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

351–360 of 389 posts

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#351

Post by ako »

out-of-ideas wrote: post #334
ako wrote: post #299

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently purchased an Alice format ergonomic keyboard, the keychron k15 pro [1]. It has a split design, but otherwise it’s totally flat. How much of an improvement do you think a more ergonomically shaped keyboard l8ke a kinesis makes? [1]: https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-k15-pro-alice-lay...

i really miss the 12 or 18 macro keys to the left side of the keyboard of the ol logitech G15 and G110. have you used this for gaming? specifically FPSs and MMORPGs where left hand needs easy access to the right side of the split-keyboard?

No, don't know how this works for gaming, my gaming is limited to some formula 1 on an xbox.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#352

Post by serial_dev »

crazygringo wrote: post #329
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.

Exactly.

I try to use my keyboard whenever possible, but sometimes reaching to my mouse is just easier. Moving my hand 5 inches is already bad, but having to move it 10-15 inches every time I want to use the mouse is terrible.

And all for what? For having to enter a phone number or credit card number once a month into some form? The tradeoff is not worth it for most people.

As a programmer, I don't need a numpad very often, having long strings of numbers are not very common in my field. Sure, sometimes I need to write numbers, but they are one or two character long, and having them above the keys is better experience as I don't need to move my hand so far.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#353

Post by speed_spread »

semi-extrinsic wrote: post #128
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.

> key switch sommelier I genuinely hope this is someone's official job title somewhere.

I'm imagining some fancy and twisted vilain's startup operation as in a 90's hacker movie.

"How about some cherry mx blue and caviar while we take over the world?"

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#354

Post by jodrellblank »

nprateem wrote: post #224
jodrellblank wrote: post #221

I have a slightly different keyboard relationship; I used to browse the Typing Injury FAQ of alternative keyboard designs[1] and fell for the idea of chording keyboards and mobile devices like the DataEgg[2] (I still wonder if chording could be useful on multitouch mobile devices), then for mechanical IBM Model M, then for split Microsoft Natural, then if you're going to split for each hand, don't half-arse it, whole…

Yeah and those keyboards give some of us RSI.

Which keyboards?

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#355

Post by pxc »

pxc wrote: post #235

I'm pretty happy with the keyboards I have, but I just ordered 8BitDo's new mechanical keyboard anyway. Some things distinguishing it from my other mechanical keyboards atm: - wireless (both Bluetooth and with a dongle) - hardware volume dial - two giant, programmable, external buttons (maybe I can use these as Emacs pedals?) It also has the kind of curvature I like on a keyboard, like the Model M, which none of my o…

Update! I'd actually pre-ordered the thing some time ago, and I was looking forward to its arrival today. I'm writing this message from it (incidentally, from my phone, which is where I usually use HN).

It's quite nice! The switches felt a bit light for me at first, but they're really quite good. I do find myself bottoming out the keys as I type, but the keyboard feels decently heavy, so the sound of bottoming out is quite pleasant.

The curvature of the keyboard is unfortunately achieved in the usual way for modular, Cherry-compatible keyboards, which means differently-shaped keycaps rather than a curved backplate as on a Model M. This basically achieves the effect, but it means the keycaps on the board are not interchangeable, and it makes finding alternative keycaps a bit trickier.

The amber power light is gorgeous!

Overall I am very happy with it and glad to have a wireless option among my mechanical keyboards. :)

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#356

Post by Clamchop »

crazygringo wrote: post #329
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.

There are compact designs that I find reasonable, though I'm sure not everyone will agree, which is fine! I'm using a Leopold fc-980m right now. It and it's variants are my favorite layout that I've used so far.

But I do use my tenkey pretty often and want it around.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#357

Post by grumblingdev »

walthamstow wrote: post #131
grumblingdev wrote: post #112

FYI: You can put a low-profile mechanical keyboard on top of your MacBook built-in keyboard and it works great. I use the Keychron K1 Pro with Brown Gateron switches. It's an 80% (ten-key-less / TKL). I needed this one because I use the right shift key a lot and it has a full-size one whereas the 75% is shortened. You get used to the slightly different layout very quickly. You might swap back and forth a bit but when…

Love the Keychron. I wanted a mech keyboard without getting lost in the whole world. My one requirement was bluetooth and the Keychron was the cheapest, non-ugly option that had it. TKL, with F-keys but no numpad, is the ideal size for me. Looking at the NuPhy now...

I ordered the NuPhy with Cowberry and Aloe linear switches so I have a more quiet keyboard I can use at night. I am lost :D

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#358

Post by grumblingdev »

fadedsignal wrote: post #147
grumblingdev wrote: post #112

FYI: You can put a low-profile mechanical keyboard on top of your MacBook built-in keyboard and it works great. I use the Keychron K1 Pro with Brown Gateron switches. It's an 80% (ten-key-less / TKL). I needed this one because I use the right shift key a lot and it has a full-size one whereas the 75% is shortened. You get used to the slightly different layout very quickly. You might swap back and forth a bit but when…

Nuphy Air75v2 is the best. Looking forward to receive mine in few days!

FYI: The shipping date was pushed back - check the website.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#359

Post by grumblingdev »

ddanieltan wrote: post #175
grumblingdev wrote: post #112

FYI: You can put a low-profile mechanical keyboard on top of your MacBook built-in keyboard and it works great. I use the Keychron K1 Pro with Brown Gateron switches. It's an 80% (ten-key-less / TKL). I needed this one because I use the right shift key a lot and it has a full-size one whereas the 75% is shortened. You get used to the slightly different layout very quickly. You might swap back and forth a bit but when…

I've been very happy with my Keychron K3 pro so far. I'm quite surprised there aren't more options for low profile mechanical keyboards (besides Keychron and Nuphy) as I always though the portability of a keyboard as 1 of the most important features for modern day usage and commuting.

For me its being able to use the trackpad on my MacBook at the same time.

I am on the hunt to find more low-profile models.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#360

Post by monooso »

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.

The Miryoku layout [1] has a dedicated number layer which turns the left half into a number pad. Practical (once you get used to it) and portable.

[1] https://github.com/manna-harbour/miryoku

Post reply on HN