So what's the 'classic' way to mount MX Browns?

[HungerMechanic]

There's a lot of hate on Browns, and I respect that. But I've seen differences in how they feel based on how they are setup.

Now, there's a new Group Buy for the JER-A06, and it got me thinking.

This is a PCB-mount keyboard, meant to emulate the classic Cherry boards that were plateless. People have mounted Browns on the JER-A06.

Is this how early MX Brown switches were intended to be used?

Because MX Brown got its start with experimental Cherry ergonomic keyboards, and boards like the G80-11800.


(A Compaq 11800 with new keycaps)

There's also the Kinesis Advantage, which was plate-mount, but soldered to a flexible circuit-board.

It was the early 'ergonomic' keyboards and Kinesis Advantage that was responsible for MX Brown's initial popularity as a switch. How does that differ from the way they are mounted today?


I ask because most factory keyboards using MX Browns are ANSI-style, and plate mounted [usually aluminum]. But I get the sense from reading posts here and elsewhere that MX Brown 'lost its way' after the 2000s and is today mounted in a harsh and unyielding way. Is this the case?

How were Browns originally intended to be mounted? I understand that the original G80-11800 felt pretty good.

[zrrion]

Considering cherry made and still makes them in plate and PCB mount versions, I'd say either way is the right way. I have a 11800 and it's a pretty good board for what it is. I like more tactility than browns provide personally, but they are pretty good. I have never tried browns plate mounted.

[HungerMechanic]

Thanks. Do you know off-hand which boards Cherry still makes with PCB mount? I think the 3000 is one of them?

Is that considered "good" for typing-feel? I know they are flimsy, but it will just be sitting at a desk.

I am thinking about getting one for typing at a desk.

[zrrion]

There isn't an objective standard for what is "good" tbh. Your best bet, if you want to know what is good for you, is to try one out yourself. I personally like plate mounted clicky switches, but I use a 11800 at work and it is okay. I'm finding browns too light for how I type though.

No idea about cherry's modern offerings.

[Findecanor]

This is a PCB-mount keyboard, meant to emulate the classic Cherry boards that were plateless.

Cherry G80-series and the JER-A06 are not directly comparable. In the PCB-mount G80-series, the PCB is laying on horizontal struts in-between each row. In the JER-A06, the PCB is bolted to the top of the case and does not touch the bottom.

Cherry's PCB-mount keyboards are also very roomy inside and made of plastic. Because of this, they can reverberate a bit...
Especially the modern winkeyful G80-3000, which is very roomy and is made from quite thin plastic. It has the same outer dimensions as the older winkeyless model, which had a larger PCB and thicker-walled case.

BTW. People liked the PCB-mounted Dolch, not only because of its colours but because of the feel. While the guts are a Cherry G80-1800 which lays on horizontal struts, the case is much stiffer. It lays also almost perfectly flat whereas Cherry's keyboards have more inclination.

It was the early 'ergonomic' keyboards and Kinesis Advantage that was responsible for MX Brown's initial popularity as a switch. How does that differ from the way they are mounted today?

I find that the switches feel different in the Kinesis Advantage because you press them at a different angle in their dished key wells, compared to pressing them on a flat keyboard.

BTW. Cherry MX Brown was once designed by Cherry especially for Kinesis on request.

[HungerMechanic]

I wonder if maybe I should order one of Cherry's keyboards. I understand that they aren't too expensive, and are being made to be essentially disposable (?).

Hmmm. How is that G80-3850? Is that one of the classic PCB-mount designs? It's relatively affordable where I am.

Otherwise, it's the G80-3000, which is more pricey.

[Findecanor]

Hmmm. How is that G80-3850? Is that one of the classic PCB-mount designs? It's relatively affordable where I am.

No. It is plate-mount and has weird keycaps.

Pretty much all Cherry G80-series keyboards are in the Wiki:
wiki/Cherry_G80-3850

And yes, new Cherry-brand keyboards are often overpriced ...
Many of us in Europe have got used ones pretty cheap.

[Myoth]

I ask because most factory keyboards using MX Browns are ANSI-style, and plate mounted [usually aluminum]. But I get the sense from reading posts here and elsewhere that MX Brown 'lost its way' after the 2000s and is today mounted in a harsh and unyielding way. Is this the case?

How were Browns originally intended to be mounted? I understand that the original G80-11800 felt pretty good.

In my honest opinion, MX Browns should be PCB-mounted, the reasoning is simple, with the flex PCB-mounting offers, most switches actually feel heavier than they are, and I personally think that the worst aspect of the MX Browns is its lightness, ... you get where I'm going.

Disclaimer, I do like lighter switches, between 50g and 67g is my sweet spot, so it's only preference in the end.

[Myoth]

Hmmm. How is that G80-3850? Is that one of the classic PCB-mount designs? It's relatively affordable where I am.

The G80-3800 is however, PCB-mounted, so this is the one you might want to look out for.