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The CODE Keyboard
- frewsxcv 13y agoI really don't see anything special about this keyboard. It's backlit and mechanical. Seems like it's been done a hundred times already.
- twodayslate 13y agoI agree. I hope WASD starts making custom backlit keycaps though
- BinaryBrainz 13y agoConsidering that their current methods of creating custom keycaps consists of either laser engraving or etching, and not actually molding plastic, I would not expect this to happen (ever). You can get backlight keys in different colors through sellers that offer Ducky Keyboard brand backlight keys. You can find those in all sorts of colors and ISO/US formats, but nothing more than that unless you join some type of group buy through Geekhack.org or Deskthority.net where you can find all sorts of 'one-off' sets custom keycaps.
- agumonkey 13y agoWhen I saw the book mention below the first picture, I thought I misread and that this first picture was just the starting point before being inspired by code analysis found in the book. I imagined a new , more efficient, principled layout.
- jacques_chester 13y agoSo did I. For example, I'd think about reclaiming the top row, where the numbers live. On keyboards with a numpad, they're passengers. At the very least, invert the meaning of shift, so the default is to produce sigils.
- agumonkey 13y agoNice idea, even though I'd head toward a more dramatic different path.
- jacques_chester 13y agoSuch as? I mean the next step IMO is to borrow inspiration from some computer game peripherals and allow buttons to be physically laid out in a different way.
- dsuth 13y agoHaving looked over a lot of mechanical keyboards recently, it's fairly uncommon to find both mechanical action and backlighting in a single keyboard. I think some of the 'gamer' class ones have them, and that's about it.
- sharplusplus 13y agoWhat I would really like is a version of the Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard, that is backlit + mechanical. And WIRED, please, I hate wireless keyboards.
- VikingCoder 13y agoI'm with you. I need something like the Egro keyboard, or my hands die with pain. And, because I'm a dork, I'd really like one that has no keys printed on it. [1] But that's just because I like showing off. [1] http://www.daskeyboard.com/product/model-s-ultimate/ http://www.daskeyboard.com/product/model-s-ultimate/
- Florin_Andrei 13y ago> I hate wireless keyboards ...until you hook up a PC to the big TV screen in the living room. ;) Then you'll beg for a good wireless keyboard.
- hobs 13y agoRight, but most of us can buy any wireless keyboard, or even get a cool remote/keyboard combo, but a good ergo mechanical backlit keyboard for not a million dollars? nah.
- ecopoesis 13y agoYes Yes Yes. And please come with extra key caps so I can put my Mac modifiers in the correct places. Though I'd prefer wireless.
- mark-r 13y agoI've never understood the appeal of wireless keyboards. They don't move, so once the wire is placed it just doesn't matter.
- chrismonsanto 13y agoI really can't think of anything good to say about this keyboard. I've used keyboards like this, and I've damaged my body with them. You know what matters a lot more than a backlight? Ergonomic design. Get a Kinesis Advantage instead.
- frewsxcv 13y agoIf only they were cheaper :/
- Sukotto 13y agoWhen pricing tools you have to consider the cost per time-unit, or cost per use. Looking at the total cost is a waste of time. How often do you input text into a computer (or sleep in a bed, or whatever). What is the hourly (or daily) cost of it over some reasonable timeframe (1 year, for example). At what price point is owning a better tool worth it? (health wise, opportunity cost wise, etc).
- mynameisvlad 13y agoYes, but your time-unit won't change if you get a Kinesis Advantage over a regular keyboard, so, even per time-unit, it's still more expensive.
- flogic 13y agoIf there is pain involved with one option, then it's logical to assume that time will change. When I do get wrist pain, it does cut into how I use my time.
- mynameisvlad 13y agoSure, but that would be assuming you personally are experiencing this pain. It goes back to what someone else in the thread said: Don't go looking for solutions if it isn't a problem you're experiencing.
- jra101 13y agoI was hoping for a mechanical keyboard laid out like the Microsoft Natural Keyboard. This one looks just like every other mechanical keyboard.
- r-s 13y agoI would buy that. I have very large hands and this keyboard is the most comfortable one I have ever used by far. I have a good mechanical keyboard which caused me nothing but pain.
- bhauer 13y agoSince he mentions Elon Musk, I just want to point out that this keyboard is about the cost of 1 share of TSLA.
- AsymetricCom 13y agoBoth are overvalued?
- shanselman 13y agoThis looks like any typical mechanical keyboard, like a DasKeyboard. I don't see what sets it apart? I have 4 Microsoft Ergo 7000s in case they ever stop making them.
- AsymetricCom 13y agoCherry Clear switches, steel backplate and dip-switches for various options such as Mac compatibility...
- jamesaguilar 13y agoBacklighting . . . man, tough crowd on HN.
- AsymetricCom 13y agoSo tough they can't even RTFA that consists mostly of pictures.
- hatu 13y agoThere are plenty of niche mechanical keyboard manufacturers. They even sell these kinds of keyboards as gaming keyboards now so it's not that niche. I got a Ducky which is a Taiwanese company that makes hundreds of different variations of this type of keyboard. You can choose which Cherry switches you want and the length and pretty much anything you can imagine.
- cwbrandsma 13y agoI have several of these as well (wired and wireless with the boob mouse). I can't fathom not being able to get one.
- drivebyacct2 13y agoGod I love that Ergo keyboard, but how can you stand that mouse? It's so awkward because when I try to move my arm up and down the mouse moves in a diagonal line...
- fhd2 13y agoEdit: Turns out they have a variant without the numpad, should have bothered looking for one! So, actually an interesting device. http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/code-87-key-mechanical-keyboard.html http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/code-87-key-mechanica... I'd be interested in this if it didn't have a numpad, or maybe a detachable numpad. I guess everyone has their individual RSI issues, but after experimenting with various devices, I noticed that mine were caused _exclusively_ by that silly old numpad thing I never use anyway. It forced me to place either the keyboard too far to the left or the mouse too far to the right, causing strain in either my left or right hand over time. I really don't see what use a programmer (or any touch typist) might have for the numpad. I really don't see why they put one on this keyboard.
- twodayslate 13y agoThey have an 87-key board http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/code-87-key-mechanical-keyboard.html http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/code-87-key-mechanica...
- fhd2 13y agoOuch, I should have bothered actually looking for one instead of going ahead with assumptions, thanks!
- solarmist 13y agoThey have it in 104 and 87 key versions (ie with or without a num pad). http://codekeyboards.com/ http://codekeyboards.com/
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- joshrivers 13y agoIt might be a good time to take a look at the product page.
- JoshTriplett 13y agoOther than for very specific ergonomic uses, I honestly don't understand the appeal of a heavy mechanical keyboard; the old IBM buckling-spring Model M keyboard doesn't appeal to me at all. Personally, I do all my work on a ThinkPad keyboard, and I actually have a USB ThinkPad keyboard/mouse for use with non-laptop systems or docking stations. I like the short throw of the keys, I like keys close together (as long as my fingers have room to type, which they do on anything >11" or so), and I like having a mouse on home row.
- slackpad 13y agoI agree and use the ThinkPad USB keyboard on my desktop machines - they are great ergonomically, especially if you ditch your mouse. It seems like the USB interface is super cheapie though with lots of missed key presses, or an occasional stuck key. I'd pay a premium for the ThinkPad form factor with higher quality electronics.
- seanmcdirmid 13y agoYou can tear my Model M from my cold dead hands. Ya, when I'm on a laptop, I use a chiclet keyboard like everyone else. But I can feel myself typing with the Model M, my finger energy is returned fairly efficiently on each keystroke, it just feels better for coding tasks.
- sam152 13y agoLooks a lot to me like a rebranded Ducky Shine (http://www.tankguys.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/imgp3156.jpg http://www.tankguys.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/...).
- agumonkey 13y agoDifferent cut/angles, the Ducky Shine as rounder ones.
- codinghorror 13y agoI do like the Ducky Shine, but this is a 100% custom design that Weyman and I came up with. It's not supposed to look radically different, but much cleaner and minimalistic. The details matter.
- tinco 13y agoPlease go radically different next time! Now you've worked out the details you can go all out on the next model. Might I suggest this: http://m.kbdmod.co.kr/product/detail.html?product_no=12&cate_no=4&display_group=1 http://m.kbdmod.co.kr/product/detail.html?product_no=12&cate...
- tuananh 13y agoSo is the price. Radically different!
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- jevinskie 13y agoInteresting. [0] The choice of colors is cool. I wonder how much RGB LEDs would have added to the cost? I'm guessing quite a bit, especially since you would need to control 3x as many channels.
- jotux 13y agoI don't really see the benefit of a backlit keyboard, especially for programming.
- catshirt 13y agoit's for typing in the dark
- abecedarius 13y agoStill puzzles me: who touchtypes looking at the keys?
- welly 13y agoIt's to light up your face while you're hacking with others at 3 in the morning. Makes you look prettier.
- pqs 13y agoPeople that can't type! But, why would someone who can't type buy such a keyboard? I guess it's about aesthetics.
- throwit1979 13y agoAesthetics, right, ok. Anecdotally: I've been programming for over 20 years. I am a fast and accurate typist, but I never learned to touch-type and as a consequence, I need to see my fingers relative to the keys occasionally. I cannot do this in the dark without backlit keys. You should probably not assume that everyone who uses computers is a touch-typist.
- catshirt 13y agoa lot of people. none the less, i consider myself a better typist than average. i don't touchtype, certainly. still, i find it really difficult to orient my hands with respect to the keys if i can't see them. the backlight is helpful for when i'm putting my hands back on the keys.
- TheMakeA 13y agoHonestly, if I were going to try to solve one problem with keyboards it would be to make cleaning them easier. This seems like a good keyboard and I may consider picking one up if both of my Das Keyboards fail me, but I'm not rushing to get one.
- scrame 13y agoI got a das keyboard at home and at work. Its awesome, and I'd recommend a mechanical to anyone who works on a keyboard for a living. I would never buy anything like this from Atwood, though. His 'expertise' in software, personal attacks on other developers and tedious self-promotion don't really convince me that he's got the know-how to get into hardware production, but rather that he's found a way to make money off his sycophantic fan-base of mediocre programmers who take his word as gospel. (remember Arringtons tablet, anyone?)
- bdg 13y ago> His 'expertise' in software, personal attacks on other developers and tedious self-promotion... > convince me that he's got the know-how to get into hardware production Please, make claims based on things that are related topics. If you were convinced that he was great at software, attacked nobody and never promoted himself, would you then be justified with evidence that he could get into hardware? Of course not. I agree with you that this moves are money-motivated, which makes sense as I see him as a businessman first and foremost, but what you've said detracts from that point.
- tcdowney 13y agoWASD is an established entity in the mechanical keyboard scene, so I'm sure they did most of the heavy lifting in regards to hardware. I'm sure it will be a good keyboard (especially for enthusiasts looking to try out some Cherry MX clears).
- gnarbarian 13y agoJust wanted to put in my reccomendation for WASD. I got the Cherry MX brown switches (tactile bump). I love the ability to completely customize each key. I've had mine for about 2 years now and I really dig it. http://i.imgur.com/kLWlIVo.jpg http://i.imgur.com/kLWlIVo.jpg they just came out with an 88 key version I might have to buy for my home office. http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/wasd-v2-88-key-iso-custom-mechanical-keyboard.html http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/wasd-v2-88-key-iso-cu... Check out the customer creations to get some ideas of what you can do: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/gallery2/customer-creations http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/gallery2/customer-cre...
- bluedino 13y agoNot sure if it's the font or actual size of the letters, the labeling on the keys looks really, really small. Apple/Lenovo have perfected keyboards in their laptops. It's been years since I've wanted an aftermarket one.
- xiaomai 13y agoThis keyboard looks awesome. Another mechanical keyboard that is very interesting is this new split-design one: http://ergodox.org http://ergodox.org
- 2muchcoffeeman 13y agoThere is currently 4 days left on the current ergodox massdrop: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ergodox https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ergodox Anyway I took a stab and joined the group buy. Apparently the clears have the same actuation force as the MS 4000.
- lowboy 13y agoI built myself one of these, and they are awesome. Mechanical switches and firmware that you can tweak and compile yourself: https://github.com/benblazak/ergodox-firmware https://github.com/benblazak/ergodox-firmware
- alexgartrell 13y agoAnyone have any thoughts on the difference between this 87 key keyboard and the leopold tenkeyless? I've been using an ancient wired 87 key apple keyboard that I love but I'm intrigued. http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyless http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyles...
- L_Rahman 13y agoThings missing from the Leopold: 1. Backlighting 2. Better Aesthetics 3. Cherry MX Clear switches That's pretty much it. I personally don't think it's worth the 50 dollar premium when I'm just fine with MX Browns.
- codinghorror 13y agoNo media keys on the Leopold either, or painted backplate, etc.
- MrGando 13y agoGot to agree with you here, the keyboard is quite overpriced (IMHO). I'm with an 87 keys with brown switches at the office and at home I use a Das Keyboard with blue switches. For me it's either brown or blue, clear switches are too much in between. If you're going non-clicky pick brown or even red, if it's clicky, then it's blue all the way.
- Pyrodogg 13y agoI have two Leopold 87s w/ Cherry Browns, at work and home. I love them. They also have a solid build quality and with the Cherry Browns, they still have a slight 'clack' but not to loud. Never once had a complaint from a coworker. Never experienced the Cherry Clear switches. I don't see backlighting as a necessary feature. I almost never have to look at my keyboard. If I do there's generally enough ambient light, even if the lights are off, my monitor throws enough around. I run Windows so media key's are more than easily compensated for by AutoHotKey. Instead of Fn+Key you can make whatever shortcut you want. Obvously a different equation for other OSs.
- antidaily 13y agoAs pretty as Jeff himself. I'm in for one.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- CWIZO 13y agoI don't want to take anything away from Jeff, good for him for realizing his dream. But claiming that this is the best keyboard for programmers is an overstatement if I ever heard one. Yes, it's mechanical, yes it has backlit keys and you can do some customizations. But where is everything else? Why are the keys still in the zig-zag formation? Why is the enter key so small? Why is the enter key on the right, where I have to use my pinky to hit it? Ever heard about ergonomics? Can I get one with DVORAK layout printed on? And so on and so forth. If you want to create the best keyboard for programmers then create one that won't kill our wrists and hands.
- codinghorror 13y agoYou can choose Dvorak, Colemak, QWERTY via dipswitches on the back. As well as Mac (Alt/Command), disable Windows Key, switch Caps Lock with Ctrl, etc. It comes with a key puller, so you can easily swap the keys with whatever keycaps you like. WASD sells tons of different keycaps. I love ergonomic keyboards too but for a mass market item we wanted to follow the classic standards everyone knows first and foremost. Perhaps if the base model does really well, we can come back with an ergo model.
- CWIZO 13y agoWell if I can swap the keys then that's awesome! I can appreciate that you are trying to appeal to the masses, maybe I was just expecting something more from a $149.99 keyboard. Or better yet, expected more from a keyboard primarily aimed at programmers (that was built by a programmer). Anyway: I wish you the best of luck and a lot of sales so I can see what you can come up with in the ergonomics department (I'll stick with my TypeMatrix for now :).
- madsushi 13y agoDo note that you will need new keycaps to use Dvorak or Colemak. Each row of keys in a WASD keyboard has a slightly different height/slope, so you can't move the keys around between rows (without having all of your keys being different heights, that is). You'd have to order new keycaps with the correct letters AND the right height/slopes.
- doktrin 13y agoCan anyone who has used the Cherry MX clears comment on them as compared to blues or browns? I've found that I dislike blues, and loathe reds. Browns are hands down my favorite, and the key switch I use both at home and at the office. I do understand being frustrated in the search for a high quality mechanical backlit keyboard, as there are shockingly few contenders out there. I'm currently using a Max nighthawk (green backlit with brown key switches), and enjoying it. However, the Ducky Shine II was very close to the top of my list.
- codinghorror 13y agoClear is sort of like blue without the noise. It's a strong actuation force, closer to real buckling spring keyboards... but without the deafening gunshot sounds every time you press a key. :)
- baddox 13y agoI've got a Ducky Shine II 87-key that's looks extremely similar to the CODE Keyboard. I got mine with Reds, which I don't care for, so I stick to my Filco with Browns or a Leopold with Blues, but the Ducky looks great, has great build quality, and has nearly all the features of the CODE Keyboard. http://tigerimports.net/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=12135 http://tigerimports.net/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p...
- kinghajj 13y agoClears are heavier browns with a more pronounced bump. IIRC they have springs from the Blacks and the stem protrudes a bit more to make the actuation bump more noticeable. I got a Leopold FC660M from Qtan's ebay store yesterday, liking it more than my Ducky 9008 G2 Pro with Browns that I got in June.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- neilk 13y agoWhy include caps lock?
- codinghorror 13y agoYou can disable it via the dip switches, as well as a bunch of other tweaks available via same.
- graeme 13y agoI had RSI. Got over it, but still found mechanical keyboards uncomfortable. For some reason, I find the MacBook air 13 inch keyboard to be the most comfortable I've ever used. I don't know why. Part of it may be the low height from the ground, and part is the great trackpad. (I tried the magic mouse and hurt my arm) I expect other people have different opinions of the air's keyboard. The point is that I don't think there is any one keyboard that works best for everyone.
- cjh_ 13y agoScissor switches can be quite comfortable, and the macbook air has quite nice switches (IMO I like the thinkpad x1 carbon's a little better, but it is close), and the location of the trackpad being under the keys is much more comfortable than having a physical mouse to the left or right. For my desktop I have a kinesis advantage, but I often find using my thinkpad for long periods of time to be very comfortable, I just wish I could find a decent trackpad for my desktop(s).
- mdkess 13y agoWhy are we continuing to use staggered layouts on keyboards? It is clearly inefficient, and not difficult to switch to a matrix (ie. grid based) layout, since all of the keys are close to where they were before. Second question - in this day and age of easy connectors, why are numpads attached to the side of keyboards? What do left handed people do? Or people who don't use the numpad? Why not have the numpad detachable? Same goes for the arrow keys.
- pkamb 13y agoThere's an easy fix for the "staggered" layout problem: type "Z" with ring finger, "X" with middle finger, "C" with index, etc. It's beyond me why the "Z with little finger" technique is so widespread. It's universally taught, yet you're obviously bending your fingers in an uncomfortable and unnatural direction when you go to press the bottom row. No one's complaining about the staggered layout of the right-hand keys, because it matches how your fingers bend. Staggering is great when it matches the natural angle of your fingers on the keyboard.
- mdkess 13y agoI don't think on the right side it matches either. From J if I move down I always hit between N and M. Actually, at least on my keyboard, I think that the right side is worse - I find myself in a position where my thumb is on the space bar, my middle finger and index finger do all of the typing, and my wrist constantly shifts to hit enter. On the left side - if I hit Z with my ring finger. If I wanted to type ZERO, normally it would be Z(pinky) E(middle) R(index) O(right ring), but with this the easiest is to hit E and R with the index finger. Anyway, doesn't make sense to have to hack around a layout whose only purpose was to key mechanics to not jam in typewriters.
- pkamb 13y agoYour hands and forearms should be hitting the keyboard at an angle, due to the way your elbows hang outside your shoulders. Don't bend the wrists to make your hands go perfectly vertical; that's a major RSI concern. At that angle, the U/J/M and I/K/Comma rows, etc., should line up pretty well with the bending of your fingers. Same with E/S/Z and R/D/X. But Q/A/Z (how most people type) requires a completely unnatural bend!
- randomfool 13y agoTopre switches on an ergo layout, no numkeys plz!!!
- madsushi 13y agoWASD Keyboards (well, Weyman) has given me some of the best customer support over the past few years. They even recently fixed my busted Caps Lock key (my own fault) outside of warranty for just $10. I broke my space bar in-warranty, and it was fixed for free. I wanted some custom settings/layouts the keyboard designer couldn't handle, and they obliged. My WASD has lasted for several years now (including a few minor repairs) and I've had nothing but good experiences with them. I've been waiting for their v2 keyboards (they've been "coming soon" for months) and I'm excited to see they finally launched!
- sergiotapia 13y agoI don't know if it's cognitive bias or what; but I've been using my iMac for about 5 months now, and the small keyboard that comes with it is fantastic. My wrists don't hurt, and the keys are crisp and clear to touch type on. $150 for a keyboard is really steep.
- jcurbo 13y agoI'm a current Filco owner and previous Model M user. This looks like exactly what I would have produced if I could make my own keyboard. Ordered an 87-key, looking forward to trying it out.
- X-Istence 13y agoI don't understand what the obsession is with the old IBM Model M type keyboards. I am able to type faster and more accurately on my Apple flat aluminum keyboard that I have ever been able to type on a Model M. On top of that, switching to a flatter keyboard that sits closer to the desk has actually caused any and all pain I used to get while typing to go away. The other thing is I'd miss the extra function keys I get on my full size Apple keyboard. Specifically F13-F19, which I have bound to a whole bunch of different things that help me throughout my day.
- gojomo 13y agoDifferent (key)strokes for different folks.
- hkmurakami 13y agoSome people have reported smaller hand fatigue using the Model M. I am not one of them, but I respect their different needs. It's like the Gladwell piece on spaghetti sauce: there's not just one "favorite recipe" for all of humanity. :)
- cjh_ 13y agoFWIW I type on a mechanical keyboard daily (cherry mx browns) but I am not a fan of the model m keys (buckling springs or rubber dome IIRC), they are very different in feeling. My Thinkpad x1 carbon keyboard comes next, scissor switches can be quite nice.
- nitrogen 13y agoThe Model M uses buckling springs. Rubber domes are the cheap keyboards you get for $10.
- cjh_ 13y agoNot quite, the 'Model M' actually refers to a collection of keyboards, some of which used rubber domes (see column 2 of [1] for a quick reference) [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M#Features_by_part_number https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M#Features_by_part_numbe...
- cgag 13y agoThis is a serious question: why does anyone want backlighting?
- InclinedPlane 13y agoGaming. If you want to game in the dark then it helps to have backlit keys.
- throwit1979 13y agoSo you can see the keys under low light levels. Not everyone touch-types.
- drivebyacct2 13y agoI'll pay twice as much if you would put it in this form factor http://images.amazon.com/images/G/09/detail/review/b000bq6noa.01.gif http://images.amazon.com/images/G/09/detail/review/b000bq6no... I and many other Microsofties are hooked on this keyboard (and it's only $25 from the company store) but I miss my high quality Das Keyboard keys...
- 0X1A 13y ago"I'm just happy to live in a world where the first truly great mechanical keyboard finally exists now." That's subjective. To me this keyboard is average and over priced. I personally hate that keyboard layout, so for me, this isn't the first truly great keyboard.
- davexunit 13y agoThis is a very overpriced mechanical keyboard. The backlighting is silly and useless. Check out http://elitekeyboards.com/ http://elitekeyboards.com/ instead. The Leopold keyboards are very fairly priced. The Rosewill mechanical keyboards from NewEgg are pretty alright, too. Filcos are on the higher end of the price spectrum but are a better value than the "CODE".
- imsofuture 13y agoAlso there's a lot of good-value Chinese mechanical keyboard imports (like the unbeatable Choc Mini). NB one of the things you're paying for with the CODE is decent integration, I'm sure. I do have to USB->PS2->USB this Choc Mini keyboard to work with OSX (seriously!). It works fine though!
- davexunit 13y agoThanks for reminding me of the Choc Mini. They look very nice.
- osener 13y agoYou can use this kext with Noppoo keyboards: https://github.com/thefloweringash/iousbhiddriver-descriptor-override https://github.com/thefloweringash/iousbhiddriver-descriptor...
- imsofuture 13y agoWhoa! Awesome, thanks!
- 8ig8 13y agoInteresting. The checkout page is php. ;)
- __--__ 13y agoI've got to be honest, this thing is making me want to upgrade my CMStorm Quickfire. It really is the little details that I can appreciate, like backlighting, dip switches, the different layout for the function keys and the possible weaponization via steel backplate. I somehow feel better knowing I can defend myself with my keyboard. :D I see the code keyboard as filling a void in the mechanical keyboard market between filco/wasd/cmstorm and happy hacker in terms of configurability and simplicity.
- ecaradec 13y agoI bought a Filco Majestouch and couldn't use it a work as it totally hurted my wrists. I really had to adapt to not hit the keys too hard. Also the cherry mx blue caused difficulties for navigating inside code because the course of the key is longer and I often hit the keys repetedly when browsing code.
- fetbaffe 13y agoI also bought a Filco Majestouch 2 with Brown switches. It just too high in the front so the wrists hurt and kind of heavy pushing down the keys so I go tired writing on it. A bit of disappointment.
- superbaconman 13y agoThis sounds like a wired device? I've been looking for a good wireless mech keyboard for a while now...
- tracker1 13y agoUsing a Unicomp Customizer 104 at home, and one with the trackpoint at work. Love them both, though don't use the trackpoint much... I have a TSR for Win+[]\ (volume down/up/mute respectively and that is all I really need. Though they're really noisy (buckling spring), so the cherry clear switches on the CODE Keyboard do appeal to me. I'd like to see an option for mac key layout though.
- numo16 13y agoThe CODE has a dipswitch to change it to a mac layout. If you need to look at the keys to work with your layout, that's a different problem all together
- zbinga 13y agoIf you make one with two extra keys under the space bar, for use as thumb-activated modifiers, and Cherry blue switches as an option, I will buy one. For now, it's not really bringing anything new to the table, except for those Cherry clears, but I don't care for them.
- anotherevan 13y agoPeople might be interested in the Combimouse which is in development. It's a keyboard in two parts, where the right part doubles as a mouse. http://www.combimouse.com/index.htm http://www.combimouse.com/index.htm Current Indigogo campaign: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/combimouse-combination-keyboard-and-mouse--43 http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/combimouse-combination-key... (Disclaimer: I'm not involved with this project aside from contributing to a previous campaign.)
- joshontheweb 13y agoSeems cool. I'd pull the trigger if it was wireless.
- anotherevan 13y agoI love my MS Natural Ergo 4000 keyboard. Straight keyboards feel cramped and awkward. Every now and again I take it outside and blast it with the air compressor to clean it out, and it has lasted so long the type has worn off the middle row. The nubs of the J and F keys had also worn down that much that I ended up getting an old soldering iron and scarring those two keys again. I suspect ergo keyboards are not as advantageous if you are a hunt and peck rather than a touch typist (most useful thing I ever learned in school.) I like the dip switch options on Jeff's keyboard.
- baby 13y agoI got really excited at first reading this, someone agreeing with me that keyboards nowadays were not evolving. And yes good mechanical keyboards matter, but that's not what we should improve them on. A good keyboard should have : usb 3.0 ports, mic/headphones entries, wheel to control the sound etc...
- davexunit 13y agoNo. A keyboard should have keys for typing and nothing more. Do one thing and do it well.
- reirob 13y agoI almost agree. I personally though NEED the trackpoint. I agree on that getting of everything else including numpad and windows keys is what will make a good keyboard.
- baby 13y agoI completely disagree. Where should I plug my microphone and my headphones ? Where should I plug my usb stuff ? Only the mouse, the keyboard and the mouse are usually easy to access, the desktop tour is usually not. If I'm occupying a lot of space on my desk with a keyboard, I want it to be more than just a typing block. Believe me, I tried keyboards with jack plugs and usb sockets and it's amazing how a simple "evolution" they are. As for the volume wheel, it's the best way to control the volume and the keyboard is the natural place to put it, where would you put it if not on the keyboard? On the screen?
- laureny 13y agoWhile I can understand the appeal of mechanical keyboards (at least appeal for you but hatred from your coworkers), I really don't understand why any programmer today is still using a non-ergonomic keyboard. These straight keyboards will kill your wrists, forehands and tendons eventually. If you intend to be typing on a keyboard for more than the next five years and you're still using a straight keyboard, do yourself a favor and buy a split keyboard today. Pains from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will most likely follow you for the rest of your life, just not worth it.
- brianpgordon 13y agoYou can type on a straight keyboard with your wrists turned in like with an ergonomic keyboard.
- babby 13y agoYeah, this is my default posture. Something tells me a lot of this RSI nonsense is due to bad technique. I code, game on a standard keyboard, no issues - don't get me wrong, I've had RSI before, but it was down to technique, posture.
- T-hawk 13y agoAbsolutely. That's my natural position and I've been typing hours per day for 20 years with no signs of stress injuries at all. A good way to describe it is that the home keys are not asdf jkl; but rather more like qwdc mkp[ . I don't have any real fixed home position though, my wrists always "float" over the keyboard. Particularly the right wrist spends more time near the brackets and slashes for programming.
- numo16 13y agoSwitching to colemak has helped to alleviate a lot of the wrist pains I was having for a while. http://colemak.com/ http://colemak.com/
- bdunbar 13y ago> While I can understand the appeal of mechanical keyboards (at least appeal for you but hatred from your coworkers) We resolved that problem: everyone in the group has a mechanical keyboard.
- nsxwolf 13y agoFor $149 I would prefer PBT keycaps vs ABS.
- Aldo_MX 13y agoThe perfect keyboard for me is the Logitech Wireless Solar K750, but it has 2 big flaws: a) It discharges in around 3 days of heavy coding, and requires real sunlight, I had to leave the keyboard at the garden when the battery exhausted, and there are no alternate ways to charge it (the least I expected was a detachable USB cord). b) Hardcoded limit of 40 pairings and no indication of that limit unless it won't pair anymore, I used to have two "Unifying receivers", one at home, one at the office, so I exhausted that limit relatively fast... It was frustrating and disappointing when I reached that limit...
- iconjack 13y agoControl key is the wrong place.
- kamaal 13y agoMandatory reading when it comes to keyboarding: http://oreilly.com/news/zenclavier_1299.html http://oreilly.com/news/zenclavier_1299.html So far, I've used many keyboards. Nothing comes close to the IBM Model M, or their modern incarnations. Here in India, you get a TVS Gold keyboard which is the basically IBM Model M of India. The difference between that and my office HP standard keyboard is so enormous, I can nearly write a short book detailing it. Firstly the build, Model M's ones are built like a tank. They will last decades. Secondly the spring feedback and clicky auditory feed back you get. Thirdly, and the most important feature of the keyboard is the impedance match when your fingers hit the keyboard and the resistance/friction those keys offer. The Model M some does this so well, you will almost feel you are becoming one with the keyboard, combined with this the clicky auditory feed back and the rugged build is what makes the IBM Model M the king of all keyboards. Now every time I use the Model M at home and then come and use the keyboards at office, I see two straight issues. One I see is either the keyboard is offering too much friction/resistance which in case my fingers hit the keys faster but the keys don't mechanically respond as faster, or in cases of keyboard like the Apple's flat aluminum keyboard the resistance is too less and fingers tend to slower compared to the keys. And yes the feed back thing isn't in any way remotely comparable to the Model M. Lastly you can argue that, this should even matter to you as a coder. As good coding is above typing skills. Though I agree with you, I would suggest you read the article I posed at the top of this comment. Beyond all, once you've some really awesome. Even the very normal all begins to feel like bad. Long story, short- a good geek/nerd keyboard needs to: 1. Provide auditory feed back while typing. 2. The impedance match between the key response and your finger's hit force need to match perfectly. 3. Keyboard must be rugged. 4. Important code related keys should be big.
- pkamb 13y agoI'm still waiting to buy a mechanical keyboard with a TrackPoint. Until then, the ThinkPad external USB keyboard [1] is perfect. Its big delete key is great, too. [1] http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/55Y9003/460/60AC6A0372B14F5BA7B12F1FF88E33C7 http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/55Y9003/460/60AC6A0...
- wiredfool 13y agoI've got two old Model M 13s with trackpoints. Unfortunately, the buttons on one of them are failing. I never realized how much I used the trackpoints till they didn't work.
- pekru 13y agoCame here to say this. http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?redir=y&GroupID=460&Code=55Y9003&category-id=3FB2CEB78A0F49D18148731559AF4603&redir=y http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPo... $59 and truly functional
- rocky1138 13y agoThis is neat, but personally I don't find keyboards that exciting. Nor do I anticipate ever owning a desktop machine again. Maybe if this sort of thing could be done on a laptop, I'd be pumped. My fave keyboard is still the IBM 101 clickity from my PS/2 days in school.
- nimish 13y agoThe nicest looking of the many mostly identical mechanical keyboards out there. Should've gone with double-shot injection molding for durability; I wonder what it would have cost.
- binarycrusader 13y agoOrder website is confusing: "Availability: In stock" at the top of the page, and then below in the product description says "We are now SOLD OUT". So which is it? Also surprised that the key caps are ABS plastic instead of PBT at this price point or at least there's no option for that. Nevermind though; I'm going to wait for a few reviews of this to be posted. (Someone please post a review if you get one!)
- Zweihander 13y agoI don't understand the fascination with clear/grey switches - blue/green's really aren't that loud compared to buckling spring's and you get the full double-dip feedback. If you're in a super-quiet office then I agree, it makes a difference - but why would you have an open office that didn't have a good deal of collaboration/talking/acceptance of noise? The disable switches on the back of the keyboard are a very nice touch but beyond that, there is a lot from the ad that's standard fare for higher end keyboards these days. That price really needs to go down by 20-30$ for it to stay competitive beyond the initial rush of Atwood fans.
- chx 13y agoI am typing on a Kinesis Freestyle set vertical with its Ascent and it Kicks Ass(TM). You can't beat the ergonomics of a vertical keyboard.
- buro9 13y agoBacklight on a mechanical keyboard? For me, that will just light up where the clumps of dust and crumbs are.
- venomsnake 13y agoInteresting stuff ... sadly with shipping and VAT + customs it will come close to 270 USD in Europe. But probably I will purchase one. It is very close to the perfect keyboard for me - just add blank keys and replace the clear with green (I love the chaingun sounds early in the morning.
- theboywho 13y agoI wonder what was the real price of making this keyboard, probably not more than $10. I mean China. This is getting ridiculous. It's not because there is now HN, reddit and everything that can feed a hipster that you should fall into this trap and buy a €149.99 a keyboard.
- AhtiK 13y agoThese keyboards come with Cherry MX switches. Very hard to find them cheaper than $1 a piece. For a 104 key keyboard that's already over $100 :) In addition to better feel and ergonomics [1], switches also have better maintenance properties. If one goes bad, easy to replace. If something spills, easy to clean. With non-switch keyboards once a key stops working unless it's just a hair blocking the contact, the whole keyboard needs to be replaced. [1] Feel and ergonomics are definitely debatable, but I'm just super happy for the switch to Filco Ninja Majestouch-2 tenkeyless ~ a year ago.. Before that I was a big fan of cheap Logitech UltraX keyboards but a after even a day with switches, UltraX felt like something unconsistent, blocking and muddy.
- hkmurakami 13y agoIf you can find it $1 retail, wholesale is fractions of that price. (some parts can even be 1/10 the price)
- theboywho 13y agoYou are one example of people falling into the trap, sadly. $1 a piece is the price you get in the US, and as an individual trying to buy Cherry MX switches from a company that already bought them for a lower price. In china things are different, and when you are a company and buying in bulk, the price can go to as low as $0.2 for a switch. This keyboard is ridiculously overpriced. I am against this because it clearly shows the guy just wants to exploit this "kickstarter" mindset and HN entrepreneurship culture of "price high" and people will think it's revolutionary. This reminds me of the beats by Dre headphones.
- AhtiK 13y ago
- AndyKelley 13y agoDoes it solve the key rollover problem? http://superuser.com/questions/73685/keyboard-doesnt-let-me-press-certain-keys-at-the-same-time http://superuser.com/questions/73685/keyboard-doesnt-let-me-... I've always wanted a keyboard that let me press as many keys as I want to at the same time.
- Aqua_Geek 13y agoFrom the site: > We know you live and die by keyboard shortcuts. We do too. On the CODE keyboard, up to six keys can be pressed at once, which is known as 6-Key USB Rollover. (http://codekeyboards.com http://codekeyboards.com)
- alcari 13y agoMore importantly, it's got a PS/2 adapter, and that supports N-key rollover.
- pqs 13y agoWhat about the Happy Hacking keyboard? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Hacking_Keyboard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Hacking_Keyboard
- petepete 13y agoI use a HHKB Pro 2 and I believe it's as close to keyboard perfection as humanly possible. It's evident from the pictures that it partially inspired this CODE keyboard.
- swah 13y agoI'm thinking of giving a try to mini-keyboards, but I also use the arrow keys/pgdown/pgup frequently. So I have 3 tenkeyless for now.
- cmhamill 13y agoI'll add my voice to "the HHKB2 is the greatest keyboard imaginable." Also, re: arrow and paging keys, I manage to avoid them as much as possible, but reaching for 'Fn' with the pinky and hitting the appropriate key with my index or middle finger became second nature rather quickly. Also, rarely noted — and the thing that every single keyboard gets wrong, including Atwood's here — is that the HHKB has the Escape key in line with the number row, so that it can be reached easily without taking your fingers off the home row. For us vim users, this is really excellent. I am very happy with it.
- vbv 13y agoI'd get this one if it was curved and without the numpad to reduce the distance to the mouse.
- jpalomaki 13y agoI've been testing out various keyboards, also the mechanical ones. The one that I have liked most is the Apple wired keyboard (with numpad). Since I'm using this with windows I remapped a few keys[1] to make it for more suitable for my habits. The keyboard has low profile and the feeling on the keys is "very precise". Also it is quite affordable. [1] http://juhap.iki.fi/webdev/keymapper-mappings-for-using-apple-keyboard-with-windows/ http://juhap.iki.fi/webdev/keymapper-mappings-for-using-appl...
- asgard1024 13y agoHere's an idea for a new keyboard. Just a board with studs like in Lego, and a bag of individual keys (switches), that you could arrange on the board in any way you would wish. So you could build, in a way, any physical layout you would want. You could go fancy and use colored switches. And so on.. endless possibilities.
- gosub 13y agoWhat I would like is the possibility to buy/order a low-cost, non-mechanical, customized keyboard. Mass-manufactured keyboards cost less than 10€, could a custom printing job for the keys add that much?
- buster 13y agoMeh, no QWERTZ :(
- noir_lord 13y agoLooks nice but I love my Cherry G80's (and they are less than half the price) too much to upgrade just yet (though the silent keys might be kind in a crowded environment).
- refrigerator 13y agoNo offence to the maker, but this seems like a huge gimmick. There's nothing that separates this mechanical keyboard from others in the same price range, and there certainly isn't anything about it that makes it more developer-friendly than other boards. They've just slapped the letters CODE on the back and called it a keyboard for devs...
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- stunpix 13y agoI have two questions: 1. I want to engrave international symbols by myself. Will they have a backlight like original symbols? 2. Many people around the web are very pleased with their Cherry MX based keyboards. This is understandable when they are switching from cheap keyboards with same keystroke length. But what about people that have switched from laptop or Apple keyboards with shorter keystrokes? I found for myself that twice shorter keystroke is also twice comfortable (much less movements for fingers). Does it make a sense to try again a keyboard with long keystrokes, but with good mechanics like the CODE? Has anybody tried to use CherryMX keyboard after using laptop or any other keyboard with short keystrokes? Could you share your experience?
- Pxtl 13y agoA proper coding keyboard would have the numbers A-F next to the numpad.
- rkangel 13y agoI'd think about this, but it isn't convertible to a UK layout. It's not just a question of keycaps - we have another key to the right of the apostrophe (~ and #) narrowing the return key, and the return key takes up the space of the \ and | key, with that moving to the left of z.
- taternuts 13y agoMechanical keyboards are awesome and after a year+ typing on them I can't stand typing on regular rubber domes. My favorite switch is the MX Brown, as the Blues got annoying to me. My current keyboard, which I think is a better coder's board, is the tex beetle ( http://i.imgur.com/ivEH2Av.png http://i.imgur.com/ivEH2Av.png ). If you want to go down the mechanical keyboard rabbit hole I recommend checking out http://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalkeyboards http://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalkeyboards
- gtani 13y agoKeyboard preference is something that takes a while to build and a while to undo, if you use just one. I have a few Matias tactile kb's (deep key travel) and a couple Mac aluminum wired kb's (laptop like key travel), use both simultaneously (I also switch between piano, woodwinds, guitar/fretless bass and sometimes cello, which is Hors catégorie as far as the complexity of the left hand action compared to the other three
- shawnbaden 13y agoI've been using a UNICOMP UB4044A (http://pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UB4044A http://pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UB4044A) since mid 2007 and it. is. fantastic. I love the tactile feedback from the keys. My co-workers even find the noise from the buckling springs comforting when I'm typing fast and furious knowing that work is getting done. I highly recommend it at $80.
- digitalpacman 13y agoUh... I see no value in this. Why not talk about a keyboard with language specific placement of letters? Who cares about a super basic and generic keyboard?
- nvarsj 13y agoIt should go without saying that keyboards are highly personal, especially for developers. Having said that, this keyboard looks pretty terrible to me - nothing novel and all the things I dislike in standard keyboards. Really, a keypad? Look into a $100 10 keyless cherry switch keyboard for a big improvement (filcos are particulary good). Or my favorite layout, the happy hacker keyboard pro.