The CODE Keyboard • Hacker News Board

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#31

Post by rbanffy » Tue, Aug 27, 2013, 11:06 PM UTC

chrismonsanto wrote: post #5

I really can't think of anything good to say about this keyboard. I've used keyboards like this, and I've damaged my body with them. You know what matters a lot more than a backlight? Ergonomic design. Get a Kinesis Advantage instead.

The perfect one for me would be a clicky/mechanical, buckling spring, backlit Microsoft Natural.

If you are into straight keyboards, http://pckeyboard.com/page/PC122/UB40B5A

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#32

Post by catshirt » Tue, Aug 27, 2013, 11:07 PM UTC

jotux wrote: post #24

I don't really see the benefit of a backlit keyboard, especially for programming.

it's for typing in the dark

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#33

Post by tiziano88 » Tue, Aug 27, 2013, 11:08 PM UTC

chrismonsanto wrote: post #5

I really can't think of anything good to say about this keyboard. I've used keyboards like this, and I've damaged my body with them. You know what matters a lot more than a backlight? Ergonomic design. Get a Kinesis Advantage instead.

+1, I use and love my Kinesis Advantage, one of the best investment I've ever made

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#34

Post by TheMakeA » Tue, Aug 27, 2013, 11:09 PM UTC

Honestly, if I were going to try to solve one problem with keyboards it would be to make cleaning them easier. This seems like a good keyboard and I may consider picking one up if both of my Das Keyboards fail me, but I'm not rushing to get one.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#35

Post by scrame » Tue, Aug 27, 2013, 11:09 PM UTC

I got a das keyboard at home and at work. Its awesome, and I'd recommend a mechanical to anyone who works on a keyboard for a living. I would never buy anything like this from Atwood, though. His 'expertise' in software, personal attacks on other developers and tedious self-promotion don't really convince me that he's got the know-how to get into hardware production, but rather that he's found a way to make money off his sycophantic fan-base of mediocre programmers who take his word as gospel.

(remember Arringtons tablet, anyone?)

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#36

Post by stormbrew » Tue, Aug 27, 2013, 11:09 PM UTC

fhd2 wrote: post #28

chrismonsanto wrote: post #5

I really can't think of anything good to say about this keyboard. I've used keyboards like this, and I've damaged my body with them. You know what matters a lot more than a backlight? Ergonomic design. Get a Kinesis Advantage instead.

As someone who has suffered from RSI, my advice is to not fix a problem you don't have. I've been there, and it just cost me money. In my case, I didn't need a curved keyboard or a split keyboard, those things ended up in the cupboard. I just had to get rid of the numpad to change my position from awkward to healthy. So, for me, this keyboard is actually interesting, the variant without the numpad that is.

Why does the numpad make your position awkward by its presence? Can't you just pretend it's not there? Every keyboard I've owned since the late 80s has had a numpad and I've hardly ever used it.

Oh never mind, I see your reply to the top post below now. Because it moves the mouse too far away.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#37

Post by slackpad » Tue, Aug 27, 2013, 11:10 PM UTC

JoshTriplett wrote: post #16

Other than for very specific ergonomic uses, I honestly don't understand the appeal of a heavy mechanical keyboard; the old IBM buckling-spring Model M keyboard doesn't appeal to me at all. Personally, I do all my work on a ThinkPad keyboard, and I actually have a USB ThinkPad keyboard/mouse for use with non-laptop systems or docking stations. I like the short throw of the keys, I like keys close together (as long as…

I agree and use the ThinkPad USB keyboard on my desktop machines - they are great ergonomically, especially if you ditch your mouse. It seems like the USB interface is super cheapie though with lots of missed key presses, or an occasional stuck key. I'd pay a premium for the ThinkPad form factor with higher quality electronics.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#38

Post by stormbrew » Tue, Aug 27, 2013, 11:10 PM UTC

chrismonsanto wrote: post #5

I really can't think of anything good to say about this keyboard. I've used keyboards like this, and I've damaged my body with them. You know what matters a lot more than a backlight? Ergonomic design. Get a Kinesis Advantage instead.

Is there actually any evidence ergonomic keyboards reduce risk of RSI? Last time I looked into it it seemed like marketing fluff with no actual studies that backed it up.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#39

Post by agumonkey » Tue, Aug 27, 2013, 11:10 PM UTC

frewsxcv wrote: post #2

I really don't see anything special about this keyboard. It's backlit and mechanical. Seems like it's been done a hundred times already.

When I saw the book mention below the first picture, I thought I misread and that this first picture was just the starting point before being inspired by code analysis found in the book. I imagined a new , more efficient, principled layout.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#40

Post by bluedino » Tue, Aug 27, 2013, 11:11 PM UTC

Not sure if it's the font or actual size of the letters, the labeling on the keys looks really, really small.

Apple/Lenovo have perfected keyboards in their laptops. It's been years since I've wanted an aftermarket one.