You might not think about your keyboard that often or you might think about it all the time. In either case when it comes to buying a new keyboard it can be hard to make a decision with all the options available. There are thousands of keyboards to choose from and trying to sort through them all is quite the chore. How do you decide what to buy? Do you need to buy a top of the line keyboard? Let’s first look at what you’re going to be using your keyboard for and then at some of the options.

What are your keyboard needs?

Buying a new keyboard is all about getting what’s right for you. Manufacturers these days offer a wide range of keyboards for gaming, working and some just for showing off. They also pack in tons of features that might seem fun at the time but end up being useless down the line. Take a few minutes to think about exactly what you need your keyboard for and it will help you make the right decision.

• Gaming: If you love gaming and you spend hours a day at your battlestation then buying a gaming keyboard can boost your performance. They used to be rare and expensive but these days they are everywhere as all manufacturers are scrambling to cash in on the gaming explosion.
• Beware Cheap Brands: Look out for brands these days that are pumping out cheap, flashy keyboards designed to cash in on gamers on a budget. They offer features like backlighting and anti-ghosting that gamers want but they are constructed from inferior parts to keep the price down. Important benefits like response, feel and durability aren’t there. You’d be better off buying a bland, major brand keyboard made with better materials.
• Writing / Working: If you spend all day at your keyboard writing or working then you need to buy a keyboard that’s solid and dependable. Nothing beats a good mechanical keyboard which is a construction type I’ll talk about later. You’ll get less finger stress and your hands will love you for it.
• Ergonomic: It’s a good idea to look into ergonomic keyboards if you do lots of writing. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a real thing and after years of typing you’re going to be at risk. They’re strange at first but after you adjust you’ll wonder why you didn’t get one sooner. Even if you have to get a second keyboard for gaming it’s still a smart investment. The editor here at STP really enjoys the Comfort brand from Microsoft, like this Comfort Keyboard 3000, sold at Amazon.
• Casual Use: If your computer is something you use occasionally to check some emails or watch cat videos then you don’t need to invest much when you buy a keyboard. There are tons of great keyboards under twenty dollars and with the small amount of use they should last you a long time.

Keyboard Construction

You’ll notice some important keywords when you’re shopping for a new keyboard such as mechanical, membrane and mechanical feel. These refer to how the keyboard is constructed and what type of system is used to register key presses.

• Membrane: The cheapest keyboards are ‘membrane’ keyboards. These keyboards use a few sheets of plastic with circuits printed on them that are squished together when you press a key. Membrane keyboards aren’t all that bad if you buy a high quality one. I’ve owned membrane keyboards that were a dream to type on but wore out in less than a year. The biggest downfall of buying a membrane keyboard is they have terrible durability.
• Mechanical Feel: The mid-range market of keyboards is dominated by mechanical feel keyboards that are designed to offer the feel of mechanical but with cheaper materials. Many times they are simply membrane keyboards with actual spring loaded keys instead of the rubber domes. They can be a good compromise if you’re on a budget but want a better feeling keyboard.
• Mechanical: The best of the best, mechanical keyboards are built with actual little switches underneath each key. This is the way keyboards were made back in eighties and people never stopped loving that classic ‘click’ noise you get with mechanical keyboards. Mechanical keyboards require minimal amount of force to trigger keys which increases response time and reduces fatigue on your hands. Mechanical is expensive so for the casual user it’s usually excessive. If you’re a hardcore gamer or writing constantly it’s a fantastic investment if you’re buying a new keyboard.

Bells & Whistles on the Keyboard

There are tons of features on keyboards these days as companies try to make their product stand out in the crowd. Some are useful and some are just for show. Don’t buy a keyboard just because of a fancy feature. A basic keyboard with solid reviews will serve you much better than one with flashy lights and cheap construction.

• Backlighting: Backlit keyboards are available in all price ranges and a popular selling feature. Backlighting makes the keys glow with color so you can identify the buttons in the dark. This might be useful if you’re a night owl and prefer working in a dark room but otherwise it’s useless. Lots of backlit keyboards also have glowing logos and accent lights that can be glaring and be distracting when you’re trying to work.
• Media Buttons: Extra buttons for controlling music players and volume knobs on the keyboard seem like a good idea but lots of times they’re useless. They usually just add to the keyboards size and get in the way. I never used media buttons on my keyboards and I listen to a lot of music.
• USB Hub: Some keyboards have extra USB ports on them which are handy. If your computer isn’t sitting right next to you these are great for your mouse or plugging in jump drives.
• Gaming Features: A gaming keyboard can have a huge amount of extra features designed to improve your gaming experience. These are great if you’re a huge gamer but a little much for the casual player. Don’t waste the money unless you’re flush with cash and logging serious hours in game.

Read Keyboard Reviews

Even with some knowledge under your belt it’s still hard to narrow down the choices when buying a new keyboard. It’s important to read reviews to get people’s hands on experience and cut through the flashy advertising. A keyboard might seem solid but lots of reviews describing it as ‘squishy’ or ‘mushy’ tell you everything. Look for reviews related to what you are planning to do with it. A keyboard might get dinged because it isn’t great for gaming but praised for it’s responsive 10-key abilities. Narrow down what you want, what’s in your budget then what people have been happy with. Hopefully after all that you’ve bought a new keyboard that is exactly what you wanted.