Software Developers love mechanical keyboards. Due to expanded marketing campaigns, their popularity is growing among other people too. Naturally people have questions like, "Is a mechanical keyboard right for me?", or, "Do people really slip on banana peels like in the cartoons?" For the former, you can read the comprehensive pro/con list below. And for the later, you can lookup the old Mythbusters episode that I disagree with. They tested it wrong. What they should have done is...Editors Note: The original points about the Mythbusters episode were valid, but 4 pages long. We cut it for brevity and left this note here so you know you can't always believe what you see on TV.
Con
Due to the increased volume of key presses, hearing loss is all but guaranteed.
Con
Everyone you know who owns a mechanical keyboard will turn every conversation into a chance to compare your keyboard to theirs.
Con
Mechanical keyboards are less durable because you'll put them through even more stress. Like blenders, and acting as a car jack.
Con
Mechanical keyboards are more expensive because your co-workers will continuously steal them from your desk out of annoyance. Related, you will miss out on every promotion opportunity.
Con
Someone will convince you to buy one without letters printed on the keys. Your typos will increase over 700%.
Con
Your typing speed will increase 40%. Your typos will increase over 200%.
Con
You will replace the switches with custom ones each month until you find the perfect set. You will never find the perfect set.
Pro
In case of emergency, you have a large, impromptu hammer.
Con
Spending hours on Etsy buying custom key caps you'll eventually remove from your keyboard anyway.
Con
Your co-workers will silently judge you for being a keyboard snob.
Con
When your nephew spills chocolate milk all over the keyboard, the extensive cost to replace it will make you even more upset your 32 year old nephew still drinks chocolate milk.