Keyboard for work

[mougrim]

Fellow keyboard-bangers!

I'm considering buying a keyboard for my workplace. It need to be compact one (to be carried in my bag) as I want to carry it in my bag, so probably I'm looking for 60% one.

I'm narrowing my choice to three ones:

Keycool 84-keys with MX Clear
Poker II white with MX Blue
and Filco Majestouch MINILA also with MX Blue (although it costs about half more against Poker II)

Any insight from users?

[xuanwumen]

My ads has to be deleted due to rules ban. Sorry for disturbing.

[mougrim]

As vendor of keycool brand, i can offer keycool 84 mx clear as in your list. It is new in original package.
And i can offer rainbow 37 keys PBT keycaps together with the board with discount price.

If interested, will PM you with necessary details.

I'm comparing prices so far, so yes, I'm interested. PM me

[JaccoW]

Matias Quiet Mini Pro as a (allegedly) more silent alternative?

[mougrim]

Matias Quiet Mini Pro as a (allegedly) more silent alternative?

Well, I'll add it to my list of choices. Is it tactile?

[xuanwumen]

As vendor of keycool brand, i can offer keycool 84 mx clear as in your list. It is new in original package.
And i can offer rainbow 37 keys PBT keycaps together with the board with discount price.

If interested, will PM you with necessary details.

I'm comparing prices so far, so yes, I'm interested. PM me

PM sent.

[JaccoW]

Matias Quiet Mini Pro as a (allegedly) more silent alternative?

Well, I'll add it to my list of choices. Is it tactile?

Yes it is. They are similar to Alps.

[mougrim]

Matias Quiet Mini Pro as a (allegedly) more silent alternative?

Well, I'll add it to my list of choices. Is it tactile?

Yes it is. They are similar to Alps.

Thankee! I googled about Matias and his keyboards. Great man

Oh, and anyone knows if there are Poker II black with MX blues version?

[ctbear]

What kind of work do you do? Usually for 60% we have the popular Poker II and HHKB. Switch differences aside if your job is on the technical side (coding) then HHKB, otherwise it depends on your preferences.

[terrpn]

i am currently using a g80 with reds..........

no complaints

[mougrim]

What kind of work do you do? Usually for 60% we have the popular Poker II and HHKB. Switch differences aside if your job is on the technical side (coding) then HHKB, otherwise it depends on your preferences.

Well, I'm translator, so I work with text heavily. I guess that's Poker II for me. Besides, nowadays it's pretty cheap - 105 bucks with shipping costs.

[False_Dmitry_II]

If it were me, I'd go with the matias, he has a vendor forum here also.

But then, I generally prefer other switches to cherry. It'd be nice if that wasn't so, there sure is variety in cherry stuff.

[mougrim]

If it were me, I'd go with the matias, he has a vendor forum here also.

But then, I generally prefer other switches to cherry. It'd be nice if that wasn't so, there sure is variety in cherry stuff.

Well, Cherry switches were OK for me. But again, ALPS too.

At home I have Buckling Spring keyboard, and it's the best for me, but if I bring it to work, I'll be strangled for it

[JPG]

If it were me, I'd go with the matias, he has a vendor forum here also.

But then, I generally prefer other switches to cherry. It'd be nice if that wasn't so, there sure is variety in cherry stuff.

Well, Cherry switches were OK for me. But again, ALPS too.

At home I have Buckling Spring keyboard, and it's the best for me, but if I bring it to work, I'll be strangled for it

Bring your BS at work and impose your law!

[mougrim]

If it were me, I'd go with the matias, he has a vendor forum here also.

But then, I generally prefer other switches to cherry. It'd be nice if that wasn't so, there sure is variety in cherry stuff.

Well, Cherry switches were OK for me. But again, ALPS too.

At home I have Buckling Spring keyboard, and it's the best for me, but if I bring it to work, I'll be strangled for it

Bring your BS at work and impose your law!

Too loud to be nice, too quiet to be painful If I had Model F one, though... That metal "twang" could drive all my co-workers crazy. After that they'd allowed me ANY other mechanical keyboard

[rowdy]

HHKB?

[simon_C]

What about a noppoo choc mini? I have one at work and it is lovely to type on.
Keycool 84 also has some backlit options as well, if you're interested.

[mougrim]

What about a noppoo choc mini? I have one at work and it is lovely to type on.
Keycool 84 also has some backlit options as well, if you're interested.

Yeah, Choc Mini seems like a fun... But... It has laser engraved keys with filling, right? Ain't they wearing off easily?

[simon_C]

I'm not having any troubles, but i've only had mine for a month. theyre very thick POM keycaps though, and feel really nice to type on.

[PointyFox]

Cherry ML4100, unless you're doing data entry.

[mougrim]

Cherry ML4100, unless you're doing data entry.

I do. So no. Because ML switches...

[PointyFox]

Cherry ML4100, unless you're doing data entry.

I do. So no. Because ML switches...

ML switches are fun.

[spiceBar]

What kind of work do you do? Usually for 60% we have the popular Poker II and HHKB. Switch differences aside if your job is on the technical side (coding) then HHKB, otherwise it depends on your preferences.

The HHKB is not better for coding. I own both and I code, so maybe I know a little bit about that.

The HHKB Fn layout and especially how the arrows and other navigation keys are acceded is highly controversial. Many coders have actually stopped using it after trying for a while. You will find people who adapt, and you will find people who cannot adapt to it.

On the other hand, the Poker II is programmable. You can redefine the Fn layout and put the arrows and other navigation keys where you want.

The HHKB is nice, but saying that it is better for coding is simply not true.

On both the HHKB and the Poker 2 I use the same layout, which has nothing to do with either the default HHKB layout (my HHKB is modded, which makes it programmable) or the Poker 2 default layout. Both default layouts are IMHO terrible for coding, but at least the Poker 2 has the advantage of being reprogrammable out of the box.

[histevenhere]

I would recommend the HHKB , such a tiny layout for your 60% needs.

[SonOfSonOfSpock]

I have a Matias mini quiet pro. I'd second the recommendation. It's really quiet compared to other mech keyboards. The switches are very tactile and a little stiffer than cherry blues. My favorite part is that it helps me avoid accidental keypresses.

[KangarooZombies]

If you have the funds, you cant go wrong investing in an HHKB. A million users around here. 

[mougrim]

What kind of work do you do? Usually for 60% we have the popular Poker II and HHKB. Switch differences aside if your job is on the technical side (coding) then HHKB, otherwise it depends on your preferences.

The HHKB is not better for coding. I own both and I code, so maybe I know a little bit about that.

The HHKB Fn layout and especially how the arrows and other navigation keys are acceded is highly controversial. Many coders have actually stopped using it after trying for a while. You will find people who adapt, and you will find people who cannot adapt to it.

On the other hand, the Poker II is programmable. You can redefine the Fn layout and put the arrows and other navigation keys where you want.

The HHKB is nice, but saying that it is better for coding is simply not true.

On both the HHKB and the Poker 2 I use the same layout, which has nothing to do with either the default HHKB layout (my HHKB is modded, which makes it programmable) or the Poker 2 default layout. Both default layouts are IMHO terrible for coding, but at least the Poker 2 has the advantage of being reprogrammable out of the box.

Well, I'm began thinking about getting Poker II - because it's full programmable from the box, yes. And, to be honest, price is matters too, as Poker II about twice as cheap - you know, because of Topre switches

[Tony]

I am typing on a Filco brown at work. Can't be better.

[mougrim]

I am typing on a Filco brown at work. Can't be better.

Well... MX Brown ain't exactly my cup of tea, but they have MX Blue MINILA version too...

[ctbear]

What kind of work do you do? Usually for 60% we have the popular Poker II and HHKB. Switch differences aside if your job is on the technical side (coding) then HHKB, otherwise it depends on your preferences.

The HHKB is not better for coding. I own both and I code, so maybe I know a little bit about that.

The HHKB Fn layout and especially how the arrows and other navigation keys are acceded is highly controversial. Many coders have actually stopped using it after trying for a while. You will find people who adapt, and you will find people who cannot adapt to it.

On the other hand, the Poker II is programmable. You can redefine the Fn layout and put the arrows and other navigation keys where you want.

The HHKB is nice, but saying that it is better for coding is simply not true.

On both the HHKB and the Poker 2 I use the same layout, which has nothing to do with either the default HHKB layout (my HHKB is modded, which makes it programmable) or the Poker 2 default layout. Both default layouts are IMHO terrible for coding, but at least the Poker 2 has the advantage of being reprogrammable out of the box.

I'm curious, do you ever use Emacs or Vi(m)? The reason I said HHKB is good for coding is not because of its fn layer, but rather its unique layout. I code on my HHKB 100% of the time and I greatly appreciate the control key location.
If all you do is Visual Studio then the Poker might be a bit better (as you can program it for all sorts of shortcuts). But if you need to write code and ssh and whatnot on different boxes and OSes, then the Poker is no match for the universally favorable layout on the HHKB.

[mougrim]

Thank you all for your input and opinions! Ordered Poker II in white case with Cherry MX Blue switches. We'll see if it's works good for me But I like layout and programmability. And you can mod it with novelty cap all you like

[spiceBar]

What kind of work do you do? Usually for 60% we have the popular Poker II and HHKB. Switch differences aside if your job is on the technical side (coding) then HHKB, otherwise it depends on your preferences.

The HHKB is not better for coding. I own both and I code, so maybe I know a little bit about that.

The HHKB Fn layout and especially how the arrows and other navigation keys are acceded is highly controversial. Many coders have actually stopped using it after trying for a while. You will find people who adapt, and you will find people who cannot adapt to it.

On the other hand, the Poker II is programmable. You can redefine the Fn layout and put the arrows and other navigation keys where you want.

The HHKB is nice, but saying that it is better for coding is simply not true.

On both the HHKB and the Poker 2 I use the same layout, which has nothing to do with either the default HHKB layout (my HHKB is modded, which makes it programmable) or the Poker 2 default layout. Both default layouts are IMHO terrible for coding, but at least the Poker 2 has the advantage of being reprogrammable out of the box.

I'm curious, do you ever use Emacs or Vi(m)? The reason I said HHKB is good for coding is not because of its fn layer, but rather its unique layout. I code on my HHKB 100% of the time and I greatly appreciate the control key location.
If all you do is Visual Studio then the Poker might be a bit better (as you can program it for all sorts of shortcuts). But if you need to write code and ssh and whatnot on different boxes and OSes, then the Poker is no match for the universally favorable layout on the HHKB.

I use neither Emacs not vim.

If for you the selling point for the HHKB is that you can have Control on CapsLock, then do you know that you can do that on the Poker 2 as well? I have just done so on mine, just for fun.

I use way too many IDEs, but not Visual Studio. I use Xcode, Monodevelop, CodeLite, Kdevelop. I also use Kedit, Gedit, Smultron and other editors depending on what I'm doing. I code in C, C#, Objective-C, even bash (eek!) and more obscure scripting languages. I think I may do some Java by mistake, sometimes.

Don't tell anyone, but I can do Basic and Pascal also.

From this you can also tell that I have to work on several OSes.

I'm also typing my answer to you in this textbox, in this browser, and I don't think Emacs or vim commands would help me here.

My point is that there is now a well established standard for text editing involving 8 navigation keys and a few modifiers like Ctrl, Shift and Alt. I don't really see the point in Emacs and vim anymore, and in relocating the Control key. I'm fine with where it is now on standard keyboards. I have started working on computers at a time when it was at the left of A, but I don't mind its current location.

But who cares. On most keyboards you can swap Ctrl and Caps Lock anyway. On the Poker 2, you can put Ctrl on Esc if you like. Or Backspace on \ like on the HHKB if that's your thing.

So please tell me again that the Poker (or any other relatively standard and programmable keyboard) is no match for the (what?) "universally favorable layout" on the HHKB. That's quite funny, you know.

The HHKB is a lovely overpriced keyboard. I have one. I love it but only because I can reprogram it (which is not standard, my HHKB is modded). Thank god, I don't have to use its standard layout. If I was forced to, I would surely resell it.

[ctbear]

What kind of work do you do? Usually for 60% we have the popular Poker II and HHKB. Switch differences aside if your job is on the technical side (coding) then HHKB, otherwise it depends on your preferences.

The HHKB is not better for coding. I own both and I code, so maybe I know a little bit about that.

The HHKB Fn layout and especially how the arrows and other navigation keys are acceded is highly controversial. Many coders have actually stopped using it after trying for a while. You will find people who adapt, and you will find people who cannot adapt to it.

On the other hand, the Poker II is programmable. You can redefine the Fn layout and put the arrows and other navigation keys where you want.

The HHKB is nice, but saying that it is better for coding is simply not true.

On both the HHKB and the Poker 2 I use the same layout, which has nothing to do with either the default HHKB layout (my HHKB is modded, which makes it programmable) or the Poker 2 default layout. Both default layouts are IMHO terrible for coding, but at least the Poker 2 has the advantage of being reprogrammable out of the box.

I'm curious, do you ever use Emacs or Vi(m)? The reason I said HHKB is good for coding is not because of its fn layer, but rather its unique layout. I code on my HHKB 100% of the time and I greatly appreciate the control key location.
If all you do is Visual Studio then the Poker might be a bit better (as you can program it for all sorts of shortcuts). But if you need to write code and ssh and whatnot on different boxes and OSes, then the Poker is no match for the universally favorable layout on the HHKB.

I use neither Emacs not vim.

If for you the selling point for the HHKB is that you can have Control on CapsLock, then do you know that you can do that on the Poker 2 as well? I have just done so on mine, just for fun.

I use way too many IDEs, but not Visual Studio. I use Xcode, Monodevelop, CodeLite, Kdevelop. I also use Kedit, Gedit, Smultron and other editors depending on what I'm doing. I code in C, C#, Objective-C, even bash (eek!) and more obscure scripting languages. I think I may do some Java by mistake, sometimes.

Don't tell anyone, but I can do Basic and Pascal also.

From this you can also tell that I have to work on several OSes.

I'm also typing my answer to you in this textbox, in this browser, and I don't think Emacs or vim commands would help me here.

My point is that there is now a well established standard for text editing involving 8 navigation keys and a few modifiers like Ctrl, Shift and Alt. I don't really see the point in Emacs and vim anymore, and in relocating the Control key. I'm fine with where it is now on standard keyboards. I have started working on computers at a time when it was at the left of A, but I don't mind its current location.

But who cares. On most keyboards you can swap Ctrl and Caps Lock anyway. On the Poker 2, you can put Ctrl on Esc if you like. Or Backspace on \ like on the HHKB if that's your thing.

So please tell me again that the Poker (or any other relatively standard and programmable keyboard) is no match for the (what?) "universally favorable layout" on the HHKB. That's quite funny, you know.

The HHKB is a lovely overpriced keyboard. I have one. I love it but only because I can reprogram it (which is not standard, my HHKB is modded). Thank god, I don't have to use its standard layout. If I was forced to, I would surely resell it.

Um no I think you are missing my point. I know you can swap the control key and the caps lock programmatically, but this is exactly why HHKB is superior -  it doesn't require any special effort to make that happen. Just plug it in and that's it. No need to figure out the OS specific mapping. And of course you can also swap the pipe and backspace but I will much rather have a bigger backspace key.
It's fine if you don't like that layout,  but the fact that you are going extra mile to reprogram it tells me you like Topre. So you have that too.

[JaccoW]

From this you can also tell that I have to work on several OSes.

I'm also typing my answer to you in this textbox, in this browser, and I don't think Emacs or vim commands would help me here.

My point is that there is now a well established standard for text editing involving 8 navigation keys and a few modifiers like Ctrl, Shift and Alt. I don't really see the point in Emacs and vim anymore, and in relocating the Control key. I'm fine with where it is now on standard keyboards. I have started working on computers at a time when it was at the left of A, but I don't mind its current location.

But who cares. On most keyboards you can swap Ctrl and Caps Lock anyway. On the Poker 2, you can put Ctrl on Esc if you like. Or Backspace on \ like on the HHKB if that's your thing.

So please tell me again that the Poker (or any other relatively standard and programmable keyboard) is no match for the (what?) "universally favorable layout" on the HHKB. That's quite funny, you know.

The HHKB is a lovely overpriced keyboard. I have one. I love it but only because I can reprogram it (which is not standard, my HHKB is modded). Thank god, I don't have to use its standard layout. If I was forced to, I would surely resell it.

Um no I think you are missing my point. I know you can swap the control key and the caps lock programmatically, but this is exactly why HHKB is superior -  it doesn't require any special effort to make that happen. Just plug it in and that's it. No need to figure out the OS specific mapping. And of course you can also swap the pipe and backspace but I will much rather have a bigger backspace key.
It's fine if you don't like that layout,  but the fact that you are going extra mile to reprogram it tells me you like Topre. So you have that too.

Cough, *FC660M (MX) and FC660R (Topre)*. If swapping the Control and Capslock button in hardware is the big selling point then that board can do that too. Just flip a dipswitch.
You can even swap the windows and Fn key.
And having Home, End, Page up and Page down under the arrow keys is brilliant. The only thing I miss at home is the F5 key but at work I hardly ever use them so if they are under the Fn-layer that's perfectly workable.

[False_Dmitry_II]

Uh, reprogramming it is a one and done thing. Soon as the keyboard knows the layout you want why would it care what computer or OS is being used? It's still plug it in and that's it. Not following.

[spiceBar]

What kind of work do you do? Usually for 60% we have the popular Poker II and HHKB. Switch differences aside if your job is on the technical side (coding) then HHKB, otherwise it depends on your preferences.

The HHKB is not better for coding. I own both and I code, so maybe I know a little bit about that.

The HHKB Fn layout and especially how the arrows and other navigation keys are acceded is highly controversial. Many coders have actually stopped using it after trying for a while. You will find people who adapt, and you will find people who cannot adapt to it.

On the other hand, the Poker II is programmable. You can redefine the Fn layout and put the arrows and other navigation keys where you want.

The HHKB is nice, but saying that it is better for coding is simply not true.

On both the HHKB and the Poker 2 I use the same layout, which has nothing to do with either the default HHKB layout (my HHKB is modded, which makes it programmable) or the Poker 2 default layout. Both default layouts are IMHO terrible for coding, but at least the Poker 2 has the advantage of being reprogrammable out of the box.

I'm curious, do you ever use Emacs or Vi(m)? The reason I said HHKB is good for coding is not because of its fn layer, but rather its unique layout. I code on my HHKB 100% of the time and I greatly appreciate the control key location.
If all you do is Visual Studio then the Poker might be a bit better (as you can program it for all sorts of shortcuts). But if you need to write code and ssh and whatnot on different boxes and OSes, then the Poker is no match for the universally favorable layout on the HHKB.

I use neither Emacs not vim.

If for you the selling point for the HHKB is that you can have Control on CapsLock, then do you know that you can do that on the Poker 2 as well? I have just done so on mine, just for fun.

I use way too many IDEs, but not Visual Studio. I use Xcode, Monodevelop, CodeLite, Kdevelop. I also use Kedit, Gedit, Smultron and other editors depending on what I'm doing. I code in C, C#, Objective-C, even bash (eek!) and more obscure scripting languages. I think I may do some Java by mistake, sometimes.

Don't tell anyone, but I can do Basic and Pascal also.

From this you can also tell that I have to work on several OSes.

I'm also typing my answer to you in this textbox, in this browser, and I don't think Emacs or vim commands would help me here.

My point is that there is now a well established standard for text editing involving 8 navigation keys and a few modifiers like Ctrl, Shift and Alt. I don't really see the point in Emacs and vim anymore, and in relocating the Control key. I'm fine with where it is now on standard keyboards. I have started working on computers at a time when it was at the left of A, but I don't mind its current location.

But who cares. On most keyboards you can swap Ctrl and Caps Lock anyway. On the Poker 2, you can put Ctrl on Esc if you like. Or Backspace on \ like on the HHKB if that's your thing.

So please tell me again that the Poker (or any other relatively standard and programmable keyboard) is no match for the (what?) "universally favorable layout" on the HHKB. That's quite funny, you know.

The HHKB is a lovely overpriced keyboard. I have one. I love it but only because I can reprogram it (which is not standard, my HHKB is modded). Thank god, I don't have to use its standard layout. If I was forced to, I would surely resell it.

Um no I think you are missing my point. I know you can swap the control key and the caps lock programmatically, but this is exactly why HHKB is superior -  it doesn't require any special effort to make that happen. Just plug it in and that's it. No need to figure out the OS specific mapping. And of course you can also swap the pipe and backspace but I will much rather have a bigger backspace key.
It's fine if you don't like that layout,  but the fact that you are going extra mile to reprogram it tells me you like Topre. So you have that too.

Can't believe it. Your point that the HHKB is better because it's already configured with your favorite position for the Control key?

Sure. Strong selling point.

[berserkfan]

Keycool 84 is good because it’s cost effective. It gets a lot of things done with a layout nearly similar to standard ANSI. But if you’re a translator (ie you need to do mostly text translated on the fly and don’t need function keys, page up and down not important to you, etc), and you move around for projects and assignments, a smaller keyboard is better. That means poker or minila.

Whether you go with poker or minila, I think you should consider whether you need the bottom right arrow keys, whether you can live with a smaller right shift key, whether you find a smaller space bar annoying. Minila has all these problems.

As a layout fan who often buys different layouts just to try, I’d say Poker II is closest to a standard US-ANSI layout. I would imagine you would have the least problems typing on it, especially in tense situations where you need to translate very, very fast.

So you need to ask yourself – do you hit the right shift key in the middle or on the edge? Edge = you can live with a smaller shift.

If you do a lot of text editing – ie have to page up and down and move around with arrows, only then will Keycool and Minila come back as possible alternatives.

Noppoo Choc mini, really great. The POM keycaps are great. But some people are driven nuts by the non-staggered function row on top (the gamers, mostly.)

But looking from another perspective, you have Keycool Clears vs Minila/ Poker blues. In a professional setting, you should not be using a noisy keyboard. Clears are far less noisy. So you need to consider whether your clients are affected by the noise from the keyboard. If you’re translating like mad and typing up a storm, you will make a lot of noise with blues. Maybe a poker with modded ergo clears is what would suit you best.

[mougrim]

Keycool 84 is good because it’s cost effective. It gets a lot of things done with a layout nearly similar to standard ANSI. But if you’re a translator (ie you need to do mostly text translated on the fly and don’t need function keys, page up and down not important to you, etc), and you move around for projects and assignments, a smaller keyboard is better. That means poker or minila.

Whether you go with poker or minila, I think you should consider whether you need the bottom right arrow keys, whether you can live with a smaller right shift key, whether you find a smaller space bar annoying. Minila has all these problems.

As a layout fan who often buys different layouts just to try, I’d say Poker II is closest to a standard US-ANSI layout. I would imagine you would have the least problems typing on it, especially in tense situations where you need to translate very, very fast.

So you need to ask yourself – do you hit the right shift key in the middle or on the edge? Edge = you can live with a smaller shift.

If you do a lot of text editing – ie have to page up and down and move around with arrows, only then will Keycool and Minila come back as possible alternatives.

Noppoo Choc mini, really great. The POM keycaps are great. But some people are driven nuts by the non-staggered function row on top (the gamers, mostly.)

But looking from another perspective, you have Keycool Clears vs Minila/ Poker blues. In a professional setting, you should not be using a noisy keyboard. Clears are far less noisy. So you need to consider whether your clients are affected by the noise from the keyboard. If you’re translating like mad and typing up a storm, you will make a lot of noise with blues. Maybe a poker with modded ergo clears is what would suit you best.

Thankee! I thought about that curious layout of Minila - and after lots of comparison decided that it will be Poker II for me. That small space and right shift keys can be quite annoying for me. Although I'm not translating "on the fly", I'm seldom editing - it's easier to thought it over before writing.

So I ordered Poker II.

[ctbear]

From this you can also tell that I have to work on several OSes.

I'm also typing my answer to you in this textbox, in this browser, and I don't think Emacs or vim commands would help me here.

My point is that there is now a well established standard for text editing involving 8 navigation keys and a few modifiers like Ctrl, Shift and Alt. I don't really see the point in Emacs and vim anymore, and in relocating the Control key. I'm fine with where it is now on standard keyboards. I have started working on computers at a time when it was at the left of A, but I don't mind its current location.

But who cares. On most keyboards you can swap Ctrl and Caps Lock anyway. On the Poker 2, you can put Ctrl on Esc if you like. Or Backspace on \ like on the HHKB if that's your thing.

So please tell me again that the Poker (or any other relatively standard and programmable keyboard) is no match for the (what?) "universally favorable layout" on the HHKB. That's quite funny, you know.

The HHKB is a lovely overpriced keyboard. I have one. I love it but only because I can reprogram it (which is not standard, my HHKB is modded). Thank god, I don't have to use its standard layout. If I was forced to, I would surely resell it.

Um no I think you are missing my point. I know you can swap the control key and the caps lock programmatically, but this is exactly why HHKB is superior -  it doesn't require any special effort to make that happen. Just plug it in and that's it. No need to figure out the OS specific mapping. And of course you can also swap the pipe and backspace but I will much rather have a bigger backspace key.
It's fine if you don't like that layout,  but the fact that you are going extra mile to reprogram it tells me you like Topre. So you have that too.

Cough, *FC660M (MX) and FC660R (Topre)*. If swapping the Control and Capslock button in hardware is the big selling point then that board can do that too. Just flip a dipswitch.
You can even swap the windows and Fn key.
And having Home, End, Page up and Page down under the arrow keys is brilliant. The only thing I miss at home is the F5 key but at work I hardly ever use them so if they are under the Fn-layer that's perfectly workable.

Now THAT I didn't know. I don't own an FC660. If I didn't already have a RF 55g I might order one right now.

What kind of work do you do? Usually for 60% we have the popular Poker II and HHKB. Switch differences aside if your job is on the technical side (coding) then HHKB, otherwise it depends on your preferences.

The HHKB is not better for coding. I own both and I code, so maybe I know a little bit about that.

The HHKB Fn layout and especially how the arrows and other navigation keys are acceded is highly controversial. Many coders have actually stopped using it after trying for a while. You will find people who adapt, and you will find people who cannot adapt to it.

On the other hand, the Poker II is programmable. You can redefine the Fn layout and put the arrows and other navigation keys where you want.

The HHKB is nice, but saying that it is better for coding is simply not true.

On both the HHKB and the Poker 2 I use the same layout, which has nothing to do with either the default HHKB layout (my HHKB is modded, which makes it programmable) or the Poker 2 default layout. Both default layouts are IMHO terrible for coding, but at least the Poker 2 has the advantage of being reprogrammable out of the box.

I'm curious, do you ever use Emacs or Vi(m)? The reason I said HHKB is good for coding is not because of its fn layer, but rather its unique layout. I code on my HHKB 100% of the time and I greatly appreciate the control key location.
If all you do is Visual Studio then the Poker might be a bit better (as you can program it for all sorts of shortcuts). But if you need to write code and ssh and whatnot on different boxes and OSes, then the Poker is no match for the universally favorable layout on the HHKB.

I use neither Emacs not vim.

If for you the selling point for the HHKB is that you can have Control on CapsLock, then do you know that you can do that on the Poker 2 as well? I have just done so on mine, just for fun.

I use way too many IDEs, but not Visual Studio. I use Xcode, Monodevelop, CodeLite, Kdevelop. I also use Kedit, Gedit, Smultron and other editors depending on what I'm doing. I code in C, C#, Objective-C, even bash (eek!) and more obscure scripting languages. I think I may do some Java by mistake, sometimes.

Don't tell anyone, but I can do Basic and Pascal also.

From this you can also tell that I have to work on several OSes.

I'm also typing my answer to you in this textbox, in this browser, and I don't think Emacs or vim commands would help me here.

My point is that there is now a well established standard for text editing involving 8 navigation keys and a few modifiers like Ctrl, Shift and Alt. I don't really see the point in Emacs and vim anymore, and in relocating the Control key. I'm fine with where it is now on standard keyboards. I have started working on computers at a time when it was at the left of A, but I don't mind its current location.

But who cares. On most keyboards you can swap Ctrl and Caps Lock anyway. On the Poker 2, you can put Ctrl on Esc if you like. Or Backspace on \ like on the HHKB if that's your thing.

So please tell me again that the Poker (or any other relatively standard and programmable keyboard) is no match for the (what?) "universally favorable layout" on the HHKB. That's quite funny, you know.

The HHKB is a lovely overpriced keyboard. I have one. I love it but only because I can reprogram it (which is not standard, my HHKB is modded). Thank god, I don't have to use its standard layout. If I was forced to, I would surely resell it.

Um no I think you are missing my point. I know you can swap the control key and the caps lock programmatically, but this is exactly why HHKB is superior -  it doesn't require any special effort to make that happen. Just plug it in and that's it. No need to figure out the OS specific mapping. And of course you can also swap the pipe and backspace but I will much rather have a bigger backspace key.
It's fine if you don't like that layout,  but the fact that you are going extra mile to reprogram it tells me you like Topre. So you have that too.

Can't believe it. Your point that the HHKB is better because it's already configured with your favorite position for the Control key?

Sure. Strong selling point.

The fact that you are still holding onto the control key tells me you are still missing my point. It's okay I am running out of words to explain my point (English is not my strong language), and people who have ever tried to use the same keyboard across different OSes will understand why a software approach is not as ideal. I am entitled to my opinion, and you are entitled to yours.

OP has already decided on the keyboard anyways, so this discussion getting moot now.

[JaccoW]

From this you can also tell that I have to work on several OSes.

I'm also typing my answer to you in this textbox, in this browser, and I don't think Emacs or vim commands would help me here.

My point is that there is now a well established standard for text editing involving 8 navigation keys and a few modifiers like Ctrl, Shift and Alt. I don't really see the point in Emacs and vim anymore, and in relocating the Control key. I'm fine with where it is now on standard keyboards. I have started working on computers at a time when it was at the left of A, but I don't mind its current location.

But who cares. On most keyboards you can swap Ctrl and Caps Lock anyway. On the Poker 2, you can put Ctrl on Esc if you like. Or Backspace on \ like on the HHKB if that's your thing.

So please tell me again that the Poker (or any other relatively standard and programmable keyboard) is no match for the (what?) "universally favorable layout" on the HHKB. That's quite funny, you know.

The HHKB is a lovely overpriced keyboard. I have one. I love it but only because I can reprogram it (which is not standard, my HHKB is modded). Thank god, I don't have to use its standard layout. If I was forced to, I would surely resell it.

Um no I think you are missing my point. I know you can swap the control key and the caps lock programmatically, but this is exactly why HHKB is superior -  it doesn't require any special effort to make that happen. Just plug it in and that's it. No need to figure out the OS specific mapping. And of course you can also swap the pipe and backspace but I will much rather have a bigger backspace key.
It's fine if you don't like that layout,  but the fact that you are going extra mile to reprogram it tells me you like Topre. So you have that too.

Cough, *FC660M (MX) and FC660R (Topre)*. If swapping the Control and Capslock button in hardware is the big selling point then that board can do that too. Just flip a dipswitch.
You can even swap the windows and Fn key.
And having Home, End, Page up and Page down under the arrow keys is brilliant. The only thing I miss at home is the F5 key but at work I hardly ever use them so if they are under the Fn-layer that's perfectly workable.

Now THAT I didn't know. I don't own an FC660. If I didn't already have a RF 55g I might order one right now.

There is always room for more keyboard love. Whether it is Topre or Cherry MX. Just see it like a Topre Poker.

[paco]

What kind of work do you do? Usually for 60% we have the popular Poker II and HHKB. Switch differences aside if your job is on the technical side (coding) then HHKB, otherwise it depends on your preferences.

The HHKB is not better for coding. I own both and I code, so maybe I know a little bit about that.

The HHKB Fn layout and especially how the arrows and other navigation keys are acceded is highly controversial. Many coders have actually stopped using it after trying for a while. You will find people who adapt, and you will find people who cannot adapt to it.

On the other hand, the Poker II is programmable. You can redefine the Fn layout and put the arrows and other navigation keys where you want.

The HHKB is nice, but saying that it is better for coding is simply not true.

On both the HHKB and the Poker 2 I use the same layout, which has nothing to do with either the default HHKB layout (my HHKB is modded, which makes it programmable) or the Poker 2 default layout. Both default layouts are IMHO terrible for coding, but at least the Poker 2 has the advantage of being reprogrammable out of the box.

I'm curious, do you ever use Emacs or Vi(m)? The reason I said HHKB is good for coding is not because of its fn layer, but rather its unique layout. I code on my HHKB 100% of the time and I greatly appreciate the control key location.
If all you do is Visual Studio then the Poker might be a bit better (as you can program it for all sorts of shortcuts). But if you need to write code and ssh and whatnot on different boxes and OSes, then the Poker is no match for the universally favorable layout on the HHKB.

I use neither Emacs not vim.

If for you the selling point for the HHKB is that you can have Control on CapsLock, then do you know that you can do that on the Poker 2 as well? I have just done so on mine, just for fun.

I use way too many IDEs, but not Visual Studio. I use Xcode, Monodevelop, CodeLite, Kdevelop. I also use Kedit, Gedit, Smultron and other editors depending on what I'm doing. I code in C, C#, Objective-C, even bash (eek!) and more obscure scripting languages. I think I may do some Java by mistake, sometimes.

Don't tell anyone, but I can do Basic and Pascal also.

From this you can also tell that I have to work on several OSes.

I'm also typing my answer to you in this textbox, in this browser, and I don't think Emacs or vim commands would help me here.

My point is that there is now a well established standard for text editing involving 8 navigation keys and a few modifiers like Ctrl, Shift and Alt. I don't really see the point in Emacs and vim anymore, and in relocating the Control key. I'm fine with where it is now on standard keyboards. I have started working on computers at a time when it was at the left of A, but I don't mind its current location.

But who cares. On most keyboards you can swap Ctrl and Caps Lock anyway. On the Poker 2, you can put Ctrl on Esc if you like. Or Backspace on \ like on the HHKB if that's your thing.

So please tell me again that the Poker (or any other relatively standard and programmable keyboard) is no match for the (what?) "universally favorable layout" on the HHKB. That's quite funny, you know.

The HHKB is a lovely overpriced keyboard. I have one. I love it but only because I can reprogram it (which is not standard, my HHKB is modded). Thank god, I don't have to use its standard layout. If I was forced to, I would surely resell it.

Um no I think you are missing my point. I know you can swap the control key and the caps lock programmatically, but this is exactly why HHKB is superior -  it doesn't require any special effort to make that happen. Just plug it in and that's it. No need to figure out the OS specific mapping. And of course you can also swap the pipe and backspace but I will much rather have a bigger backspace key.
It's fine if you don't like that layout,  but the fact that you are going extra mile to reprogram it tells me you like Topre. So you have that too.

I am a professional developer. I code on a daily basis under Windows (Visual Studio) and under Linux.

My main text editor is emacs. I often use vi when I log onto embedded Linux systems with busybox on them. But, otherwise, I do nearly everything with emacs. I use org-mode as my daily journal. I edit all my emails with it. When I have to slice and dice text, I copy it in an emacs buffer and perform all the required modifications.

A long time ago, I bought the HHKB Lite 2. I was bought by all the posts I found at the time praising the keyboard for it's smart layout perfectly adapted to hackers/coders. I tried long and hard to become comfortable with the keyboard, but it just never happened. I had too many contortions to go through to become more as efficient with it as I was with a standard keyboard.

I went back to a 100% keyboard. Then, I was sold again to the idea of a small keyboard and bought a Deck 82. Same mistake.

I recently fell again for a small keyboard by buying a Poker II. I hate myself for having done so. I brought it at work and after two weeks I was still way too slow with it. When you have many 3-key combinations to make in a day and now you have to use 4 keys to make them, this is not what I call an efficient move.

Remapping the CAPS Lock to Ctrl under Windows is a piece of cake. If you forgot how to do it using the registry, just download SharpKeys and off you go. Under Linux? If you use Gnome, you can install the Tweak Tool extension and there is an option to remap the Control key to whatever you want. If not, just google it and you will be set in less than 5 minutes.

Really, I am sorry to be so blunt but, saying that if you are a coder, you need a HHKB is just ludicrous. I, myself use emacs all day long, and yet, I couldn't get away without dedicated navigation keys. Need to type the HOME key on a HHKB Pro 2? You need to hold the Fn key with your pinky and reach for the K key? Really?

... and no programmable layer?

The only relation that keyboard has with "hacking" is its name.

[spiceBar]

What kind of work do you do? Usually for 60% we have the popular Poker II and HHKB. Switch differences aside if your job is on the technical side (coding) then HHKB, otherwise it depends on your preferences.

The HHKB is not better for coding. I own both and I code, so maybe I know a little bit about that.

The HHKB Fn layout and especially how the arrows and other navigation keys are acceded is highly controversial. Many coders have actually stopped using it after trying for a while. You will find people who adapt, and you will find people who cannot adapt to it.

On the other hand, the Poker II is programmable. You can redefine the Fn layout and put the arrows and other navigation keys where you want.

The HHKB is nice, but saying that it is better for coding is simply not true.

On both the HHKB and the Poker 2 I use the same layout, which has nothing to do with either the default HHKB layout (my HHKB is modded, which makes it programmable) or the Poker 2 default layout. Both default layouts are IMHO terrible for coding, but at least the Poker 2 has the advantage of being reprogrammable out of the box.

I'm curious, do you ever use Emacs or Vi(m)? The reason I said HHKB is good for coding is not because of its fn layer, but rather its unique layout. I code on my HHKB 100% of the time and I greatly appreciate the control key location.
If all you do is Visual Studio then the Poker might be a bit better (as you can program it for all sorts of shortcuts). But if you need to write code and ssh and whatnot on different boxes and OSes, then the Poker is no match for the universally favorable layout on the HHKB.

I use neither Emacs not vim.

If for you the selling point for the HHKB is that you can have Control on CapsLock, then do you know that you can do that on the Poker 2 as well? I have just done so on mine, just for fun.

I use way too many IDEs, but not Visual Studio. I use Xcode, Monodevelop, CodeLite, Kdevelop. I also use Kedit, Gedit, Smultron and other editors depending on what I'm doing. I code in C, C#, Objective-C, even bash (eek!) and more obscure scripting languages. I think I may do some Java by mistake, sometimes.

Don't tell anyone, but I can do Basic and Pascal also.

From this you can also tell that I have to work on several OSes.

I'm also typing my answer to you in this textbox, in this browser, and I don't think Emacs or vim commands would help me here.

My point is that there is now a well established standard for text editing involving 8 navigation keys and a few modifiers like Ctrl, Shift and Alt. I don't really see the point in Emacs and vim anymore, and in relocating the Control key. I'm fine with where it is now on standard keyboards. I have started working on computers at a time when it was at the left of A, but I don't mind its current location.

But who cares. On most keyboards you can swap Ctrl and Caps Lock anyway. On the Poker 2, you can put Ctrl on Esc if you like. Or Backspace on \ like on the HHKB if that's your thing.

So please tell me again that the Poker (or any other relatively standard and programmable keyboard) is no match for the (what?) "universally favorable layout" on the HHKB. That's quite funny, you know.

The HHKB is a lovely overpriced keyboard. I have one. I love it but only because I can reprogram it (which is not standard, my HHKB is modded). Thank god, I don't have to use its standard layout. If I was forced to, I would surely resell it.

Um no I think you are missing my point. I know you can swap the control key and the caps lock programmatically, but this is exactly why HHKB is superior -  it doesn't require any special effort to make that happen. Just plug it in and that's it. No need to figure out the OS specific mapping. And of course you can also swap the pipe and backspace but I will much rather have a bigger backspace key.
It's fine if you don't like that layout,  but the fact that you are going extra mile to reprogram it tells me you like Topre. So you have that too.

Can't believe it. Your point that the HHKB is better because it's already configured with your favorite position for the Control key?

Sure. Strong selling point.

The fact that you are still holding onto the control key tells me you are still missing my point. It's okay I am running out of words to explain my point (English is not my strong language), and people who have ever tried to use the same keyboard across different OSes will understand why a software approach is not as ideal. I am entitled to my opinion, and you are entitled to yours.

OP has already decided on the keyboard anyways, so this discussion getting moot now.
[/quote]

I *NEVER* talked about a way to do it by software, if by this you mean software on the computer.

I told you that you can configure the Poker 2 to have Control on Caps Lock, or on any other key if you want. The change is done on the keyboard itself, the OS has nothing to do with it. Once it is done, you can connect the Poker on another computer, and your remapping is still there. Because it is in the keyboard.

On a number of other keyboards (Realforce, FC660, original Poker for example), swapping Control and Caps Lock is done by a DIP switch on the keyboard. In this case also, you can connect the keyboard to another computer and Control is still on Caps Lock.

Swapping Control and Caps Lock is a very common option on mechanical keyboards. The option does not require any action on the OS side.

On a programmable keyboard like the Poker 2 or the GH60 you can also remap many other keys, including the Fn layer. No change in the OS is required.

I hope we understand each other better now.

[katushkin]

I've been away for a while. I wish I could have been here to convice you to get a KC 84. Also, xuanwumen is a honorable gent, and as soon as I get my 108 in the post, he will be my only go to guy for keycools.

Edit: Got my 108 and it's gorgeous! Xuanwumen provides great service, and the postage incurred no extra charges on my end from HMRC either

[berserkfan]

I've been away for a while. I wish I could have been here to convice you to get a KC 84. Also, xuanwumen is a honorable gent, and as soon as I get my 108 in the post, he will be my only go to guy for keycools.

I'm not buying keycool kbs for the time being. Got too many things. But kc has lovely keycaps. I think I'll contact Xuanwumen and ask.

[mougrim]

I've been away for a while. I wish I could have been here to convice you to get a KC 84. Also, xuanwumen is a honorable gent, and as soon as I get my 108 in the post, he will be my only go to guy for keycools.

Had a little talk with him. If I ever want to buy a keycool, I'd pm him
But I hope I'd be happy with Poker too

[morpheus]

I use a Dell Quiet Key for work. It's cheap enough that I don't have to worry if someone steals it.

At the same time, it has enough tactility which feels better than most membrane/rubber domes.

[zig_ziglar]

I don't know how you guys code on a 60% ... I can't work without a keypad. Got nothing against a compact or TKL for home though!

Also, I second the buckling spring notion. I deliberately brought mx blues to work BECAUSE of how loud they are. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to bother anyone ...  )

[Belfong]

I am not a coder and I do need to use spreadsheet at work and even then I find HHKB lacking in this aspect because of the non-dedicated arrow keys. While I love the keyboard for typing of emails and internal chats, I just can't find its useful for anything else. Which is the reason I really wonder who are the people who said that these layout is the best in the world. Probably they are writers?

Regardless, I still love the HHKB for its compactness at work. I use it on a MacBook Air. The Code TKL and RealForce 87U is just too big in the workplace.

My love hate relationship with HHKB is probably the reason why I have the HHKB Pagan as my title in GH.. lol

[zig_ziglar]

I am not a coder and I do need to use spreadsheet at work and even then I find HHKB lacking in this aspect because of the non-dedicated arrow keys. While I love the keyboard for typing of emails and internal chats, I just can't find its useful for anything else. Which is the reason I really wonder who are the people who said that these layout is the best in the world. Probably they are writers?

Regardless, I still love the HHKB for its compactness at work. I use it on a MacBook Air. The Code TKL and RealForce 87U is just too big in the workplace.

My love hate relationship with HHKB is probably the reason why I have the HHKB Pagan as my title in GH.. lol

Or people who use them with multimedia centres or iPads? I don't know, but in most cases where I don't need a num pad, I need F keys and at work I need both. Our systems use up to F20 here, although my Cherry board only has to F12, so I just use Shift F key macros instead. And I type 8 or 10 digit numerical sequences a LOT, so I would die without a numpad at wok.

At home I use F keys as hotkeys in games ... and numerical use is for passwords, so don't need the numpad, hence a TKL.

I'll probably still get a compact one day, purely because I don't have one.

[Fullcream]

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