switches I tried.
+
+
+# Tactile
+
+**Gazzew Boba U4**
+
+Silent high-tactility switch, 65g. Does not produce a lot of sound, but not
+_completely_ quite. Great tactility with a sharp early bump. I tend to
+bottom out easily when typing on these.
+
+My favourite switch so far, in terms of pure tactility.
+
+**Gazzew Boba U4T**
+
+High-strength tactile switch. All bump, no pre/post-travel. Feels very
+nice. The sound is supposed to be "thocky", but I subjectively found
+it more "poppy" than SP Star Magic Girl, for example, which tends to
+have a more muted sound. Overall, a great switch with an amazing
+tactile signature and a moreish sharp bump.
+
+**Durock T1**
+
+TBD
+
+**Glorious Panda**
+
+I have not tried the original Holy Pandas yet, but I was told that
+Glorious Panda can be a sufficient replacement. So far I have been
+enjoying those switches. They are on the more heavy tactile end of
+things with a sharp bump (still not as heavy as Boba U4 dd, and not as
+sharp as Kailh Box Royal). The sound is alright, not too annoying, and
+it seems to improve with some lubing on the housing. However, under
+heavy typing there can be a noticable ping.
+
+**Purple Panda**
+
+Mid-high-strength tactil from Tecsee, 68g. Another take on the "Holy
+Panda" signature with a P-shaped bump. However, the stem is very long,
+resulting in very short travel (3mm?). Because of that, the
+post-travel is rather small, and it is not very hard to bottom out
+with these switches. The upstroke also feels very fast.
+
+Initially when I got them, there was very little ping stock. However,
+after using them actively for a week I think the ping has gotten
+worse.
+
+Comparison with some other tactile switches:
+
+- Compared to Glorious Panda, Purple Pandas have shorter post-travel and
+a more rounded bump. Purple Pandas also have less ping.
+
+- Tecsee Sapphire
+Techsee Sapphire have a much shorter, lighter bump, and have way more post-travel.
+
+
+- SP Star Magic Girl.
+The Magic Girl switches have a generally similar tactile signature,
+with almost no pre-travel before the bump. The bump on Magic Girl
+feels longer than on Purple Panda. Despite of that, the post-travel on
+Purple Panda is shorter than that on Magic Girl, probably due to the
+stem length.
+
+
+- Compared to SP Star Magic Girl, Purple Pandas have a way shorter ..
+
+**SP Star Magic Girl**
+
+Mid-to-high-strength colourful tactiles. A pronounced but rounded bump
+with very little pre-travel. Smooth for the post-bump travel. Since
+the post-travel is longer than on some other tactiles (probably the
+most post-bump travel on this list, at the time of writting), it is
+quite possible not to bottom out on every keypress. Sound-wise they
+are kind of muted. Not silent, but with quiter typing force the sounds
+of keycaps etc will easily drown on the switch-proper sounds. For
+example, compared to Box Royals or Glorious Pandas, these have way
+less ping.
+
+**Kailh Box Royal**
+
+Mid-strength tactile, on the more tactile end of the scale. These have
+a really "fun" tactile bump, with almost no pre-travel. I don't think
+it requires a lot of force for the bump, but since the bump is so
+sharp it may feel heavier than it is. I find it hard not to bottom out
+when using these switches.
+
+Soundwise, these can sound quite inconsistent (stock), and some
+switches have really annoying ping.
+
+I do not think I will be using them for a full build, but I enjoy
+having this switch on some of designated keys, maybe return or the
+F-keys?
+
+**Tecsee Sapphire**
+
+Mid-strength tactile. Has a nice bumb and and very smooth travel
+afterwards. Cannot really say anything bad about it. The sound may be
+too high pitched for the connoisseurs, but I do not mind too much.
+
+**Gateron Brown**
+
+Hated among many. I actually do not think it is too bad, but it does
+require lubing to sound more tolerable. Not a fan of such a "light"
+tactile signature tho.
+
+**Cherry MX Brown**
+
+TBD
+
+**Frankenswitches**
+
+- Glorious Boba (?): Glorious Panda stem in Boba housing. Feels like
+Glorious Panda with less pre-travel and easier bottom-out. Sounds
+quite similar.
+
+# Linear
+
 **Gateron Red**
 
 Linear switch. A bit too smooth for my taste. It feels like for some
@@ -5,21 +128,9 @@ of these switches the actuation point is really close. I sometimes
 accidentally triggered a switch when i was resting my fingers on the
 keyboard.
 
-Can be very clacky, but sound seems to improve with a tape mod.
-
-**Gazzew Boba U4**
-
-Silent tacticle switch, 65g. Does not produce a lot of sound, but not
-_completely_ quite. Great tactility with an early bump. I tend to
-bottom out when typing on these.
-
-My favourite switches so far.
+Can be very clacky, but sound is drastically improved with a tape mod.
 
 **Gazzew Bobagum**
 
-Silent linear, 62g. Nice linear switch, with good amount of force for
-me. Produce very little sound.
-
-**Gateron Brown**
-
-TBD
+Silent linear, 62g. Nice linear switch, smooth, but with a good amount
+of force. Produce very little sound.