The Quikfire TK only shifts the nav cluster down one row, so it's really not much of an adjustment other than learning to hit numlock when you need to enter numbers. In my opinion, it's the perfect compromise.
I think it's weird that fullsize layouts have a numlock key at all when all those keys are duplicated in a better layout immediately to the left. At the same time, since they do have a numlock key, it seems like a lot of wasted space to have those duplicate keys.
The best part of the TK over TKL is the numpad enter key. I use it all the time with my mouse hand: click in field, hit numpad enter. That's the most annoying thing lacking in a TKL for me. But I also really like the numpad. So I'd really like to see the layout in more keyboards myself.
As a data scientist/software engineer the idea that in this day and age people are still entering number into spreadsheets by hand kind of baffles me. Why isn't this stuff all automated?
I use the numpad a lot at my job, as I am constantly putting together estimates and entering a lot of dollar values into spreadsheets. My only gripe with the Quickfire TK, was that you have to toggle numlock to use the arrows. Excel is one of my most used programs, and I use the arrows to move around cells between entering number data. If the Quickfire TK had the arrows built into the lower right, so you didn't have to hit numlock, I'd have one.
I actually DID have one on order last year, but cancelled it when I realized I'd have to hit numlock a few hundred times a day to toggle between arrows and the numpad.
currently, I use a 96 key layout, which as everything I need without having to use a toggle or Fn key.
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I was wondering today how come there are so few keyboards adopting Coolermaster's Quickfire TK form factor.
I understand many keyboard enthusiasts want a TKL keyboard mainly based on the primary argument that the numpad on a full keyboard takes a lot of width for a section of the keyboard that is rarely used. In other words, takes extra space and uselessly widens your mouse position. At the same time, many wish they could keep the numpad cluster but hate the extra space it takes.
To me, Coolermaster and such came with the perfect solution with their Quickfire TK meaning you get both benefits by keeping your numpad cluster at the size of a TKL.
I'm just curious to hear your thoughts on this.
I was wondering today how come there are so few keyboards adopting Coolermaster's Quickfire TK form factor.
I understand many keyboard enthusiasts want a TKL keyboard mainly based on the primary argument that the numpad on a full keyboard takes a lot of width for a section of the keyboard that is rarely used. In other words, takes extra space and uselessly widens your mouse position. At the same time, many wish they could keep the numpad cluster but hate the extra space it takes.
To me, Coolermaster and such came with the perfect solution with their Quickfire TK meaning you get both benefits by keeping your numpad cluster at the size of a TKL.
I'm just curious to hear your thoughts on this.
Because it reality, it isn't as good as you think. Do you really want to hit the extra key to toggle it between numberpad and arrow keys? I
Or if you want access to any of the other keys as well..it just makes it quite inconvenient...
And if you consider the other layouts that end up being about the same size but just superior...you just start losing the reason to have it.
It just ends up being one of those things that looks like a good idea..but it ends up being cumbersome in the end with better alternatives...That's why the TK layout has never taken off..
I was wondering today how come there are so few keyboards adopting Coolermaster's Quickfire TK form factor.
I understand many keyboard enthusiasts want a TKL keyboard mainly based on the primary argument that the numpad on a full keyboard takes a lot of width for a section of the keyboard that is rarely used. In other words, takes extra space and uselessly widens your mouse position. At the same time, many wish they could keep the numpad cluster but hate the extra space it takes.
To me, Coolermaster and such came with the perfect solution with their Quickfire TK meaning you get both benefits by keeping your numpad cluster at the size of a TKL.
I'm just curious to hear your thoughts on this.
Because it reality, it isn't as good as you think. Do you really want to hit the extra key to toggle it between numberpad and arrow keys? I
Or if you want access to any of the other keys as well..it just makes it quite inconvenient...
And if you consider the other layouts that end up being about the same size but just superior...you just start losing the reason to have it.
It just ends up being one of those things that looks like a good idea..but it ends up being cumbersome in the end with better alternatives...That's why the TK layout has never taken off..
A lot of people here don't seem to have a problem pushing an fn key to access various keys, so numlock shouldn't be much of an adjustment. I did like fullsize 101/104 key layouts the most until I got used to using something a bit smaller. Now it's hard to give up that right hand space unless I'm using a trackball. I think especially as a readily available consumer gaming keyboard, the TK is a good way to retain the numpad.
I was wondering today how come there are so few keyboards adopting Coolermaster's Quickfire TK form factor.
I understand many keyboard enthusiasts want a TKL keyboard mainly based on the primary argument that the numpad on a full keyboard takes a lot of width for a section of the keyboard that is rarely used. In other words, takes extra space and uselessly widens your mouse position. At the same time, many wish they could keep the numpad cluster but hate the extra space it takes.
To me, Coolermaster and such came with the perfect solution with their Quickfire TK meaning you get both benefits by keeping your numpad cluster at the size of a TKL.
I'm just curious to hear your thoughts on this.
Because it reality, it isn't as good as you think. Do you really want to hit the extra key to toggle it between numberpad and arrow keys? I
Or if you want access to any of the other keys as well..it just makes it quite inconvenient...
And if you consider the other layouts that end up being about the same size but just superior...you just start losing the reason to have it.
It just ends up being one of those things that looks like a good idea..but it ends up being cumbersome in the end with better alternatives...That's why the TK layout has never taken off..
A lot of people here don't seem to have a problem pushing an fn key to access various keys, so numlock shouldn't be much of an adjustment. I did like fullsize 101/104 key layouts the most until I got used to using something a bit smaller. Now it's hard to give up that right hand space unless I'm using a trackball. I think especially as a readily available consumer gaming keyboard, the TK is a good way to retain the numpad.
Again, you'd think so..but have you tried this in practice? It isn't..
It might not be that bad if you could use an FN key on the left hand side and hold it down for arrow keys..but you have to use the numberlock thingy...it just doesn't work out as well..
The proof is in the pudding..is this layout popular? No it isn't...because at the end of the day, while it looks like it'll be good, it isn't good..it is good in that it gives you options in a smallish form factor..but it isn't in that if you actually want to use it the way you use a numberpad or arrow keys, it is too slow..and then you look at some of the other form factors, all of which don't have this problem, and you just have no reason to really buy this..
A lot of people here don't seem to have a problem pushing an fn key to access various keys, so numlock shouldn't be much of an adjustment.
The proof is in the pudding..is this layout popular? No it isn't...because at the end of the day, while it looks like it'll be good, it isn't good..it is good in that it gives you options in a smallish form factor..but it isn't in that if you actually want to use it the way you use a numberpad or arrow keys, it is too slow..and then you look at some of the other form factors, all of which don't have this problem, and you just have no reason to really buy this..
Since circa 1987 I have been using the nav cluster as established by the IBM model M keyboards. So I have so much muscle memory built up that I don't want to have extra keys in there that might interfere with it.
the perfect solution
The perfect solution, if you ask me, well, that would be the embedded tenkey in Kinesis Advantage or maaaybe TypeMatrix.The IBM SSK and Realforce 87U have this. As someone who doesn't use the number pad it's mildly annoying when your computer defaults to numlock on, and you have to perform an action to disable the secondary numpad each time you reboot.Show Image(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91vl2RkQODL._SL1500_.jpg)
The perfect solution, if you ask me, well, that would be the embedded tenkey in Kinesis Advantage or maaaybe TypeMatrix.The IBM SSK and Realforce 87U have this. As someone who doesn't use the number pad it's mildly annoying when your computer defaults to numlock on, and you have to perform an action to disable the secondary numpad each time you reboot.Show Image(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91vl2RkQODL._SL1500_.jpg)