How to choose a keyboard for your computer

Computers

When choosing a keyboard, ease of use comes first. It is also necessary to determine the type and standard of connection.

How to choose a keyboard: what to look for

How to choose a keyboard

When choosing a keyboard, it is recommended to pay attention to the following parameters:

  1. Connection type (USB or PS / 2);

  2. The presence of a wire;

  3. Key installation type (mechanical or membrane);

  4. Backlight and additional function keys.

Moreover, only the first parameter affects the compatibility of the keyboard with a computer or peripheral devices.

Connection standard (USB or PS / 2)

Almost all modern keyboards are equipped with a USB connection. It is a universal standard that allows you to connect almost any device to your computer.

However, for very old computers that were released in the 90s or early 00s, PS / 2 keyboards are recommended. This is due to two factors. The first is that the motherboard of such computers may not activate the USB controller at boot time, as a result of which it will not work to enter B IOS or recovery mode Windows. Secondly, such system units may not have a slot for another USB device.

For modern computers, you need to use a USB keyboard.

Wired or wireless keyboard?

Wired or wireless keyboard

Wireless keyboards are comfortable enough. They can be placed anywhere on the table without the cable getting in the way. However, they are not without their disadvantages:

  1. Slow response speed. This is due to the fact that the receiver polls the keyboard with a certain frequency, and it still needs to convert the received signals. Therefore, the wireless keyboard is not suitable for people who really quickly type texts or play some dynamic RPG or shooters;

  2. The need to change batteries. Such keyboards work in most cases from standard AA or AAA batteries. If the battery runs out, the device may start to 'lose' characters. In addition, there are not always spare batteries available – when the battery does run out;

  3. Risk of junk signal. It is very rare, but it happens that another keyboard can be connected to the receiver – if they have the same frequency and identification code. The risk of a garbage signal in large offices is especially high;

  4. The need to bring the receiver closer to the keyboard. That is, it will not work simply to remove the system unit under the table – electromagnetic fields from other devices on it can clog the radio channel, causing interference when receiving or receiving a signal. You will either need to bring the receiver separately on the table, or leave the system unit there.

Thus, a wireless keyboard is a good solution for a computer that is located at home or in a small office, and is used as standard. For gamers, programmers, writers, etc. better to buy a wired one.

Mechanical or membrane?

If you want the fastest possible response time, you need a mechanical keyboard. In contrast to the membrane, where all the buttons are located on the common bus polled at a certain frequency, each key in it is a separate key, and therefore the press signal is transmitted to the controller in hundredths and thousandths of a millisecond.

However, mechanical keyboards are much more expensive than membrane keyboards. Therefore, it is advisable to buy them only when the response speed is really important – for games or people who are very fast typing texts.

Also, many users claim that mechanical keyboards are very comfortable. But this is a purely subjective opinion.

Backlight

Advertising keyboard lighting

The backlight is only important if the keyboard is often used at night, and the user has not yet developed touch typing skills. This is a really handy feature, but with two 'buts'.

The first is that LEDs that are too bright are often used for backlighting, which can 'cut the eyes' in the dark. This is usually found on cheap keyboards.

Second, it is desirable that the backlight can be turned off. For example, if the computer is used at night to watch movies or similar content, the light from the keyboard can only spoil the image – and, again, it can become unpleasant to the eyes.

Function Keys

The function keys make it easier to interact with the keyboard. They let you control the volume, adjust the screen brightness, open apps, and more. However, it is undesirable for the keyboard to have too many function buttons – they can confuse the user.

It is also worth considering their location. Many manufacturers place a separate row of function keys to the left of the alphanumeric row. This causes inconvenience in touch typing – instead of the desired Ctrl or Shift, this very functional button is pressed.

Summary

When choosing a keyboard, it is worth determining how convenient it will be to do the usual operations behind it – to type text in a particular layout, play, etc. Then you should pay attention to its compatibility with a computer.

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In the following articles, our experts will tell you how to choose the right graphics card for your computer, the secrets of choosing a sound card and a complete guide to choosing a power supply for your desktop computer.


Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.

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