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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: SmallFry on Thu, 08 November 2012, 07:24:23

Title: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: SmallFry on Thu, 08 November 2012, 07:24:23
I created another form, purely for fun... Do you use your keyboard with the legs up or down?

Here be the fill it out section! (https://docs.google.com/a/sdwalter.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dElzZFRtTURkclJoSnBoNFFTX1ZKNmc6MQ#gid=0)

Here be ye results! (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AuzaglYTy1FjdElzZFRtTURkclJoSnBoNFFTX1ZKNmc)
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: thegunner100 on Thu, 08 November 2012, 07:34:35
Ahh I think I remember a poll about this earlier this year. I actually might have been the one to start the poll.

Definitely down. Mechanical keyboards are already tall and the keys are staggered so that the keyboard is already sloped.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: fohat.digs on Thu, 08 November 2012, 07:39:19
I use gigantic keyboards with quite a bit of curvature, along with a fairly tall gel wrist rest.

My laptop, flat with flat keys, is awful, as are pretty much all laptops.

I feel that it is curvature, more than tilt, that is helpful.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Dgsbllx on Thu, 08 November 2012, 07:40:52
Definitely down, exact reasons thegunner100 said.
Title: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: phetto on Thu, 08 November 2012, 07:45:19
I have hard time understanding what is up and what is down. I don't fold out the legs on my boards, so many bad memories from the rubberdome days.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: tipo33 on Thu, 08 November 2012, 07:46:21
Down,  seems unanimous so far...
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: itlnstln on Thu, 08 November 2012, 07:51:09
I do not extend the feet on my keyboard.  I like it as flat as possible.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: jeroplane on Thu, 08 November 2012, 08:00:48
Looks like an overwhelming down.

I don't think any mechanical keyboard needs its legs up thanks to the slope and varying key profiles.

At work, on the other hand, where I am forced to use a low profile Microsoft rubberdome (this thing (http://products.pricesbolo.com/Microsoft/Microsoft-Wired-Keyboard-500-Black-B.jpg)), I do need the feet up to give it that slight slope that most mechanical keyboards naturally have.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: biezpienmaize on Thu, 08 November 2012, 08:12:56
Down. I mostly keep my mech keyboard on top of my laptop keyboard.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Larken on Thu, 08 November 2012, 08:44:01
that's interesting. apparently I'm the only one who uses it up so far. I think it's because I learnt how to type by striking the keys instead of pressing it down. A diagonal downward force forward feels more natural to me than a straight downward force, although I'd admit, I don't really have much of a problem putting the legs down.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: davkol on Thu, 08 November 2012, 09:21:12
Down, but reverse slope (like on MS Natural Keyboard) would be lovely.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: TheQsanity on Thu, 08 November 2012, 12:30:23
UP as in I like the legs out and down in order to kick my keyboard up. On mechanical keyboards I could have thwm down but on cheaper ones I def need them up.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Internetlad on Thu, 08 November 2012, 12:45:15
always down baby. I don't want to type on a staircase.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: metalliqaz on Thu, 08 November 2012, 12:47:05
I don't use the legs and I've never understood why anyone would want it.  The only thing it does is put extra stress on my wrists because I have to pick up my fingers further off the desk.  I put them up to type this and I feel too crowded.

I'm almost positive that the only reason that keyboards have legs is because old typewriters used to have a very steep incline and people were used to it when they started using computers.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: esoomenona on Thu, 08 November 2012, 13:29:51
Hmm, after reading through this thread, I am going to try with them down and see how that works out for me. I have long fingers, so maybe it might be a better idea for me, especially based on what metalliqaz just mentioned. I have just always put them up without thinking about it (albeit, that was rubber dome boards with no slope). I shall report my findings. Maybe I've been doing it wrong, and I'm always open to doing it right.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 08 November 2012, 15:36:51
I have legs extended, always have.  Maybe as I learned to type on electric typewriters in high school, although I don't really remember what they were like.

On this Ducky Shine the legs don't seem to make much difference, having just folded them back in.  If anything the keyboard seems more stable, less likely to slide backwards.  I might try it like this for a day or two.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: sth on Thu, 08 November 2012, 15:49:23
down but mostly just out of laziness
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: esoomenona on Thu, 08 November 2012, 15:53:50
A lot of keyboards are flat without the legs up. Mechanical boards seem to have a slope to them (at least the ones I've seen), in the board as well as the key profiles. I think it's probably just for uniformity as well as allowing people to choose what they feel is best for them.

That being said, after using my board with them down, I actually like it better. I seem to be making less mistakes as the keys aren't so close to my hands, as metalliqaz said. Thanks a lot for making this thread and helping me out with something I didn't even know was such a problem for me.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: funkymeeba on Thu, 08 November 2012, 16:05:56
Both. If I'm on a desk that sits correctly (at home), down. At work, with this random crap Ikea desk that I can't adjust... up.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 08 November 2012, 16:11:04
So ... in the poll "up" means with the legs extended and pointing down, and "down" means with the legs folded in and pointing up?
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: esoomenona on Thu, 08 November 2012, 16:11:58
It was my assumption that the legs up referred to the legs holding the keyboard up.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: demik on Thu, 08 November 2012, 16:12:17
Up!
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: TheQsanity on Thu, 08 November 2012, 16:13:42
So ... in the poll "up" means with the legs extended and pointing down, and "down" means with the legs folded in and pointing up?

Looks like that os what a lotof people mean.  But really legs up means keyboard down and legs down means keyboard up.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 08 November 2012, 16:13:52
It was my assumption that the legs up referred to the legs holding the keyboard up.

To me that is an odd way of putting it, but ok, if that's the case ... up (but trying down for a while) (and voting accordingly).
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Sifo on Thu, 08 November 2012, 16:27:47
I keep my key board down... as in... like... flatter. Not standing. you know
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Excaliborg on Thu, 08 November 2012, 16:28:59
It might be better to use collapsed/extended. I actually type with my keyboard in my lap since I sit in a recliner so I have no reason to use the legs.
Title: Re: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: SmallFry on Thu, 08 November 2012, 18:18:29
It might be better to use collapsed/extended. I actually type with my keyboard in my lap since I sit in a recliner so I have no reason to use the legs.
Erm, you are indeed using your legs
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: esoomenona on Thu, 08 November 2012, 18:33:03
I need my option to be changed in the results. It's now down for me.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: emptythecache on Fri, 09 November 2012, 08:17:24
I used to be very adamant that the legs need to be up, but then I got into a position where both keyboards I use every day move off and on my desk, and i got tired of flipping the legs. So now I'm so used to them down that the tilt on the LZ-SE kind of makes me cringe.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: mickd on Fri, 09 November 2012, 08:26:40
After seeing this I'm going to try using my keyboard with the legs down for awhile! Let's see how it goes!
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: 0100010 on Fri, 09 November 2012, 08:58:10
I keep the legs folded up inside the case.  Having the legs down raises the top of the board too much.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: jeroplane on Fri, 09 November 2012, 09:06:51
This poll is so ambiguous :))
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: tufty on Fri, 09 November 2012, 09:46:53
Historically, feet down (keyboard propped up) but since one of the legs broke off my matias, it's feet up. That said, I cheat; my desk is tilted :)
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: FoxWolf1 on Fri, 09 November 2012, 10:07:32
My keyboard doesn't have folding legs.

Which is probably for the best, because they can't break if they don't exist.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Fri, 09 November 2012, 10:09:45
This is confusing...

Is legs down meaning I don't use them?  And does legs up mean I am using them?
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: wcstick on Fri, 09 November 2012, 11:46:33
legs folded in. the WASD already has an angled profile. raising it is too much.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: noisyturtle on Fri, 09 November 2012, 18:21:50
I only use the legs on tenkeyless. No legs on full size. I dunno why.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: hotlikedimes on Sun, 11 November 2012, 10:29:20
I have to have the legs activated otherwise my wrists keep the spacebar mashed down.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: csm725 on Sun, 18 November 2012, 14:53:06
Legs extended with wrist rest.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Windos on Sun, 18 November 2012, 16:17:48
I definitely don't extend the legs on my boards, and I have a bad habit of retracting keyboard feet at other people's desks when I have to work on their PCs (I work on a helpdesk.)

It's a habit I'm working on breaking.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Trent on Sun, 18 November 2012, 22:33:50
I usually knock them off with a hammer.  I hate em.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: xsphat on Sun, 18 November 2012, 22:45:26
Depends on the position I hit it from.

What?
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Turbo Slaab on Sun, 18 November 2012, 22:49:23
Depends on the position I hit it from.

What?

The back, duh!
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: xsphat on Sun, 18 November 2012, 23:41:53
Depends on the position I hit it from.

What?

The back, duh!

Then down.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 18 November 2012, 23:50:40
I have had legs, er, down I think it was eventually decided (as in folded up into the base of the keyboard so as not to elevate the keyboard) for, well, since my earlier post, and so far I quite like it.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: noisyturtle on Sun, 18 November 2012, 23:53:26
The keyboards at my school are angled down away from the user which makes absolutely no sense to me, and some sadistic bastard went through the entire cs computer lab and removed all the legs so when you are working on something you gotta keep your elbows hovering off the table and wrists bent at a weird angle.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 19 November 2012, 00:04:23
Kidding aside, I use the legs on my Model M but no other keyboard on Earth.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 19 November 2012, 00:06:33
[...] no other keyboard on Earth.

That sounds a tiny bit ironic considering that your model M used to belong to NASA.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Octane on Mon, 19 November 2012, 00:09:14
Depends on the position I hit it from.

What?

Note to self: never buy a used keyboard from xsphat... :P
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Turbo Slaab on Mon, 19 November 2012, 00:09:29
Front down, back up. Thats the way I like to fu-typeonmymechanicalkeyboard
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: xsphat on Mon, 19 November 2012, 05:39:15
You guys so crazy, lol.
Title: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Rinsaku on Mon, 19 November 2012, 05:46:38
I like the keyboard nice and flat~
No legs!
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Findecanor on Mon, 19 November 2012, 06:08:28
Legs down. I prefer to have no slope at all.
Habits have changed. Ten years ago, I always wanted the legs up.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: keyboardlover on Mon, 19 November 2012, 08:22:00
Legs up. Just how I like my women.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: scytheR on Mon, 19 November 2012, 09:31:10
up, i type 20 wpm slower and i miss keys if i have them down. lul
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: Citna on Sat, 24 November 2012, 22:44:59
I use mine down, just feels so much better to me.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Sat, 24 November 2012, 23:06:43
My daily use boards have no legs.

A couple of my vintage boards do, but I couldn't imagine wanting to use them ever as they are already plenty sloped. No legs.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: nodicaL on Sun, 25 November 2012, 06:56:13
Definitely don't use the legs on my keyboard.  I've used it when I first started typing a long time ago, but it started to hurt my wrists after mass gaming sessions.
Title: Re: Legs up or Down on your keyboard?
Post by: absyrd on Sun, 25 November 2012, 09:48:51
I've actually recently put little rubber legs on the front side of 2 of my keyboards to make them as flat as possible or even have a bit of a negative angle. I find that with my wrists bent less backwards that I have less pain after typing for long periods.

This was recommended to me by someone on IRC. If I could remember who it was I'd quickly thank him/her.