Will I regret buying a TypeMatrix keyboard?

[alejandroerickson]

I'm about to buy my first non-standard keyboard, and I've been dipped in a whole world of hardware, jargon, opinions, use cases.  Hopefully someone in this forum can help me (or they might just complicate things further ).

I currently use my macbook's laptop keyboard, with Emacs in EVIL mode (i.e., vim modal editing for most stuff, plus a fair few emacs-y modifier key combinations).  I am a programmer and an academic paper writer (and not a gamer).

Sometimes on long projects my fingers start to hurt!

I'm considering the TypeMatrix 2030 for affordability, portability, different skins (will get dvorak skin for qwerty keyboard), and layout.  The main things it's missing are n-key roll over (NKRO?  But my macbook doesn't seem to have this either, so why do I care?), mechanical keys (please tell me why I should care), angled-ness (again, why does this matter), and it has flat keys.

There are many blog posts and reviews sharing personal experience with keyboards, but so many of these turn into nitpicking rants that I can't filter out the noise.

Is there a good reason to forgo the TypeMatrix and go for one of the higher end-things?  (I'm afraid I'll go crazy if I can't pack my keyboard with my laptop...)

[xtrafrood]

I'm guessing you're not a fan of the Planck because it is a 40% keyboard?

[alejandroerickson]

I'm guessing you're not a fan of the Planck because it is a 40% keyboard?

At first I thought the keyboard in your signature was the planck, but after a bit of research...

Fascinating!  I guess the build would come up slightly cheaper.  I didn't even think of building my own

I'm still not sure what a 40% keyboard is.

[xtrafrood]

I'm guessing you're not a fan of the Planck because it is a 40% keyboard?

At first I thought the keyboard in your signature was the planck, but after a bit of research...

Fascinating!  I guess the build would come up slightly cheaper.  I didn't even think of building my own

I'm still not sure what a 40% keyboard is.

Hehe, the keyboard in my signature does not exist. It is an imaginary keyboard 

The keyboards you mention look like scissor switch keyboards. it would be a rotten shame to have a scissor switch keyboard on top of another scissor switch keyboard 

[steve.v]

The planck is awesome. 48 keys are plenty for me as a programmer.

[Darkshado]

Caveat: I haven't tried a TypeMatrix, or any other "ortholinear" keyboard yet...

Mechanical keyboards can be quite compact, but scissor-switches beat them in that aspect.

The skins would make the landing much softer, I've seen them be called "mushy".

NKRO: How many keys do you press at once in addition to the modifiers? Do you feel your current (assuming 2KRO) keyboards sometimes miss presses?

Mechanical keys: there's a variety of switches out there; their big advantage over rubber domes and scissor-switches is that actuation occurs much higher in the switch's range of motion, you don't need to "bottom out" in order to register a key press. Tactile and clicky switches give additional cues that a press has been registered versus "hitting a wall".

Although my laptop keyboard choices have been decent, with reasonably crisp scissor-switches; some I've tried were atrocious with imprecise feel, driving you to type harder, causing more fatigue. Another advantage is durability, well beyond that of rubber dome and scissor-switch keyboards.

"Angled-ness"? do you mean the keyboard being flat on the desk or the lack of an angle to decrease ulnar deviation?

Key profiles: I find I'm a bit less accurate when touch typing on flatter keys (e.g. laptops) versus something with a cylindrical profile. (Spherical profiles are often associated with vintage / antique keyboards or enthusiasts special ordering them to customize a keyboard. No opinion on them at this point in time.)

[S1llyC0ne]

TypeMatrix user here. If you plan to use it with an ergonomic skin as it seems you are, you should be relieved from finger pain fast. However, I think a split version could feel even better ! 😇

[algernon]

Another TypeMatrix user here. I love the keyboard, the layout is fantastic! Once you get used to Enter/Backspace in the middle, you'll never look back. Been using mine for close to 5 years now, maybe more, both at work and at home, and the only reason I am switching, is because I want a split keyboard.

You won't regret getting one, it is a fantastic keyboard. It does have its issues, as do all, but those are minor nitpicky things. The feel of typing on it is much different than on a mech, but since you are not coming from a mech, that doesn't matter.

The hardware Dvorak switch, and the skinability are also lovely features. Though a programmable keyboard with blanks is more powerful. But nevertheless, the TypeMatrix 2030 is a great entry keyboard, that will likely last you a good few years.

[S1llyC0ne]

The silicone skins make typing a silent experience which has been very enjoyable to me.
They also keep the dirt away, making the cleaning step a breeze.
For the mushy part, l think it is a bit exaggerated. The vast majority of people who wanted to try my keyboard enjoyed the feeling.
For a typist, I admit that the silicone skin may slow things down a bit though.