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Hands on with the CODE keyboard

jorgecastro.org

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Re: Hands on with the CODE keyboard

#41

Post by benjamincburns »

>[K]eyboards like this are not cheap and people who buy these kind of keyboards do for the same reason that Geddy Lee doesn’t play a $500 bass.

I think keyboards are like shopping carts. Get one with a sticky wheel, and you'll find it terribly annoying and distracting. Get one that rolls smooth enough and you don't think much about it. The difference in return between "passably good" and "extremely high quality" is incredibly small, so let's just be honest here -- this is a luxury, not a career requirement.

But then to put it in Gladwell terms, it's been my experience that keyboards are pasta sauce. Some like theirs chunky, others like theirs... low profile? Oh well, at least my first metaphor stood up...

Re: Hands on with the CODE keyboard

#42

Post by jrs99 »

FreshCode wrote: post #27

Until Jeff Atwood tries an ergonomic keyboard or layout other than QWERTY, I cannot take his keyboard cult seriously. I've owned three MS 4000s and have used QWERTY, Dvorak and Colemak keyboard layouts. Ever since I purchased a Kinesis Advantage a month ago on Colemak, going back to an MS 4000 noticeably hurts my hands. I don't type any faster, but it is far more natural to use my thumbs (our strongest fingers) for c…

you can't just move to a mechanical and expect an immediate increase in speed. I use a mechanical keyboard. When I switch to a rubber dome, i notice a DECREASE in speed, because I'm just not used to it. It takes a long time to get the same speed when you switch to a mechanical, but when you do, you may continue to increase and surpass your speed on a rubber dome. Most fast typists (200-250+ wpm on short passages) use a mechanical non-ergonomic keyboard plus qwerty layout.

Re: Hands on with the CODE keyboard

#43

Post by baddox »

FreshCode wrote: post #27

Until Jeff Atwood tries an ergonomic keyboard or layout other than QWERTY, I cannot take his keyboard cult seriously. I've owned three MS 4000s and have used QWERTY, Dvorak and Colemak keyboard layouts. Ever since I purchased a Kinesis Advantage a month ago on Colemak, going back to an MS 4000 noticeably hurts my hands. I don't type any faster, but it is far more natural to use my thumbs (our strongest fingers) for c…

You might be overestimating the actual observable effects "ergonomic" keyboards have over traditional designs. I wouldn't make a confident ergonomic claim for either type of keyboard, but I'm very skeptical that ergonomic keyboards on average provide observable health benefits. And, anecdotally, I've never had any health problems related to ergonomics (26 years old, 8+ hours a day at a computer desk for at least the last 10 years).

Re: Hands on with the CODE keyboard

#44

Post by baddox »

FreshCode wrote: post #38
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I find it hard to believe a Model M could be easier on the wrists than my abhorrent Macbook Air 2012 keyboard, due to its equally straight, unnatural angle. I find ergonomic keyboards pointless, but I also don't have (or have ever had) wrist problems. > Compared to my old Acer C312 tablet with a 5-degree angle, typing 90wpm+ for more than an hour is not sustainable. Who types 90wpm+ when programming? We are program…

Sean, have you tried any of the ergonomic keyboards which you find pointless? Unless you have, your argument seems a lot like my ol' man's arguments against a few years ago. Atwood specifically addresses the fallacy of "thinking vs typing as the bottleneck for programming" with the statement [1]: "What I'm trying to say is this: speed matters. When you're a fast, efficient typist, you spend less time between thinking…

> Sean, have you tried any of the ergonomic keyboards which you find pointless? Unless you have, your argument seems a lot like my ol' man's arguments against a few years ago.

If my wrist/hand/arm/etc. comfort level while using my non-ergonomic keyboard is indistinguishable from my ambient comfort level, why would switching provide any useful data?

Re: Hands on with the CODE keyboard

#45

Post by baddox »

ginko wrote: post #9
ne0phyte wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's already sold out but it was the only backlit mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Clear switches on the market. Unless you don't mind soldering and/or building a custom keyboard from scratch that's a huge selling point.

If you need a backlit keyboard it means that you (1.) are working in an environment that's way to dimly lit to be healthy and (2.) really need to learn touch typing.

Or you (3.) derive utility from the appearance of backlit keyboards.

Re: Hands on with the CODE keyboard

#46

Post by baddox »

Rumudiez wrote: post #15

It seems like he can only name three mechanical keyboard manufacturers and doesn't even know anything specifically about Cherry. Hardly a keyboard snob, and hardly an appropriate review for today's keyboard market. From ABS keycaps to plastic (and ABS to top that) casing, the CODE is far from worth the hype it's getting.

The fact that the CODE keyboard is virtually identical to the Ducky Shine, and apart from the backlight is virtually identical to other nearly unbranded keyboards like Filcos and Leopolds, is a grievous omission that would almost certainly be included by any author familiar with the "snobby" mechanical keyboard market.

http://tigerimports.net/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p...

Re: Hands on with the CODE keyboard

#47

Post by fsckin »

ericabiz wrote: post #33
fsckin wrote: post #18

Razer makes some nice mechanical keyboards (BlackWidow series) with optional backlight, Cherry MX Blue or Brown switches, extra macro keys (that can be bound to any action), along with keyboard mapping software that works very well on Win/OSX. For $50-70 less than this, depending on if you buy on sale. I'm failing to see why this is a good option.

Ugh. I have a Razer one sitting in a closet; it really belongs in the trash. (I'm typing this comment on a Unicomp Spacesaver M, and I'm a die-hard mechanical keyboard junkie.) To compare a Razer to this keyboard (or even a Unicomp) is to compare a cheapo, bottom of the barrel smartphone to a top-of-the-line phone. The Razer feels terrible--the keys feel "loose", the typing feel is incredibly off, and above all the k…

Damn! That's quite a difference from my experience. I'll gladly add a 'YMMV' to my above statement.

I've had my fair share of high end mechanicals: IBM M buckling spring, Filco/Leopold Cherry of all flavors, HHKB Pro2 and Realforce with Topre switches, along with long test drives with a Kinesis, among others.

Both of my Razers do feel like they're built with slightly less TLC than any of the above, but not terribly so. The keycaps are made of a lighter weight plastic (they're certainly not an ABS double shot keycap, that's for sure), but that's about it.

I've added rubber grommets to each key so they were a bit quieter and bottomed out more the way I like them to, but that's a more of a personal preference than anything. Maybe that alone is a good fix to make them feel a bit more solid?

Perhaps they've got some shoddy QA for some or changed them in some way, but I really like both of mine.

Re: Hands on with the CODE keyboard

#48

Post by hoov »

lifeformed wrote: post #36

I use a Filco Ninja Majestouch 2. I looove the side-printed keys: they'll never wear out, it looks pure-black from the top, and it just looks great. http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Keyboard-FKBN104M-E...

I used to use a Filco Majestouch 2 tenkeyless, but had always wanted to try a Realforce. I hesitated because of the cost, the unique switch type, and the uneven weighting of the keys. They do make evenly weighted keyboards, but the uneven weighting was both appealing and worrisome. It happens that I received a Realforce 87u tenkeyless silent 10th anniversary edition as a gift. Within a week, I bought a matching (the normal edition) one for work. I've been hooked.

The switches have a nice balance between the way they feel and the level of sound output. The uneven weighting is great, but it is slightly to switch back and forth between normal keyboards and the Realforce. It's not bad to move from a Realforce to a regular keyboard, but it's a bit difficult to switch back. Sometimes, I'll get distracted, look up and find "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" on my screen. This only happens when I move back and forth between different keyboards, and the minor hassle is worth it.

Re: Hands on with the CODE keyboard

#49

Post by fsckin »

scott_karana wrote: post #37
fsckin wrote: post #18

Razer makes some nice mechanical keyboards (BlackWidow series) with optional backlight, Cherry MX Blue or Brown switches, extra macro keys (that can be bound to any action), along with keyboard mapping software that works very well on Win/OSX. For $50-70 less than this, depending on if you buy on sale. I'm failing to see why this is a good option.

I'd buy the Razer BlackWidow happily, except that critically (for me) the Escape key is not mechanical. (Nor are the Function keys) Yes, I am a vi user. :-)

The escape key on the BlackWidow is 100% mechanical. You're thinking of the CoolerMaster ripoffs... ew.

Re: Hands on with the CODE keyboard

#50

Post by [deleted] »

FreshCode wrote: post #27

Until Jeff Atwood tries an ergonomic keyboard or layout other than QWERTY, I cannot take his keyboard cult seriously. I've owned three MS 4000s and have used QWERTY, Dvorak and Colemak keyboard layouts. Ever since I purchased a Kinesis Advantage a month ago on Colemak, going back to an MS 4000 noticeably hurts my hands. I don't type any faster, but it is far more natural to use my thumbs (our strongest fingers) for c…

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