Membrane vs. Mechanical Keyboards: what's the difference, recycling gadgets, free 'Tomb Raider,' and more

January 3, 2022

It’s a new year, and we’re starting things off with a bang. You’ve probably made some New Years Resolutions, and somewhere in there, I bet more than a few of you want to tackle your working environment. Whether you’re working at home or in the office, plenty of us type on keyboards all day long, and a good keyboard is now a big deal.

If you’ve been looking at purchasing a new keyboard, you probably know there are two general types to choose from: mechanical keyboards and membrane keyboards. But what’s the difference? Is one better than the other? Are mechanical keyboards all they’re cracked up to be? That’s our top story: let us break it down for you.

On a side note, it’s Consumer Electronics Show week, which means lots of product announcements are coming your way. I’m actually in Vegas right now, going hands-on (and mask-on!) with the latest and greatest widgets and doodads that’ll soon invade your home. So keep an eye for lots of exciting news to come.

Other Highlights:

• The largest Rube Goldberg machine in the world is pretty darn cool.
• Quick! Jump on this free deal that gets you all of the modern Tomb Raider games for free!
• You may think your smartphone’s camera is great for pictures, but I bet you didn’t know it could do 21 other things too.
• …and more! Lots, lots, lots more!

-Josh

There’s a lot more variation in the computer keyboard market nowadays than anyone would expect, but really, the most important thing about a keyboard is how the keys work. There are two main methods—mechanical and membrane switches—so here’s how they differ and why you should care. Read More »

If you’ve recently upgraded to a new phone, laptop, tablet, or anything similar, you’d probably like to do something proactive with the old one. Don’t just chuck it in the trash—give it to a friend or family member, donate it, or recycle it. But there are a few things you should do first. Read More »

Alienware is kicking off CES 2022 with Concept Nyx, a cloud gaming prototype that has nothing to do with the cloud. Really, it’s a local streaming tool that beams up to four games from your PC to other devices in your home. While I think that the branding behind Concept Nyx is a bit misleading, I also believe that it’s something we should pursue until cloud gaming reaches maturity. Read More »

Do you ever wonder what it’d be like to run modern apps like Zoom, Spotify, and Slack on a 90s Mac? Artist and designer Michael Feeney tested the idea in a crazy concept video that takes the modern work-from-home world and shoves it inside of macOS 9. Read More »

In 2021, LG shut down its once-flourishing smartphone business to focus on other things. Now, it looks like the company wants to ring in the new year by helping people’s herbs and flowers flourish with an all-new LG indoor gardening gadget. Read More »

Many people have their best ideas while taking a shower or hiking up a mountain. Now, with this weather-resistant notebook, you can write down all of your great ideas without worrying about your notebook getting wet and blurring the ink. The 3×5-inch notebook features a rugged top spiral design and includes a super durable MultiCam Cordura fabric cover that can hold it and up to four writing utensils with a zipper seal. It even ships with an all-weather pen that can write through water, sweat, grease, mud, and more.

Get it at Amazon →

The Slow Mo Guys are back with another stellar video—this time showing off how weird arcade machines look in slow motion. If you’ve ever wondered what one of those retro arcade machines looks like at a whopping 28,500 frames per second, this video will sate your curiosity. Read More »

A smartphone’s camera is always one of its most defining features. Good cameras allow you to better capture moments and scenery with clarity—to be memorialized later on Instagram, of course. But what else can your phone’s camera do besides take selfies? Read More »

Samsung just revealed its 2022 roundup of C-Lab incubator projects ahead of the upcoming CES event. And hands down, the most interesting of the bunch is a smart guitar and app duo ZamStar, which is designed to make it easier to learn guitar and jam with other players. Read More »

After taking a little break, LEGO is back with another epic Architecture series. This week the LEGO Architecture Singapore set made its debut, coming in with 827 pieces that will bring the Singapore skyline and famous landmarks to you. Read More »

Need something to play over the long weekend? Epic Games is offering the entire Tomb Raider reboot trilogy for free! Claim the games before January 6th to play them any time on your PC or through the GeForce Now service. Read More »

The LEGO Botanical collection puts beautiful plants, flowers, and Bonsai trees in your house that you can’t kill. Now, LEGO is expanding its enchanting floral collection and watering the garden with its all-new LEGO Botanical Sunflower set. Read More »

Pretty much all Rube Goldberg machines are awesome, but this one takes the cake. It’s the largest in the world, as certified by Guinness World Records, and takes over four minutes to complete from beginning to end. You can watch it run in this gripping video. Read More »

Back in 2020, we begged LEGO to make this Sonic-based set after seeing it in the LEGO Ideas fan submission system. Luckily, earlier this year, the company did just that and announced its plans to make everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog. This week, LEGO officially launched its Sonic the Hedgehog set, but like Sonic, it’ll go fast, and here’s what you need to know. Read More »

Ready to ride in style? LEGO just announced its latest Technic set, the BMW M 1000 RR. This faithful recreation of the first BMW M-series bike gives fans the opportunity to own an icon of motorsports, even if it’s just at one-fifth scale. The new Technic BMW M 1000 RR set is available January 1st for $230. Read More »