What is your personal preference based on experience? I Assume because Mac is Unix and Linux is Unix based, it would be more suited, but I have no personal experience with the layout. I am willing to try something new if i hear enough merits for it, and I also find the windows layout somewhat inadequate(The grass is greener on the other side /s)

I dailydrive Gnome, I am not a programmer, but i am a power user

(On a tangent: Why is gnome so restrictive, it feels like its missing a ton of UI features that are trivial without a boatload of 3rd party extensions that break every update; why doesn’t Win+Shift+number launch a new instance, every other DE does, why doesn’t it?; I don’t use KDE because I just don’t like it, I feel Gnome could be way more if it just natively integrated the extensions ).

aesthetically the windows key annoys me and i hate putting stickers on keyboards; I like how the mac layout looks(My very minimal experience with an in store mac-book has cautioned me away from the fisher-price OS so i don’t know if it is intuitive to use)

    • ABeeinSpace@lemmy.worldEnglish
      21·
      9 months ago

      Keychron is very expensive (you’re paying extra for the “slickness” factor of the board in my opinion), but so far the product is quality.

      The optical switch has very linear travel. If you prefer a more tactile feel, the other option for switch might work a little better

      • d3Xt3r@lemmy.nzM
        3·
        9 months ago

        Are they worth it(Last long)?

        100%. I’ve been using various mechanical keyboards for ~15 years now. One of my first mech keyboards was a CODE - I sold it six years ago to my mate and he reports that it’s still been going great, no issues at all. My current main keyboards are a Drop CTRL and a Keychron K14, both of which have been going great as well.

        In fact, I’d argue that on an average, mech keyboards last much much longer due to:

        • High-quality switches which are rated for several million keypresses (100 million for MX Browns)
        • High-quality plastic keycaps (double-shot PBT) which aren’t susceptible to shine and legend-wear, unlike the cheap (ABS) keycaps you’d find on regular keyboards
        • Swappable keycaps means you’d never get bored of the same look + easy to source replacements if you need them
        • Swappable switches means you can replace a switch (if on the rare occasion it fails) - or you can completely upgrade your typing experience by choosing different switches with more suitable resistance/comfort/speed/tactility/sound etc.
        • Standard removable USB-C cable means you can replace the cable in case it gets worn out (unlike most cheap keyboards which have fixed cables). This also allows you to use high-quality braided cables which last much longer.
        • Overall modular nature of these keyboards: practically every part is replaceable/customizable/serviceable - even the firmware

        Honestly, there’s no comparison at all between a proper mech keyboard and a branded OEM keyboard from the likes of Apple/Logitech/Microsoft etc - you’re just paying for the brand name to get an average quality keyboard with way less repairability/modularity/customisability.

      • smoothbrain coldtakes@lemmy.caEnglish
        2·
        9 months ago

        I’ve had several Keychrons and the only one that failed on me was due to liquid damage. I’ve had three of them and the original one I purchased for working on a Mac is still running strong with a few coffee stains. The second one I bought with a backlight lasted two years and died by my own hand. I have a new backlit one with a different set of keycaps and it’s been going strong for a year with no issues.

        I tend to buy the wired C2 series which is the cheapest lineup. The great thing about Keychrons is that they are highly repairable and customizable by the user. You can replace keycaps, switches, and the keyboards are all designed to support both layouts with each requisite key included for Command and Windows. It can toggle to either OS via the flip of a switch, and you can attach the keycaps you prefer.

      • cevn@lemmy.world
        2·
        9 months ago

        A keyboard lasts as long as you make it last, in other words, until you spill a beer or coke on it… Even then there may be hope. I have a working IBM Model M from 1989 if that matters…

      • kbal@kbin.melroy.org
        01·
        9 months ago

        Well, if what you want is inexpensive, simple, and durable you might be looking for my favourite keyboard which apparently they’re still selling. I haven’t needed a new one in 15 years or so but it doesn’t look like they’ve changed the design at all.

        Whether a “mechanical” keyboard is worth it just depends on your taste, but in my experience they do wear out much more quickly than this thing I’m typing on.