Why two types of keyboards? Well, we are not really talking about two types as such, the closest comparison is to compare a membrane keyboard with a mechanical one. Are there really two types of keyboards? Well, certainly not in shape, but the sensations and performance are completely different and that is why they are called “types”. Something similar happens here when we talk about custom and gaming, where sometimes the line is too narrow between them, something that does not happen in the rest of the types.
Custom keyboard, what is it?
It is a type of peripheral that in itself you would not say is different, but the background really tells us otherwise. It is, as its name indicates, a fully customizable keyboard where the extremes touch when in certain cases we can configure the chassis to our liking, the plate, switches, keys, lighting system and even the cable.
You have to open your mind here, let’s not imagine the typical rectangular keyboard, here the possibilities go through it to keyboards with all kinds of shapes, but if there is something where a personalized keyboard stands out, it is in two factors: materials and keycaps.
Materials range from aluminum, plastic either PBT until marble and other metals such as magnesium. The possibilities here are enormous and it is difficult for our imagination not to see its craziest needs resolved. As for the keycaps (technical term for the keys) it is another world directly. Shapes of all kinds, transparent, in relief, of various famous themes, it really is difficult not to find something that we like among the thousands of options that we have.
Even USB cables are customizable in color and shape, texture and materials, that is, a personalized keyboard is precisely that, a peripheral made totally to our liking just as we imagine it, yes, it is not cheap at all.
Are gaming keyboards also custom keyboards?
Well, it is a complicated question, because mainly they are not, but there are many exceptions and more and more, so it has to be explained. A gaming keyboard, as a general rule, comes predefined from the factory with a configuration, a design, some keys and, ultimately, a model that is produced in series and in bulk for the market. But (and this does not happen in all models) there are parts of them that are sold by the manufacturer itself or even other external ones that can be changed to taste.
Normally, they are the keys, which as a general rule do not come with PBT and therefore the manufacturer offers a kit with this type of keys that are of higher quality, but at the same time and if we have a widely sold switch such as the CHERRY MX or the OUTEMUAmong others, many stores also offer custom kits that we can buy for our keyboard.
Here, care should be taken with the specific model, since although the keys fit, many manufacturers vary the space between them, meaning that a kit that fits as such cannot be installed because the space is not enough. For this reason, gaming keyboards on certain occasions could be pseudo-customized, as well as models that have a removable cable which can also be exchanged.
