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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

#41

Post by jseliger »

yapcguy wrote: post #23
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.

Have you used the Kinesis Freestyle 2 or the just released Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard? If so, what are your thoughts?

No. They both look like net improvements, however. The Sculpt also uses scissor keys like the ones on MacBooks or, at least at one point, Thinkpads, which is an interesting choice. I prefer keys with more travel, but that's pure preference.

Pretty much no one likes the standard rubber-dome keys.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#42

Post by jseliger »

w1ntermute wrote: post #19
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 might have asked you this before (in a prior thread), but do you have the pedals that go with the Kinesis and, if so, how (useful) are they?

Nope. My guess is "reasonably," but I don't see a use case where I'd use them often enough to bother.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#43

Post by fsck--off »

jseliger wrote: post #42
w1ntermute wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I might have asked you this before (in a prior thread), but do you have the pedals that go with the Kinesis and, if so, how (useful) are they?

Nope. My guess is "reasonably," but I don't see a use case where I'd use them often enough to bother.

Foot pedals can eliminate the need for full sized function keys. You can also use foot pedal wiring to add new physical buttons onto the keyboard.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=26579.0

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#44

Post by w1ntermute »

jseliger wrote: post #42
w1ntermute wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I might have asked you this before (in a prior thread), but do you have the pedals that go with the Kinesis and, if so, how (useful) are they?

Nope. My guess is "reasonably," but I don't see a use case where I'd use them often enough to bother.

You mentioned the difficulty of typing {}[] using the Kinesis Advantage. Perhaps Ctrl, Alt, Shift could be moved to the foot pedals, and then the keys for Ctrl, Alt, Shift could be remapped to {}[].

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#45

Post by scrabble »

astrodust wrote: post #31
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 ("…

Have you tried an ergonomic keyboard? I tend to be a bit of a floaty typist as well, but a couple years ago I used a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard for a year. To my surprise, I found that I got used to it pretty quickly.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#46

Post by underwater »

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…

1,500 chars to explain how typing is unnecessary. I hope you see the irony.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#47

Post by howardbeware »

mistercow wrote: post #36
howardbeware wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

There's some information on the Plover blog:

http://plover.stenoknight.com/2013/08/introducing-stenosauru...

http://plover.stenoknight.com/2013/08/hands-on-with-stenosau...

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#48

Post by grannyg00se »

yapcguy wrote: post #32
grannyg00se wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 keyboar…

Miss? I've never used multi-finger gestures on a touchpad. Mostly because I don't use touchpads. I think that kind of interaction feature came about after I had already written them off as annoying. But it seems like I'd have to significantly remove my focus from the home row to do that - instant disdain.

I just looked it up and it appears as though these gestures you speak of are used for scrolling, swiping, zooming, and alternate clicking just like on a tablet.

I use the alternate button (left mouse button for me) for alternate clicking.

I use the middle button for scrolling.

Swiping, I think is to switch apps? That would be alt-tab.

Zooming is usually some key combination or key in combination with a left or right mouse button drag.

If you don't use the pointer it's probably just a matter of getting used to and tweaking the settings. Make sure to go into the mouse settings and play with both the trackpoint firm-touch, light-touch sensitivity as well as the operating system's pointer speed. Then just practice. I've even gotten to the point where I can do a half decent job playing a FPS with the trackpoint. I wouldn't try to compete in Quake Arena with it, but for casual single player use it's quite alright.

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#49

Post by eikenberry »

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

I'm also a kinesis fan having used one nearly exclusively for the last 4-5 years. For me the concave layout is nice, it makes it easier to reach the keys, but it is not the key ingredient. The thing about the kinesis which would make it very hard to change back to a standard layout keyboard is the thumb based meta keys.

I've looked a the Ergodox myself as well as this one [1] which I'm not sure has a name yet. I read about it originally here on HN [2].

[1] http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=44940.810 [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6297356

Re: Typing stealth: a review of the CODE Keyboard

#50

Post by allengeorge »

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'm going to second this. It definitely took a while to get used to, but once you do...

That said, a big downside of using a non-standard keyboard layout is the number of mistakes you make when you switch back to a normal keyboard (laptops, colleagues' computers, etc.)

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