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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: njbair on Tue, 31 March 2015, 09:24:18

Title: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: njbair on Tue, 31 March 2015, 09:24:18

Does anyone else here have to maintain long fingernails?

I'm an amateur classical guitarist, so long fingernails on my right thumb, index, middle and ring fingers are a fact of life. And by long, I mean long:

[attach=1]

Believe it or not, this has a major impact on how I type. Since my fingernails actually stick out farther than my fingertips, I need to strike the keys diagonally with my right hand instead of straight down. The problem is worse with laptops and "chiclet" style keycaps, because there is less room in between keys, so sometimes my nails will accidentally strike the key above the one I'm trying to strike.

Anyway, it just occurred to me that I wonder if I'm the only one here who has to deal with this. Maybe it's just me and stereotypical nail-filing sitcom secretaries.

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 31 March 2015, 09:25:24

I know I've seen this topic come up a few times, you might search and find them.

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 31 March 2015, 09:29:38

The thread topic was usually started by women who wore long fingernails for fashion.

Get a Model M/F and take the caps off of the stems.

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: baldgye on Tue, 31 March 2015, 09:35:21

[nsfw]

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: njbair on Tue, 31 March 2015, 09:35:40

OK I just did a search and read through some of those older threads. I did see the Model M capless suggestion.

It's actually not really a problem with full-profile keys. My nails are long for a guy but probably not that long compared to ladies' fashion nails. It's mostly my Chromebook Pixel's chiclet keys that mess me up. But that's a compound issue, because I also use it on my lap in an armchair, so my posture is almost like someone doing the chicken dance. I should probably just stop doing that.

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 31 March 2015, 14:44:19

Hrrrmmmm.....

Well, what are you "trying to do"...

If you're trying to break speed records,  you'd have to adapt those specific fingers to type independent of "sensation" from their respective finger tips.

If you're talking about "COMFORT"..  LOL..  it's like women and High Heels,  just not happening..  cuz you gotta do what you gotta do.. 

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: njbair on Tue, 31 March 2015, 18:39:03

Most of the time it's not an issue. That pic I took this morning, they are longer than normal because I just performed this weekend. Because I'm only an amateur with other real-world responsibilities I usually keep them trimmed back more than that. But I was more just looking to see if anyone else could relate.

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: inanis on Tue, 31 March 2015, 18:46:21

I have very long finger nails most of the time and it doesn't bother me at all when I type. Well, it doesn't bother me, but I do have two issues: 1.) my thumb nail will grow in way slanted because I use it to hit the space bar and 2.) My index fingernails are always cut as short as possible because when I type I use the tip of my finger to hit the keys, whereas on all my other fingers I use the pad of my finger.

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 31 March 2015, 20:40:47

Quote from: njbair on Tue, 31 March 2015, 09:35:40

OK I just did a search and read through some of those older threads. I did see the Model M capless suggestion.

It's actually not really a problem with full-profile keys. My nails are long for a guy but probably not that long compared to ladies' fashion nails. It's mostly my Chromebook Pixel's chiclet keys that mess me up. But that's a compound issue, because I also use it on my lap in an armchair, so my posture is almost like someone doing the chicken dance. I should probably just stop doing that.

So I don't need to post the links?

;)

I have some long fingernails at the moment, and also typing on an SSK, although with all keycaps intact.

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: C5Allroad on Tue, 31 March 2015, 20:42:21

If I had your nails... I'd be biting all day long...

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: Hoaryhag on Tue, 31 March 2015, 21:18:19

I can commiserate.  I used to play classical guitar and the long nails can really get in the way, especially with it only being 4 digits on one hand.  The only thing to do is what you've been doing I guess, keep em shorter most of the time.  It sucks though that you just don't get the same resonance with shorter nails.

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: Lanx on Tue, 31 March 2015, 22:41:01

food for thought(pun)

fingernails give your finger tips it's rigidity, otherwise imagine click clacking with 10 hotdogs.

btw my wife keeps her nails short, she can't function otherwise.

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: katushkin on Wed, 01 April 2015, 01:49:30

There was this picture on reddit about someone finding a keyboard that had been used for years by someone with long nails...

(http://i.imgur.com/y4f92B7.jpg)

Just thought it was interesting. Slightly relevant...

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: jonathanyu on Wed, 01 April 2015, 02:09:48

Quote from: katushkin on Wed, 01 April 2015, 01:49:30

There was this picture on reddit about someone finding a keyboard that had been used for years by someone with long nails...

Show Image

(http://i.imgur.com/y4f92B7.jpg)

Just thought it was interesting. Slightly relevant...

I don't know why, but I feel scary while looking at that picture

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 01 April 2015, 04:41:28

Quote from: jonathanyu on Wed, 01 April 2015, 02:09:48

Quote from: katushkin on Wed, 01 April 2015, 01:49:30

There was this picture on reddit about someone finding a keyboard that had been used for years by someone with long nails...

Show Image

(http://i.imgur.com/y4f92B7.jpg)

Just thought it was interesting. Slightly relevant...

I don't know why, but I feel scary while looking at that picture

It battle damage..

Like the bullets ricocheting off tank armor..

Although this is far less cool, as it's portrays not of glorious battle, rather an FPS addiction.

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: njbair on Wed, 01 April 2015, 08:36:40

Quote from: rowdy on Tue, 31 March 2015, 20:40:47

Quote from: njbair on Tue, 31 March 2015, 09:35:40

OK I just did a search and read through some of those older threads. I did see the Model M capless suggestion.

It's actually not really a problem with full-profile keys. My nails are long for a guy but probably not that long compared to ladies' fashion nails. It's mostly my Chromebook Pixel's chiclet keys that mess me up. But that's a compound issue, because I also use it on my lap in an armchair, so my posture is almost like someone doing the chicken dance. I should probably just stop doing that.

So I don't need to post the links?

;)

I have some long fingernails at the moment, and also typing on an SSK, although with all keycaps intact.

No need, Rowdy. I found your links posted in another thread and read through them. You're like the GH Archivist.

Title: Re: Typing with long fingernails
Post by: inanis on Wed, 01 April 2015, 08:54:11

Quote from: katushkin on Wed, 01 April 2015, 01:49:30

There was this picture on reddit about someone finding a keyboard that had been used for years by someone with long nails...

Show Image

(http://i.imgur.com/y4f92B7.jpg)

Just thought it was interesting. Slightly relevant...

This is what a good amount of my keyboards end up looking like. It is much better now that I rotate boards and caps more often.