1---
 2template:
 3slug: ducky-one-2
 4title: The Ducky One 2 SF
 5subtitle: I fell for the mechanical keyboard meme
 6date: 2020-08-22
 7---
 8
 9Thanks to the pandemic yada yada I've been working from home (and
10attending college from home), and I figured my WFH setup could use an
11upgrade. Unfortunately, the choices for mechanical keyboards in India are
12fairly limited. All imports from China don't get through, and imports
13from elsewhere have a _fat_ duty slapped on it -- sometimes up to
14300%[^1]. It's obscene!
15
16[^1]: [Reddit link](https://www.reddit.com/r/mkindia/comments/hzyoof/i_see_many_spreading_misinformation_about_import/)
17
18The only reliable source I've found (and folks on
19[r/mkindia](https://reddit.com/r/mkindia) will concur), is
20[Meckeys](https://meckeys.com). They aren't particularly abundant in
21variety, but there's some decent prebuilts that you can pick up on
22there -- and I copped the Ducky One 2 SF.
23
24![Ducky One 2 SF side view](https://x.icyphox.sh/5LSG7.jpg)
25
26It's a 65% board, so unlike standard 60% boards, this comes with arrow
27keys and the `Del`, `PgUp` and `PgDn` keys. I don't _really_ need the
28arrow keys, but they do come handy on the occasion -- like scrolling,
29for example. Since this board lacks the function row, the `Esc` and the
30`~` keys are merged. I have to hit `Shift + Esc` for tilde (same action
31as usual), and `Fn + Esc` for the backtick. Takes a bit of relearning,
32but it's manageable.
33
34![Ducky One 2 SF top-down view](https://x.icyphox.sh/tRdNw.jpg)
35
36The key switches I went with were the Cherry MX Speed Silvers -- like
37Reds but actuate a bit faster. As it's my first ever mechanical
38keyboard, I don't really have anything to compare it against. It feels
39_great_, but it was pretty jarring initially because even the slightest
40touch (with the palm for instance), would cause a key to actuate, leading
41to typos. Again, just a matter of getting accustomed to it; all smooth
42sailing after. Why did I pick the Speed Silvers? The other switch
43options were out of stock.
44
45That said, I think I really quite like linear switches. They're not
46_too_ noisy, and they feel just right. I haven't noticed any great
47improvement in my typing speeds though -- I still maintain an average of
4890-100 WPM.
49
50The One 2 SF is fully RGB, i.e. each key is individually lit. Not that
51I make big use it. I have it set to plain white, and only light up under
52the key I'm currently pressing. Yes, this also makes it incredibly easy
53for people to shoulder-peek your passwords. I certainly won't be using
54it outside home.
55
56The keyboard itself cost 9599 INR, which is about 128 USD. Meckeys
57took exactly 10 days to ship it (3rd Aug - 13th Aug). Overall, it's
58a lovely keyboard, and I _cannot_ type on my laptop's low-travel
59chiclet-style keyboard, again. There's just no going back.