Blank Boards

[unicomp]

How many people use blank boards on a regular basis?

I am interested as I recently obtained some cheap blank boards. It seems that there are some tasks that I did not foresee being a problem actually being rather annoying. It would now be nice to have some of those dark-on-blank keys that are featured on the Topre and HHKB boards.

[pikapika]

what problems did you encountered ?
are they good keyboards ?

[unicomp]

The boards are not good, however I only really purchased them because they were very cheap and have the split space bar.

The main issue has been input of password, I suppose that previously I have been looking at the keys somewhat whilst entering passwords, however if I was to use the board for a few days I am sure that I would improve.

Interestingly I am actually a faster typist on this rubber dome board than my Model M.

[itlnstln]

I used to use a blank keyboard at work, and I found the same thing.  There were some tasks that did not lend themselves well to a blank 'boards such as passwords, as you mentioned.  I really only did it because I wanted to break myself of the habit of looking at the keyboard (even though I really wasn't looking at the keys I was trying to press).  At any rate, I broke the habit, and now, I type on a black-on-gray HHKB and have the best of both worlds: hard-to-read legends that keep me from constantly looking down at the keyboard and legends that exist just in case I need a little help.

[unicomp]

I think that the blank white HHKBs are very nice in their style, however it seems that it would be nice to have the legends merely for being practical. Even this cheap board which I have is quite nice to look at, I find, due to the fact that it is blank.

[itlnstln]

The white HHKBs are definitely nicer blank.  I wouldn't recommend getting a blank HHKB (unless you're an experienced user), though, because as one member found out the hard way, the non-standard layout will kick your ass if you don't know what key performs what function.

[Rajagra]

My main board is black on grey tenkeyless, and may as well be blank in the lighting of my room. I find everything is OK as long as I have both hands on the keyboard home position.

Typing one-handed (e.g. when holding a phone) is tough and slow. Passwords create their own difficulty because they are non-standard words (if you are doing it right) so muscle memory has to work on one letter at a time instead of groups of letters or entire words.

The nightmare situation is trying to quickly type in a login password while you are on the 'phone. I cheat. I keep mini keyboards plugged in by the screens (for legitimate reasons) and use them when necessary.

[itlnstln]

I only know a couple of folks here that even have one: iMav and o2dazone.

[Hamburglar]

I use my Otaku regularly. The only issue I have is when kicking/banning people on the game servers I moderate. Even though I know what key I need to press I still count the keys so I don't accidentally do something else.

I actually wouldn't have this problem if it wasn't a tenkeyless but I need the smaller size for my desk.

[quadibloc]

Being a touch typist, I could probably manage with a blank keyboard, if its layout were completely standard. But I'll have to admit that I'm not tempted to bother with the added complication and the potential of problems under unusual circumstances.

[unicomp]

You ever notice NOBODY posts pictures of their blank white HHKB 6 months after being well used?

I am assuming that this is because the keys do not stay in the rather nice state that is depicted in images displaying a new board. Is the assumption correct?

I am somewhat surprised that not that many people do actually use a blank board. I think that having no legends on keys is a nice look, however I would be more likely to use a board that had some legends merely because it seems rather useful.

[itlnstln]

I want to get a white version, but I am waiting to see if any HHKB clones come out with a better (IMO) switch.  I like the Topres, but the Cherry browns are where it's at for me.  I would even be fine with Topres, but I wish they felt more like the Realforce numpad I have; smoother and lighter.

[unicomp]

It would be nice to see some cheaper boards of a similar layout which are not rubber membrane. Perhaps I am being overly frugal, however I do not think that I can justify spending $300+ on a single board. However a nice feature would be the charcoal (or whatever the description used is) key caps.

[itlnstln]

It's certainly understandable.  I held off for a long time and only bought one after selling a bunch of my collection.  While I don't think they are completely price-justified, they are better built and with more attention to detail than pretty much anything I have tried (Filco, Cherry, etc.).  With the HHKB, too, you also get great portability.  I keep one USB cable attached to my PC at work and another in my HHKB's carrying case.  I just unplug the HHKB from the back and go.  That way I have both a great keyboard and consistent feel/layout where ever I go.

[washuai]

I have an otaku keyboard.  It can be a little tricky on passwords, but it isn't that bad.  The amusing thing is, even blank, looking at the keys can help.  Aside from my work laptop, I can always type pw in notepad first, then just to be sure that I got it right, copy and paste from there.  In the case of my laptop, I could always raise the lid, if I was on my third try, or connect a back up board, but so far that hasn't been necessary.  I thought about printing out a legend on paper for reference, but really, the only things I forget what they are is print screen/sys req, scroll lock and pause/break.

[isp]

now I want to see well used white hhkbs posted

[alec]

The amusing thing is, even blank, looking at the keys can help

I notice that too. When typing cyrillic on my keyboard that only has latin letters on it, it is easier to begin typing if I look at the keys.

[clickclack]

now I want to see well used white hhkbs posted

Well they are dye sub, so I can't imagine they would look all that different. Perhaps a light sheen after heavy use but thats about it. Mine look normal, I hope I did not disappoint =P

[chimera15]

Yeah, I tried using blanks. It was a total pain for passwords, but ok otherwise.

The black on black that occurred on my hhkb mechanical hack was really awesome though, if I needed to look at the keys for passwords I still could, but it still looked like a blank keyboard.  But now the rit dye is wearing off and it looks pretty horrible.

[porgo]

Using blank here for years(?!), no problems with passwords whatsoever. You just have to trust your fingers... they don't let you down.

I would wildly prefer a blank Topre to gray-on-black Topre but the low contrast one is quite good a compromise.

[kishy]

When your passwords are key patterns rather than actually significant words/phrases/numbers, legends are fairly important to make sure you start on the right key.

[didjamatic]

I sometimes type hundreds of passwords a day logging into many different systems so years ago I started using passwords that contained characters I didn't frequently type.  This helped me learn to touch type on all keys, all characters, not just letters and numbers.  Using a blank board will be awkward at first, but you can do it.  Pull up notepad and cut+paste if you have to.