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Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

arstechnica.com

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Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#31

Post by astrodust »

ocharles wrote: post #3

This layout still feels inferior next to my http://trulyergonomic.com/ keyboard. I was really skeptical at first, especially with the price tag - but I'd never go back now.

With a layout like that, I bet you can't go back. The shift keys are in such a very odd position, with Alt, a rarely used key, sitting in the prime spot.

"Ergonomic" keyboards tend to be trouble for anyone who's not a strict home-row typer. I cross over the middle a lot, like for "keyboard" the Y is for left hand. Maybe it's more like a piano thing, where you're sort of hitting chords, pairs of letters in sequence ("e", "y"), hands moving into position to prepare, versus regimented typing. That giant gulf in the middle prevents all that.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#32

Post by yapcguy »

grannyg00se wrote: post #30
yapcguy wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't that keyboard no longer in production? Have you tried using their latest keyboards which drop the touchpad and come with the new style keys? http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPo... http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPo...

I'm not sure about their production status. A quick search does seem to indicate that you are correct. I have a 2013 Thinkpad so I know about the new keys and I don't mind them at all. And I really like that they've gotten rid of the trackpad completely on the new models since I hate trackpads even more than a separate mouse. But I do rest my palms on the area beside the trackpad. Looking at the new models that area…

Don't you miss the convenience of multi finger gestures on the touchpad?

I haven't got used to the trackpoint but that's because I tend to use the touchpad more. I guess I should disable the touchpad completely and force myself to learn/adapt to the trackpoint.

I think a split keyboard with mechanical keys, without a number pad, and with a trackpoint (on both sides so lefties are happy) would make for a great keyboard.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#33

Post by drjesusphd »

sivers wrote: post #20

For those of us who work on a laptop all day, who don't want a separate keyboard for it, but could buy a new laptop based on it having a great keyboard: Any suggestions for a laptop with a great keyboard? Specifically any non-Apple laptop?

I really like the way my Thinkpad feels. Give it a try somewhere; Lenovo is known for having great keyboards on laptops.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#34

Post by ufmace »

I've read a lot of posts on programming-related blogs about the importance of typing skill and keyboards. Maybe it's just me, but at least as far as typing skill/speed goes, I'm not really seeing it. Sure, a lot of our job is typing, and you need some baseline level of skill at it, but I don't think I've ever been hindered in my ability to produce code and features faster by my not-particularly-great typing abilities. If I could wave a magic wand and make myself type twice as fast as I currently do, I don't think my overall productivity would change much at all. The majority of my time is spent thinking about the best way to create or fix something, researching options, etc. The actual process of getting the result of that onto the screen seems relatively quick by comparison.

I might even go so far as to say that, if your typing speed is seriously hindering your productivity, then your language may have too much boilerplate to it, and you might want to put together some code-generation tools for yourself.

On the other hand, I will say that I now prefer those ergonomic keyboards with the split, down-sloping keys. After extended fast typing on a normal keyboard (writing documentation), I sometimes get a mild wrist pain, and using this type of keyboard seems to prevent this without interfering with my overall typing. They seem to be surprisingly hard to find though, with like 5-10 of them on Amazon versus hundreds of conventional keyboards.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#35

Post by howardbeware »

mistercow wrote: post #14

This sounds pretty neat; a handful of modest little adjustments that could prevent a lot of headaches. Being able to instantly take Colemak with me to any computer would be amazing (although carrying a keyboard around everywhere I use a computer sounds iffy). Now I've said some positive things, so I'm going to nitpick. This is HN, after all. The first thing that stands out to me is that it doesn't seem like a lot of…

Regarding stenotype hardware options and Plover, check out the Stenosaurus (http://www.stenosaurus.com). It's not out yet, but it looks promising.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#36

Post by mistercow »

howardbeware wrote: post #35
mistercow wrote: post #14

This sounds pretty neat; a handful of modest little adjustments that could prevent a lot of headaches. Being able to instantly take Colemak with me to any computer would be amazing (although carrying a keyboard around everywhere I use a computer sounds iffy). Now I've said some positive things, so I'm going to nitpick. This is HN, after all. The first thing that stands out to me is that it doesn't seem like a lot of…

Regarding stenotype hardware options and Plover, check out the Stenosaurus ( http://www.stenosaurus.com ). It's not out yet, but it looks promising.

That looks pretty neat. Do they have a page with any more information on it?

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#37

Post by jonhohle »

barrkel wrote: post #9
ocharles wrote: post #3

This layout still feels inferior next to my http://trulyergonomic.com/ keyboard. I was really skeptical at first, especially with the price tag - but I'd never go back now.

I'd consider it if the arrow key / edit block hadn't been destroyed. I do a lot of editing with the arrow keys + insert / delete / home / end / page up / page down block. Generally, all cuts, pastes, block moves etc. are done with those, especially since Ctrl-{C,X,V} are not convenient with a Dvorak layout. For similar reasons I've never gotten a keyboard that mucked around with the 6 keys above the arrow keys.

I've been considering some of the alternative ergonomic keyboards, and found an external numpad with arrows and editing keys [0]. I've been using an Apple Adjustable Keyboard [1], which has a separate numpad which can be used separately from the rest of the keyboard (though requires an ADB port). Unfortunately, the 6-key cluster on the AAK is awful, and painful to use regularly (tiny dome keys which require too much pressure for their tiny size).

[0] http://www.ergogeek.com/ione-scorpius-32-mechanical-numeric-...

[1] http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_Adjustable_Keyb...

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#38

Post by mistercow »

ufmace wrote: post #34

I've read a lot of posts on programming-related blogs about the importance of typing skill and keyboards. Maybe it's just me, but at least as far as typing skill/speed goes, I'm not really seeing it. Sure, a lot of our job is typing, and you need some baseline level of skill at it, but I don't think I've ever been hindered in my ability to produce code and features faster by my not-particularly-great typing abilities…

I have thought about this as well, and with that in mind, I've tried to take notice of how typing affects me (I'm a pretty fast typist, but I think this experience is not dependent on any particular typing speed).

What seems to be the main problem is that typing dominates my internal monologue. I can't continue to keep my ideas fresh in my mental "cache" while I'm typing, because the part of my mind that would be used for that is busy uselessly sounding out the text that I'm typing. So every second I spend typing is a second that I'm not actively maintaining and refreshing my conception of the big picture. The more code I have to type in between thinking about a problem and finishing the solution, the more likely I am to have to stop, rethink the problem, and rework a piece of code I'm writing to fit some constraint I lost track of.

Put another way, typing is a process that forces me to think through the exact implementation of a problem at a snail's pace (compared to normal mental operation). Not more carefully, mind you, but more slowly.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#39

Post by mrbill »

I just don't see why there's all the hype over this keyboard versus any other mechanical board (Filco, Leopold, Ducky, etc) other than PR.

For me personally, nothing beats an 87-key (standard 101-key minus the number pad, but with arrow keys and stuff above them) with Cherry MX Brown switches. Blues are also acceptable in a pinch (reminiscent of the old Northgate Omnikey boards). The only superior board is of course the IBM/Unicomp models with buckling springs.

All this is my opinion and preference; I have coworkers who love the "flat" chiclet-style keyboards like the Apple models; I can't stand them and they make my fingers hurt due to lack of travel. Bad habit from learning to type on a Selectric II in the late 80s.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#40

Post by jseliger »

jonhohle wrote: post #22
jseliger wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regarding ergonomics, I've been using a Kinesis Advantage for the last couple years ( http://jseliger.wordpress.com/2009/07/20/kinesis-advantage/ ), and I would find it hard to return to a standard keyboard all the time. The Advantage is absurdly expensive relative to other keyboards but for someone who spends a lot of time—too much, probably—typing, it's worth it.

I've been considering building an Ergodox[0], which has a Kinesis inspired key layout, but does not have the concave key well. In your experience with the Kinesis, would having a flat layout be a significant impediment to the comfort of another matrix key layout? [0] http://ergodox.org

In your experience with the Kinesis, would having a flat layout be a significant impediment to the comfort of another matrix key layout?

It's probably not optimal but probably is an improvement. Having the space and backspace keys (which are probably the two I use most) under my thumbs is a HUGE advantage.

That being said, if you can get the cash together the Kinesis is worth it. I didn't think so at first, but, as I say in the post, I went back to a regular keyboard after sending the review unit back. Then I found the money.

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