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My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

jackevansevo.github.io

381–389 of 389 posts

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#381
post #361

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This seems like some weird flex about being able to type numbers as effectively on the number row as on a number pad (not sure I believe that). I would rather flex that I never have to move my hand to the mouse...

I get why my comment could come off that way but I truly was not trying to show off or talk down. I theoretically know each person and what works for them differs but it can be hard to comprehend someone else’s preferences when they are opposite of your own (which usually feel perfect). I was being a bit ignorant but was ok looking dumb in hopes of getting a better understanding of that other perspective. Mainly expr…

You have my empathy. Observing myself today I'm using the number row mainly, but switch to the pad for longer strings of digits. You're right, we each do what works for us.

Sincerely,

A curmudgeonly old emacs user

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#382
post #367
post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me personally, the number row is far enough away from the home row that my fingers become inaccurate. It's not unlikely that when I reach for 7 I'll hit 6 instead. That's easy enough to correct in normal operation, less so for entering lots of numbers. Another issue is when doing data entry or 2fa codes, one hand tends to be busy holding something. The number row is basically unusable one-handed as far as I'm con…

Thinking about it after reading the responses, it makes sense a keypad is faster simply from reduced finger travel. Just for me personally, never so much faster having one would outweigh what I gain removing it. Also possible I never needed to enter numbers often enough prior to learning to touch type with the num row to incentivize finding a more efficient method and once I was regularly typing a lot of numbers my n…

Gaming would definitely be a case where I can see the placement mattering a lot more.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#383
post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you not know how to touch type without looking at the keyboard at all or have you just not learned where the numbers are? Shouldn't you take the time to learn to type correctly instead of relying on moving your entire hand just to type a number? I truly do not mean to be insulting or anything, but I read comments like this a lot and they really confuse me. I don't need a numpad because I know how to touch type and…

I'm with you on this, but wasn't until a few years ago. I used to prefer number pad and, though I'm pretty good a typing, didn't really learn to use the number row effectively. Now I see no reason to use a number pad unless I'm just doing a ton of numerical entry because I prefer leaving my hands in one place. It's actually annoying me right now that I have to use my mouse to submit this comment :)

This one of the main reasons I switched to an "ortho" keyboard. I use a left-hand modifier key to change uio jkl m,. into a number pad, meaning I can keep my hands near the home position and still crank out numbers just like I do with the number pad. I also kept the actual number pad around too, so I don't have to hit any modifier if I need one-handed number entry.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#384
post #379
post #245

This is the only keyboard I've been interested in: DataHand Original: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataHand DIY: https://github.com/JesusFreke/lalboard Using a single direction for activation, requiring massive movements in 2d space, seems so silly. I haven't been able to find one, to purchase. Related, I'm still learning how to use this one, since it's the only non-DIY equivalent I could find (great founder btw): h…

Why don’t you get a svalboard.com then? (It’s a commercialized next gen of lalboard)

Amazing! Me not looking for a keyboard in the last four months in the only reason why.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#385
post #166

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 was considering putting a light but my desk right now resembles a wall panel from the movie Brazil. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dht_3NziwSw Is hard to find the middle ground between clutter and chaos.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#386

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People who work at all with ipv4 networks (devops, sre, sysadmin, netadmin) find themselves entering IP addresses on most regular days.

Or they don't, I've worked on fleets from 10-1,000,000 hosts just use auto configured DNS like a normal person. If you're using IPs there something wrong with your process.

Thanks very little for the unwarranted negativity. I'm not sure how you got to the conclusion that "my process" is somehow ignorant of the existence of DHCP and DNS. It most certainly is not.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#387
post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been trying to buy a Kinesis for a few years now, but they always go for 200 USD used in Ebay.

They're very expensive for a keyboard. However, for a device that I use 50 hours a week -- not so expensive. If you're a software engineer, you probably use your car a lot less than your keyboard. You _probably_ spent north of $20k for your car and you use it for ~7 hours per week, max? $350 is nothing for a primary tool of your trade.

Agree but "import fees to latin america, I might not like the switches and there is no market to resell, I don't have that much pain, gym also helps, I think going back and forth between Kinesis and MBP keyboard would be hard, etc" and it stays in that range of "should I".

Also I recently spent a similar value on a sit-stand table and totally regret that purchase - I mostly sit and could always walk outside instead of standing..

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#388

Big fan of the MS Sculpt myself. I like the "MacBook-esque" low profile keys. The only downsides are: - I've had keycaps fall off after a couple of years and they're almost impossible to get back on (for me at least). The second time this happened I realised it had a 3 year warranty though, so got a replacement. - It requires a dongle rather than Bluetooth, and if you lose the dongle, you're screwed, as they're paire…

>I realised it had a 3 year warranty though, so got a replacement. Who did you contact to get the warranty? Forums online seem to indicate that MS support is basically non-existent. As for keycaps, they're similar to macbook pro keycaps in that if the underlying plastic hook is broken, the keycaps won't stay in no matter what. Luckily the plastic hook is also replaceable, the only thing that you never want to break i…

I contacted MS directly. I seem to recall it was a bit of a pain to get hold of them. Three year warranty might be a UK/EU only thing though, I'm not sure!

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#389

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is using the arrows? I had a poker 2 that had arrows on the wasd but that seems a bit easier as the arrows were away from the hand that was hitting the function key.

You get used to the layer keys for arrows within a day or two.

Went ahead and ordered one. Thanks for the reply!
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