Keyboards vary widely in their key cap design. Whether it’s the shape of the keys or how the letters are printed on them, these elements can have an impact on the durability and comfort of a keyboard. Today most desktop keyboards have either cylindrical or flat keys, but initially spherical keys were the standard. Key shapes and key printing are a matter of personal preference. The average keyboard user might not ever notice fading with a keyboard that has pad printing; however, serious typists or anyone using a keyboard for long periods of time might find the labels wear away resulting in faded letters or no letters at all.
Learn more about both of key shape and printing options in Part Two of our Mechanical Keyboard Guide.