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The 40% Keyboard

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Re: The 40% Keyboard

#181

Post by account42 »

Lio wrote: post #128
_0ffh wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally, I use the numpad to navigate source code and other text files. I very rarely use the mouse under those circumstances. So this very much depends on our personal style and use cases.

Yeah definitely somewhere where people should be allow a personal preference. What does that numpad offer that is not already on the rest of the keyboard? I think if you are comfortable touch typing numbers then there's not much advantage to having a number pad. (I've worked from laptops (without numpad) connected to an external monitor for about 15 years now so I may be missing something potentially useful here.)

> What does that numpad offer that is not already on the rest of the keyboard?

Additional keys.

I use mine for macros.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#182

Post by wincy »

dsego wrote: post #173
me_me_me wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Not hard to learn to use the mouse with your non-dominant hand. It's just a couple of days of practice. And then switch between your left and you right every other day. Don't even have to flip the buttons, just learn to use the index for secondary and middle for primary clicks.

I’m left handed and find it impossible to use a mouse with my left hand.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#183

Post by smoyer »

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…

A numeric keypad is way better for certain tasks like entering IPv4 addresses.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#184

Post by lallysingh »

eptcyka wrote: post #157
sundvor wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

The best disaster-recovery plan for when you can't use your dominant hand to operate a mouse is to be able to use the computer without use a mouse.

The reason you can't use the mouse probably makes the keyboard harder

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#185

Post by aeyes »

dsego wrote: post #176

Not sold on the RSI benefits. See, I bought a Planck, thinking that the ortholinear layout would make sense. But it didn't work really. Maybe I'm just accustomed to the staggered layout, but it just felt too cramped. Besides, I don't think that less movement automatically leads to less strain. In fact it felt like my fingers didn't get to stretch enough, and my wrists were too close for comfort. All in all, the mouse…

Your observation of micro movements of the mouse causing issues is hitting the nail on the head. This movement comes from the wrist and should be avoided.

All pro gamers use a somewhat low sensitivity which forces the movement to come from the forearm instead of the wrist. Higher accuracy isn't the only reason, you'll get chronic wrist pain within a couple of months if the mouse movement comes from your wrist.

I'd recommend at least 20cm/360, better 25+. No accel.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#186

Post by Symbiote »

xondono wrote: post #171

I find this kinds of keyboards very interesting, but doing CAD work seems like a pain. The biggest problem I find with all of this is that most of my software has locked down (or crappy systems for changing) shortcuts, so it would be painfully hard to set up one of this. Interesting stuff anyway.

For CAD work, something like a large macropad might be helpful -- giving additional keys, rather than taking some away.

On a keyboard like the one linked below, every key can be programmed arbitrarily, i.e. you can set a single key to do "Control X" or whatever. I don't know if this can do it, but things like having a single key do "Control X, 5, move mouse left 5 pixels, Control K" are possible on some of these mechanical keyboards, given some programming ability.

("Gaming" macropads are also an option, the flashy LEDs can usually be disabled.)

http://xahlee.info/kbd/ly092_mini_keyboard.html

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#187

Post by pvinis »

mewse wrote: post #21

I'm mostly typing on Corne keyboards now; a split kit keyboard with 42 keys, so still considered 40%, but fewer keys than most other 40% boards. (so you have to learn to cope with not having dedicated arrow keys, for example) I can't imagine ever going back to a non-split keyboard; for me, it's a much better typing position to have my hands shoulder-width apart rather than squeezed together. I think that's more impor…

I am in the same keyboard boat. I would upvote you 5 times if I could.

The one thing I'd like is to have my iris keyboard with short travel switches.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#188

Post by aeyes »

xouse wrote: post #64

I know a lot of people who think they can touch type the number row, but I've yet to meet anyone who can actually do it at anything resembling their normal typing speed and without errors. If people could there would be no reason for the numberpad to exist. I'm a very fast typist and I've always struggled with touch typing the number row. Thirty minutes into using a split 40% keyboard and I was using the number row a…

I also haven't met anyone that touch-types 100% to the book. Everybody does some movements which aren't considered correct. The problem is that at some point you reach a level which you consider sufficient and you stop improving. Unlearning bad habits is a huge effort.

I can touch-type the number row at full speed as I was drilled doing it. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't be able to either because you rarely need it.

The advantage of a numpad is that it reduced hand movement.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#189

Post by _lbaq »

nabeelms wrote: post #63

Personally, I prefer the Kinesis Advantage 2 for most of my typing work. It's more pricy than many other keyboards but I've always found dev work pretty easy with it.

Second that, its also wider than these tiny small keyboards, which is a plus comfort-wise.

Re: The 40% Keyboard

#190

Post by yiyus »

clarry wrote: post #163
lewisflude wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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/

I'd like a planck with smaller keys / tighter key spacing (85% to 90% of standard) and two keys in place of one big space bar. Maybe splittable at the center, still with possibility to stick the halves together for transport. Also blank, low profile caps would be nice..

Planck's with two keys instead of the longer space are pretty common. The PCB gives you both options.
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