My Honest Thoughts on Mice and Keyboards After All These Years

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This is not a review, nor a buying guide.

It’s a collection of personal conclusions I’ve reached after falling into more than enough rabbit holes, as a programmer who spends a large portion of each day behind a keyboard and mouse.

These conclusions may not fit everyone. But if you, like me:

Use a computer for long hours every day
Switch frequently between macOS and Windows
Don’t want to waste time on pointless tinkering

Then this article might help you spend less money and avoid unnecessary detours.

A Premise Worth Stating Up Front

99% of electronic products have no collectible value.

Keyboards and mice are no exception.
They age. They depreciate. They get replaced by better options.

If a device already feels uncomfortable or awkward to use,
don’t justify it with “nostalgia,” “habit,” or “I’ll adapt eventually.”

Sell it early. Cutting your losses is already a win.

My Core Views on Keyboards

1. Typing Feel Comes First. Everything Else Is Secondary.

Mechanical, electrostatic capacitive, or membrane—it doesn’t matter.

What really matters is this:

Are you willing to type on it for 8 hours a day?

Specs, switch names, layout dogma—none of that survives long-term use.

2. Multi-Device Switching Matters More Than You Think

If you regularly switch between two or three computers,
then connection stability and switching convenience matter far more than:

Keycap material
RGB lighting
“Custom” aesthetics

Keyboard Types I Actually Endorse After Long-Term Use

Electrostatic Capacitive: Only NIZ 35g

The only electrostatic capacitive keyboard I personally认可 is the NIZ 35g.

The reasons are straightforward:

Consistent typing feel that doesn’t stiffen significantly over time
Solid compatibility with both macOS and Windows
Multi-mode connectivity that actually works in daily use

HHKB is hard to avoid in this category, but my conclusion is blunt:

It’s more of a geek symbol than a long-term productivity tool.

My own HHKB Pro BT:

Has noticeably stiffened over time
The plastic case has started to yellow
Resale value is far from impressive

If your goal is simply to use a keyboard well,
rather than tuning rubber domes, modding parts, or buying into belief systems,
you can safely skip the HHKB.

Mechanical Keyboards: Filco Minila as a Representative Example

The Filco Minila was the first mechanical keyboard that truly satisfied me.

It taught me one important lesson:

Stability matters more than flair.

The solid feel brought by a steel plate
is far more tangible than any switch specification on paper.

Yes, the ABS keycaps shine over time—that’s one of its few drawbacks.
But it barely affects actual usability.

Membrane Keyboards: Only MX Keys Is Worth Considering

If you’re set on a membrane keyboard, my conclusion is simple:

Only look at MX Keys or MX Keys Mini. Ignore the rest.

I’ve used the K950. It looks similar to MX Keys,
but build quality, reliability, and overall experience are clearly inferior.

MX Keys has its downsides:

The keys have a noticeable central concavity
Some users need time to adjust

But when it comes to stability, multi-device support, and minimal fuss,
it remains the best membrane keyboard available.

My Core Views on Mice

1. For a Primary Mouse, Ergonomics Are Non-Negotiable

If you use a mouse more than 6 hours a day,
ergonomics aren’t a bonus—they’re the baseline.

Wrist, forearm, and shoulder strain
will catch up with you in a very honest way after a few years.

2. Travel Mice Can Compromise—But Not Too Much

Portability matters,
but “too light to grip” or “too small to support your hand”
also leads to fatigue.

Office Workhorse: MX Master Series

The MX Master 3s is, in my view, the benchmark for office mice.

It’s not for gaming,
but in productivity scenarios it offers:

Stable grip
Mature feature set
Smooth multi-device switching

Its main drawback is also well-known:

The rubber coating ages and becomes oily.

This affects nearly all mid-to-high-end Logitech mice,
to the point where some users resort to 3D-printed shells.

Ergonomics-Focused: MX Vertical

If you’re already feeling wrist strain,
MX Vertical is a serious option worth considering.

You don’t need to “believe in ergonomics.”
After a few days of use, the difference becomes obvious.

Logitech also has a vertical mouse called LIFT.
Unless you have very small hands, it’s generally not worth considering.

Lightweight Option: ROG Keris AimPoint

This type of mouse works well as:

A mobile office mouse
A secondary or backup device

It’s lightweight and supports multi-device switching,
but for users with larger hands, it’s not ideal as a long-term primary mouse.

A Few Realities About Logitech

Unifying / Logi Bolt Are Not “Perfectly Stable”

In theory, they’re more reliable than Bluetooth.
In reality:

In environments crowded with wireless devices, interference happens to everyone.

When issues occur,
the most effective fix is still the oldest one:

Turn it off. Turn it back on.

Gaming Mice ≠ Good Office Mice

Low-end models are not recommended
Mid-range models are usable, but imperfect

They often suffer from:

Worse battery life compared to office-focused lines
No support for Unifying or Logi Bolt
Average micro-switch reliability, with no easy replacement

Final Takeaway

Don’t mythologize keyboards or mice.

They are tools, not beliefs.
Only three things really matter:

Do you feel fatigued after long use?
Is switching between devices smooth?
If it breaks, does it hurt emotionally?

If the answers aren’t right,
replace it—and don’t hesitate.

Peripherals on Leo's Technical Log