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The CODE Keyboard

codinghorror.com

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Re: The CODE Keyboard

#51

Post by Sukotto »

frewsxcv wrote: post #11
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.

If only they were cheaper :/

When pricing tools you have to consider the cost per time-unit, or cost per use. Looking at the total cost is a waste of time.

How often do you input text into a computer (or sleep in a bed, or whatever).

What is the hourly (or daily) cost of it over some reasonable timeframe (1 year, for example).

At what price point is owning a better tool worth it? (health wise, opportunity cost wise, etc).

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#52

Post by L_Rahman »

alexgartrell wrote: post #44

Anyone have any thoughts on the difference between this 87 key keyboard and the leopold tenkeyless? I've been using an ancient wired 87 key apple keyboard that I love but I'm intrigued. http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyles...

Things missing from the Leopold:

1. Backlighting 2. Better Aesthetics 3. Cherry MX Clear switches

That's pretty much it. I personally don't think it's worth the 50 dollar premium when I'm just fine with MX Browns.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#53

Post by hkmurakami »

banachtarski wrote: post #30
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.

I tried it and it didn't work for me. Hand size was wrong and the placement of the modifier keys was unintuitive. With my day-to-day usage, I couldn't come up with a mapping that fit my needs.

I agree that with small hands, reaching the number row of a Kinesis advantage can be a challenge (I use one for my RSI issues, and I'm right at the threshold of hand size)

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#54

Post by Mindless2112 »

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.

I switched my mouse over to the left side of my keyboard (despite being decidedly right-handed) to avoid the numberpad issue. In the end I still had to ditch straight keyboards to avoid RSI.

(I've since gotten a keyboard without a numberpad and switched back, but I can still use a left-handed mouse pretty well. It's one step below having a trackball as far as confusing people who try to use my computer goes. :P)

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#56

Post by eikenberry »

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.

Buy if for the Ergonomics, keep it for the thumb modifier keys. I can't go back to a normal keyboard now. Having the modifier keys under your thumbs is just to damn nice.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#57

Post by codinghorror »

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.

I love ergonomic keyboards too, but they're extremely specialized. A mass market keyboard needs to appeal to as many folks as possible, and using the "classic" standard keyboard layout is the best way to do that.

There is a tenkeyless option if that helps, and there is room at the front for a wrist rest that can be periodically replaced as it wears.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#58

Post by CWIZO »

I don't want to take anything away from Jeff, good for him for realizing his dream. But claiming that this is the best keyboard for programmers is an overstatement if I ever heard one.

Yes, it's mechanical, yes it has backlit keys and you can do some customizations. But where is everything else? Why are the keys still in the zig-zag formation? Why is the enter key so small? Why is the enter key on the right, where I have to use my pinky to hit it? Ever heard about ergonomics? Can I get one with DVORAK layout printed on? And so on and so forth.

If you want to create the best keyboard for programmers then create one that won't kill our wrists and hands.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#59

Post by hobs »

Florin_Andrei wrote: post #29
sharplusplus wrote: post #4

What I would really like is a version of the Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard, that is backlit + mechanical. And WIRED, please, I hate wireless keyboards.

> I hate wireless keyboards ...until you hook up a PC to the big TV screen in the living room. ;) Then you'll beg for a good wireless keyboard.

Right, but most of us can buy any wireless keyboard, or even get a cool remote/keyboard combo, but a good ergo mechanical backlit keyboard for not a million dollars? nah.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#60

Post by tcdowney »

scrame wrote: post #35

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…

WASD is an established entity in the mechanical keyboard scene, so I'm sure they did most of the heavy lifting in regards to hardware.

I'm sure it will be a good keyboard (especially for enthusiasts looking to try out some Cherry MX clears).

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