By akademiotoelektronik, 26/03/2023

What is the best keyboard for PC in 2021?

Like the mouse, the keyboard is an essential means of interaction with a PC. Choosing a good PC keyboard therefore means ensuring comfortable use over time, precise typing for writing, playing or coding, or features such as shortcuts to macros, multi-use devices or an integrated trackpad for living room use. Computer keyboards continue to evolve, thanks in particular to the popularity of the gaming keyboard which has brought mechanical keys back into fashion. In our selection of the best PC keyboards, you will find models suitable for all budgets and all uses, for video games, office automation or multimedia.

Our selection of PC keyboards:

How to choose a PC keyboard?

A PC keyboard is not a trivial device: whether you are a gamer, an average user or a professional, the keyboard remains one of the two main means of interaction with your pc. And like the mouse, it is important that it provides you with a user experience that meets your needs and that gives you efficiency and comfort over time. The first question to ask yourself is that of use. If you buy a keyboard to play, your needs will not necessarily be the same as for writing, coding or simply having occasional use for typing emails or queries.

Before going into more specific considerations such as the case of a gaming keyboard, we can distinguish criteria that will speak to all users. The one that seems the most important is that of the quality of the strike. Everyone is looking for a keyboard whose typing is not unpleasant, with keys that are not too soft, but still do not offer too much resistance, and which do not tire too much in the long run. For most users, we can recommend a keyboard with typing similar to that of a laptop, taking care, however, to choose a model with sufficiently spaced keys, especially at the level of the arrow keys and the numeric keypad if you have them. want one. Linked to the quality of typing, ergonomics is also an important criterion. Depending on how much space you have on your desk, you may want a wrist rest, which may be important, as prolonged use of a keyboard can cause some rather awkward disturbances. Some manufacturers integrate the wrist rest into the keyboard, others provide it as a detachable accessory or even completely disconnected from the keyboard.

Should I go for a wired or wireless keyboard?

The question arises as for mice, but the answer is somewhat different. A wired keyboard, unlike a mouse, isn't going to involve movement, so the cable can be less of a hassle. On the other hand, a wireless keyboard is always more pleasant to use, but it is then necessary to ensure that it has a good autonomy and that it can be recharged easily, or even be used as a wired keyboard while recharging. . The choice of a keyboard will also be made according to more specific criteria for targeted audiences such as gamers or professionals. For players, another factor comes into play: responsiveness. A keyboard that is too soft, which takes too long to trigger an action, can be a handicap in a game. This is why gaming keyboards are often mechanical keyboards, which allow more reliable typing and above all at lower and more predictable latency. Players also like to have shortcuts at their fingertips that allow greater efficiency, via macro keys. Finally, on a gaming keyboard, RGB lighting brings a little touch of fantasy appreciated by players.

Can a gaming keyboard be a good choice for any user, and especially for professionals?

Why not. After all, mechanical keyboards are also appreciated for their pleasant typing and their durability. However, there are two caveats: first, the "gamer" look is not necessarily a master key. And above all, a mechanical keyboard is very noisy. If you work alone, why not, but in an office, it can quickly get the better of your colleagues' patience.

What are the different types of computer keyboard?

There are several types of PC keyboards, which correspond to several technologies, which have their advantages and disadvantages.

The most common keyboards are membrane keyboards. They are so called because they work on the basis of a membrane composed of several layers. Concretely, the keys of the keyboard are contact points of the printed circuit on which will come to sink silicone domes, surmounted by the key itself. A membrane keyboard has several advantages. First, it is very simple and inexpensive to manufacture, thanks in particular to this idea of ​​a single component rather than individual switches as is the case with mechanical keyboards. Membrane keyboards are also quieter. A variant of the membrane keyboard is the so-called "scissor" keyboard, where each key uses a small scissor mechanism which allows a lower and more precise stroke.

This is the mechanism that is used by almost all laptop keyboards, and also by many desktop keyboards. On a mechanical keyboard, each key operates a single switch. This switch can be of different types, more or less noisy, offering more or less resistance, and incorporating tactile feedback in the form of a “click” or not. Cherry MX switches are the best known, and are distinguished by their color: for example, we distinguish Cherry MX Red with linear travel from Cherry MX Blue which "click" in a very sensitive (and noisy) way.

Which PC keyboard format to choose?

There are different PC keyboard formats. Let's start with the most obvious: the layout of the keys. In French-speaking countries, we mainly use AZERTY but we must not forget the QWERTZ used in particular by the Swiss. An important choice at this level depends on the type of computer you use.

A QWERTY keyboard for Mac will not have the same layout as a PC keyboard at all, especially for symbols and modifier keys which are not the same. For example, on Mac, the key to the left of 1 is used to access the at and pound symbols. On PC, the at sign is obtained by combining the Alt GR and 0 keys. And of course, on Mac, the CMD key, formerly "apple" is at the heart of the keyboard shortcuts. Some keyboards designed to be used with both feature both spellings on the same keys, but it can get a bit confusing.

The presence of a numeric keypad can also be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your use. If you type a lot of numbers, the numeric keypad may be essential. But if you're used to typing on a laptop, you may have already lost the habit. Gamers, too, may appreciate parting with it, as it moves the mouse away from keys that aren't necessarily going to be used.

How to clean a PC keyboard?

The best way to clean a PC keyboard is to proceed meticulously with a brush to remove dust or dirt between the keys. For the toughest impurities, it is also possible to use an air bomb. On a mechanical keyboard, cleaning can be more precise thanks to. To the ease of extracting the keys. Gaming keyboards often even come with an extraction tool. It's trickier with a membrane or scissor keyboard where you risk damaging the very fragile mechanism.

Content offered by our good deals experts, partners of Ouest France. The editorial staff did not participate in its realization. The prices mentioned in this article are indicative and are subject to change.

Share this article What is the best PC keyboard in 2021?Ouest-France.fr