←back to thread

Only buy a magnetic keyboard for gaming

(www.tomsguide.com)
90 points amichail | 6 comments | 18 Nov 24 22:00 UTC | HN request time: 0.59s | source | bottom
Show context
Larrikin ◴[21 Nov 24 15:54 UTC] No.42205555[source]▶
I just don't get the obsession with eliminating the numpad. There are tons of interesting looking and innovative keyboards now and they all insist on making them as cramped as possible.

It makes sense on a laptop. But, if I already need to have a clear place on my desk for the keyboard and mouse, I'd rather just use an extra 2 inches to have the full size keyboard with the numpad and arrow keys that are not crammed against the rest of the keyboard.

replies(23): >>42205613 #>>42205614 #>>42205623 #>>42205624 #>>42205626 #>>42205662 #>>42205672 #>>42205850 #>>42206003 #>>42206244 #>>42206524 #>>42206657 #>>42206972 #>>42206999 #>>42207048 #>>42207093 #>>42207253 #>>42207254 #>>42207331 #>>42207439 #>>42207645 #>>42207723 #>>42211690 #
jermaustin1 ◴[21 Nov 24 16:20 UTC] No.42205850[source]▶
Same. I use my numpad constantly - Excel, programming, VoIP, calc, etc.

I don't use the number row above my keyboard except on rare occasions or to type the shifted characters. If I need to quickly type a number without looking, the numpad is the only way to do that (for me).

I tried a friends "compact" gaming keyboard, and then to the right of his keyboard was a separate "macro" keyboard which was basically just a numpad... so why not just have a numpad?

replies(2): >>42207235 #>>42212643 #
1. xattt ◴[21 Nov 24 18:35 UTC] No.42207235[source]▶
There’s a loud category of people that are obsessed with looks and symmetry (over function) that a numpad breaks.

I doubt these folks do any meaningful numerical work, so they do not understand the convenience of the numpad.

replies(2): >>42207358 #>>42207524 #
2. wruza ◴[21 Nov 24 18:50 UTC] No.42207358[source]▶
Yes, but not doing a numerical work is perfectly fine use of a PC.

Edit: thinking more about it, I’d rather use a solar cell powered ble enabled calculator with all the usual buttons (M*, +-, C/AC, <, etc) and a screen, rather than having a built-in or separate numpad which sucks for one-hand input anyway.

replies(1): >>42215196 #
3. pulvinar ◴[21 Nov 24 19:07 UTC] No.42207524[source]▶
My reason for using a no-keypad keyboard on the desktop is entirely functional: reaching for the mouse (a very common motion) is faster.

And as a bonus, I can type numbers faster on the top row than I could on a keypad since I'm using 8 fingers, and my hands stay in home position for mixing with letters and other symbols. Combine that with being easily able to switch to a laptop keyboard and still type at full speed -- I've just never seen the point of a keypad.

replies(1): >>42208319 #
4. jermaustin1 ◴[21 Nov 24 20:31 UTC] No.42208319[source]▶
Makes me wonder if with practice I could switch from numpad to the number row for numbers. Currently my brain doesn't work like that, but I had to learn how to type letters all those years ago, so it has to be the same. But I have to "unlearn" how I currently type numbers.
replies(1): >>42209496 #
5. xattt ◴[21 Nov 24 22:49 UTC] No.42209496{3}[source]▶
I was laptop only for several years. I thought I’d be able to unlearn. Once I got a proper desk setup again, using a numpad was like riding a bike.
6. xattt ◴[22 Nov 24 16:34 UTC] No.42215196[source]▶
> which sucks for one-hand input anyway

Wait, what?

Unless you’re hunting-and-pecking, a numpad IS the job for one-handed number input.