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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: heedpantsnow on Fri, 11 March 2011, 07:35:12

Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Fri, 11 March 2011, 07:35:12
Hi, guys, I've enjoyed learning about the merits of various layouts, switches, and other issues even down to the material and printing methods of key caps!  It's a lot of fun.

As I have my Nopoopoo Choc Mini at work and my full-sized Filco at home, I've noticed that sometimes my muscle memories for the different keyboards 'clash'.  Do you guys have different layouts/sizes that you both use on a daily basis?  How do you solve this?  Or do you have identical keyboards in your various environments?

Thank you for your thoughts!
Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: hcry4 on Fri, 11 March 2011, 09:03:59
I recently forced myself to use Dvorak at work. They clash occasionally, but Qwerty and Dvorak aren't so similar that it'd be too difficult to switch back and forth. Also, Windows makes it easy to switch layouts.
Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: cmr on Fri, 11 March 2011, 09:21:36
I strongly avoid anything that is not a completely standard US QWERTY layout, but it recently came to pass that I needed to own a portable computer. So, wanting to get something as small and light as possible I picked up a 10" Asus Eee after playing Typeracer on all the 10" netbooks at Best Buy.

I  miss the numpad terribly as well as the ins/del/home/end/pgup/pgdown block, but the unusually small right shift key has actually improved my typing. I tend to rely far too much on the right shift key (to the point of using only my right hand for most combinations of a right-hand letter and the shift key), and I've noticed that typing on the Eee has forced me to re-learn many of those using left shift... which is more comfortable and faster.

The main thing that confuses my brain is the extra fn key between ctrl and the left windows key. I'll occasionally try fn+arrow on a real keyboard when I want pgup/pgdn/etc., or land on fn when I want the left windows key on the Eee.
Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: theferenc on Fri, 11 March 2011, 10:14:16
This is why all of my keyboards that I use have the Unix layout: my HHKB, all my Model M keyboards, even all of my rubber dome keyboards (Sun Type 6 USB).

I have a couple mechanicals in ANSI layout, but that's for the benefit of others. I don't use them.
Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: pitashen on Fri, 11 March 2011, 11:32:26
It is only natural if you use keyboards of different layouts. The degree of effect varies from person to person of course.

I myself switching between window at work and mac at home, and I do get the hotkey mixed up from time to time, i.e. command key vs Ctrl key
Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: spdx on Sun, 13 March 2011, 00:23:15
A keyboard layout like a contract between computers and my brain. A frequently changing contract doesn't work for me.  I admire those people for their adaptability of switching between different layout without compromising efficiency.
Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: Tony on Sun, 13 March 2011, 03:10:47
I use Filco Majestouch (brown) at work and a Compaq MX 11800 (brown) at home. No problem.
Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: n12 on Sun, 13 March 2011, 03:17:34
Quote from: ripster;309851
Not me.  

This is why I don't use a HHKB.


Scissor Switch Wiki is ALMOST DONE.   Review for the DealExtreme HHKB killer is next.

EDIT:  Scissor switch Wiki here (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=All+About+Scissor+Switches&redirect=no).

The review that will NEVER COME. :biggrin:
Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Sun, 13 March 2011, 03:26:18
So it sounds like people can function on different keyboards...maybe I'm just not there yet.  I feel like I would be better with identical ones at both places.  Though that's not as fun!
Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sun, 13 March 2011, 10:32:39
Damn! Those rubber domes on the Perfectstroke are perky!
Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: n12 on Sun, 13 March 2011, 22:23:07
Oh god, don't link those! Pinks will be added to the group buy next!
Title: One life multiple layouts?
Post by: Armando Penblade on Sun, 13 March 2011, 23:07:29
I want those, even though they'd clash terribly with every other part of my keyboard!

Solution: BUY A NEW KEYBOARD

You guys ever make a "HYPNO-BOARD" image macro? Because you should have.