|
|
Some of the most modern keyboards are worse than the old PC ones. Let me explain.
The new designs are essentially designed with very flat keys, with almost no curve in them. The keytop curve is used to provide tactile feedback and to prevent your fingers from drifting. Important if you touch type.
The letters J and F normally have a raised bar to tell your fingers that they are in the right place.
My old IBM keyboard (circa 1990) had, relative to today's keyboards, a deeper dish type of keytop shape. Fingers were guided to the center of the keys. I could touch type at a very fast amazing rate.
But with my newer wireless keyboard, I find it hard to get to the "home" position, and keyboarding mistakes are way up. I have to now watch the screen, whereas before, I could type lines before having to lift my eyes to see where my fingers were placed.
As for touch, we need some tactile feedback (detent action) to let us know that we successfully entered the character. Failing to provide that feedback, with only a sponge effect increases keyboarding errors.
New is not always better.
|
|
|
|
|
lsatenstein wrote: New is not always better.
New is cheaper.
Sorry, I meant to say "New is cheap."
|
|
|
|
|
My problem with some newer keyboards, like the wireless one I have for my laptop, is that there is no space beside the arrow keys to rest my fingers.
|
|
|
|
|
Is the OmniKey Ultra once made by Northgate Computer Systems. Bought mine new while the manufacturer still existed. Still in use today clicking away.
|
|
|
|
|
I love how they call things ergonomic without good justification. The standard ergonomic keyboard does not even change the orientation of the keys so that both sides the keys are staggered in the same direction. It seems obvious to me that if it is truly ergonomic, the keys should be staggered in or out, not both. For the right hand the keys are staggered in and for the left out. There what look like some great ergonomic keyboards but they are hundreds of dollars. The companies I have worked for would not pay for a decent ergonomic keyboard. I usually use a laptop personally, so that really does not make sense.
|
|
|
|
|
If you aren't using the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 then you aren't cool.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coding is my livelihood - I would like to find the:
1. Most comfortable (ie "ergonomic")
2. Best key action
3. Reliable in Windows & Linux without changing code page spontaneously or any other weirdness
4. Rugged
I'm using Logitech Wave keyboards right now - What's the best one out there for coders?
Thanx,
myke
|
|
|
|
|
If you don't need all the latest features and your checklist truly represents what is most important to you, I will recommend this one[^]. 
Soren Madsen
"When you don't know what you're doing it's best to do it quickly" - Jase #DuckDynasty
|
|
|
|
|
I am using a Compaq keyboard that was made in the early 1990s. Why? It is the only keyboard I have found, at any price, that provides proper tactile feedback. Typing on most computer keyboards is a bit like hitting marshmallows. Awful!
I may not last forever but the mess I leave behind certainly will.
|
|
|
|
|
If you want tactile feedback, you need to get a mechanical keyboard. Depending on feature set they typically run $80-120 (which is why 99% of keyboards use cheaper switch types).
Unless you're lucky enough to have a geek oriented computer shop (eg Fry's) locally that will let you try them first; I'd advise reading a number of reviews[^] first since there're a half dozenish different types of mechanical switch with different feels and noise levels.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason?
Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful?
--Zachris Topelius
Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies.
-- Sarah Hoyt
|
|
|
|
|
my dear man, you are an arse 
Touche though ... looks like a great one though...
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you. You are too kind.
Soren Madsen
"When you don't know what you're doing it's best to do it quickly" - Jase #DuckDynasty
|
|
|
|
|
I'm using since many years already Das Keyboard II. It has mechanical switches, thus is pretty long lasting. Still using the first one (seems in fact to be a Cherry G80-3000). Also I learned touch typing with it - it has no labels. The first keyboard I'm happy with.
|
|
|
|
|
I use the logitech k100, an normal style keyboard. the best keyboard by far Ive ever used. I use it recommend it to everyone who asks.
My wrists and hands feel amazingly comfortable in it really nice to rest my hands on, much better than straight-up plastic.
its not terribly loud, but not terribly quiet
|
|
|
|
|
|
my keyboard is the one with bacon grease and bits scatted on and around it.
you want something inspirational??
|
|
|
|
|
It seems you prefer a bacon stained option. Why?
Regards,
Mike
|
|
|
|
|
I have Gateway 2000 programmable keyboards on all my computers (except the laptops) and they come in handy for assigning passwords that you constantly have to use. (It is security through obscurity)
The adhoc programmability is great for those repetitive edits that pop up. Sure there are editors with macro capability, but if you are in say, SQL Server Management Studio and someone has given you a list of items to search in an e-mail table, it is wonderful to copy and paste in the list and then program a function key to wrap the text in quotes and commas for a line and then press the key to magically do the edits for each line.
ALL the keys are programmable, not just a few. They have two sets of F keys, twelve on the left hand side and another 12 across the top. I generally program the set on the side, leaving the top set as standard. You can have CTRL and SHIFT prefixes to assign different functions to the same key.
When I set up a computer for my 3 1/2 year old granddaughter so she could entertain herself while I worked ten feet away from her, I set one key for BACK and another for Task Switch. At that age they are just getting the hang of clicking, but the concept of Back and Task Switch is beyond them. The Task Switch would be for those web sites that open a new window.
I taught her to press the BACK key first and if that didn't get her back to where she wanted to be, I told her to press the Task Switch key (I didn't say those words, I just pointed to the keys to press). And she was able to merrily cruise around Sesame Street, PBSkids.org and (reluctantly) Disney web sites.
It was wonderful to watch her progress on her own from press a key to make a noise, drag and drop the animal icons to sort them, to rudimentary reading.
The keyboard programming let her find her own way out of problems instead of pestering me every few minutes.
Psychosis at 10
Film at 11
Those who do not remember the past, are doomed to repeat it.
Those who do not remember the past, cannot build upon it.
|
|
|
|
|
Model M is so good, it should have an OPTION of its own...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whatever keyboard my company provides me with...
Seulement, dans certains cas, n'est-ce pas, on n'entend guère que ce qu'on désire entendre et ce qui vous arrange le mieux... [^]
Joe never complained of anything but ever did his duty in his way of life, with a strong hand, a quiet tongue, and a gentle heart [^]
|
|
|
|
|
Am I the only one than hates laptop or flat-key keyboards? Regular keyboard keys are concave and your fingers sit in them; I can type quite fast with those. However, The standard laptop keyboard or most Mac keyboards I loathe. It is like my fingers cannot "feel" where they are at. Maybe because I grew up on the Model M keyboard...?
My work has offered me some nice laptops to program on, but I always do not accept them. I once switch my WHOLE house to Mac's (when they went Intel) and didn't make it 12 months before I sold them all because of the keyboards on the laptops.
Are there ANY laptops with REAL keyboards with concave keys? I would be all over that.
|
|
|
|
|
The only 'laptop' keyboard I've ever used that had a decent feel was on the TRS-80 Model 100[^]. The keys had reasonable travel, and you could actually type on the thing.
Modern laptop keyboards are flat with little or no key travel. I realize it's a response to to the "I'm thinner! No, I'm thinner!" crap war started by Apple and the MacBook Air, but it does a disservice to users who do text work on the things.
Software Zen: delete this;
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
