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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: therecorder on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:18:42

Title: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:18:42
Out of curiosity, for those of you who type in bed, is your choice of keyboard different from that which you choose to use out of bed?  Why?  Size?  Color?  Switch?  Weight of switch? .......
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Jocelyn on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:23:27
I use my Poker and laptop's big Touch Pad if I'm in bed or anywhere except my desk. It's small, the only board I currently own, and has lubed ergo clears with gold 62g Korean springs.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Halverson on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:26:56
I spend 95% of my time on GH in bed on my macbook, scissor switches. My computer chair is a dinner chair and it kills me to use it.

Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Photekq on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:28:16
If the miniguru were available to buy then that is what I would use. http://www.guru-board.com/
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: jabar on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:32:45
If the miniguru were available to buy then that is what I would use. http://www.guru-board.com/
Never heard of this, and after reading it I'm not surprised. So many new 60% keyboards have left that Miniguru in the dust.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Photekq on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:33:43
If the miniguru were available to buy then that is what I would use. http://www.guru-board.com/
Never heard of this, and after reading it I'm not surprised. So many new 60% keyboards have left that Miniguru in the dust.
I think that website's been there way, way before the GH60. It's still unique due to the track-point-thingy. If it were released it wouldn't be 'left in the dust'.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Glod on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:35:03
HHKB and trackball for bed use

with the HHKB i get the satisfaction of using a good keyboard without waking my wife, even lubed reds with o rings will wake her, topre for some reason doesn't bother her.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:38:09
HHKB and trackball for bed use

with the HHKB i get the satisfaction of using a good keyboard without waking my wife, even lubed reds with o rings will wake her, topre for some reason doesn't bother her.

Think you now have given many readers a good "excuse" for purchasing an HHKB :)
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Jocelyn on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:42:14
Haha, before I got into mechanical boards and when I gamed more, this used to be my in bed setup (SG05 w/GTX 680 was off to the left side).

(http://imageshack.us/a/img41/4112/monitord.png)
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:49:28
I use my Poker and laptop's big Touch Pad if I'm in bed or anywhere except my desk. It's small, the only board I currently own, and has lubed ergo clears with gold 62g Korean springs.

Do you find that the laptop "and" keyboard get a bit weighty after a while?
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Jocelyn on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:51:57
Do you find that the laptop "and" keyboard get a bit weighty after a while?

No, because my laptop is 17.3", less than an inch thick, and only weighs ~6 pounds :)

Edit - I'll probably pick up a Macbook Air or a Samsung Series 9 13.3" eventually. While I don't find my current setup to be heavy, I think something 13.3" and even thinner would be better.

I think it interesting that, thus far, no one has mentioned using a white or backlit board for low-light situations.

I don't look at my keys when I type >.>
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Mon, 20 May 2013, 00:54:51
I think it interesting that, thus far, no one has mentioned using a white or backlit board for low-light situations.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Mon, 20 May 2013, 01:08:23
Do you find that the laptop "and" keyboard get a bit weighty after a while?

No, because my laptop is 17.3", less than an inch thick, and only weighs ~6 pounds :)

Edit - I'll probably pick up a Macbook Air or a Samsung Series 9 13.3" eventually. While I don't find my current setup to be heavy, I think something 13.3" and even thinner would be better.

I think it interesting that, thus far, no one has mentioned using a white or backlit board for low-light situations.

I don't look at my keys when I type >.>

I have two laptops.  This is the one I have in my bedroom (newer release, with Windows 8 ).  It's a 14", and a Poker or Pure fits perfectly in the touch-pad area:
http://www.samsung.com/my/consumer/pc-peripherals-printer/notebook-pc/ultra-portable/NP530U4C-S01MY
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Jocelyn on Mon, 20 May 2013, 01:16:57

I have two laptops.  This is the one I have in my bedroom (newer release, with Windows 8).  It's a 14", and a Poker or Pure fits perfectly in the touch-pad area:
http://www.samsung.com/my/consumer/pc-peripherals-printer/notebook-pc/ultra-portable/NP530U4C-S01MY

Nice, though I don't think I could handle 1366x768. Do you have access to the touch pad when a Poker/Pure is on top of it?

This is what I'm using (two SSDs/12GB of memory) - http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/laptops/NP700Z7C-S01US

Potato pic taken in the dark
(http://imageshack.us/a/img198/6924/laptopf.jpg)
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Mon, 20 May 2013, 01:25:27

I have two laptops.  This is the one I have in my bedroom (newer release, with Windows 8).  It's a 14", and a Poker or Pure fits perfectly in the touch-pad area:
http://www.samsung.com/my/consumer/pc-peripherals-printer/notebook-pc/ultra-portable/NP530U4C-S01MY

Nice, though I don't think I could handle 1366x768. Do you have access to the touch pad when a Poker/Pure is on top of it?


This is what I'm using (two SSDs/12GB of memory) - http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/laptops/NP700Z7C-S01US

No, it covers the entire area.  If a Poker or Pure had legs, you would be able to sit the legs in the top ledge, just above the top row of keys, or between any of the rows, leaving the track-pad exposed, but the keyboard covered.  I can do this with a Keycool 84.

EDIT:
Best solution with a Poker or Pure is to use a wireless mouse...  I use an Orochi.  (Great mouse, and I am not a Gamer.)
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:26:16
Am I the only one who couldn't use a Poker on top of the laptop keyboard? It was always pressing buttons below it.

Anyway, I just use my phone in bed.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:30:51
Am I the only one who couldn't use a Poker on top of the laptop keyboard? It was always pressing buttons below it.

Anyway, I just use my phone in bed.

You can use it, but only if you place it in the touch-pad area, not on top of any keys.  If this is on a small laptop (14", or less), you will definitely lose access to the touch-pad, and have to resort to a mouse.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Jocelyn on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:38:14
Am I the only one who couldn't use a Poker on top of the laptop keyboard? It was always pressing buttons below it.

Anyway, I just use my phone in bed.

You can use it, but only if you place it in the touch-pad area, not on top of any keys.  If this is on a small laptop (14", or less), you will definitely lose access to the touch-pad, and have to resort to a mouse.

No, you can definitely use it over the laptop keyboard without ever pressing buttons down, while 95% of the trackpad is showing. Three corners are not touching the keyboard underneath and you have to press really hard in the back for it to actuate laptop keys. I do it with my Poker and Nezumi does it with her Pure and 15" MBP.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:41:07
I use the keyboard on my Motorola Droid 4. And Tapatalk. You kids are so fancy with your Pokers and Laptops in bed :P
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:42:38
Am I the only one who couldn't use a Poker on top of the laptop keyboard? It was always pressing buttons below it.

Anyway, I just use my phone in bed.

You can use it, but only if you place it in the touch-pad area, not on top of any keys.  If this is on a small laptop (14", or less), you will definitely lose access to the touch-pad, and have to resort to a mouse.

No, you can definitely use it over the laptop keyboard without ever pressing buttons down, while 95% of the trackpad is showing. Three corners are not touching the keyboard underneath and you have to press really hard in the back for it to actuate laptop keys. I do it with my Poker and Nezumi does it with her Pure and 15" MBP.

If the rubber stops on the bottom of the board sit on keys, how does the pressure from your typing not actuate keys?
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Jocelyn on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:42:48
I use the keyboard on my Motorola Droid 4. And Tapatalk. You kids are so fancy with your Pokers and Laptops in bed :P

LOL I do the same with my Note II! It's all about options imo :)

If the rubber stops on the bottom of the board sit on keys, how does the pressure from your typing not actuate keys?

I don't know, maybe it's the gold korean springs lol. I think it has to do with only one of four rubber feet being on the keyboard. The other three are to the left or below the keys and as mentioned above, I have to push VERY hard in on the number row for the laptop keys to actuate. I've never had it happened until I tested it a few minutes ago.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:44:18
You're so right Sisbot...I should get an OTG cable and type on my Pure hooked up to my phone. Wonder if it would pull enough power to be backlit too.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:45:58
I use the keyboard on my Motorola Droid 4. And Tapatalk. You kids are so fancy with your Pokers and Laptops in bed :P

I guess it depends on what you are typing/doing, and how comfortable you want to be,  IMHO, even surfing and posting on a laptop is a lot more enjoyable than on other smaller devices.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:47:34

 
Am I the only one who couldn't use a Poker on top of the laptop keyboard? It was always pressing buttons below it.

Anyway, I just use my phone in bed.

This was my first thought, I am considering getting a smaller mechanical keyboard although I'd be using mine on a couch with a 17" laptop.

I use the keyboard on my Motorola Droid 4. And Tapatalk. You kids are so fancy with your Pokers and Laptops in bed :p

I use my phone 90% of the time at home but my beds only sleeping and other things you normally do in bed  :p

....the only technology in bed is the alarm clock  ???
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: shawn24 on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:48:24
If the miniguru were available to buy then that is what I would use. http://www.guru-board.com/
Never heard of this, and after reading it I'm not surprised. So many new 60% keyboards have left that Miniguru in the dust.
I think that website's been there way, way before the GH60. It's still unique due to the track-point-thingy. If it were released it wouldn't be 'left in the dust'.

I like this one,but it seems impossible to be released
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Jocelyn on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:48:47
You're so right Sisbot...I should get an OTG cable and type on my Pure hooked up to my phone. Wonder if it would pull enough power to be backlit too.

To be fair, it's usually coupled with one of these and an external monitor (Only paid $50) - http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones-accessories/EDD-S20JWEGSTA
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 20 May 2013, 09:58:04
You're so right Sisbot...I should get an OTG cable and type on my Pure hooked up to my phone. Wonder if it would pull enough power to be backlit too.

What's this? You can even see my little mouse cursor from the touchpad. But your battery hates you when you connect one of these, turn it up to full brightness, and use it as a hotspot at the same time...

(http://i.imgur.com/kYRjlTm.jpg)
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: ping111 on Mon, 20 May 2013, 10:03:00
There's nothing quite like the feeling of ultimate luxury that you get when you type on a mech while chilling in bed.  I only, sadly, have one mech right now, but I am getting a TKL soon.  As well, I'm researching into adapters that turn your bed into, essentially, an armchair, which would make it even MORE pleasant.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: SmallFry on Mon, 20 May 2013, 10:33:10
I use a QFR with 55g blacks. It's terribad but it works. I keep my OTG cable for my tablet, so then it's all good. Occasionally I swap in my Phantom, but it's both loud, and uncased; blankets sounded like a bad idea.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: margo baggins on Mon, 20 May 2013, 11:01:54
I think I am the only person on earth with a disdain for staying in bed. I wake up, I get up, I don't get back into my bed until precisely 3 minutes before I fall asleep, and in that time I ready myself for bed, then I get into bed, then within seconds, even if I want to watch something, I fall asleep. I have on a few occasions tried to use laptop in bed when I have been ill or whatever, and lasted minutes before finding it wildly uncomfortable and resorting to going to my desk anyway. The desk isn't much better like, it's covered in keyboards and screens and soldering equipment - laptop work at the computer desk is a no no, laptop work in my house literally has to happen on ones lap. I have never even attempted to use a laptop AND one of my keyboards in bed.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: davkol on Mon, 20 May 2013, 11:22:00
I don't type in bed, but if I did, I'd use my setup like this:

(http://geekhack.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=33167.0;attach=19095;image)
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: SmallFry on Mon, 20 May 2013, 11:23:27
Fire extinguisher included?
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: TheQsanity on Mon, 20 May 2013, 14:15:41
You're so right Sisbot...I should get an OTG cable and type on my Pure hooked up to my phone. Wonder if it would pull enough power to be backlit too.

What's this? You can even see my little mouse cursor from the touchpad. But your battery hates you when you connect one of these, turn it up to full brightness, and use it as a hotspot at the same time...

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/kYRjlTm.jpg)

How is that kb? And trackpad? Its only about 50 bucks on ebay. Is it heavy?
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: ping111 on Mon, 20 May 2013, 14:40:09
You're so right Sisbot...I should get an OTG cable and type on my Pure hooked up to my phone. Wonder if it would pull enough power to be backlit too.

What's this? You can even see my little mouse cursor from the touchpad. But your battery hates you when you connect one of these, turn it up to full brightness, and use it as a hotspot at the same time...

More
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/kYRjlTm.jpg)
What KB is this?  It looks PERFECT for travel...
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: davkol on Mon, 20 May 2013, 14:44:48
Industrial version of Deck 82, there's been a thread about it recently.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Grim Fandango on Mon, 20 May 2013, 14:48:02
Only on the laptop keyboard. My girlfriend would kill me if I started typing on anything else when she is snoozing.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Flyersfan1 on Mon, 20 May 2013, 16:17:18
I think if I get one of the new leopold topre boards I could see myself using that in bed.  I have a thinkpad and they're known for having some really nice keyboards, I type so much better on that than I have on any other laptop keyboard I had owned prior to that. 
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Asininity on Mon, 20 May 2013, 21:40:47
I use my Leopold tenkeyless when I don't feel like using the crummy laptop keyboard while in bed.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: esoomenona on Mon, 20 May 2013, 23:39:43
Its a TG3 keyboard. Its not too heavy, per se. Though the bottom is aluminum. The only things that's weird is the small size of some of the keys. But it has all the keys you need in a compact form factor. I believe they were made for police cars.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Masterchief79 on Tue, 21 May 2013, 01:14:23
Can't really say I spend too much time with my Laptop in bed. And hey, laptop keyboards maybe don't feel like heaven, but it's not so bad that my girlfriend would be swapped with a mechanical there.^^
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: F u r u y á on Tue, 21 May 2013, 01:50:51
Haha, before I got into mechanical boards and when I gamed more, this used to be my in bed setup (SG05 w/GTX 680 was off to the left side).

Show Image
(http://imageshack.us/a/img41/4112/monitord.png)



SG05. Power density ftw :D

I have one too, with a 660. Previously it had a 6870 Hawk, I had to cut the case to fit it ^^

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Furuyah/comp/sg05hawk_zpsf5b7023a.jpg)
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Tue, 21 May 2013, 02:43:22
This is my Samsung S5 Ultrabook with my FC660C:

Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Jocelyn on Tue, 21 May 2013, 05:03:07
SG05. Power density ftw :D

I have one too, with a 660. Previously it had a 6870 Hawk, I had to cut the case to fit it ^^

Show Image
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Furuyah/comp/sg05hawk_zpsf5b7023a.jpg)

Nice, there are some photos of mine in one of the off topic computer threads. I've since parted it out, and I'm about to part out my Lian Li Q11R, but I'm selling the case to a friend of mine.

This is my Samsung S5 Ultrabook with my FC660C:

Thanks for posting this. I can't wait to see how WFD's FC660C looks on my Samsung laptop.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Masterchief79 on Tue, 21 May 2013, 05:18:42
How do you guys get that mechanical over your laptop keyboard without pressing all the keys of it?
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Jocelyn on Tue, 21 May 2013, 05:23:03
How do you guys get that mechanical over your laptop keyboard without pressing all the keys of it?

I've already explained this earlier in the thread, using a Poker or Pure. Only one of three corners is sitting in the keyboard area and I have to press very hard (way more force than typing) on the top row to have accidental keystrokes happen.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: davkol on Tue, 21 May 2013, 06:35:59
How do you guys get that mechanical over your laptop keyboard without pressing all the keys of it?

Non-issue. Rubber feet on my choc mini fit exactly on X200T's edges.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Tue, 21 May 2013, 07:53:50
How do you guys get that mechanical over your laptop keyboard without pressing all the keys of it?

It may be difficult to make out in my above photo, but the pull-out feet of the FC660C are actually sitting in the space between key rows.  This permits me to pick a "between key row" that will permit the bottom edge of the keyboard to sit below the bottom row of laptop keys.  This is not possible with Pokers and Pures because they have no pull-out feet.  Therefore, like Jocelyn pointed out, you must sit the top rubber strips above the top row of laptop keys, and one of the bottom rubber strips in the space between a right- or left most key and the right or left edge of the laptop keyboard.  However, if your laptop is 14" or less, there might not be enough space between a key and the edge of the laptop keyboard to fit a bottom rubber strip.  It all a bit of experimentation, and finding the right spot (that doesn't produce inadvertent laptop keyboard key presses).  Once you have found your spot, just remember it for the next time.

ADDITIONAL:

If I use a Poker or a pure with my "14"" laptop, I place the keyboard in the touch-pad area, and use a mouse.

One of the nice things about having and using pull-out legs is that when you are in bed, with the setup in your lap, the laptop tends to lean downward (from thighs to knees).  Raising the the top end of the keyboard helps to compensate for this unevenness.
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Masterchief79 on Tue, 21 May 2013, 08:22:50
Thanks guys, just wondered, can't try it with my own keyboard. The smallest one I have is a G80-1800HFD, and it's still a lot wider than my 15,6" laptop. ;) I never saw the sense of a 60% keyboard (don't know about you but my desk is wide enough for a fullsize^^), but now, for a laptop... May be quite nice, I could go with browns and O-rings and take it to university every day :D
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Jocelyn on Tue, 21 May 2013, 08:56:30
Thanks guys, just wondered, can't try it with my own keyboard. The smallest one I have is a G80-1800HFD, and it's still a lot wider than my 15,6" laptop. ;) I never saw the sense of a 60% keyboard (don't know about you but my desk is wide enough for a fullsize^^), but now, for a laptop... May be quite nice, I could go with browns and O-rings and take it to university every day :D

The sense is that I don't need a big ass full size keyboard despite having the room.
I also have no real need for a Numpad, dedicated F-row, or TKL arrows (Poker has arrows), so going with anything bigger doesn't make any sense for my needs :)
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Masterchief79 on Tue, 21 May 2013, 09:18:33
Never saw it that way. Actually, you're right, I don't use the tenkey anyway. Could use an F-Row though (dunno, F5 for browser or in RPGs, for character selection or quicksave or something).
Also, as a German I'm used to a big Enter (not the big fat one, but I know some of the 60% keyboards only have a single row enter, thats too small for me). And I need arrow keys. ^^
Ah you know, I'm happy with my big old cherrys (G80-1000 and like that), and the smaller the keyboard, the more expensive it gets... for the moment I'm satisfied. :D
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: therecorder on Tue, 21 May 2013, 09:26:44
Never saw it that way. Actually, you're right, I don't use the tenkey anyway. Could use an F-Row though (dunno, F5 for browser or in RPGs, for character selection or quicksave or something).
Also, as a German I'm used to a big Enter (not the big fat one, but I know some of the 60% keyboards only have a single row enter, thats too small for me). And I need arrow keys. ^^
Ah you know, I'm happy with my big old cherrys (G80-1000 and like that), and the smaller the keyboard, the more expensive it gets... for the moment I'm satisfied. :D

Just for your information... The new Pure Pro...

http://kbtrace.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KBTeurope
Title: Re: Typing in Bed
Post by: Masterchief79 on Tue, 21 May 2013, 09:36:07
Yep, thanks for the info, I have already seen a few pics of this board and let's put it this way... If I'm going to buy a 60%  board, this will be it. :)