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The CODE Keyboard

codinghorror.com

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Re: The CODE Keyboard

#211

Post by Houshalter »

altrego99 wrote: post #142
nucleardog wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've got two Model M keyboards at home. I could threaten to beat you with one for disagreeing that it's the best thing ever, knowing full well I could continue writing scathing retorts online with it immediately after, but I won't... Because it's not the best ever /for everyone/. I have an Apple keyboard at work. I don't love or hate it. I'm indifferent to it. But I can totally understand why it may be the right keyb…

I have a Logitech $10 keyboard. I can keep it on my lap when I type.

I wonder how much net gain a better keyboard gives you in terms of time spent getting it, extra money buying it, and time lost on the internet arguing about it, compared to whatever minor time you save from typing slightly faster or making slightly fewer errors.

I'm kidding though, I understand the appeal of having nicer things. But I suppose the reasoning above is why we aren't all typing on dvorak right now.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#212

Post by dxm »

CWIZO wrote: post #58

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…

You shouldn't expect anything less of Jeff Atwood. Every thought out of his head is apparent perfection for programmers, he's the only writer I know that makes people feel like idiots if they dare to do something differently to him. Take everything you read on Coding Horror with a salt lake.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#213

Post by harrytuttle »

X-Istence wrote: post #97

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…

Agree but in my case a ThinkPad T400 keyboard. Quiet with positive feeling and plenty of space between keytops.

My model M made my hands hurt and pissed everyone else off after about 5 minutes. Plus it's not practical even with my docking station / desktop setup.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#214

Post by theboywho »

I wonder what was the real price of making this keyboard, probably not more than $10. I mean China.

This is getting ridiculous. It's not because there is now HN, reddit and everything that can feed a hipster that you should fall into this trap and buy a €149.99 a keyboard.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#215

Post by ibrahima »

doktrin wrote: post #66
fhd2 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

For a long time I used the Filco tenkeyless with Cherry MX brown key switches, together with an Evoluent vertical mouse. That particular combination was very good for my wrists. Unfortunately, the Filco tenkeyless can be a bit tricky to find (and of course are not backlit).

There's a newer mechanical tenkeyless keyboard that's pretty cheap, the CM Storm Quickfire Rapid: http://www.amazon.com/CM-Storm-QuickFire-Rapid-Mechanical/dp...

It's a "gaming" brand keyboard I guess but it's half the cost of a Filco and comes in 4 different switch types. I just got one, seems pretty nice, although I only use it for gaming and my MS Natural 4000 for typing. Though I wish MS would make a tenkeyless version of the Natural 4000, because I do dislike the extreme width (they're making a new wireless ergonomic keyboard that's tenkeyless but it has scissor switches and I don't really like switches with little travel - almost went crazy when they gave me an Apple thin keyboard during an internship, and I quickly went to their old computer parts storage and got an older Apple keyboard to avoid losing my mind).

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#216

Post by ibrahima »

Mindless2112 wrote: post #54
fhd2 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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)

I usually use a thumb trackball, but once when my wrist pain got pretty bad I started using one of the ambidextrous trackballs with my left hand for a bit, it was actually pretty nice.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#217

Post by ibrahima »

breadbox wrote: post #87
stormbrew wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I don't know, but I hasten to point out that the Kinesis isn't one of those generic "ergonomic" keyboards. It's a very different shape. One of its best features is that the keys are vertically aligned in straight columns, so that you're not constantly exercising the muscles to move your fingers slightly to the left or right. It makes a huge difference. If someone invented a magic laptop that had a built-in Kinesis ke…

FWIW I tried the Truly Ergonomic Keyboard, which is similar to the Kinesis in that it has the keys in straight columns, and I found no discernible benefit. In fact, I ended up going back to my MS Natural 4000 and returning the TEK because even after 60 days I couldn't get used to the layout (it's nice that they let you do that though!). I may have to try the Kinesis though, the curve seems better. TEK looked nice in theory but the flat style didn't really work for me.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#218

Post by chaz »

mbell wrote: post #155
X-Istence wrote: post #97

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…

I don't understand the fascination with keyboards by software developers. I spend a lot more of my day thinking, testing, navigating code, etc, than I do punching keys. There are a lot of professions where keyboard interaction is critical but I don't think software development is one of them.

I don't see anything wrong with picking tools you like to use. I'm not a writer, but I do like the crisp feeling of a nice pen on nice paper. A Bic ballpoint on a cheap pad is just not the same, even though it gets the job done.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#219

Post by AhtiK »

theboywho wrote: post #214

I wonder what was the real price of making this keyboard, probably not more than $10. I mean China. This is getting ridiculous. It's not because there is now HN, reddit and everything that can feed a hipster that you should fall into this trap and buy a €149.99 a keyboard.

These keyboards come with Cherry MX switches. Very hard to find them cheaper than $1 a piece. For a 104 key keyboard that's already over $100 :)

In addition to better feel and ergonomics [1], switches also have better maintenance properties. If one goes bad, easy to replace. If something spills, easy to clean.

With non-switch keyboards once a key stops working unless it's just a hair blocking the contact, the whole keyboard needs to be replaced.

[1] Feel and ergonomics are definitely debatable, but I'm just super happy for the switch to Filco Ninja Majestouch-2 tenkeyless ~ a year ago.. Before that I was a big fan of cheap Logitech UltraX keyboards but a after even a day with switches, UltraX felt like something unconsistent, blocking and muddy.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#220

Post by foxpc »

theboywho wrote: post #214

I wonder what was the real price of making this keyboard, probably not more than $10. I mean China. This is getting ridiculous. It's not because there is now HN, reddit and everything that can feed a hipster that you should fall into this trap and buy a €149.99 a keyboard.

I agree! It's truly overpriced. I have expected a cheapish, not groundbreakingly, but still, cheapish mechanical keyboard as it was presented by some programmer, not a company that is going for money money money all the way.

But looking at the price, you could easily get a Das Keyboard Model S with Blue/Red/Brown (your choice!) keyswitches and also, there's a discount during the school-preparation period.

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