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I purchased a computer in the past year after using my trusty (overheating) HP TX2510 for more than half a decade. I was baffled as to why numpads were so popul

I purchased a computer in the past year after using my trusty (overheating) HP TX2510 for more than half a decade. I was baffled as to why numpads were so popular, especially on mid-sized (15" or so) form factors. Was there a significant shift in how the 80th percentile user types, that a numpad would be an in-demand feature? I thought I was taking crazy pills. Aside from data entry and scientific users, is there a utility-based reason why incorporating a numpad is worth offsetting the keyboard, the typical input method (along with mouse for most users)?

freehunter 12y ago
I've bought a handful of 17" laptops in the past and was dismayed to find all the ones I was considering lacked a numpad. Only one I've bought (15") had one. And I really want one. It's really nice for working in computer networking, where you're often typing long strings of numbers with dots between them. The number row sucks for finding numbers and the dot is way far away. For home or consumer use, though, I'm not sure why anyone would want a numpad bad enough to make that tradeoff.
- fragmede 12y ago
  > It's really nice for working in computer networking, where you're often typing long strings of numbers with dots between them. The number row sucks for finding numbers and the dot is way far away. Someone really needs to setup their own DNS server... (That, or make a programmer's numpad that goes from 0 to 'f')
  - jtbigwoo 12y ago
    > Someone really needs to setup their own DNS server... Or outsource some accounting work...
  - freehunter 12y ago
    DNS doesn't work everywhere. If I'm filling out Cisco IOS configuration, not every device has a DNS name. It's gotta be the IP address. If I'm filling in the IPAM, it's gotta be the IP address. Putting addresses into the SIEM? Gotta be the IP address. Telling someone what IP address to use for a server they haven't set up yet? There's no server, so there's no DNS name. Gotta be an IP address. Saying "you don't need IP addresses because you've got DNS" is like saying you don't need gears because it's an automatic transmission. A mechanic would disagree with you on that. DNS is an abstraction. Why is Linux written in C when we have Javascript?
    - fragmede 12y ago
      DNS is an abstraction. A very useful one at that; it limits how many IP address I end up typing. No, I do still need to write some, but I went and found the largest laptop I could get without a number pad. To each their own though. > ... is like saying you don't need gears because it's an automatic transmission. Just how many speeds is the transmission on a Tesla Model-S? > ... Why is Linux written in C when we have Javascript? Well, there's http://runtimejs.org/ http://runtimejs.org/ but it's still in development.
      - freehunter 12y ago
        I'm not really sure why you've decided that you need to attack someone just because they say they type a lot of IP addresses, but it's not very appreciated.
gambiting 12y ago
As a programmer, I would not buy a 15" laptop without a numpad. I use a 13" Macbook Air nowadays and the numpad is dearly missed. But yeah you are right - most people won't need them.
- richbradshaw 12y ago
  As a programmer surely just a 0 (for starting for loops), a 1 (for off by one errors) and 0-9 (for regexs) suffices for 99% of typing? Typing other numbers seems like it should be avoided wherever possible.
- pmontra 12y ago
  As a programmer I always wondered what a number pad could be useful for so it's interesting to know that there are programmers that put it at a good use. I even upvoted you because I find this interesting. I usually code web applications. I think that most of my numbers go into CSS hex color strings and into my invoices. What are your use cases? In the past I used number pads to play video games and nethack. Not much of them in the past 10 years though.
  - bentcorner 12y ago
    Personally I use mine a lot when typing in bug numbers. Sometimes I can copy & paste it, sometimes it's already in my field of vision, my hands are on the keyboard, and it's faster just to type it.
mbesto 12y ago
I was working with a client in their Finance department. There was a very strict requirement for a numpad from the whole team there.
- emir_ 12y ago
  Did they require laptops? I've worked in finance department in the past and everyone either had a desktop computer or a laptop with a docking station.
- davewasthere 12y ago
  Which is why USB num pads exist... Or is an external num pad not an option?
mzd348 12y ago
I think the numpads exist because just about all laptop screens are 16:9 now, which forces the keyboard area to be wider (compared to a 4:3 screen, for example). Without a numpad there would be lots of "dead" space to the right and left of the keyboard, so manufacturers added a numpad to avoid the wasted space. Personally I'd rather have a 4:3 screen and no numpad, but this aspect ratio has ceased to exist.

freehunter 12y ago

I've bought a handful of 17" laptops in the past and was dismayed to find all the ones I was considering lacked a numpad. Only one I've bought (15") had one. And I really want one. It's really nice for working in computer networking, where you're often typing long strings of numbers with dots between them. The number row sucks for finding numbers and the dot is way far away. For home or consumer use, though, I'm not sure why anyone would want a numpad bad enough to make that tradeoff.

fragmede 12y ago
> It's really nice for working in computer networking, where you're often typing long strings of numbers with dots between them. The number row sucks for finding numbers and the dot is way far away. Someone really needs to setup their own DNS server... (That, or make a programmer's numpad that goes from 0 to 'f')
- jtbigwoo 12y ago
  > Someone really needs to setup their own DNS server... Or outsource some accounting work...
- freehunter 12y ago
  DNS doesn't work everywhere. If I'm filling out Cisco IOS configuration, not every device has a DNS name. It's gotta be the IP address. If I'm filling in the IPAM, it's gotta be the IP address. Putting addresses into the SIEM? Gotta be the IP address. Telling someone what IP address to use for a server they haven't set up yet? There's no server, so there's no DNS name. Gotta be an IP address. Saying "you don't need IP addresses because you've got DNS" is like saying you don't need gears because it's an automatic transmission. A mechanic would disagree with you on that. DNS is an abstraction. Why is Linux written in C when we have Javascript?
  - fragmede 12y ago
    DNS is an abstraction. A very useful one at that; it limits how many IP address I end up typing. No, I do still need to write some, but I went and found the largest laptop I could get without a number pad. To each their own though. > ... is like saying you don't need gears because it's an automatic transmission. Just how many speeds is the transmission on a Tesla Model-S? > ... Why is Linux written in C when we have Javascript? Well, there's http://runtimejs.org/ http://runtimejs.org/ but it's still in development.
    - freehunter 12y ago
      I'm not really sure why you've decided that you need to attack someone just because they say they type a lot of IP addresses, but it's not very appreciated.

gambiting 12y ago

As a programmer, I would not buy a 15" laptop without a numpad. I use a 13" Macbook Air nowadays and the numpad is dearly missed. But yeah you are right - most people won't need them.

richbradshaw 12y ago
As a programmer surely just a 0 (for starting for loops), a 1 (for off by one errors) and 0-9 (for regexs) suffices for 99% of typing? Typing other numbers seems like it should be avoided wherever possible.
pmontra 12y ago
As a programmer I always wondered what a number pad could be useful for so it's interesting to know that there are programmers that put it at a good use. I even upvoted you because I find this interesting. I usually code web applications. I think that most of my numbers go into CSS hex color strings and into my invoices. What are your use cases? In the past I used number pads to play video games and nethack. Not much of them in the past 10 years though.
- bentcorner 12y ago
  Personally I use mine a lot when typing in bug numbers. Sometimes I can copy & paste it, sometimes it's already in my field of vision, my hands are on the keyboard, and it's faster just to type it.

mbesto 12y ago

I was working with a client in their Finance department. There was a very strict requirement for a numpad from the whole team there.

emir_ 12y ago
Did they require laptops? I've worked in finance department in the past and everyone either had a desktop computer or a laptop with a docking station.
davewasthere 12y ago
Which is why USB num pads exist... Or is an external num pad not an option?

mzd348 12y ago

I think the numpads exist because just about all laptop screens are 16:9 now, which forces the keyboard area to be wider (compared to a 4:3 screen, for example). Without a numpad there would be lots of "dead" space to the right and left of the keyboard, so manufacturers added a numpad to avoid the wasted space. Personally I'd rather have a 4:3 screen and no numpad, but this aspect ratio has ceased to exist.