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28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

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Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#141

Post by kongolongo »

falcolas wrote: post #136
kongolongo wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same, but I'm really fast at typing numbers without a numpad. I find moving my hand to a separate location just for numbers is a lot slower. Imo most people that could learn to type numbers quickly without a numpad as well. I wonder what the mechanics of some people typing faster on a numpad are, like how does the layout help over having them aligned in a row? Maybe there's less overlap when moving fingers?

It's a shared skill with calculators (including those with printer tape, which auditing groups seem to adore), and it seems to have the side effect of high keying rates sustained over time. With a centering mark in the middle of the pad, and only the need to move fingers forwards and backwards (no sideways motion), sustained input of 10,000 digits per hour, with 0 mistakes, is not just possible to expected.

Oh true the shared skills with other tools makes sense.

For me I find that typing numbers with the top row the home keys for the letters are still useful for centering to move between letters and numbers.

Couldn't you argue only having to move sideways for typing is more efficient than having to move forwards and backwards? Plus you can use two hands to divide the digits between left and right hand.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#142

Post by petepete »

unixhero wrote: post #119
petepete wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my opinion, for full sized keyboards the RealForce 104UW is as good as it gets. I use the 88 key variant and it's a joy to type on, is extremely well built and very heavy. https://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/usa-topre-realforce-104u...

For the record the best ones I could imagine are: https://youtu.be/N8FXw_QelQc https://youtu.be/e-5DDDd3Qzw

Haha I've never heard of a keyboard with user accounts before. Amazing but terribly impractical.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#143

Post by TomVDB »

StavrosK wrote: post #95
TomVDB wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're in for a very pleasant surprise once you start looking at suppliers such as PCBWay.com and JLC-PCB.com!

That's what I was quoting, 20cm isn't cheap.

And yet when I fill in the size of that PCB, JLCPCB quotes $11.90 + shipping for 10 PCBs.

Cheapest shipping option is $9.

That's far away from $50...

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#144

Post by archarios »

gonehome wrote: post #58
archarios wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not for me. I like fewer keys because I find that it's easier/more comfortable to use layers rather than have to do a weird reach for some key I need.

I find the cognitive load of having to memorize multiple functional layers outweighs any perceived benefit. I type pretty fast (100 wpm or so), but when programming typing speed is rarely the bottleneck. I suspect people just rationalize fashion to themselves by pretending it’s also better, but everyone is different so maybe some people actually prefer the complexity.

It's not about typing speed. It's more about comfort and accuracy. Also the cognitive load is really not a thing once you're used to it. Maybe you should learn to accept that some people might be more mentally flexible or skilled than you are rather than assuming people are lying to themselves.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#145

Post by Polylactic_acid »

jrockway wrote: post #91
Polylactic_acid wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem with all the existing products is they seem to be crowdfunding scams or they are essentially some clear plastic domes over a large touchscreen eink panel. I'm guessing that no one is able to source the 1x1cm eink screens that would be needed for a mechanical version.

Small screens on buttons are somewhat readily available: https://www.mikroe.com/oled-switch-click They are $100 each though.

And you still couldn't cram that inside a key cap. I'm starting to think the only way this could possibly be built with current tech is a regular keyboard with white keycaps and a projector. But this idea is getting more and more insane and the macbook touchbar is sounding like a better idea.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#146

Post by Aloha »

falcolas wrote: post #138
StavrosK wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? I have an 80 key keyboard and even that's too many, since I have a bunch of layer-changing keys.

Answering for myself: It's another thing I have to remember, or visually look for. I have to remember the state of the keyboard, I have to remember even more key chords, or both. I have enough cognitive load going on keeping a programming, gaming, or design stack going in my head to add another load keeping track of the status of my input device. Even should the actions become muscle memory (I own, but no longer use,…

Yeah, I used to have a dumb terminal on my desk, and I used the macro functionality inherent to it to semi-automate all sorts of workflows for myself, it was very very helpful.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#147

Post by clarry »

neoberg wrote: post #122
clarry wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would love to see your layout & settings!

Hey. This is my keyboard (and the layout): https://imgur.com/gallery/GwQONlT And my keymap file: https://gist.github.com/burakcan/dbb292e47df2defaffd405669fe...

Thanks. That's a very nice looking keyboard. And I like that it's wireless!

It's probably not something I would use unless I can find a way to make mod-tap more reliable for me (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22112693). But using a tap dance for ESC (or some other key) seems like an idea I could steal to free up a key for other uses.

This also got me to look into quad function tap dance and I realized I could use it to bind altgr to the same key I use for alt and dash with a double tap + hold. This should work since I've never seen any program require a combo that uses alt and altgr at the same time.

It seems like you don't have a mechanism for inputting ^X, how do you deal with that?

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#148

Post by neoberg »

clarry wrote: post #147
neoberg wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey. This is my keyboard (and the layout): https://imgur.com/gallery/GwQONlT And my keymap file: https://gist.github.com/burakcan/dbb292e47df2defaffd405669fe...

Thanks. That's a very nice looking keyboard. And I like that it's wireless! It's probably not something I would use unless I can find a way to make mod-tap more reliable for me ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22112693 ). But using a tap dance for ESC (or some other key) seems like an idea I could steal to free up a key for other uses. This also got me to look into quad function tap dance and I realized I could…

My related settings for mod tap are as following, never had any issues with unintended modifiers:

#define TAPPING_FORCE_HOLD #define IGNORE_MOD_TAP_INTERRUPT #define TAPPING_TERM 200

> It seems like you don't have a mechanism for inputting ^X, how do you deal with that? I use macos so there's no need for it. Cut is CMD+X on macos. But to do CMD+D I have 2 CMDs (D and K). Same goes for shifts (A and O)

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#149

Post by Scottn1 »

somehnguy wrote: post #77
ardy42 wrote: post #2

I don't get the obsession with custom keyboard with ever fewer keys. If I designed one, if anything it would have at least a few more modifier keys that a standard keyboard.

I'm a fan of 60% or tenkeyless (TKL) keyboards personally. I get this weird feeling of my desk being cramped that I really don't like sometimes. A TKL keyboard solved that for me. And don't miss the numpad because I don't enter long strings of numbers much anyway.

+1. I got my low cost mechanical TKL keyboard off Amazon after I started to get more into Fortnite last year with my son. Just having the extra space for wide swooping mouse movements without having to tilt my keyboard or have it way off to the side was terrific.

After having a TKL, I don't know how any gamer can use a full size. Now I can't see myself going back to full size even if I stopped gaming, despite me constantly eyeing the Logitech MX Keys everytime I'm in Best Buy. The mechanical switches (brown) have grown on me finally; this after having went through a mechanical phase years ago only to not see what all fuss was about. The noise I have drowned out and the the smooth presses are pleasure to type on.

I have looked far for a lower profile scissor switch TKL that can handle gaming (NKRO and backlighting) but doesn't exist. The only negatives of mechanical keyboards are a) the noise which I mentioned and b) the tallness of them. I would never consider having a mechanical like this in the work place because of the noise.

FYI this is the keyboard I have. Highly recommended for the price. Held up for a year now so far of daily use. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFBKYT5/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_0...

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