Unless you spend hours entering numbers, learning to touch type the number row will save you time.
I'd wager that tenkeyless seems more popular than it actually is.
well if we really want to be picky
numpad=3 strong fingers+thumb for 0 (or 00)
touchtyping homerow= 8 fingers with both index doing 5,6,7,8 and weak pinkies for 1,0
Poll. (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=13075)
There are certainly ergonomic advantages but coolness factor will always dominate all common sense.I never had a problem with numpads until I moved to a GUI and started using a mouse. As others have mentioned here, having your pointing device so far away from the home row is a PITA. In fact, my search for tenkeyless keyboards (and frustration over a good online forum to discuss such things) is one of the main reasons geekhack exists.
Wow, maybe I touched a nerve ;)
I couldn't care less if people think my keyboard is "cool". I want something that is comfortable and enjoyable.
but the numpad is killer when entering many UPC codes at a time.
Anyone want to loan me a tenkeyless kb (I'll pay shipping both ways :) ??
this is GH ppl should be able to see the ascii!...
regular setup...
...hope that helps!
this is GH ppl should be able to see the ascii!
regular setup
[====] keyboard
{} numpad
o~ mouse
\--|--/ person typing
normal 104 key and mouse setup
[====]{} o~
\--|--/
now person is gonna use mouse
[====]{} o~
\--|------/
omg look at how stretched out his arm is!
now he goes back to normal typing
[====]{} o~
\--|--/
tenkeyless
[====]o~
\--|--/
person typing like regular
[====]o~
\--|--/
now he gotta use mouse
[====]o~
\--|---/
now back to regular
[====]o~
\--|--/
hope that helps!
Am I the only one who thinks that this is cute and awesome?
Tenkeyless being a specific layout, not just the lack of numpad.
Compacts (Orteks etc) can have the same set of keys as a tenkeyless, but they're not called tenkeyless.
Am I the only one who thinks that this is cute and awesome?
you can mention the weather and touch a nerve around here.
Watch.... "weather"
I think the poll should have been "I have a numpad between my home row and mouse...." since that's the main issue ergonomics-wise. That would allow for odd layouts like the Maltron that has a tenkeypad in the middle of the keyboard.
hope that helps!
I personally recommend the Model F route: have your cake and eat it too. It's too bad so few keyboards use that layout.
A while ago at work (before I had taken my mechanical tenkeyless keyboard there), a co-worker complained to me about the numpad begin in the way for using the mouse... and he is someone who actually uses the numpad regularly. I told him that he should ask for a tenkeyless keyboard replacement, at which he said "They are keyboards that are made that way?".
By the way, years ago, I saw on TV a Guiness World Record attempt at typing numbers. He did it with both hands on the number row.
Because it brings your mouse like 6" to the left and your body is better centered for important things like web browsing. This can mean ease of tension in your right shoulder and arm. Entering numbers with the top row isn't that hard.
By the way, years ago, I saw on TV a Guiness World Record attempt at typing numbers. He did it with both hands on the number row.
If you want the mouse-related ergonomic benefits of a tenkeyless, but the numpad benefit of tenkeyful, get a tenkeyless and put a numpad on the left side of your keyboard.
I use a pointing device on both sides so this doesn't really work for me. I just use the number row. Really you could put the numpad anywhere in your reach if you aren't reaching for it more often than your mouse.
This?
Help me decide about what I should get. FKBN104M/EB-AI or FKBN87M/EB? I already have FKBN104MC/EB now.
#threadhijacking
Now I just need to work up the courage to do the nut/bolt mod on my M, and then rearrange my keyboard layout.
What's a "nut/bolt mod"?
the ergonomics for me is for gaming.
Honestly..
After using a laptop for 3 years... I was so relieved to have a cheap 11$ keyboard with the ten keys..
Why? MMORPGS SUCK when all the keys aren't nice and neat in one spot..
Click enemy.. run around using wasd and go to town with num key pad..
Now that I have the ten keys, I don't use them nearly as much as I use to because, I am not playing as many mmo's.
So if your not playing mmorpgs.. or you already have one of those MMORPG mice with 11 million buttons on it.. I can understand not really wanting/caring for a ten key pad...
I still prefer to have it fwiw..
people just like saying 'tenkeyless'. it sounds kind of mysterious.
you get logical "clusters" with the numpad area, you have 17 buttons with which you can assign hotkeys+movement then you have the arrow cluster and the 2x3 pgdn/pgup cluster and even the numlock 3button cluster. otherwise how can 20 or so actions be mapped out on a keyboard effectively. scroll through numrow?Or perhaps alphabet keys?
Or perhaps alphabet keys?
Left handed keyboards seem to be an excellent alternative to tenkeyless. I haven't seen them mentioned much on GH.
Hey, I made a smiley!
IMO, ten key was designed for using your right hand. If the keys were inverted, that might help. I tried a numpad on my left hand, and it just didn't feel right.Indeed, it's a compromise to avoid purchasing a separate numpad.
No pun intended.
This just in. Due to all the success of the Tenkeyless 'boards, Filco has put out the ultimate in space-saving keyboard technology: The EightyFourKeyLess Keyboard:Show Image(http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_images/filco_keypad_small.jpg)