Editing Cherry MX Brown (section)

==History==
The switch type was created as response to a request from [[Kinesis_Corporation|Kinesis]] who wanted a tactile, low-force switch without the clicky sound of the [[Cherry MX Blue]]. Their [[Kinesis Advantage|contoured keyboard]], introduced in 1992, was the first keyboard with the switch.<ref name="GH_Kinesis" /> Cherry used them first in 1994, as the default switch in Cherry's first own ergonomic keyboard, the [[Cherry G80-5000|G80-5000]]. Then officially named "ergo soft" it was not found in the default Cherry product catalog and was only available as a special order item. After the G80-5000, Cherry did not officially release a keyboard with the MX Brown switch under their own brand until the [[Cherry G80-3800|G80-3800]] in 2011. However, [[POS keyboards|POS boards]] containing the switch, such as the [[Cherry G80-1950|G80-1950]] and the [[G80-8113]], were available earlier.

MX Brown switches continued to be used in OEM orders, especially for Compaq server hardware. The more common Compaq [[G80-11800]] is considered to be a good donor board for MX Brown switches, while the much less common Compaq [[G80-1838]] remains a relatively rare collectors item.

Nowadays, the Cherry MX Brown is a popular switch and available from Cherry directly. Many mechanical keyboards continue to be available with Cherry MX Brown switches. It was voted ''Best keyboard switch'' at the Deskthority Awards 2011.<ref name="DT_Award" />

The switch is sometimes called "Tea axis" in Asia. The Chinese and Japanese word for "brown" (茶色) literally means "tea colour".

As of 2012, these switches are available from the manufacturer, or through re-sellers.