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28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

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Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#111

Post by fjfaase »

amelius wrote: post #11
ardy42 wrote: post #2

I don't get the obsession with custom keyboard with ever fewer keys. If I designed one, if anything it would have at least a few more modifier keys that a standard keyboard.

I don't get why most keyboards available in stores have a numpad. I never use it, and it takes up valuable space on my desk. I wonder how many people actually use the numpad section of a keyboard on a daily basis.

What even bothers me more is that those keyboards that do not have a numpad section, cram all the 'insert', 'home', ..., and arrow keys in strange places below and under the normal keys or, even worse, hide them under a function key.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#112

Post by majewsky »

beatgammit wrote: post #73
amelius wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get why most keyboards available in stores have a numpad. I never use it, and it takes up valuable space on my desk. I wonder how many people actually use the numpad section of a keyboard on a daily basis.

I use it all the time for entering IP addresses, numbers in a spreadsheet, and doing quick math in a calculator. My current keyboard doesn't have one (it shipped faster and that was more important to me at the time), and I really miss it, and I'm thinking of getting a separate 10-key. I thought it wouldn't miss it that much, but I use numbers frequently enough that it's noticeable. I wish keyboards had removable 10-k…

> I wish keyboards had removable 10-keys so I could save space on my desk until I need it.

There are separate numpads, i.e. USB keyboards that are only the numpad. My brothers are civil engineers, and they use these when working with AutoCAD on a notebook since AutoCAD apparently puts a lot of stuff on numpad keys.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#113

Post by cmroanirgo »

m000 wrote: post #39
archarios wrote: post #27

Pffff. What is this, amateur hour? 20 keys or bust! https://www.gboards.ca/product/butter-stick-limited-edition :P

20 keys? Is this some kind of joke? Here's the real deal: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15375892

Wow... and I thought 8 keys would be cool!

That's plenty for anyone who knows their ASCII chart. Ergonomics should be through the roof as all 4 fingers on both hands would get a relatively equal workout. (With perhaps the left pinky finger representing the top bit as an exception... but that could be the 'fn' key)

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/referen...

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#114

Post by pjc50 »

amelius wrote: post #11
ardy42 wrote: post #2

I don't get the obsession with custom keyboard with ever fewer keys. If I designed one, if anything it would have at least a few more modifier keys that a standard keyboard.

I don't get why most keyboards available in stores have a numpad. I never use it, and it takes up valuable space on my desk. I wonder how many people actually use the numpad section of a keyboard on a daily basis.

I could stand to lose the numpad .. if I get to keep the home/end/pgup/pgdown. Currently I'm using a not very good logitech that's the other way round, so I'm using the numpad in "numlock off" mode and discovering which apps treat the keys differently.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#115

Post by neoberg »

ardy42 wrote: post #2

I don't get the obsession with custom keyboard with ever fewer keys. If I designed one, if anything it would have at least a few more modifier keys that a standard keyboard.

Well, I use a 30% (33 keys) as my daily driver for programming. I like being able to reach every key and function without leaving the home position at all. Plus, I use my laptop outside of office a lot and I can very easily carry this keyboard around with me. It even fits into my coat's pocket.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#116

Post by neoberg »

ta09876 wrote: post #7
anotheryou wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fewer keys often means more modifiers (if not going to such an extreme as here). That way you can make room for numpad, F-keys or odd keys like page-up or end etc..

True, but unfortunately those extra modifiers are now used up for getting the original keyboard back. If you want to do, e.g. Control-Shift-Arrow to select text, you now have to use even more modifiers. I'm currently using a Razer Anansi which is a full size keyboard with extra modifier keys under the space bar. Combined with AutoHotKey and Caps Lock, I can select text with the keyboard without moving away from home…

Using programmable keyboards with a firmware like QMK, you can reduce the number of modifiers needed on smaller keyboards.

I use a 30%(33 keys) as my daily driver and I very rarely need 3+ button combos even though my arrow keys are in a seperate layer.

For example: My "A" and "O" key acts as shift when held. My "Z" key switches to the layer where "h;,." are arrow keys and adds "CMD" as a modifier. So to select left I do "Z + A + H". I use colemak so A is right above Z.

There are other tricks I do for reducing layer switches. On almost every keyboard "." and "," are next to each other but they are never used together in any human or programming language. "/" is not used that often so it doesn't make much sense to have it in the main layer of a small keyboard. So I made my "," key to output a "/" if pressed immediately after "." for typing "./". I have some other keys that act different if pressed after a certain key.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#117

Post by neoberg »

clarry wrote: post #19
BubRoss wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand it either. I built a keyboard with fewer keys and it makes programming very difficult, even if having the keyboard split apart is much more ergonomic.

I've been on 40% for a couple months now, and I don't find programming to be more difficult. I'd say it's about the same, just different.

I've been on 30% for a year now (programming) and never going back. Was using a split 40 before.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#118

Post by sorenjan »

StavrosK wrote: post #96
sorenjan wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cooler master has a keyboard which they call a hybrid ten key less where they combines the numpad with the arrow and home buttons. There are probably other brands with a similar layout, seems like a good compromise. I use a ten key less keyboard so I can put the mouse closer to it. https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/cdn.coolermaster.com/asse... https://www.coolermaster.com/catalog/peripheral/keyboards/ma...

That's interesting, how do you pick which one you want to use?

Numlock.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#119

Post by unixhero »

petepete wrote: post #103
unixhero wrote: post #24

Which full sized or battleship sized (even bigger) keyboard which is readily available, do you recommend?

In my opinion, for full sized keyboards the RealForce 104UW is as good as it gets. I use the 88 key variant and it's a joy to type on, is extremely well built and very heavy. https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/usa-topre-realforce-104u...

For the record the best ones I could imagine are:

https://youtu.be/N8FXw_QelQc

https://youtu.be/e-5DDDd3Qzw

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#120

Post by jedimastert »

ardy42 wrote: post #2

I don't get the obsession with custom keyboard with ever fewer keys. If I designed one, if anything it would have at least a few more modifier keys that a standard keyboard.

> I don't get the obsession with custom keyboard with ever fewer keys.

IIRC, this idea was originally proposed on reddit as a joke taking this idea to the extreme.

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