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My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

jackevansevo.github.io

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Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#21

Post by gorjusborg »

sime2009 wrote: post #18
frameset wrote: post #16

I really don't understand the numpad-less trend of fashionable keyboards. Doing any kind of number entry beyond one or two digits is very annoying without one. They also don't take up that much space really. If your keyboard is a portable one you pack with you on trips, I get it. If it lives on a desk, why not splash out the small amount extra to make number entry much easier.

* reduces the distance from keyboard home row to mouse * less desk real estate needed * many of us aren't doing much number entry at all

Also, the number pad is pretty useless to me. I am not a cashier or accountant. The top row is fine fine for programming.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#22

Post by Zambyte »

frameset wrote: post #16

I really don't understand the numpad-less trend of fashionable keyboards. Doing any kind of number entry beyond one or two digits is very annoying without one. They also don't take up that much space really. If your keyboard is a portable one you pack with you on trips, I get it. If it lives on a desk, why not splash out the small amount extra to make number entry much easier.

Or the best of both worlds: put your numpad on another layer at the home row. Press a modifier key with one hand, and enter numbers with the other.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#24

Post by stevev »

Your enthusiasm for collecting and buying keyboards isn't considered unhealthy; it's akin to periodically upgrading a car. At best, it's comparable to exclusively sticking with sedans or small compact cars.

Mechanical keyboards or building custom ones, especially those with Cherry MX keys, are where the excitement lies.

You might not have had the chance to explore them all yet; there's an abundance of various types available.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#25

Post by gorbachev »

shermozle wrote: post #8

I've used the MS Natural keyboards for years. I'd love to move to a mechanical model but the sites selling keyboards are really confusing. What do I have to buy to get a functioning keyboard? A shell? Switches? Other stuff? I really don't know what I'm looking at. Anyone got a good entry point?

Get an off-the-shelf Arisu layout keyboard from a reputable manufacturer. You don't have to worry about the billion options. The Arisu layout keyboards are the closest mechanical keyboards you can get to a MS Natural keyboard layout, IMHO.

Keychron has several models of different sizes that give you good options on size vs. function vs. price: V8/V10, Q8/Q10, K15 Pro, etc. They sell on Amazon, their own site and some mech kbd vendors as well. Their own site is the only one that carries the entire product line, however.

Akkogear has a model (ACR Pro Alice Plus) that's quite affordable and good build quality.

Feker Alice boards from Epomaker are another good choice.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#26

Post by denkmoon »

frameset wrote: post #16

I really don't understand the numpad-less trend of fashionable keyboards. Doing any kind of number entry beyond one or two digits is very annoying without one. They also don't take up that much space really. If your keyboard is a portable one you pack with you on trips, I get it. If it lives on a desk, why not splash out the small amount extra to make number entry much easier.

Good thing I rarely enter more than a few digits :)

Having a "tenkeyless" means my mouse position is aligned with my shoulder, with a full width keyboard my arm would be rotated constantly, leading to pain.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#27

Post by stevev »

sime2009 wrote: post #15
pelalmqvist wrote: post #7

I might be biased by spending too much time watching people dive into the hobby of mechanical keyboards, but I'm impressed he found the strenght to not go too far into it.

I'm just surprised that this low level of engagement with keyboards is considered on the "unhealthy" side of the fence. I mean, this is only about 5 keyboards and not even owned at the same time.

I almost feel that people might be surprised if they knew just how extensive and diverse the world of custom keyboards truly is.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#29

Post by askiiart »

shrubble wrote: post #17
h2odragon wrote: post #2

I got to start with Victor keyboards, which was a little bit of a "silver spoon". The only thing that was ever better than a model M. Sometime around '97 I got a bunch of real Model M's from a school; spent a while refurbishing up a bunch of them, and then used that stack for like 20 years. They lived an average of 3yr under my hands. Since then i use unicomp "new model M". This one has been going stong for 2+yr now,…

Did you learn typing on a manual typewriter as I did? So far my Redragon K552 has held up pretty well for 3+ years.

I used a K552 for a while. Definitely a decent keyboard for the price. Just be warned that, like going from membrane to mechanical, once you upgrade there's no going back. I upgraded to a TKL GMMK with Kailh BOX White switches, and now the K552 feels terrible because my standards have been raised so much higher.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#30

Post by __MatrixMan__ »

sime2009 wrote: post #15
pelalmqvist wrote: post #7

I might be biased by spending too much time watching people dive into the hobby of mechanical keyboards, but I'm impressed he found the strenght to not go too far into it.

I'm just surprised that this low level of engagement with keyboards is considered on the "unhealthy" side of the fence. I mean, this is only about 5 keyboards and not even owned at the same time.

Right. My unhealthy relationship with keyboards is that I have 5 of them which I use on a regular basis, but I haven't bothered update to the same version of my custom firmware, so they differ in subtle and maddening ways--but none more maddening than going back to a standard layout.

I'm happy for this person that they so utterly lack an awareness of what an unhealthy relationship actually looks like. Although a small evil part of me wants to send then a mountain of cocaine so they can find out.

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