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My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

jackevansevo.github.io

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Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#321

Post by NobodyNada »

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…

I switched from a 100% layout to a 34-key keyboard last year. It's not about the desk space at all, it's about never having to move my hands while typing. E.g. instead of reaching for the arrow keys I use a vim navigation layer. Instead of reaching for the number keys -- or, even worse, a numpad way off to the side -- I use a numpad layer. And mod-taps are amazing.

The small size is nice for portability -- my keyboard is split and wireless, so I can easily stick it in my backpack and set it in front of my laptop on a table anywhere. But again, the main benefit of a compact layout for me is ergonomics rather than size.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#322

Post by falsenapkin »

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.

Quite the ratio here. Definitely agree with the masses that 1) almost no one does number entry 2) many touch typers are plenty fast enough on the number row 3) it does take up space really, especially in laptop or directly next to a mouse. I touch type 24 digit numbers at work from the num row, it's fine really.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#323

Post by _cenw »

pcurve wrote: post #238
darkteflon wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same for me. The shorter distance seems to put substantially less strain on my wrists and shoulder. Can’t imagine sitting in front of a tenkey for hours at a time now.

While I do miss the number pads it was leading me to bad posture and messing up my back. I like how some keyboards have detached numberpad but they are rare.

Southpaw keyboards (with lefthand numpads) also exist, but they're even more rare.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#324

Post by trey-jones »

I'm a simple man. At work I have a Cherry Stream. At home I have a Cherry Stream. I also have a backup on hand (Cherry Stream). Two are black and one is white. The keyboard I had before my first Cherry Stream was mechanical. It was fine, but way too noisy. I still don't get the fuss about mechanical keyboards.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#326

Post by tibbydudeza »

Had a Logitech G-413 mechanical keyboard - it was lovely until the keycaps like ALT Left Shift and Left Control started fading after 2 years of heavy daily use - not very impressed and a warranty claim was not worth it also could not source keycaps for the weirdo Romer G switches they use.

Gave up and thought about a Keychron K8 but was weary of the small form factor so I settled on a Logitech MX Keys as well.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#327

Post by hinkley »

someplaceguy wrote: post #146

My unhealthy relationship with keyboards came to an end as soon as I bought my first Keychron keyboard with a knob (Q-series). After using this keyboard, I can't imagine ever buying another keyboard without a knob. It's really great to control your audio volume with an appropriate hardware control rather than pressing the same key 15 times in a row like an idiot or fiddling around with the mouse. You can configure th…

My old speaker set had a knob so I didn't need one. Now my monitors have a knob but I'd have to fiddle a bunch of things to make those behave as a volume.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#328

Post by spear »

pxc wrote: post #195
acheron wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought my Unicomp Model M 15+ years ago and it’s still perfectly great.

My current favorite keyboard is a Unicomp Mini M, and my collection includes a couple of IBM Model Ms, which I grew up typing on. It's basically a slightly nicer mechanical tenkeyless than the original IBM SSK: lighter, slimmer, native USB, and more simultaneous keypresses, but still hefty and solid, with the same buckling spring action and wonderful curved backplate. Unicomp's brand new Model M keyboards are also qu…

I happily used my Unicomps for more than 15 years. They're still fine but I got a Model F reproduction a couple of years ago. It's much more expensive but the feel is even better!

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#329

Post by crazygringo »

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.

> If it lives on a desk, why not splash out the small amount extra to make number entry much easier.

Because it's bad ergonomics, if you're right-handed. It puts the mouse too far to the right.

And I've been using computers for decades but can't recall a single time I ever did numeric "data entry".

That just feels like a relic of when office workers were entering amounts from stacks of printed invoices by hand.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#330

Post by hinkley »

bhdlr wrote: post #80
Aeolun wrote: post #28

One of the 5 keyboards on your list you used all the way through university, and there's only 2 keyboards after. This feels far from an unhealthy obsession to me.

Dude hasn't even built his own keyboard, definitely not an obsession

I think obsession requires you lamenting what's wrong with a keyboard you already built and how you're going to fix it all 'next time'.

Although if you can hold forth on how to find old keyboards on eBay, that may also qualify.

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