Just got my Razer BlackWidow Ultimate, and I find that...

[TheMightyGoat]

...every time I try to do something on the left side of the keyboard, I press one button off to the left.

(Before anyone begins with the Razer hate, my first reaction was to pass them up as well, based upon gaudiness, but in my research found this to be the only keyboard out there with the features I wanted. Mechanical keys, integrated USB hub, media controls and on-the-fly programmable macro keys. Also, I had a $70 gift card to Best Buy.)

Anyway, I find my left hand's home by feeling the corner key (left ctrl) with the palm of my hand. I knew this before I bought the BlackWidow, but in every review I read of people nitpicking every single detail, no one else mentioned this as a problem, so I didn't worry too much about it. However, I find that every time I attempt to press tab, caps lock, tilde, control, or any of the letters on the left side if my fingers aren't already on the home keys, I press a button one side to the left. This has also deterred me from setting any of the macro buttons to doing anything appreciable, because I press them so often meaning to press tab or caps lock that they would constantly be starting programs or some such.

Also, I do sometimes find myself experiencing a problem others have described - the Cherry Blues actuate halfway down the keystroke and so rapid key presses without releasing the key fully are not possible. This is not a problem for me gaming, and so far I only seem to notice it when I attempt to backspace several characters consecutively.

That being said, I am enjoying typing on a mechanical keyboard and I won't be going back to a "normal" keyboard again. These two problems above make me wonder, though, if I wouldn't be happier with a keyboard that doesn't have the macro buttons, and perhaps Cherry Brown switches in place of the Blues. I would have to forfeit on-the-fly programmability for this, but at present, I'm not using it anyway for fear of inadvertent activations.

I plan to keep the keyboard though. I think I can train my left hand to find its home by the f-nub, and not the corner key.

[Crypt]

You could try removing the macro keycaps until you get used to the positioning, maybe.

[DaemonRaccoon]

The nubs on F and J are there for a reason.

[Zet]

Welcome to geekhack and congratulations on your first mechanical keyboard.

I think with time, perseverance and will, you can achieve whatever you want, so with time I think the board will grow on you.

[TheMightyGoat]

The nubs on F and J are there for a reason.

 
Yes. My reference to making greater use of them must reveal my unawareness of the fact.

I think I got in the habit of finding the left home with control as a point of reference by playing video games. Crouching and et cetera. I press the control button by bending the side of my hand down while my fingers are free to do other things, and so that became my default position for my left hand.

[DaemonRaccoon]

The more you know(tm)!

[dreamingftw]

I started out with the BWU also. It takes time to get use to typing on it with the macros there but you'll get use to it. I play SC a lot so I ended up getting my a filco tenkeyless instead. I must say, I enjoy playing on this filco more compared to my BWU because there is no numberpad.

[drsauced]

Knowledge is Power!

[daerid]

I have two friends, each has a BW. And this is the exact reason I hate using their keyboards.

[rodya]

Interesting that the BW uses Cherry Blues.  I thought Blacks or Reds were supposed to be optimal for gaming.  And I know you realize this already, but yes, orient yourself from the home row.

[Crazy9000]

Interesting that the BW uses Cherry Blues.  I thought Blacks or Reds were supposed to be optimal for gaming.  And I know you realize this already, but yes, orient yourself from the home row.

Blues are obviously different from the rubber dome boards, so Razer went with them. They wanted people to press a key at best buy, feel and hear the click, and go "wow that's cool". Gaming performance took a back seat to what would sell more keyboards.

[Hydroid]

Blues are obviously different from the rubber dome boards, so Razer went with them. They wanted people to press a key at best buy, feel and hear the click, and go "wow that's cool". Gaming performance took a back seat to what would sell more keyboards.

I agree with that. Razer really is just trying to appeal to the average gamer crowd who never heard of mechanical switches and couldn't be bothered to research them more. (not saying that everyone who buys one is like that, just that razer wants to get sales from that kind of crowd) so they'll buy their razer, thinking they have the best thing ever and that razer invented the switches or something like that. I like using Razer mice, but I'll never buy another keyboard from them again after bad experiences with my Lycosa.

@OP
Like others have said, try just getting used to feeling the nodes on the "F" and "J" keys. But also you'll get used to it with time. Every time I get a new keyboard I have a little while where I don't feel quite at home using it, and once I get used to it I can begin to hit things subconsciously without having to orient my hands beforehand.

[TheMightyGoat]

I started out with the BWU also. It takes time to get use to typing on it with the macros there but you'll get use to it. I play SC a lot so I ended up getting my a filco tenkeyless instead. I must say, I enjoy playing on this filco more compared to my BWU because there is no numberpad.

Gotta say I don't understand the tenkeyless appeal. I can see where saving desk space could be useful where surface area is at a premium, or travel carry is to be considered, but this isn't a factor on my desk. I use my numberpad frequently, and not only for the occasional credit card entry.

[Bucky]

A lot of people prefer their hands are closer together, which tenkeyless allows.

[Lanx]

Yes. My reference to making greater use of them must reveal my unawareness of the fact.

I think I got in the habit of finding the left home with control as a point of reference by playing video games. Crouching and et cetera. I press the control button by bending the side of my hand down while my fingers are free to do other things, and so that became my default position for my left hand.

I've been seeing this "complaint" issue/problem, and it's just as described, ppl who play FPS or WASD games are just used to moving 1 character over to the left.
Sorry i don't have a way to correct this other than, use home keys more often. I did use the numpad for FPS/mmo's for the longest 10 year stretch tho, it was more comfortable and when i "gamed" i moved my hand to the numpad and when i typed it was on home rows.

[BucklingSpring]

A lot of people prefer their hands are closer together, which tenkeyless allows.

Learning to use the mouse with the left hand is also something that can be mastered rather quickly.
Then no more needs for WASD and tenkeyless - Retraining your brain is something people try to avoid but it easyier than we think. (Pun intended)

Reminds me when I started flying radio controlled helicopters. The genius who sold it to me had all the controls reversed.

Few months later, I was already a decent pilot with that setup. Then someone asked why in the heck I was using "non standard" controls on my radio. What??

Instead of making my own standard, I changed the configuration back to normal, bought a simulator and it took me about 2 weeks to fully adapt.

[daerid]

But why would  you do that? Your choices of mice become extremely limited, or you have to go ambidextrous