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I use a Happy Hacking Keyboard which has no capslock key, control is automatically mapped there. On every other keyboard I've applied that same mapping in the O

by 9999 13y ago

I use a Happy Hacking Keyboard which has no capslock key, control is automatically mapped there. On every other keyboard I've applied that same mapping in the OS. I would hate that weird split key set up that Lenovo has done there though.

moonboots 13y ago
I like the minimal ideals of the happy hacking keyboard but I think it went a little overboard. I like having an arrow cluster and page up/down for applications that don't support emacs/vi bindings. I do like how the number pad is removed. It's too infrequently used and increases the distance between keyboard and mouse.
- 9999 13y ago
  It took me quite a while to get used to using the function key to access the arrows, and I'm still not entirely happy with that. If you get the Lite version that does have arrow keys, but the Lite is inferior to the Pro in every other way.
  - moonboots 13y ago
    There are some new "66 key" keyboards [1] with a similar form factor and price as the happy hacking lite except with mechanical switches. [1] http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,compact&pid=fc660mneb# http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,compact&p...
    - usea 13y ago
      I couldn't live without Home and End. They're two of my most frequently used keys. Do you know of any other similar keyboards with the home/end/pg cluster intact?
      - w1ntermute 13y ago
        Realforce 87u.
- w1ntermute 13y ago
  > I do like how the number pad is removed. It's too infrequently used and increases the distance between keyboard and mouse. Take a look at tenkeyless keyboards, then. They don't have the numpad, but keep everything else the same as a full-size (104 key) keyboard. For example, the Realforce 87U is a tenkeyless keyboard with Topre keyswitches (same as the HHKB): http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,rftenkeyless&pid=rf_se1700 http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,r... Or if you want Cherry (rather than Topre) switches, the Filco Majestouch 2 Tenkeyless is a good option: http://www.diatec.co.jp/en/det.php?prod_c=765 http://www.diatec.co.jp/en/det.php?prod_c=765 Or if you want to save a bit more space by pushing the keys at the far right and on the top row up against the main section of the keyboard, there's the Noppoo Choc Mini: http://www.amazon.com/Noppoo-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard-Switches/dp/B00A45WK4U http://www.amazon.com/Noppoo-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard-Swit...
  - gatehouse 13y ago
    Also Leopold 66 key keyboards are almost as austere as HHKB, but they have an arrow cluster with similar placement to laptops. I have the 66key touch mini, it isn't bad but I like the HHKB a little better and it's hard to go back and forth. http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,compact http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,compact
    - snogglethorpe 13y ago
      Ah, thanks for the pointer... I haven't yet come across any really worthy competitors to the HHKB until now (lots of stuff in the "small keyboard" and "nice feel" categories, but they always seem to screw something up...). The Leopold looks like a worthy alternative to the HHKB, with a very similar vibe, especially as they allow you to swap Ctrl / CapsLock via a dip-switch (I wonder if they sell alternate keycaps with the labels swapped too). It seems to occupy a nice price middle-ground between the HHKB Lite (2) and the HHKB Pro, and has nicer switches than the HHKB Lite (to tell the truth, I don't mind the HHKB Lite's feel, but it's a little on the cheap-n-cheerful end)... [The only significant difference in layout seems to be the "\" key.]
- ANTSANTS 13y ago
  I'm probably the only person who can't "touch-calculate" on the number pad to save their life, but still loves the thing for its big honkin' enter key. When I'm using a GUI application and a dialog box pops up, I can smash that sucker with the left side of my hand to close it way faster than I can click on the "OK" button or move my right hand to the traditional enter key. Tapping enter with my thumb on a laptop keyboard just isn't the same.
- ansible 13y ago
  It's too infrequently used and increases the distance between keyboard and mouse. That's why I just switched to using the mouse with my left hand, even though I am right handed.
laureny 13y ago
Sadly, the Happy Hacking Keyboard is not split, so it's a non starter for anyone who's serious about avoiding carpal tunnel syndrome.
- 9999 13y ago
  Are split keyboards really that much better for avoiding carpal tunnel syndrome? It seems like I just don't hear that much about carpal tunnel any more, and I wonder if the general wisdom of taking frequent breaks is a bigger factor than an ergonomic keyboard.
  - vizeroth 13y ago
    I think it largely depends on the person. If I rest my hands naturally on a traditional keyboard, my fingers end up somewhere around wdfv okjn. To pull them around to the home row basically involves tilting my hands outward and bringing my wrists inward even further, neither of which is good for either your hands or your typing speed. If I have pain or numbness (either of which can last for days), just having my hands rotated to use a flat keyboard for a few minutes could be difficult. Generally, though, if I get pain in my left hand/arm, it's from excessive typing; in my right, excessive back-and-forth to the pointing device (I use a trackball at home if I do any gaming, pad at work, just so it's not the same device all the time). I have never really been able to use a mouse.
  - goatslacker 13y ago
    I suffered from some form of CTS and I can say split keyboards didn't really make much of a difference. It's all about placement of the wrists and keeping a good posture. Also breaks, lots of small breaks throughout the day.
    - deong 13y ago
      A properly designed split keyboard is aimed at improving the placement of the wrists though. I found a minor but noticeable benefit many years ago switching to the Kinesis Advantage. I've recently switched to the Truly Ergonomic keyboard; I've yet to decide if it's better or worse overall than the Kinesis.

by 9999 13y ago

moonboots 13y ago

I like the minimal ideals of the happy hacking keyboard but I think it went a little overboard. I like having an arrow cluster and page up/down for applications that don't support emacs/vi bindings. I do like how the number pad is removed. It's too infrequently used and increases the distance between keyboard and mouse.

9999 13y ago
It took me quite a while to get used to using the function key to access the arrows, and I'm still not entirely happy with that. If you get the Lite version that does have arrow keys, but the Lite is inferior to the Pro in every other way.
- moonboots 13y ago
  There are some new "66 key" keyboards [1] with a similar form factor and price as the happy hacking lite except with mechanical switches. [1] http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,compact&pid=fc660mneb# http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,compact&p...
  - usea 13y ago
    I couldn't live without Home and End. They're two of my most frequently used keys. Do you know of any other similar keyboards with the home/end/pg cluster intact?
    - w1ntermute 13y ago
      Realforce 87u.
w1ntermute 13y ago
> I do like how the number pad is removed. It's too infrequently used and increases the distance between keyboard and mouse. Take a look at tenkeyless keyboards, then. They don't have the numpad, but keep everything else the same as a full-size (104 key) keyboard. For example, the Realforce 87U is a tenkeyless keyboard with Topre keyswitches (same as the HHKB): http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,rftenkeyless&pid=rf_se1700 http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=topre_keyboards,r... Or if you want Cherry (rather than Topre) switches, the Filco Majestouch 2 Tenkeyless is a good option: http://www.diatec.co.jp/en/det.php?prod_c=765 http://www.diatec.co.jp/en/det.php?prod_c=765 Or if you want to save a bit more space by pushing the keys at the far right and on the top row up against the main section of the keyboard, there's the Noppoo Choc Mini: http://www.amazon.com/Noppoo-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard-Switches/dp/B00A45WK4U http://www.amazon.com/Noppoo-Mechanical-Gaming-Keyboard-Swit...
- gatehouse 13y ago
  Also Leopold 66 key keyboards are almost as austere as HHKB, but they have an arrow cluster with similar placement to laptops. I have the 66key touch mini, it isn't bad but I like the HHKB a little better and it's hard to go back and forth. http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,compact http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,compact
  - snogglethorpe 13y ago
    Ah, thanks for the pointer... I haven't yet come across any really worthy competitors to the HHKB until now (lots of stuff in the "small keyboard" and "nice feel" categories, but they always seem to screw something up...). The Leopold looks like a worthy alternative to the HHKB, with a very similar vibe, especially as they allow you to swap Ctrl / CapsLock via a dip-switch (I wonder if they sell alternate keycaps with the labels swapped too). It seems to occupy a nice price middle-ground between the HHKB Lite (2) and the HHKB Pro, and has nicer switches than the HHKB Lite (to tell the truth, I don't mind the HHKB Lite's feel, but it's a little on the cheap-n-cheerful end)... [The only significant difference in layout seems to be the "\" key.]
ANTSANTS 13y ago
I'm probably the only person who can't "touch-calculate" on the number pad to save their life, but still loves the thing for its big honkin' enter key. When I'm using a GUI application and a dialog box pops up, I can smash that sucker with the left side of my hand to close it way faster than I can click on the "OK" button or move my right hand to the traditional enter key. Tapping enter with my thumb on a laptop keyboard just isn't the same.
ansible 13y ago
It's too infrequently used and increases the distance between keyboard and mouse. That's why I just switched to using the mouse with my left hand, even though I am right handed.

laureny 13y ago

Sadly, the Happy Hacking Keyboard is not split, so it's a non starter for anyone who's serious about avoiding carpal tunnel syndrome.

9999 13y ago
Are split keyboards really that much better for avoiding carpal tunnel syndrome? It seems like I just don't hear that much about carpal tunnel any more, and I wonder if the general wisdom of taking frequent breaks is a bigger factor than an ergonomic keyboard.
- vizeroth 13y ago
  I think it largely depends on the person. If I rest my hands naturally on a traditional keyboard, my fingers end up somewhere around wdfv okjn. To pull them around to the home row basically involves tilting my hands outward and bringing my wrists inward even further, neither of which is good for either your hands or your typing speed. If I have pain or numbness (either of which can last for days), just having my hands rotated to use a flat keyboard for a few minutes could be difficult. Generally, though, if I get pain in my left hand/arm, it's from excessive typing; in my right, excessive back-and-forth to the pointing device (I use a trackball at home if I do any gaming, pad at work, just so it's not the same device all the time). I have never really been able to use a mouse.
- goatslacker 13y ago
  I suffered from some form of CTS and I can say split keyboards didn't really make much of a difference. It's all about placement of the wrists and keeping a good posture. Also breaks, lots of small breaks throughout the day.
  - deong 13y ago
    A properly designed split keyboard is aimed at improving the placement of the wrists though. I found a minor but noticeable benefit many years ago switching to the Kinesis Advantage. I've recently switched to the Truly Ergonomic keyboard; I've yet to decide if it's better or worse overall than the Kinesis.