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The 40% Keyboard

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Re: The 40% Keyboard

#111

Post by joosters »

kgwgk wrote: post #108
joosters wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would programmers actually benefit? Realistically, how often are you limited by your typing speed when coding? I can type fast but there’s no way I could ever keep writing code at my typing speed, I’m always pausing to think about what I’m writing. If you type slower, you are still thinking about the code as you type. Is typing really the limiting factor, or is it actually the thinking?

I think the discussion is about ergonomics, not speed.

Much of the discussion is about having fewer keys, resulting in more multiple key presses to type certain symbols. That’s not improving ergonomics.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#112

Post by jdietrich »

taneq wrote: post #30
terandle wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No numpad is an ergonomic benefit. Your mouse is closer so you don't have to move your hand as far. The best way to have a numpad if you really need one, I have found, is to have a separate one like how the Microsoft Sculpt keyboard does it.

But my WASD keys and my mouse are exactly shoulder width apart. If I didn't have a numpad I'd just have a gap between my mousepad and my keyboard.

Your mouse sensitivity is too high. Competitive FPS gamers shift their keyboard well to the left and tilt it at an angle to provide enough room for an extra-large mouse pad.

https://liquipedia.net/counterstrike/File:Shroud_at_PGL_Majo...

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#113

Post by jdietrich »

TylerE wrote: post #26
dangus wrote: post #7

Call me cynical, but I think a lot of the small style keyboards I see around the office are more of a fashion trend than anything. I remember when the insistence was on number pads, and how dare they be removed from our laptops and desktop keyboards. Fast forward a few years and I was made fun of at a programming job for preferring a full keyboard with a number pads. I guess programmers are too cool to enter in dolla…

This is a real annoyance of mine. None of the real nice mechanical keyboards are available in a fullsize layout. A numpad is NOT negotiable for me...several creative apps I regularly use use the numpad for control (and no, the regular number row keys ARE NOT mapped to the same commands).

Buy a separate numpad and put it to the left of your keyboard. It provides a more ergonomic position for your mouse and allows you to use the numpad and the mouse simultaneously. Keeping the numpad on the right is a relic from the days before mice and is a huge ergonomic error.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#114

Post by pdpi »

It really annoys me when people try to claim scientific evidence (Fitts’s law in this case) for their unscientific choices.

There is no frequency-of-use analysis, nothing about the cognitive cost of remembering a very very unique set of key bindings (the guy on my team with a 40% keyboard still struggles with some common keystrokes after several months), just “fitts’s law and we move less”.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#115

Post by WalterBright »

I still much much prefer a full size keyboard. I could only find one on Amazon that would connect with bluetooth. I throw it in my luggage when traveling so at least in my hotel room I can use a full size keyboard.

I hate those wretched trackpads on laptops, and also throw a full size bluetooth mouse in my luggage.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#116

Post by cerebellum42 »

Yizahi wrote: post #98

People like to talk a lot about KB ergonomics, reducing carpal syndrome and there is a reason for it, but I don't understand why almost nobody does the one thing that contributes the most for improvement - inverted KB stand. This thing on the bottom - https://imgur.com/a/yne4lPR . People fiddle with layouts, key travel, key shape, switches etc. but that doesn't really matter if your wrists are crooked. If your wrists…

Split ergo keyboards like the Ergodox allow for that kind of positioning and more.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#117

Post by Monory »

ISL wrote: post #47
toast0 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Left mousing provides a similar benefit, plus it confuses people who use your terminal -- left mouse and unlabeled keys is basically hacker proof.

Unless they can touch-type and move the mouse over to the right?

Unlabeled keys and Dvorak

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#118

Post by me_me_me »

binarycrusader wrote: post #48
terandle wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No numpad is an ergonomic benefit. Your mouse is closer so you don't have to move your hand as far. The best way to have a numpad if you really need one, I have found, is to have a separate one like how the Microsoft Sculpt keyboard does it.

Your mouse is closer so you don't have to move your hand as far. Not if you use a mouse left-handed ;) But more seriously, I grew up being trained to touch type in the classical way complete with ten-key exercises. I strongly prefer having a full numpad and I actually prefer the extra distance to the right for mouse usage. I've found over the years that the more I move my hands, the less likely I am to have discomfor…

God damn you cheating lefties! You cant have cake and eat it too!

I really wish for keyboard options with numpad on the left.

I am using numpad rarely but its handy to have when in need.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#119

Post by sundvor »

binarycrusader wrote: post #48
terandle wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No numpad is an ergonomic benefit. Your mouse is closer so you don't have to move your hand as far. The best way to have a numpad if you really need one, I have found, is to have a separate one like how the Microsoft Sculpt keyboard does it.

Your mouse is closer so you don't have to move your hand as far. Not if you use a mouse left-handed ;) But more seriously, I grew up being trained to touch type in the classical way complete with ten-key exercises. I strongly prefer having a full numpad and I actually prefer the extra distance to the right for mouse usage. I've found over the years that the more I move my hands, the less likely I am to have discomfor…

I'd recommend everyone to get used to operating the mouse with either hand.

It certainly helps load balancing, and probably has other benefits too. Consider it a DR plan if you suffer a dominant hand fracture, for example.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#120

Post by lewisflude »

alpaca128 wrote: post #86
lewisflude wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the same as you until I used a planck[1]. I thought not having direct access to numbers or symbols would be a pain, but it really wasn't. The typing experience was comfortable and my wpm went up. I would say I still prefer something in the 60% range (HHKB) layout, ideally with dedicated arrow keys. [1] https://olkb.com/planck

How portable is the Planck? I've got a 40% but it's a split keyboard and so it's a bit of a hassle to transport. But the Planck would let me use the exact same layout and is still ortho, so I'm thinking about getting it as a secondary.

It fits in my jacket pocket! Depending on the case material you go for, it can be heavy or light. Planck-EZ will be super light as it's plastic!

Here's a picture of mine: https://www.instagram.com/p/BzsqXJKnJhT/

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