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Linus Torvalds Returns To Mechanical Keyboard After Making Too Many Typos (theregister.com)

(Tuesday May 13, 2025 @11:20AM (msmash) from the ticket-closed dept.)


Linux creator Linus Torvalds has [1]abandoned his six-month experiment with a quieter low-profile keyboard in favor of his old mechanical one with Cherry MX Blue switches. In [2]a post about Linux 6.15-rc6 on LKML.org, Torvalds explained that his typing accuracy suffered without the tactile feedback.

"It seems I need the audible (or perhaps tactile) feedback to avoid the typing mistakes that I just kept doing," Torvalds wrote. The famously outspoken developer couldn't recall why he initially switched to the quieter keyboard, as he doesn't work in a shared office where the noise would disturb others. After the failed experiment with the unnamed quiet keyboard, Torvalds has now returned to what he describes as a "noisy clackety-clack" input device. He joked that since he can no longer blame his keyboard for typos, "going forward, I will now conveniently blame autocorrect."



[1] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/13/linux_6_15_rc6_keyboards/

[2] https://lkml.org/lkml/2025/5/11/398


Oh (Score:2)

by The-Ixian ( 168184 )

At least now I will be able to sleep tonight knowing that Linus is making fewer typos. Whew.

Re: Oh (Score:2)

by PsychoSlashDot ( 207849 )

That's dismissive, but there is some insight to be observed from this story. Sometimes the "best" tool for a job is the one you're used to.

Re: Oh (Score:2)

by zawarski ( 1381571 )

That's what my wife says.

I like Cherry MX Brown (Score:4, Insightful)

by OrangeTide ( 124937 )

Brown is a nice quiet alternative, but I do find I am more accurate with the clicky Blue key switches.

My current mechanical keyboard is some DIY thing I put together with the cheapest, lightest, quietest switches I could find. I make a LOT of mistakes on it. The worse decision was to use too light of a switch for the spacebar.

(most of my problem is the lack of proof reading and has nothing to do with the keyboard)

Re: (Score:2)

by kmahan ( 80459 )

I'm also a fan of Cherry Brown. But Blues are also great!

Cherry Blue? Meh. (Score:2)

by zawarski ( 1381571 )

Kailh Box Navy. The very best there is. When you absolutely, positively got to kill every motherfucker in the room, accept no substitutes.

It's the keyboard's fault (Score:2)

by Tony Isaac ( 1301187 )

That's what I tell people when I send somebody a message with errors in it.

Or if that doesn't work, it's autocorrect's fault.

I'll find something to blame!

Remind me not to sit next to Linus (Score:2)

by Robert Goatse ( 984232 )

I had an office-mate who used one of those clicky/clacky keyboards and it was very distracting. That's all I heard all day -click/clack/click/clack. I politely said something to the effect of "wow, that keyboard is loud!" and he replaced it with a normal keyboard.

Those mechanical keyboards are made by the devil for folks who sit by themselves not in a shared space.

K but (Score:2)

by pele ( 151312 )

Did he fart this week, do we have any info?

Not exactly as shown.