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My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

jackevansevo.github.io

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Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#11

Post by Gualdrapo »

I have a Logitech MX Keys too. Though when I got it I also had some concerns about how charging it would be a odd experience, after 1.5 years or so of usage I just have to charge it in like each 3 months - and still you get to use it while it's charging. I don't use the backlight feature so I guess for other people that time between charging can be shorter.

I haven't had the need to disassemble it for cleaning so I use a small brush to remove crumbs and stuff. Sometimes I too feel that it is large, but still the numpad is convenient. The alternative would be a 'compact' design but I don't like how they cram the Enter key in a single row and make the up and down keys half of the height of a normal key.

My complain against it is its privative nature - with Linux, you can't use the screen brightness keys unless you install something like Logiops or Solaar. Alas I've found Logips a bit buggy so when you're running it the mouse wheel becomes really glitchy so you have to restart it.

I'd like it to have one of these wheels some keyboards have to control volume or something else, a second Meta key and that one could make it so when powering it up it started with no backlight.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#12

Post by sime2009 »

shermozle wrote: post #8

I've used the MS Natural keyboards for years. I'd love to move to a mechanical model but the sites selling keyboards are really confusing. What do I have to buy to get a functioning keyboard? A shell? Switches? Other stuff? I really don't know what I'm looking at. Anyone got a good entry point?

Start reading here: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/wiki/index/

It is not too hard these days to buy a complete and immediately usable keyboard on line. But it does help to know what you are looking for because there are choices to be made around format, switches, keycaps, etc.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#13

Post by tpmx »

chrsw wrote: post #5

Even after all these years it's hard to beat the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite. I wish someone made a mechanical version. I'm typing this on a Keychron Q11 so maybe I'm in a similar boat as the author.

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro (1999) with inverted T cursor keys is the one to beat, IMO.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#14

Post by wiredfool »

eimrine wrote: post #3
h2odragon wrote: post #2

I got to start with Victor keyboards, which was a little bit of a "silver spoon". The only thing that was ever better than a model M. Sometime around '97 I got a bunch of real Model M's from a school; spent a while refurbishing up a bunch of them, and then used that stack for like 20 years. They lived an average of 3yr under my hands. Since then i use unicomp "new model M". This one has been going stong for 2+yr now,…

> They lived an average of 3yr under my hands. How can you destroy a Model M?

Beating someone to death?

My m13 has lasted 20 years - though it needs a new cable because of flakey plastic.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#15

Post by sime2009 »

pelalmqvist wrote: post #7

I might be biased by spending too much time watching people dive into the hobby of mechanical keyboards, but I'm impressed he found the strenght to not go too far into it.

I'm just surprised that this low level of engagement with keyboards is considered on the "unhealthy" side of the fence. I mean, this is only about 5 keyboards and not even owned at the same time.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#16

Post by frameset »

I really don't understand the numpad-less trend of fashionable keyboards. Doing any kind of number entry beyond one or two digits is very annoying without one.

They also don't take up that much space really.

If your keyboard is a portable one you pack with you on trips, I get it. If it lives on a desk, why not splash out the small amount extra to make number entry much easier.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#17

Post by shrubble »

h2odragon wrote: post #2

I got to start with Victor keyboards, which was a little bit of a "silver spoon". The only thing that was ever better than a model M. Sometime around '97 I got a bunch of real Model M's from a school; spent a while refurbishing up a bunch of them, and then used that stack for like 20 years. They lived an average of 3yr under my hands. Since then i use unicomp "new model M". This one has been going stong for 2+yr now,…

Did you learn typing on a manual typewriter as I did? So far my Redragon K552 has held up pretty well for 3+ years.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#18

Post by sime2009 »

frameset wrote: post #16

I really don't understand the numpad-less trend of fashionable keyboards. Doing any kind of number entry beyond one or two digits is very annoying without one. They also don't take up that much space really. If your keyboard is a portable one you pack with you on trips, I get it. If it lives on a desk, why not splash out the small amount extra to make number entry much easier.

* reduces the distance from keyboard home row to mouse

* less desk real estate needed

* many of us aren't doing much number entry at all

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#19

Post by infecto »

frameset wrote: post #16

I really don't understand the numpad-less trend of fashionable keyboards. Doing any kind of number entry beyond one or two digits is very annoying without one. They also don't take up that much space really. If your keyboard is a portable one you pack with you on trips, I get it. If it lives on a desk, why not splash out the small amount extra to make number entry much easier.

Depends on what you are doing of course.

Cannot speak to the fashion side of it but my original motivator to move to a keypad less was to reduce the distance of the mouse to my typing space. I do not do any type of data entry and rarely type numbers with enough frequency to require it.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#20

Post by formvoltron »

I would go for the apple magic keyboard, except for that arrow key cluster. Had a macbook with those once and hated it.

Good that the author pointed out the inability of removing keys to clean with the Logi MX. I'd have sprung for that but dislike anything that is potentially going to become garbage.

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