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Fewer keys often means more modifiers (if not going to such an extreme as here). That way you can make room for numpad, F-keys or odd keys like page-up or end e

Fewer keys often means more modifiers (if not going to such an extreme as here). That way you can make room for numpad, F-keys or odd keys like page-up or end etc..

ta09876 7y ago
True, but unfortunately those extra modifiers are now used up for getting the original keyboard back. If you want to do, e.g. Control-Shift-Arrow to select text, you now have to use even more modifiers. I'm currently using a Razer Anansi which is a full size keyboard with extra modifier keys under the space bar. Combined with AutoHotKey and Caps Lock, I can select text with the keyboard without moving away from home row. E.g. CapsLock + Ctrl(thumb) + Shift(thumb) + L does Control-Shift-RightArrow. I do wish full size keyboards stopped wasting so much space with the space bar though, the way small keyboards do. That would put more modifier keys in the reach of your thumbs.
- pkamb 7y ago
  Japanese keyboards have a tiny spacebar and a couple extra modifier keys for writing Japanese Characters. I have a Japanese ThinkPad external keyboard that I ordered for using the extra thumb keys, but I haven't started using it yet.
- alpaca128 7y ago
  > If you want to do, e.g. Control-Shift-Arrow to select text, you now have to use even more modifiers. Or you're using Vim where just hitting v is all it takes. I definitely wouldn't use an even smaller board than 40%, though - that is basically the lower limit for me where I can still map all keys to positions I'm comfortable with. Lower than that and I'd need to start using multiple modifiers at once for some symbols.
- neoberg 7y ago
  Using programmable keyboards with a firmware like QMK, you can reduce the number of modifiers needed on smaller keyboards. I use a 30%(33 keys) as my daily driver and I very rarely need 3+ button combos even though my arrow keys are in a seperate layer. For example: My "A" and "O" key acts as shift when held. My "Z" key switches to the layer where "h;,." are arrow keys and adds "CMD" as a modifier. So to select left I do "Z + A + H". I use colemak so A is right above Z. There are other tricks I do for reducing layer switches. On almost every keyboard "." and "," are next to each other but they are never used together in any human or programming language. "/" is not used that often so it doesn't make much sense to have it in the main layer of a small keyboard. So I made my "," key to output a "/" if pressed immediately after "." for typing "./". I have some other keys that act different if pressed after a certain key.
geoah 7y ago
My main drivers are 40% split keyboards, which usually mean between 42 to 48 keys. Even with just one additional layer (other than the default one) you have enough keys for numbers and symbols. If you are in need of f keys or media keys maybe you need three layers in total. Takes a bit to get used to the fact that some symbols don’t need shift to be activated but rather are in a different place but it’s not too long of a process. That been said, I honestly can’t imagine how you’d write code with 28 keys. I assume this is for some sort of steno.

Fewer keys often means more modifiers (if not going to such an extreme as here). That way you can make room for numpad, F-keys or odd keys like page-up or end etc..

ta09876 7y ago

True, but unfortunately those extra modifiers are now used up for getting the original keyboard back. If you want to do, e.g. Control-Shift-Arrow to select text, you now have to use even more modifiers. I'm currently using a Razer Anansi which is a full size keyboard with extra modifier keys under the space bar. Combined with AutoHotKey and Caps Lock, I can select text with the keyboard without moving away from home row. E.g. CapsLock + Ctrl(thumb) + Shift(thumb) + L does Control-Shift-RightArrow. I do wish full size keyboards stopped wasting so much space with the space bar though, the way small keyboards do. That would put more modifier keys in the reach of your thumbs.

pkamb 7y ago
Japanese keyboards have a tiny spacebar and a couple extra modifier keys for writing Japanese Characters. I have a Japanese ThinkPad external keyboard that I ordered for using the extra thumb keys, but I haven't started using it yet.
alpaca128 7y ago
> If you want to do, e.g. Control-Shift-Arrow to select text, you now have to use even more modifiers. Or you're using Vim where just hitting v is all it takes. I definitely wouldn't use an even smaller board than 40%, though - that is basically the lower limit for me where I can still map all keys to positions I'm comfortable with. Lower than that and I'd need to start using multiple modifiers at once for some symbols.
neoberg 7y ago
Using programmable keyboards with a firmware like QMK, you can reduce the number of modifiers needed on smaller keyboards. I use a 30%(33 keys) as my daily driver and I very rarely need 3+ button combos even though my arrow keys are in a seperate layer. For example: My "A" and "O" key acts as shift when held. My "Z" key switches to the layer where "h;,." are arrow keys and adds "CMD" as a modifier. So to select left I do "Z + A + H". I use colemak so A is right above Z. There are other tricks I do for reducing layer switches. On almost every keyboard "." and "," are next to each other but they are never used together in any human or programming language. "/" is not used that often so it doesn't make much sense to have it in the main layer of a small keyboard. So I made my "," key to output a "/" if pressed immediately after "." for typing "./". I have some other keys that act different if pressed after a certain key.

geoah 7y ago

My main drivers are 40% split keyboards, which usually mean between 42 to 48 keys. Even with just one additional layer (other than the default one) you have enough keys for numbers and symbols. If you are in need of f keys or media keys maybe you need three layers in total. Takes a bit to get used to the fact that some symbols don’t need shift to be activated but rather are in a different place but it’s not too long of a process. That been said, I honestly can’t imagine how you’d write code with 28 keys. I assume this is for some sort of steno.