Standardized Keyboard Layouts suck

[Minotaar]

I hate my current keyboard, but i cant find one I want to replace it. Why cant keyboards be made exactly like the 101 key layout (no windows button, big ol enter key) except with no numeric keypad?

I tried using a laptop keyboard (one of those schmancy light up keyboards) but the layout is totally useless. who needs a fooking numeric keypad? we need the editting buttons in that nice rectangle and the inverted T arrow buttons like a 101 key, just no numeric keyboard.

Anyone seen such a keyboard?

 

[MDE]

Bust out the Dremel...

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Minotaar
I hate my current keyboard, but i cant find one I want to replace it. Why cant keyboards be made exactly like the 101 key layout (no windows button, big ol enter key) except with no numeric keypad?

I tried using a laptop keyboard (one of those schmancy light up keyboards) but the layout is totally useless. who needs a fooking numeric keypad? we need the editting buttons in that nice rectangle and the inverted T arrow buttons like a 101 key, just no numeric keyboard.

Anyone seen such a keyboard?

You want a Model M "spacesaver" keyboard.

 

[Minotaar]

You da fooking man! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I didnt know that such things existed!!! thank you!!!

its sad that Im so happy but... thanks

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Accountants find many uses for the numpad. I use it quite often.

 

[SmokeRngs]

I use the number pad all the time. When you get used to it at work you find you use it a lot more at home or whatever. If I have to punch in more than a couple of numbers, I find the keypad to be a lot faster and easier to use. That includes the extra time and effort to move my hand over and back. Once you get good at using it, you will find yourself avoiding the number keys at the top of the keyboard.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

Originally posted by: SmokeRngs
I use the number pad all the time. When you get used to it at work you find you use it a lot more at home or whatever. If I have to punch in more than a couple of numbers, I find the keypad to be a lot faster and easier to use. That includes the extra time and effort to move my hand over and back. Once you get good at using it, you will find yourself avoiding the number keys at the top of the keyboard.

There are numbers up there? :Q

I thought they were only symbols :Q

 

[zephyrprime]

There are several such keyboards.

 

[imported_Ahriman]

I use one number on the top of my keyboard and that's only because it's involved in a few of my passwords. anytime that I have to put in more than 2 numbers it's over to the numeric keypad. I'd be lost without it

 

[n0cmonkey]

Happy Hacker

I don't like where the backspace/delete key is, but the rest of it looks good to me. A little too expensive for me to actually want at the moment.

Of course, I hate big enter keys because it moves the "\|" key, which is very necessary for me.

 

[Minotaar]

The thing is, I never type numbers. Sure, I do a bit O' the l337 speak now and then, and every now and then I do type small numbers like "25" or something, but I find in programming I never enter numbers.

My OOOONLY use for the numpad is to play nethack. And while I play enough nethack to justify a specialty controller for it, most of the time when Im humiliated that I choked on a grid bug corpse I stay away from the sucker.

THis space issue didnt matter until I picked up this desk:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051806223385&skuId=4735139&productCategoryId=cat07001&type=product

The stupid keyboard tray doesnt really fit both a 101 key keyboard and a ratpad sized mousepad. This is rather stupid. But I cant stand having my mouse on the glass; having it at a different height feels really weird. As if you were driving a british car or riding in one of those backwards seats in an old stationwagon. so yeah I wanted this size keyboard.

 

[Minotaar]

zephyrprime:

can you give links? I am very interested in this keyboard layout.

the happy hacker is rather rediculously small. Its not clear to me that anyone using such a limited keyboard would be happy... Do hackers have no desk space or something? Ithought it was only prissy yuppy types like me

 

[drag]

The thing about the numpad it is nice when you have to do data-entry or have lots of numbers you have to input, then it's handy to have.

But normally I don't use it because I don't like to have to look at the keyboard when I type.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Minotaar
zephyrprime:

can you give links? I am very interested in this keyboard layout.

the happy hacker is rather rediculously small. Its not clear to me that anyone using such a limited keyboard would be happy... Do hackers have no desk space or something? Ithought it was only prissy yuppy types like me

I see smaller keyboards like that in server racks all the time. No desks involved.

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: Minotaar
zephyrprime:

can you give links? I am very interested in this keyboard layout.

the happy hacker is rather rediculously small. Its not clear to me that anyone using such a limited keyboard would be happy... Do hackers have no desk space or something? Ithought it was only prissy yuppy types like me

The Keys are full sized themselves, it's just a reduced layout.

It's made for linux geeks, especially those who use Emacs or Vi a lot.

For instance the control key is in a much nicer location, lots of command line programs have ctrl-something-something key combinations for doing stuff. By having that in a nicer location it realy cuts down on the pinky strain. Also having the ESC key closer is nice too. You esc out of a lot of stuff, especially if your a VI fan, you use it to switch out of editing mode and into command mode. Having the esc closer is nice.

It's not about saving deskspace, it's about reducing the amount of distance your fingers have to travel to get to certain keys. AFter a day or so of programming or text editing it can make things quite a bit more pleasent.

Plus how many people use the "prnt scrn" "scroll lock" and those sort of keys, anyways?



PS, how many people remember these things?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: dragFor instance the control key is in a much nicer location,

The correct location.



Useless keys on this Dell keyboard (for me): Caps lock, Windows key (mildly useful at best), some menu key between ctrl and alt on the right hand side, print screen, scroll lock, insert, and pause/break. The ones I can do without: Function keys, home, end, delete, page up, page down, and the 10 key pad...

 

[Minotaar]

why dont people who use flexible editors like Emacs and Vi redefine their keys so that they dont hrut so much? besides, they both have auto-save; whats up with the obsessive ctrl-x-s business?

Does anyone know of a lit 84 key keyboard of the "Spacesaver M" layout?