geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: LollyWater on Wed, 14 November 2012, 14:42:49
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What's your guy's opinion of the 84 key layout? I'm pretty set the Noppoo Choc Mini Red Switch. I really like the idea of a keyboard with as much functionality as a TKL but without the unnecessary hogging of desk real estate. I also really like the look of 84 keyboards. Very much like the POKER with a solid array of keys but with the arrow keys I need as an indie gamer. I've also heard the POKER's build is quite unsturdy.
All the 84 key keyboards featuring the MX Cherry switch I've found so far are the Noppoo Choc Mini, the Key Cool 84 and the KBT RACE.
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I love my Choc Mini... at least until I convert to some ergonomic keyboard. Only thing that drives me mad is missing dedicated Insert key (use it a lot for copy&paste).
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Hey, I know this thread is old, but I definitely like these 84-key keyboards more than any other compact board. I appreciate not having to move my hands as far for navigation and the space they save over a typical 104-key. Also, the Noppoo has media keys and the embedding number pad.
The 87-key keyboards don't save that much space and I would prefer if they did something more innovative after losing the number pad, like moving the arrow cluster farther up. I don't find the layout that much easier to use. If you are going to reduce the size of a typical 104-key ANSI layout, I think the Plum 96 does a much better job with a reduced layout:
(http://ww2.sinaimg.cn/large/59df41d3gw1dv1iabrr4aj.jpg)
The smallest keyboards, like the 60% boards and the Happy Hacking, seem to sacrifice too much for my liking. I used the navigation keys a lot to move around large documents. I would be annoyed having to hit the function every time I wanted to use the arrow keys, and then move back to begin typing. I don't feel like the extra row of F keys and extra row on the right end for the navigation keys on the 84 key boards sacrifices much to the 60% boards.
Also, over all these keyboards, I prefer something like the Ergodox or Truly Ergonomic that are mechanical, non-staggered, make good use of the thumbs, and don't force your wrists to be at uncomfortable angles like a normal keyboard. Both are smaller than the a normal keyboard, so I would throw them in the compact keyboard ring. A little expensive for most consumers, however.
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You don't have to "move back"...you simply move your hand so your pinky hits the FN button on the left and use the arrow keys..Once you're used to it, it is fine..
Granted, I think a better configuration would have been for the arrow keys to be PL;' (WASD configuration or even IJKL) rather than [;/' but they did that so all the other keys can be used while you have FN held down with your right pinky.
I think my issue w/ the HHKB layout is while I love where the backspace is...the main problem is NO ONE ELSE HAS IT THERE. I suppose I could limit where I use which keyboards and run a program so my \ key comes the backspace on my other keyboards...but for now I just deal with going back and forth...it is sort of like driving on the left and right sides of the road. Getting used to going back and forth even though I might start off turning on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal.
Anyways, the Choc Mini layout is quite nice as well....You basically get all your keys on a much smaller layout...I'd personally rather have the top row gone and replaced with fn key stuff (and move esc to where ` is) but leaving the right row so you can have dedicated arrow keys plus other stuff but I think the choco mini layout is pretty good.
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You don't have to "move back"...you simply move your hand so your pinky hits the FN button on the left and use the arrow keys..Once you're used to it, it is fine..
I'm sure if I got the chance to use something like the HHKB and KBC Poker for a bit, I would agree with you. But just looking at them, I sort of cringe at the minor hassle of using my pinky to hold down the FN key for the navigation keys. I have a tendency to avoid using my pinky whenever possible. On the QWERTY layout, I unconsciously use my ring finger for keys in locations like Q, Z, and P.
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I absolutely love the 84 key layout, as it has all of the essential keys packed up into a slimmer form factor than a TKL. I am currently using a MX Blue Keycool 84 and I am loving it. One keyboard that is in the 60% range that I'm currently eyeing right now though is the speculated Pure Pro, as that has arrow keys and a programmable layer for my pg up, pg down, home and end needs where I want them.