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28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

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131–140 of 149 posts

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#131

The layout and default keymap[0] show this is really a very QWERTY-specific design. I love small keyboards and am a Dvorak[1] fan, so tolerating such a layout will require some creative thinking. I've purchased a PCB from SpaceCat Designs[2] and am keen on creating a Dvorak-centric keymap that chords the top two rows like the gBoards[3] Georgi[4], with the bottom rows dedicated as modifiers. Probably will give it a s…

Dvorak in da house! Been down since 2003 after stumbling onto this article https://ma.tt/2003/08/on-the-dvorak-keyboard-layout/ Discovered WordPress that day too and the rest is aoeuidhistory

Wow! That is much longer than me - only since 2016.

I had no idea the creator of Wordpress used Dvorak too.

For me the gateway was the Dymaxion map in this XKCD comic: https://xkcd.com/977/

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#132
post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I had it set up so that pressing caps down enables num lock, releasing turns off numlock. This is great unit you need to use Remote Desktop, since the autohotkey script doesn't work remotely. So now I bought a new keyboard with a numpad.

Ah, right. I can recommend a QMK-based keyboard, even just the scriptability is worth it.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#133
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…

[deleted]

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#134
post #94
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd like a 200 key keyboard please, will full macro functionality and programability

You can have that. Just plug in another one, and write a script that opens the device exclusively and interprets the events so it doesn't send normal keystrokes.

I don't want a collection of keyboard - I also prefer something that all the macro functionality is inherent to the device, so I dont need a cross platform software, I should just be able to plug the keyboard in to whatever thing I need to use it on, and it should just work.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dvorak in da house! Been down since 2003 after stumbling onto this article https://ma.tt/2003/08/on-the-dvorak-keyboard-layout/ Discovered WordPress that day too and the rest is aoeuidhistory

Wow! That is much longer than me - only since 2016. I had no idea the creator of Wordpress used Dvorak too. For me the gateway was the Dymaxion map in this XKCD comic: https://xkcd.com/977/

Bro! Shoes with toes I'm dying -- he's got me nailed

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#136
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.

Same, but I'm really fast at typing numbers without a numpad. I find moving my hand to a separate location just for numbers is a lot slower. Imo most people that could learn to type numbers quickly without a numpad as well. I wonder what the mechanics of some people typing faster on a numpad are, like how does the layout help over having them aligned in a row? Maybe there's less overlap when moving fingers?

It's a shared skill with calculators (including those with printer tape, which auditing groups seem to adore), and it seems to have the side effect of high keying rates sustained over time.

With a centering mark in the middle of the pad, and only the need to move fingers forwards and backwards (no sideways motion), sustained input of 10,000 digits per hour, with 0 mistakes, is not just possible to expected.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I have only tried a few of those so far, but I have had a hard time finding one that is heavy enough to not slide around. I also like it to be a similar key press feel to my regular keyboard. So I do wish they would sell them to match keyboards.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#138
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd like a 200 key keyboard please, will full macro functionality and programability

Why? I have an 80 key keyboard and even that's too many, since I have a bunch of layer-changing keys.

Answering for myself: It's another thing I have to remember, or visually look for. I have to remember the state of the keyboard, I have to remember even more key chords, or both. I have enough cognitive load going on keeping a programming, gaming, or design stack going in my head to add another load keeping track of the status of my input device.

Even should the actions become muscle memory (I own, but no longer use, a HHKB and know that muscle memory fits in), that muscle memory will fail me the moment I have to use another keyboard, causing a mental stutter as I consciously override my muscle memory (with the HHKB, that was escape and delete in particular).

Moreover, I can feel my way around a keyboard and find all of the keys I could need by the clustering and relative position to the home row. Since I don't rest my hands on the keyboard while typing, this movement is not at all uncomfortable or distracting.

That's why I like full keyboards, why even I could find a keyboard with more keys useful.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#140
post #82

iwouldneverbeabletopracticallyusethiskeyboard ithasnospacebarorpunctuationcharacters notevenashiftkey itonlyhasanenterkey Edit: the button with the red dot on it (which I thought was Enter) is a Fn key that you use to access different "layers" - https://github.com/PyrooL/Alpha/tree/master/keymap Nope. I prefer CISC keyboards over RISC keyboards: they require fewer discrete mnemonics to accomplish real-world goals (in…

It's not quite a function key, it (appears) to be more of a mode switch, with 3-4 possible modes. And there's another "home mode" button to go back to the text lines. So, as I understand it, red->space->home
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