[softawre]

This is true. But, if you're in an open office, don't you think the decent thing to do is to not speak loudly (and therefore not use a loud mechanical keyboard)?

There are mech keyboards with more quiet switches. At least use one of those.

[mindcrime]

But, if you're in an open office, don't you think the decent thing to do is to not speak loudly (and therefore not use a loud mechanical keyboard)?

No, that just shows tacit acceptance of the situation and exacerbates the problem over time. If you work in an open plan environment, the best thing to do is use the noisiest keyboard you can find, wear headphones that intentionally leak noise and listen to your music loud, do as many personal phone calls as you can from your desk, etc. And then, when people complain, point out that you didn't ask for an open plan office, and ask them to go to their manager and explain how horrible open plan is.

Worst case, you get fired. Big deal, now you have a chance to look for a place to work that isn't brain dead.

[Declanomous]

Pretty much every mechanical keyboard will be loud. I use a board with Cherry Red switches at work, and while it's much quieter than my board with Cherry Blue switches that I use at home, it is still louder than the rubber dome keyboard it replaced.

It doesn't bother my coworkers, but I also have an actual cube, so there's at least a little bit of fabric-covered foam inbetween us.

[nsxwolf]

If someone is complaining about Cherry Reds, I think they're asking for too much. Perhaps they should look for work in the library sciences.

[_jal]

Heh. I had a former cow-orker who hated by Topre board. I told him if he'd (a) keep his computer volume off and (b) not hold impromptu, non-work meetings as his desk at bar-volumes, I'd try to use a crappy board for him.

He was offended. I kept my board.

Again, the root problem is the veal-fattening pens.

[abritinthebay]

Cherry Reds are quiet for mechanical keyboards but they're still louder than most decent non-mechanical.

Also way louder than a MBP keyboard, for example.

[kps]

  > they're still louder than most decent non-mechanical.

They're louder than all decent non-mechanical. They're also quieter than all decent non-mechanical.

[maxxxxx]

Sure. It's good to be courteous. But in the end it comes down to the fact that open offices are just plain stupid. I don't know what the motivation behind them is but it's certainly not to make a productive workplace.