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Recommendation for keyboard and mouse

over 6 years ago from Mike A., @AllPrototypes.com

  • Karl DanningerKarl Danninger, over 6 years ago (edited over 6 years ago )

    Mechanical keyboards all the way. Cherry MX Clears + DSA keycaps = Touch typing on little clouds.

    Edit with explanation on arrowless keyboard:

    I've gotten used to not using the traditional arrow keys. I find myself being able to move much more quickly around my machine when my fingers don't move from the home row. (It's way less strain on your wrists once you get used to it!) I achieve this with a "60%" keyboard. My arrow keys are mapped to IJKL using a function key. Some people use the vim-style HJKL but I never could really get used to that.

    7 points
    • Travis Arnold, over 6 years ago

      Do you have a link to that beaut? I've been wanting to switch to a mechanical keyboard recently and love the look of yours :) that wood grain enclosure is freaking sweet.

      1 point
    • Stefan Theofilos, over 6 years ago

      I've been wanting to try a 60% keyboard for a while now. How is not having the arrow keys?

      1 point
    • A Paul, over 6 years ago

      What's the benefit of a mechanical keyboard?

      0 points
      • Karl DanningerKarl Danninger, over 6 years ago (edited over 6 years ago )

        The key benefit in my honest opinion is personalization. There are dozens of switches to choose from, they all feel VERY different from the rest. Learning the feel of each switch is gratifying, and i'm a much faster typer on my MX Clears or MX Blues than I've ever been than using the scissor switch on macbook keyboards (and I've been using macbook keyboards full-time pretty much since highschool) my WPM also jumped about 20-30 after a week or two... That's not saying much as a coder since you aren't paid by your WPM... my wrists don't hurt nearly as much, my fingertips also don't feel like they are slapping dead weight anymore. The actuation of a mechanical IS NOT at the bottom of the keystroke. Some switches are in the middle, and others are near the top of the key press. Getting used to the key travel and when the key actuates is important. To me, it's so friggen hard to compare. It's a love it, or hate it thing. But I strongly feel that people that invest the time and effort to get comfortable with a switch they like, it pays off.

        Edit: I know some people that have used MX Blues their whole life that switch to MX Reds or even something completely out of left field like a Topre switch or a Gateron, and they instantly fall in love with it. It's a matter of finding the switch that works for you and makes your fingers little happy clams :)

        1 point
        • Travis Arnold, over 6 years ago

          Thanks for that explanation! I'm going to go for it. I've been experiencing some wrist pain lately so I'm going to try and switch (no pun intended haha) things up to see if it helps.

          0 points
        • A Paul, over 6 years ago

          Interesting. Are there any mechanical keyboards that AREN'T loud as hell? I'm surrounded by developers at work and the sound of their keyboards banging all day drives me absolutely insane.

          0 points
          • Karl DanningerKarl Danninger, over 6 years ago (edited over 6 years ago )

            ROFL! Me too! Yes, there are. Topre switches especially the HHKB Type-S is very quiet, and has a more familiar feel since it incorporates a rubber dome. Kind of feels like a piano key(?)

            The only problem is, is that particular keyboard (to me) is expensive as hell :/

            Edit: My MX Clears with rubber dampeners is fairly quiet. I would even say it's quieter than my new macbook pro with these ridiculously shallow clacky ass scissor switches! I do like the new macbook pro keyboard (probably for the sound alone) hahaha, as I love irritating my coworkers :troll:

            0 points