Do you touch-type function keys?

[spremino]

Do you touch-type function keys? I don't.

If you don't or find it awkward, and if function keys were placed like these:



would you find them easier to type (or as easy as on a 60%)?

[SpAmRaY]

I touch all the keys I type on.

[1pq]

I can sort of fake touch-typing F1-F5, but I'm not really very good at it. I use them so little that it doesn't really matter.
Any ones that you'll use often, even if isolated, you'll probably memorize by feel soon enough.

[spremino]

Any ones that you'll use often, even if isolated, you'll probably memorize by feel soon enough.

I agree. For me it's F10.

[tp4tissue]

I can on an Egdx....  I can't do the same on staggered qwerty because many are too far to travel with precision.. You can hit them once in a while, even most of the time.. but the consistency is not nearly as good as on the Egdx.

[SonOfSonOfSpock]

I look about half the time. Usually when I'm using function keys its for something that is a little slower like software debugging as oppose to something faster like normal typing.

[spremino]

I touch all the keys I type on.

Touch-typing means typing without looking at the keys.

[metalliqaz]

I definitely do not.  They require too much hand movement to use muscle memory.

[IvanIvanovich]

Only on 60%... Fn Function keys FTW!

[Candyflip]

I do but only to f6 + f10, starcraft players know why 

[spremino]

If function keys were placed like these:



would you guys find them easier to type (or as easy as on a 60%)?

[0100010]

Touch type every key, they are all blank.

[Linkbane]

I don't use many function keys, but I can touch type F5 and F6 easily (reload and URL select). Many 10FF resets.

[C5Allroad]

I find it hard to touch them. Well F5 is easy( thank you battlefield and planetside). But past that is really hard to memorize, but I think it can be done.
I will focus on my touch typing speed though, which is barely 40.... But hey practice makes better, right?

[rowdy]

Yes.

F1 = help, F7 and F8 are step into/over, F9 is run, F12 is switch form/code view in the IDE I use nearly every day.

I like the gaps between groups of function keys, and tend to become lost without them.

[spremino]

They require too much hand movement to use muscle memory.

I agree. I wonder why they were placed that far in the first place. The current placement on Filco keyboards makes much more sense.

I like the gaps between groups of function keys, and tend to become lost without them.

But in the keyboard shown in the image above, each function key is above its corresponding number key, thus finding them should be easy. Would bigger characters on each key would? Alternating colors for each group of four (as it is often done)?

[C5Allroad]

That board looks really easy to use muscle memory. I would really love a 60% as my next board.

[Sifo]

Yes, yes I do touch type function keys.

[spremino]

That board looks really easy to use muscle memory. I would really love a 60% as my next board.

That's not a 60%. Actually, that's the most minimalistic layout that I would go for, albeit the modifier keys on the bottom row could be placed better.

[osi]

Yes, yes I do touch type function keys.

+1

[kolonelkadat]

Yes, yes I do touch type function keys.

+1

++;

[AuRinBei]

I can hit F5 and F9 like a mother****er....

[rowdy]

I like the gaps between groups of function keys, and tend to become lost without them.

But in the keyboard shown in the image above, each function key is above its corresponding number key, thus finding them should be easy. Would bigger characters on each key would? Alternating colors for each group of four (as it is often done)?

Except that on a standard keyboard, with which I am much more familiar, F1 is above 2, F5 is between 6 and 7, and F9 is above -_.

[BlackWidowMan777]

Quote: "But in the keyboard shown in the image above, each function key is above its corresponding number key, thus finding them should be easy."

I like the idea of having function keys lined up with its corresponding number key, but when they're too close then I'm gonna be hitting a lotta numbers when reaching for function keys, especially when cold entering passwords that, say, begin with a '6'.

[Tony]

F5 for sure.

Should we have two numbs on F4 and F5 too?

[Findecanor]

Function keys are an abomination. Command-alphanumeric with a sane mapping is better, easier to remember.

[Matias]

Yes, but only if they are spaced out in groups of 4 -- which is why all of our keyboards are.  :-)

[AKmalamute]

Yes, yes I do touch type function keys.

+1

++;

++; //C++ jokes in a keyboard thread for the win?

[TacticalCoder]

Do you touch-type function keys?

I used to back when I was using Model M's (which have their own function keys). Now I'm on a HHKB and the location of the 'fn' modifier makes it impossible to touch-type at least one the function key and very, very hard, to touch type all the ones you'd need to touch type with your right hand.

But I don't care much for I remapped the software I'm regularly using so that my fingers need to travel less than before and that means much less love for the function keys 

(mainly Linux / awesome WM / Emacs / IntelliJ Idea: they're all highly configurable so it's not hard to find free and convenients shortcuts to use instead of those requiring function keys)

[rowdy]

Yes, but only if they are spaced out in groups of 4 -- which is why all of our keyboards are.  :-)

This is good!

I used to use Apple aluminium keyboard, and the function keys are not spaced apart.

[spremino]

Yes, but only if they are spaced out in groups of 4 -- which is why all of our keyboards are.  :-)

Or they aren't spaced out, but are grouped by colour in groups of four, I guess.

[daerid]

I've been touch typing F keys for at least 7 years now.

Kinda have to on the ErgoDox....

[Aer Fixus]

Yes, yes I do touch type function keys.

+1

++;

++; //C++ jokes in a keyboard thread for the win?

+=0; //I can only do the ones that matter. I just don't use the others very often and they aren't part of my muscle memory.

[Mr. C]

No, I have to lift a little off home row. It would take some long fingers to touch type the top row. 

[BlackWidowMan777]

If you used 1 keyboard all the time you could conceivably touch type function keys but if you rotate between different boards and the placement of the function keys vary (horizontally and vertically) then touch typing is gonna be hard depending on how fast a learner you are. I'm not so fast, and that's why I need backlight so I don't have to feel around for printscreen, f5, f11, etc.

[mooswa]

I don't touch type neither function nor cursor keys.  That's why I want 60% keyboard so much!

[Linkbane]

I don't touch type neither function nor cursor keys.  That's why I want 60% keyboard so much!

If you do touch type function and cursor keys, why would you want a 60%?

[yasuo]

how important is the function?
prefer combination with numberic like 60%board or separate?

[Candyflip]

I don't touch type neither function nor cursor keys.  That's why I want 60% keyboard so much!

If you do touch type function and cursor keys, why would you want a 60%?

He does not*, maybe you type fast but slow down on the reading

[BucklingSpring]

For all those TT the Functions keys - Your rock!

Do you break typing position while you do it?

I mean keeping the index on J's nipple and stretching the pinky to F12 is a FAR FAR FAR away stretch for me.

[osi]

For all those TT the Functions keys - Your rock!

Do you break typing position while you do it?

I mean keeping the index on J's nipple and stretching the pinky to F12 is a FAR FAR FAR away stretch for me.

When I go for the functions, usually my wrist raises and rotates to accommodate for where I am going. Some shoulder work involved too.

Generally I keep something planted on F or J for the easy transition back.

[Photoelectric]

No, mostly because I don't do anything that requires their frequent use.  Lack of practice = not having a good feel for where they are without looking.

[Grim Fandango]

I have not often used function keys on any other keyboard other than that of my previous laptop. I did touch type the function keys and knew all the common combinations. You kind of have to if you want to make a smaller keyboard work.

[berserkfan]

On my Cherry MX boards I literally do a different-touch mod for some function keys. By using a different kind of keycap that feels different, I can identify the key without looking down. This helps me locate.

It's not a pretty solution, but it works and will do until somebody figures out how to add little bumps or homing bars to their function keys.