3 ms·

I'll never understand the obsession with 'less keys' amongst the mechanical keyboard 'scene'. I usually use a Filco Tenkeyless (Cherry Browns), and removing th

I'll never understand the obsession with 'less keys' amongst the mechanical keyboard 'scene'. I usually use a Filco Tenkeyless (Cherry Browns), and removing the usually-redundant numeric keypad brings the mouse a bit closer to my right hand, so a bit more comfortable and a little bit of space saved. But I can't see the benefit of going smaller ever outweighting the cost of re-learning to type. Adapting to laptop keyboards when used to full-size can be tricky enough...

andreareina 5y ago
The common argument is fewer keys means less finger travel means better ergonomics. Hopefully someone with actual experience (i.e. not me) can chime in.
- gsinclair 5y ago
  I use Karabiner to create ergonomic combinations on my Mac, and consequently I use my full-size keyboard as if it were a very small one (while awaiting a proper mech keyboard). And yes, I love having all numbers and symbols at my fingertips without moving my hands. I don’t type faster but I type more comfortably. I also have the basic editing tools arranged logically so I can move/delete/select a character/word/line at a time, to the left/right. Again without moving my hands.
Oddskar 5y ago
One can re-learn in a matter of weeks. The smaller the keyboard the less the fingers have to travel. I still have a full numpad setup with 44 keys and it’s a lot more comfortable to use than a normal keyboard.
toastal 5y ago
I find tenkeyless a bit weird when 75% exists. It saves like 2-3 inches without losing any keys.
- eertami 5y ago
  75% is kinda new-ish, still. I've been using my Filco TKL since 2010, when 75% was not particularly available. If needing to buy new then I think yeah 75% is a good idea, but I don't think there's any utility in replacing a perfectly working TKL with a 75%.
- gigaflop 5y ago
  I got tired of trying to figure out which of the 'Print Screen -> PgDn' cluster to shuffle around, or have on the top layer, which is why I moved from a 65% to TKL. Plus, I feel like TKL is better-supported by aftermarket keycap sets, if you care about having the correct row sculpt for a key.
rgoulter 5y ago
The thumb is strong, and the pinky finger is weak. It would be better to use the thumb more, and not rely on the pinky finger as much. Compared to a standard keyboard, these small keyboards typically have more keys for the thumb to access. (e.g. the planck has 2-3 per thumb). And once esc/tab/enter/backspace are used by the thumb, you don't need to use the pinky for these. One way to use the pinky finger even less: you'd probably move away from using the pinky for Ctrl/Win/Alt modifiers, and use home-row modifiers instead. I do think "layering vs more keys" is a trade-off and not everyone will have the same preference. But I think the advantages to using fewer keys outweigh the downsides.
rr808 5y ago
I love the numeric keypad, couldn't live without it.
Beltalowda 5y ago
I don't quite understand it either, I got the same Filco tenkeyless MX brown which I got ten years ago and I'm happy with it. But I do think it's pretty neat there's so much to choose from. How many people are complaining about a truly compact smartphone in the size of the original iPhone SE for example? You can choose between "large", "very large", and "I used to have a TV that's small than this". I think it's pretty neat that all these options exist, silly as I personally may think some of them are.

andreareina 5y ago

The common argument is fewer keys means less finger travel means better ergonomics. Hopefully someone with actual experience (i.e. not me) can chime in.

gsinclair 5y ago
I use Karabiner to create ergonomic combinations on my Mac, and consequently I use my full-size keyboard as if it were a very small one (while awaiting a proper mech keyboard). And yes, I love having all numbers and symbols at my fingertips without moving my hands. I don’t type faster but I type more comfortably. I also have the basic editing tools arranged logically so I can move/delete/select a character/word/line at a time, to the left/right. Again without moving my hands.

Oddskar 5y ago

One can re-learn in a matter of weeks. The smaller the keyboard the less the fingers have to travel. I still have a full numpad setup with 44 keys and it’s a lot more comfortable to use than a normal keyboard.

toastal 5y ago

I find tenkeyless a bit weird when 75% exists. It saves like 2-3 inches without losing any keys.

eertami 5y ago
75% is kinda new-ish, still. I've been using my Filco TKL since 2010, when 75% was not particularly available. If needing to buy new then I think yeah 75% is a good idea, but I don't think there's any utility in replacing a perfectly working TKL with a 75%.
gigaflop 5y ago
I got tired of trying to figure out which of the 'Print Screen -> PgDn' cluster to shuffle around, or have on the top layer, which is why I moved from a 65% to TKL. Plus, I feel like TKL is better-supported by aftermarket keycap sets, if you care about having the correct row sculpt for a key.

rgoulter 5y ago

The thumb is strong, and the pinky finger is weak. It would be better to use the thumb more, and not rely on the pinky finger as much. Compared to a standard keyboard, these small keyboards typically have more keys for the thumb to access. (e.g. the planck has 2-3 per thumb). And once esc/tab/enter/backspace are used by the thumb, you don't need to use the pinky for these. One way to use the pinky finger even less: you'd probably move away from using the pinky for Ctrl/Win/Alt modifiers, and use home-row modifiers instead. I do think "layering vs more keys" is a trade-off and not everyone will have the same preference. But I think the advantages to using fewer keys outweigh the downsides.

rr808 5y ago

I love the numeric keypad, couldn't live without it.

Beltalowda 5y ago

I don't quite understand it either, I got the same Filco tenkeyless MX brown which I got ten years ago and I'm happy with it. But I do think it's pretty neat there's so much to choose from. How many people are complaining about a truly compact smartphone in the size of the original iPhone SE for example? You can choose between "large", "very large", and "I used to have a TV that's small than this". I think it's pretty neat that all these options exist, silly as I personally may think some of them are.