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Author Topic: What's the best place for Control?  (Read 1693 times)

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Offline nvarsj

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 24
What's the best place for Control?
« on: Sat, 04 July 2009, 09:40:03 »
A lot of people like switching caps and control. In fact I did the same for about a year before someone pointed out to me that it makes more sense to use the thumb for Control.

I also researched this topic a bit. Here's the keyboard that inspired Control, imho, to become the most used modifier:

 

The venerable LISP machine keyboard, the Space Cadet.

I found that using Caps as Control was a huge improvement, but my pinky got tired. Moving it next to the spacebar improved my finger fatigue tremondously. It takes a little getting used to, but after that it just feels so much better using my big fat thumb for this most used of all modifiers. In fact, I don't really get why the HHKB puts control at caps (I think it's been badly inspired by the Sun keyboards).

So the bottom row of my keyboard looks like this now:
Code: [Select]
CONTROL ALT CONTROL SPACEBAR CONTROL ALT CONTROL

I leave the original control for other people that use the kb.

Mac keyboards are similar as well... Command is right next to the spacebar. I think this is a good design.
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Offline lal

  • Posts: 360
What's the best place for Control?
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 04 July 2009, 09:52:14 »
In touch typing lessons you learn that capitals are typed by pressing Shift with the *other* hand, i.e. not the one that's used for the letter.  That's how I use all the other modifier keys, too.  Ctrl-X with left little finger on the key where CapsLock normally is and X with left ring finger (the one that does X usually) is quite hard if not impossible.

So I leave Ctrl in it's standard position and use both Ctrl keys alternatingly.  Left Ctrl for Ctrl-P and right Ctrl for Ctrl-X.
« Last Edit: Sat, 04 July 2009, 09:56:17 by lal »
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Offline timw4mail

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What's the best place for Control?
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 04 July 2009, 09:57:24 »
Where can I get one of those keyboards?
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Buckling Springs IBM Model F AT, New Model F 77, Unicomp New Model M
Clicky iOne Scorpius M10, OCN-branded Ducky DK-9008-C, Blackmore Nocturna, Redragon Kumara K552-1, Qtronix Scorpius Keypad, Chicony KB-5181(Monterey)
Tactile Apple AEKII (Cream damped ALPS), Filco FKBN91M/JB (Japanese Tenkeyless), Cherry G84-5200, Cherry G84-4100LPAUS, Datalux Spacesaver(Cherry ML), Redragon Devarajas K556 RGB, Newmen GM711, Poker II (Cherry MX Clear), Logitech G910 Orion Spark, Logitech K840
Linear Lenovo Y (Gateron Red), Aluminum kiosk keyboard (Cherry MX Black)

Offline ch_123

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What's the best place for Control?
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 04 July 2009, 10:09:30 »
Quote from: timw4mail;101124
Where can I get one of those keyboards?


The Symbolics "Space Cadet" board? eBay if you're lucky. However, they use linear switches and arent PC compatible.
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Offline timw4mail

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What's the best place for Control?
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 04 July 2009, 10:13:25 »
Quote from: ch_123;101129
The Symbolics "Space Cadet" board? eBay if you're lucky. However, they use linear switches and arent PC compatible.

I was kidding actually, it just looks like a really cool board.
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Buckling Springs IBM Model F AT, New Model F 77, Unicomp New Model M
Clicky iOne Scorpius M10, OCN-branded Ducky DK-9008-C, Blackmore Nocturna, Redragon Kumara K552-1, Qtronix Scorpius Keypad, Chicony KB-5181(Monterey)
Tactile Apple AEKII (Cream damped ALPS), Filco FKBN91M/JB (Japanese Tenkeyless), Cherry G84-5200, Cherry G84-4100LPAUS, Datalux Spacesaver(Cherry ML), Redragon Devarajas K556 RGB, Newmen GM711, Poker II (Cherry MX Clear), Logitech G910 Orion Spark, Logitech K840
Linear Lenovo Y (Gateron Red), Aluminum kiosk keyboard (Cherry MX Black)

Offline timw4mail

  • Posts: 1329
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What's the best place for Control?
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 04 July 2009, 10:56:02 »
Quote from: ripster;101134
Best keycaps in the biz.

HYPER-SUPER-META-CTRL

We should put that on a Geekhack T-shirt.

Ohh, I want that one!
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Buckling Springs IBM Model F AT, New Model F 77, Unicomp New Model M
Clicky iOne Scorpius M10, OCN-branded Ducky DK-9008-C, Blackmore Nocturna, Redragon Kumara K552-1, Qtronix Scorpius Keypad, Chicony KB-5181(Monterey)
Tactile Apple AEKII (Cream damped ALPS), Filco FKBN91M/JB (Japanese Tenkeyless), Cherry G84-5200, Cherry G84-4100LPAUS, Datalux Spacesaver(Cherry ML), Redragon Devarajas K556 RGB, Newmen GM711, Poker II (Cherry MX Clear), Logitech G910 Orion Spark, Logitech K840
Linear Lenovo Y (Gateron Red), Aluminum kiosk keyboard (Cherry MX Black)

Offline sixty

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What's the best place for Control?
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 04 July 2009, 11:12:08 »
I actually really dig the thumbs up/thumbs down buttons on that board. Hah.. what the hell?
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Offline cmr

  • Posts: 295
What's the best place for Control?
« Reply #7 on: Tue, 07 July 2009, 15:44:24 »
i prefer ctrl to be in exactly the places IBM put it on the 1391401
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Offline itlnstln

  • Posts: 7048
What's the best place for Control?
« Reply #8 on: Tue, 07 July 2009, 16:08:10 »
Quote from: cmr;101617
i prefer ctrl to be in exactly the places IBM put it on the 1391401

I agree. Since I never was a *nix user, I never used Ctrl in the Caps Lock spot, so my muscle memory is firmly locked into the lower left (and right) of the letters.  Also, it feels a little more nautral when using Ctrl combos I use regularly (Ctrl+S, X, C, V, A, etc.)
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Offline megarat

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What's the best place for Control?
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 07 July 2009, 16:41:54 »
One's desired location of the control key is largely driven by whichever OS they are using.  Having the control over the left shift key (in the Caps Lock position) is terrific, for me, when I'm using Winders or Linux (at work, mostly), but the rest of the time I'm on a Mac, where I usually only use the control key in terminal sessions.

So for me, I like having control on the bottom row for either, so the most-commonly-used modifier key is always a thumbstroke away.  Easier on the muscle memory.
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Offline cmr

  • Posts: 295
What's the best place for Control?
« Reply #10 on: Tue, 07 July 2009, 16:49:59 »
well, i am a linux user, and i learned to type on a model F.

it was worth getting used to the model M ctrl positions, because ctrl in the bottom corners is better.
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Offline talis

  • Posts: 195
What's the best place for Control?
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 07 July 2009, 18:18:09 »
He's wearing socks with them tho, much safer...
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