Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

jackevansevo.github.io

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

211–220 of 389 posts

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#211

Post by rewmie »

jseliger wrote: post #117
EtienneK wrote: post #56

I was expecting to see 10s of keyboards as you'd see from most in r/MechanicalKeyboards and was disappointed to only find 5. Not an unhealthy relationship at all!

I eventually wound up with Kinesis ergo keyboards and stopped being much "into" keyboards; they are a means to an end: https://jakeseliger.com/2011/07/17/further-thoughts-on-the-k... . Now I have an Advantage 3 with Box White switches, after admittedly talking to an Upgrade Keyboards key switch sommelier, which I admit somewhat undercuts my first sentence in this comment.

> eventually wound up with Kinesis ergo keyboards and stopped being much "into" keyboards;

Aren't those like $500 a pop? Handing out that kind of dough for a keyboard sounds like the opposite of stopping being much into keyboards.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#212

Post by rewmie »

J_Shelby_J wrote: post #103
coreyh14444 wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And I'm typing this on a fully custom, hand soldered, hand lubed, modded Maja V2 from KBDFans and MT3 keycaps from Drop. Easily costs more than all those boards in that post combined. And let's just say this is not my only keyboard.

It’s a neat hobby! Honestly, all you really need is to lube the switches. That’s biggest benefit. A lubed mechanical switch, even the cheapest generic red, out performs anything off the shelf.

> It’s a neat hobby!

The same can be said about heroin.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#213

Post by tqwhite »

bigstrat2003 wrote: post #202
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.

I cannot stand any keyboard less than a 100% layout. I have 30 years of muscle memory built up, and I'm not about to relearn it. I don't really have any beef with those who want a smaller keyboard (though I don't really understand it - no way is your desk so small that saving a few inches actually makes a difference). But it is a real bummer that makers of high-end keyboards only cater to that crowd, and don't make n…

Incorrect! I have worked on a high quality, wooden card table for fifteen years as a professional programmer. I am right-handed and there is no way there is room for a mouse or (as I actually use) a trackpad with a number pad on the keyboard.

I've tried a couple of numberless keyboards and those crowd my mouse area. I am firmly and permanently settled on the Apple keyboard. It is tiny, silent and perfectly reliable.

(In a bizarre side note, I left one out in the rain the other day, a downpour. It still worked.)

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#214

Post by rewmie »

zigzag312 wrote: post #209

I love having a narrow keyboard (due to ergonomics), but I wish that at least some models would be a row deeper and keep the function keys.

> (...) I wish that at least some models would be a row deeper and keep the function keys.

I think you might be looking for a keyboard form factor called 75% keyboard, or even a tenkeyless.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#215

Post by tqwhite »

namrog84 wrote: post #134

Hey keyboard and computer enthusiast! I need your help! Any other keyboard I've ever tried hurts my wrists, arm, and back, and causes me pain except the "Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000". However they were discontinued years ago. :( I've been buying up used ones and learning how to disassemble and repair the ones I have the best I can, but my skills are limited. If anyone has any (unopened) ones or knows of…

I use the Apple keyboard. It is very, very low profile. I have had wrist trouble but not in this context.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#216

Post by tqwhite »

bdcravens wrote: post #183

I've played around with so many keyboards, but I'm at a point now where workflow is more important to me. Personally I find the MX Keys to be the best keyboard I've ever put my hands on, but I really like the fingerprint reader in the Apple keyboards. (One day I may take on the project of extracting the fingerprint reader: https://hackaday.com/2022/12/26/standalone-touch-id-for-your... )

Fingerprint reader on keyboard == AWESOME

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#217

Post by denimnerd42 »

rewmie wrote: post #211
jseliger wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I eventually wound up with Kinesis ergo keyboards and stopped being much "into" keyboards; they are a means to an end: https://jakeseliger.com/2011/07/17/further-thoughts-on-the-k... . Now I have an Advantage 3 with Box White switches, after admittedly talking to an Upgrade Keyboards key switch sommelier, which I admit somewhat undercuts my first sentence in this comment.

> eventually wound up with Kinesis ergo keyboards and stopped being much "into" keyboards; Aren't those like $500 a pop? Handing out that kind of dough for a keyboard sounds like the opposite of stopping being much into keyboards.

$500 is nothing for a tool that protects your hands and upper body. carpal tunnel, thoracic outlet syndrome, other kinds of RSI are no joke.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#218

Post by tqwhite »

pashariger wrote: post #91

Pro tip: I use a mix of Mac and Windows with Apple's magic keyboard. The way I fixed the key layout issue was to swap the mapping of the CMD and CTRL keys on the Windows machine. (used a utility called SharpKeys, but Windows may now have a built in way to do this) It feels pretty much seamless. I'm also using the magic trackpad on Windows - the ability to pinch zoom, pan and scroll is just as functional and awesome a…

PS, I have never been able to understand the Windows control key placement. You have to use it all the time but it's off to the far side. It has to be pressed with the tiniest, weakest finger.

I'm mostly a Mac guy but have spent lots of time using Windows and I still have to pause to place my finger on the control key. For the same thing, I press the command key on my Mac with my thumb. I can't miss it, my fingers naturally spread out over the keyboard for the second keypress and my thumb is strong.

After many years, it still seems goofy to me.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#219

Post by tqwhite »

japhyr wrote: post #166
javier_e06 wrote: post #43

I never understood the Mac keyboards. For me a are a sensory deprivation chamber. I am wielding a ROG Falchion Green Cherry MX Gaming Keyboard. Is a backlit keyboard with good feedback and sound. But there is a hollow sound to the keys that is not ideal. My favorite keyboard I cannot use because is not backlit. The CoolerMaster Storm QuickFire Rapid - Tenkeyless. The keys are so smooth to the touch and there is a sli…

My favorite keyboards are not backlit, and I was frustrated to have to put them aside after sunset. I ended up getting a small battery powered light and attaching it to the bottom of my desk. It shines on my lap, and lets me use non-backlit keyboards without any other lights on. Is that an option for you?

I put it on the bottom edge of my monitor, on the back, just peeking out enough to illuminate my keyboard.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#220

Post by nickstinemates »

wellthisisgreat wrote: post #198
coreyh14444 wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agree. You can take a basic mechanical keyboard from Amazon with hot swap switches, lube them. Maybe do a basic tape mod (just put masking tape on the back of the PCB) and get like 85% of the benefit of a high end keyboard. This is what I've done for the rest of my family's keyboards.

What does the tape mod do?

Improves the sound, basically.
Post reply on HN