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Are common keyboards really that bad? I don't really think there's enough benefit in investing the time and effort and money in working out and purchasing your

by barbs 7y ago

Are common keyboards really that bad? I don't really think there's enough benefit in investing the time and effort and money in working out and purchasing your absolute perfect layout if it only deviates from the standard by a small amount. Even the keyboard in the article only deviates from the standard by a few keys. It's all subjective of course, but personally I'd prefer to be able to use any keyboard anywhere without much drama. I don't feel like I'm suffering much, even if it's not my "perfect" layout. That said, I do have caps lock remapped to escape on all my personal devices. The muscle memory isn't so bad that I don't remember to hit the ESC key on keyboards that aren't mine though.

radeklew 7y ago
The way I see it, common keyboards are underpriced due to extreme competition, and top-shelf keyboards are overpriced because they're a niche market. So common keyboards aren't that bad, even if they're very cheap, but I think it's definitely worth it to spend ~$100 on a keyboard, which I think is a lot more palpable to people whose job involves typing. I'm going to make up some arbitrary numbers, hopefully they'll make it more clear. I use a Planck, which cost about $110. Looking at Amazon, I found an alright-looking Logitech for ~$15. Is typing on the Planck 7x better? Probably not. Is it 2x more enjoyable? I'd say so! Unfortunately, there are no $30 keyboards that are as good, but I'm fine with paying the big premium because the cheap version is already so cheap.
- LudwigNagasena 7y ago
  It doesn’t matter per se that it isn’t 7x better. What matters is that there is nothing else that would improve your experience more for extra $95 you spent on your keyboard.
- j74k 7y ago
  Bloomberg keyboards have no competition, but I understand that enormous energies are expended on their design. I order HPE workstations for the front desk, because they invest in the thermal fluid dynamics and sound energy diffusion of their cases. The default benefits are tangible. Keyboard quality is a factor more when it is the standard you encounter. High quality consistent keyboard experiences would be significant in broad effect, at least I'm convinced that would be the case.
ianai 7y ago
I’ll never leave my kinesis keyboard. It has multiplied how useful my thumbs are by placing more useful keys near them than just space (but including space). It’s great for rsi too
- rovr138 7y ago
  I’d only consider upgrading to the new Kinesis due to the mechanical F keys. The previous ones feel really weird.
- kod 7y ago
  Kinesis led to thumb strain for me. I ultimately settled on a traditional tenkeyless with mechanical switches. Different strokes for different folks.
knorker 7y ago
You could also go your entire life wearing underwear that chafe you, just a little. Or you could choose not to. > I'd prefer to be able to use any keyboard anywhere without much drama. I have no drama using other keyboards. Just like I have no drama sitting in chairs just because I have a good chair at home. Hell, I've switched to Dvorak about 10 years ago and have been surprised at how rarely I type on other people's keyboards.

by barbs 7y ago

radeklew 7y ago

The way I see it, common keyboards are underpriced due to extreme competition, and top-shelf keyboards are overpriced because they're a niche market. So common keyboards aren't that bad, even if they're very cheap, but I think it's definitely worth it to spend ~$100 on a keyboard, which I think is a lot more palpable to people whose job involves typing. I'm going to make up some arbitrary numbers, hopefully they'll make it more clear. I use a Planck, which cost about $110. Looking at Amazon, I found an alright-looking Logitech for ~$15. Is typing on the Planck 7x better? Probably not. Is it 2x more enjoyable? I'd say so! Unfortunately, there are no $30 keyboards that are as good, but I'm fine with paying the big premium because the cheap version is already so cheap.

LudwigNagasena 7y ago
It doesn’t matter per se that it isn’t 7x better. What matters is that there is nothing else that would improve your experience more for extra $95 you spent on your keyboard.
j74k 7y ago
Bloomberg keyboards have no competition, but I understand that enormous energies are expended on their design. I order HPE workstations for the front desk, because they invest in the thermal fluid dynamics and sound energy diffusion of their cases. The default benefits are tangible. Keyboard quality is a factor more when it is the standard you encounter. High quality consistent keyboard experiences would be significant in broad effect, at least I'm convinced that would be the case.

ianai 7y ago

I’ll never leave my kinesis keyboard. It has multiplied how useful my thumbs are by placing more useful keys near them than just space (but including space). It’s great for rsi too

rovr138 7y ago
I’d only consider upgrading to the new Kinesis due to the mechanical F keys. The previous ones feel really weird.
kod 7y ago
Kinesis led to thumb strain for me. I ultimately settled on a traditional tenkeyless with mechanical switches. Different strokes for different folks.

knorker 7y ago

You could also go your entire life wearing underwear that chafe you, just a little. Or you could choose not to. > I'd prefer to be able to use any keyboard anywhere without much drama. I have no drama using other keyboards. Just like I have no drama sitting in chairs just because I have a good chair at home. Hell, I've switched to Dvorak about 10 years ago and have been surprised at how rarely I type on other people's keyboards.