Keyboards! (and other input devices)

[Pu-239]

So I needed an additional keyboard for work due to the mushiness of the provided Dell, and wanted to try out a mechanical keyswitch keyboard softer than the buckling spring Model M I have at home

Thus I got one of these!

Also got a logitech LX8 mouse to go w/ it. Tried trackballs awhile ago and it just felt a bit awkward.

So what keyboards and other input devices do you all use?

Also, any dvorak users here? I just tried fiddling w/ it yesterday and remember all the key positions, and they do seem sensible, but it just doesn't seem worthwhile to practice being a coder whose bottleneck is thinking about what to code and also being a Vim user, and losing the ability to type for a month.

[Sarevok]

Ergonomics and comfort would be a priority for coding rather than qwerty or Dvorak layout. As you said a programmer spends way more time thinking than typing. Personally I require a good mouse more than a keyboard because I spend more clicking between tons of browser tabs, IDE windows etc.

[Keevan_Colton]

I use a fairly basic keyboard these days, the main thing for me is the feel of the keys, I managed to find one with a decent feedback response which is handy when I'm doing a lot of writing. I also have a precision laser wireless mouse, but my real input peripheral of choice is my Belkin Nostromo. It's a wonderful tool for all sorts of stuff, handy for remapping short cut keys for editing aps and stuff onto as well as making any game a dream to play. I picked it up almost 2 years ago and I havent had any bother with it at all.

[Zixinus]

I use Logitech Waveform for my deskup computer. I mostly use it for gaming but the occasional typing is done finely too.
Otherwise, my EEE 904HA's keyboard is fine, if a bit awkward at times.

[Sarevok]

Otherwise, my EEE 904HA's keyboard is fine, if a bit awkward at times.

Lies.

EEE PC keyboards was designed for comfortable use by elves, midgets and people with +5 DEX stats only.

[Stark]

Or... anyone who can form new skills. Don't forget those people.

[Zixinus]

Lies.

EEE PC keyboards was designed for comfortable use by elves, midgets and people with +5 DEX stats only.

It's a netbook. Netbooks are small and everything in them is downsized, including the keyboard. What do you expect?

It's not that bad if you can get used to it. I type some with writing story ideas and notes, plus chatting and using the forums. Not the best, but I've seen a programmer use a similar computer for the exact same reasons.

[Sarevok]

I dunno. The keyboard is too small. Yet the machine is way too big to be conveniently handled like a qwerty phone or tablet pc. Asus EEEs are great machines. When I broke my laptop and had no computer last year I did everything with a 701. But the keyboards were deinately the EEEs sole weak point. They were clumsy to use when doing a lot of typing.

[adam_grif]

Or... anyone who can form new skills. Don't forget those people.

Mmn, even after 18 months of constant use, I type considerably slower and make far more mistakes on my netbook keyboard than on full sized ones. It does get easier, but it never really stops feeling awkward.

[Sarevok]

I could accept the keyboard if not for the fact EEEs strain your neck just like a regular laptop. You cant use an EEE from a comfortable position like a handheld device such as a psp or smartphone.

[Zixinus]

When I broke my laptop and had no computer last year I did everything with a 701. But the keyboards were deinately the EEEs sole weak point. They were clumsy to use when doing a lot of typing.

They did try to improve the feel and use in the later models.

[Sarevok]

That is true. The 900 and 1000 series are a phenomenal leap in everything. Unfortunately in my experience they still have not solved the issue of making a comfortable keyboard for such a tiny computer. I dont blame Asus for that since no other brand has done any better. Netbook ergonomics seem to be an unsolved design problem. These machines are too big to be comfortably used like a handheld pc yet too small for the ease a laptop offers.

[General Zod]

I could accept the keyboard if not for the fact EEEs strain your neck just like a regular laptop. You cant use an EEE from a comfortable position like a handheld device such as a psp or smartphone.

If they're straining your neck, maybe you should consider different furniture.

[Zixinus]

If you are straining your neck, then I would advise either to modify your laptop's display so the letters are bigger (change resolution, use Arial Black, increase display font size) or get on higher furniture so the display is more in-line with your eyes.

. I dont blame Asus for that since no other brand has done any better. Netbook ergonomics seem to be an unsolved design problem.

The main problem is that the keys are small. The only way I can see that would allow them to be bigger is to make the keyboard fold out out of the laptop's case. Otherwise, it is a problem of refinement (I hear that the 1001HE has a good keyboard) and simply getting used to it.

[JointStrikeFighter]

The EEEs sarevok describes are the early 9 inch models [9 and 7 series]. Useless keyboards. Now that the netbook standard has solidified around 10inch the keyboards are a lot better.

[Sarevok]

I could accept the keyboard if not for the fact EEEs strain your neck just like a regular laptop. You cant use an EEE from a comfortable position like a handheld device such as a psp or smartphone.

If they're straining your neck, maybe you should consider different furniture.

In otherwords treat the netbook as a fullsized laptop without the convenience that comes with one.
You are not the sharpest tool in the box are you ?

[General Zod]

I could accept the keyboard if not for the fact EEEs strain your neck just like a regular laptop. You cant use an EEE from a comfortable position like a handheld device such as a psp or smartphone.

If they're straining your neck, maybe you should consider different furniture.

In otherwords treat the netbook as a fullsized laptop without the convenience that comes with one.
You are not the sharpest tool in the box are you ?

I have to wonder exactly how you're treating it that it's straining your neck. I use laptops almost exclusively at home and I've never had any kind of neck-strain from them. I mean just because they call them laptops, you don't actually have to have them in your lap for extended periods of time. (Quite frankly that would be an ergonomic nightmare).

[Stark]

In otherwords treat the netbook as a fullsized laptop without the convenience that comes with one.
You are not the sharpest tool in the box are you ?

So you want a portable that doesn't cause back pain, even though this is pretty much geometrically impossible? Turns out putting it actually on your lap is never going to be comfortable (unless you're slouching and ruining your back that way).

[adam_grif]

I've never had any issues with neck strain when using an Aspire One. They're the same form factor as EEE PC's, so I have nfi about what Sarevok is on about. Even using them in my lap isn't really that uncomfortable, the letters are a bit small but still clearly readable.

[Stark]

I imagine he's sitting in such a way that he has to crane his neck around, or using it for ages.

[Sarevok]

I wanted to hold and use them like a handheld pc such as the hp ipaqs or nokia n800s basically, Turns out netbooks are too big for that kind of ease. Again its a personal thing. I guess you guys were expecting a mini laptop experience whereas I was hoping for a handheldpc/smartphone like feeling.

[Stark]

So you're typing one handed and holding your arm in a wierd position and telling me that gets painful?

[General Zod]

I wanted to hold and use them like a handheld pc such as the hp ipaqs or nokia n800s basically, Turns out netbooks are too big for that kind of ease.

Uhm, no kidding? A couple minutes of handling one in person would tell you this.

[Zixinus]

I wanted to hold and use them like a handheld pc such as the hp ipaqs or nokia n800s basically, Turns out netbooks are too big for that kind of ease. Again its a personal thing. I guess you guys were expecting a mini laptop experience whereas I was hoping for a handheldpc/smartphone like feeling.

In other words, you didn't know what a netbook was for?

[Sarevok]

Nope, all I know is they are not for me. I now use a Nokia E63 for browsing, chatting, emailing, ms office etc mundane tasks. Its a lot more convenient and ease to use. For actual laptop tasks like writing code and gaming I defer to my actual laptop.