The compact keyboard format really works

[jkercado]

Dammit, how is it that after so many years it's now when I realize how well compact keyboards work? I've taken my IBM M4 to the office. The short design allowed me to place my trackball nicely beside it, instead of 15 meters away from it like it happends with regular keyboards. This simple difference in control arrangement makes for a way smoother work experience. My right hand has to move less to handle the trackball; it is right there. I'm stoked and pleased at this revelation.

Plans for 2012? I'm seriously tempted to get a nice mechanical compact keyboard. Maybe  a Filco Ninja Tenkeyless, although it is a bit bigger than the M4. Maybe a Leopold? I dunno. But I'm definitely making the investment. Suddenly, numeric keypads are totally unnecessary to me.

:becky:

[pitashen]

I am glad that more and more people are realizing the benefit of not having a numpad (for those who don't make much use of it).

[sordna]

If you even find tenkeyless keyboards too large, you can go for a KBC Poker, Noppoo Choc Mini, KBC RACE, HHKB, or even a Truly Ergonomic !

[davkol]

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[rhizo]

ima lefty so...

[davkol]

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[nhwhaup]

I totally agree with smaller form being so much better to work with.  Originally when I joined this forum I bought 2 full sized keyboards, a Filco with Red (just sold this past week) and a Realforce.  I bought them mainly as that is what I was used to.  When buying a keyboard for at home, I have much less space on my keyboard tray and thus purchased a TKL in order to keep the mouse on the same tray.  Once that happened just couldn't go back.  Love having the mouse closer and the smaller keyboards seem just so much more balanced.  So my regulars are definitely TKL.  

I also have the Poker with red switches and although I really like that keyboard and most everything about it, I don't like not having the dedicated arrow keys.  Everything else about the key sharing works for me but I won't buy another keyboard without dedicated arrow keys.

Someday maybe they will come out with a HHKB in the US format with the arrow keys like the Japanese version.  Maybe the HHKB 3?  That in a silent version would entice me back into another purchase.  Otherwise, I'm quite satisfied with the TKL versions.

[nhwhaup]

I forgot to add - I also have separate Filco and Realforce number pads that I use when I have to work with spreadsheets and do some number crunching.  Even though my 87U Realforce has an embedded number pad, I still find myself going to the separate one.

[Architect]

Completely agree. I like the Filco in this regards, even the Kinesis is one in a sense, because instead of a useless keypad you get the benefit of hand separation.

I'm presently using a truly ergonomic which is a compact but has a fixed split, which seems to be the best of both worlds to me.

[powruser]

Just got my first mechanical keyboard. I went with a full size, not only because it's what I'm used to, but I like having it there whenever I need to do spreadsheet work. It's also useful for setting up custom key configurations in certain games, or making key binds, etc. My hardest decision when picking my first mechanical keyboard wasn't switch type or brand, but whether to go full size or tenkeyless/compact. I feel I made the correct decision for my usage, and the way you use your computer is really the deciding factor, neither is "better" or "worse" than the other.

[Human]

I'm beginning to think smaller than tenkeyless is TOO small.

My Siig Montery has GREAT switches but feels cramped.

Tenkeyless is just right.  Like Goldilocks.
(Attachment Link) 35844[/ATTACH]

Wild pedobears spotted.

BTW, tenkeyless isn't exactly right for all ppl, this should be the one that is perfect for all ppl.
http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=33600&d=1322732472

[emptyk]

I also have the Poker with red switches and although I really like that keyboard and most everything about it, I don't like not having the dedicated arrow keys.  Everything else about the key sharing works for me but I won't buy another keyboard without dedicated arrow keys.

I never knew about tenkeyless until I stumbled upon this site.  I recently purchased a full sized keyboard, but am now considering a TKL.  I've found that I use the numpad for some things and the number row for other things; not sure why.  So I'm training myself to ditch the numpad to see if I can actually live a happy life with a TLK.  I actually covered my numpad with a post-it note to force myself to exclusively use the number row.  It's a little odd because I can use the numpad without looking, but still need to hunt and peck at the number row.

I agree about the dedicated arrow keys.  I instinctively use them way too often, and wouldn't want to change my technique.

[Human]

I never knew about tenkeyless until I stumbled upon this site.  I recently purchased a full sized keyboard, but am now considering a TKL.  I've found that I use the numpad for some things and the number row for other things; not sure why.  So I'm training myself to ditch the numpad to see if I can actually live a happy life with a TLK.  I actually covered my numpad with a post-it note to force myself to exclusively use the number row.  It's a little odd because I can use the numpad without looking, but still need to hunt and peck at the number row.

I agree about the dedicated arrow keys.  I instinctively use them way too often, and wouldn't want to change my technique.

Try this then? (only if you are able to source one, somemore in ANSI layout)

[powruser]

Try this then? (only if you are able to source one, somemore in ANSI layout)

Show Image

That seems like the perfect compromise, I'd wager it'd be very hard to find one of those in the good old US of A.

[sordna]

Well, there are other options: A tenkeyless with embedded numpad, like the IBM mini, the Realforce 87U, the Truly Ergonomic, and the Kinesis Advantage.

[Human]

That seems like the perfect compromise, I'd wager it'd be very hard to find one of those in the good old US of A.

Take this then, it should be much easier to be found, just that you need to get use to the BIGASS enter, tiny backspace and strange placement of shift(right) and "?"


Why don't any manufacturer out there made something like the Leopold(fake) I posted above? It's not that there isn't a market for it...

[emptyk]

I think I'd go crazy trying to use a nonstandard layout at the office (which is where I keep and use my good keyboard), a standard layout at home (with the wife/kids), and a whatever layout on my laptop.  Regarding those embedded numpads, my Vaio has one, and I hate it due to the offset nature of the keys and because it forces me to use the NumLk button.  When working (I type documents a lot, no coding, no gaming), I need to efficiently and accurately enter numbers into sentences, tables, or cells from time to time, and I'm not sure if I could live with changing modes all the time.  Same with those mini keyboards that use arrow keys combined with other keys.  I'm always using the arrow keys to fly around my documents.  Meh.

[cwilson]

Mini keyboards were never on my radar until I came here.  But as soon as I started thinking about it I wondered why I've put up with a standard board for so long.  Funny thing with standards is you never really question them because that's just what everybody does, but when you do you realize that another way would just be better.  With the long keyboard I have to twist to the left to type, or move my chair over, but then I'm not lined up with the screen and that drives me a bit buggy. I never really use the numpad anyway, so why not get a board without it?  Ergonomically speaking the mini just makes more sense.  Evoluent did the elegantly simple solution of putting the numpad on the left, which is great unless you're a lefty.  They have some great bird's eye pics on this page that say everything.  

I'm not a fan of the Filco/Leopold tenkeyless design with the arrow keys on the side.  Still too wide.  What's the point of going compact if you're not going to go all the way?  I'll be using an autohotkey script to put the arrow keys under the jkli keys anyway so I don't have to move my hands from the home row.  I'm getting a KBT Race, I just wish it didn't have the row of extra keys on the right.  Poker would have fixed that, but I wanted the F keys on top, and the backlighting on the Race was irresistible to the thirteen-year-old-boy in me (what can I say, he's very influential).

[cactux]

I never use the number pad, so for me a TKL is just perfect. Also save some valuable space

[blahsome]

Not having to move much is the primary reason why the vi editor, after you master its commands, is so insanely additive.

[RiGS]

Left-handed people have it easier. ^,^

I'm right-handed, yet I use the mouse with my left hand for practical reasons.
Of course gaming is another story.

[elbowglue]

My sig and my avatar!

[rvrebel]

I really like the look and the idea of a tkl but I just can't do it.

Mostly play fps and I can't get away from my arrow keys. I never adopted WASD probably because it started with arrow keys.

I shift my keyboard to the left so my left and right arms arent far apart (benefit of tkl) and then there's more room for a large hand. All keys around arrows are used including num pad, pg down, end, etc... I've only run into one other gamer who had a similar setup and we dominated the WASDs

Also played with someone who used a trackball and was really good but that's another story.