Live data from Hacker News

The CODE Keyboard

codinghorror.com

111–120 of 335 posts

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#112

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.

Gotta admit that I wish the shift keys were on my thumbs too.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#113

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.

Although this is subjective, the kinesis advantage keyboard has really helped me better deal with my RSI; it has clusters of keys under each thumb and is fully programmable so I am able to move problem keys around (for me pinky keys are quite uncomfortable).

For me shift, space, backspace, tab, win, ctrl, alt, esc and enter are all thumb operations.

However I wouldn't go as far as saying it has solved my RSI, but it is definitely part of the solution that allows me to program 40+ hours a week (more like 50-60, 40 hour week professional + hobby programming).

FWIW the other parts include regular exercise, alternating mouse hands and using a trackball on my 'off hand', and a keyboard-heavy system (vim, dwm, etc.).

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#114
post #90
post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try this: http://www.contour-design.co.uk/products/rollermouse-red I have it at the office and it's just amazing.

I read through that page and it doesn't seem to explain how it actually works. With only one roller how do you move the mouse up and down, left and right?

I was confused at first but I realized I was looking at the scroll wheel surrounded by mouse buttons. Cursor movement is done with the "bar" above the buttons/scroll wheel. Move left/right in a finite lateral motion or up/down in an infinite scroll motion.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#115

This is a very overpriced mechanical keyboard. The backlighting is silly and useless. Check out http://elitekeyboards.com/ instead. The Leopold keyboards are very fairly priced. The Rosewill mechanical keyboards from NewEgg are pretty alright, too. Filcos are on the higher end of the price spectrum but are a better value than the "CODE".

Also there's a lot of good-value Chinese mechanical keyboard imports (like the unbeatable Choc Mini).

NB one of the things you're paying for with the CODE is decent integration, I'm sure. I do have to USB->PS2->USB this Choc Mini keyboard to work with OSX (seriously!). It works fine though!

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#116

This is a very overpriced mechanical keyboard. The backlighting is silly and useless. Check out http://elitekeyboards.com/ instead. The Leopold keyboards are very fairly priced. The Rosewill mechanical keyboards from NewEgg are pretty alright, too. Filcos are on the higher end of the price spectrum but are a better value than the "CODE".

Also there's a lot of good-value Chinese mechanical keyboard imports (like the unbeatable Choc Mini). NB one of the things you're paying for with the CODE is decent integration, I'm sure. I do have to USB->PS2->USB this Choc Mini keyboard to work with OSX (seriously!). It works fine though!

Thanks for reminding me of the Choc Mini. They look very nice.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#117
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

It forced me to either move the keyboard too far to the left or the mouse too far the right, the former causing wrist pain in both hands, the latter causing pain in the right wrist. So, what fixed my pain was the smaller keyboard, not the lack of a numpad. The numpad just happends to be a big, expendable chunk :) One of the keyboards I got in order to fix this was a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard, which includes the nu…

I had the same problem and solved it by switching the mouse to my left hand. It was awkward at first but then I got used to it.

I move my left hand about three inches to get the mouse. With my right hand (using the old MS split keyboard) it was nearly a foot!

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#118
I've got to be honest, this thing is making me want to upgrade my CMStorm Quickfire. It really is the little details that I can appreciate, like backlighting, dip switches, the different layout for the function keys and the possible weaponization via steel backplate. I somehow feel better knowing I can defend myself with my keyboard. :D

I see the code keyboard as filling a void in the mechanical keyboard market between filco/wasd/cmstorm and happy hacker in terms of configurability and simplicity.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#119

I don't understand what the obsession is with the old IBM Model M type keyboards. I am able to type faster and more accurately on my Apple flat aluminum keyboard that I have ever been able to type on a Model M. On top of that, switching to a flatter keyboard that sits closer to the desk has actually caused any and all pain I used to get while typing to go away. The other thing is I'd miss the extra function keys I ge…

FWIW I type on a mechanical keyboard daily (cherry mx browns) but I am not a fan of the model m keys (buckling springs or rubber dome IIRC), they are very different in feeling.

My Thinkpad x1 carbon keyboard comes next, scissor switches can be quite nice.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#120
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…

I too have a das keyboard. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. I just got mine less than a year ago. One of the keys started getting sticky and would not jump back after a key press (the command key.) They haven't answered my email asking for any solution to this. I saw similar complaints from other recent customers. It seems as though they have shifted production to a new Chinese facility which is causing more of t…

Well, if it makes you feel better, the new code keyboard also uses Cherry switches, so they may hit the same issues. AFAIK cherry's the only mechanical switch key maker left.
Post reply on HN