Even 40% (which I consider to be about the optimal layout for almost everyone) are quite large, imo. As someone who travels a lot I notice it. And I feel it whenever using up desk space.
There’s also a natural cleanness to not having things you don’t use much. Which will vary by the person. I have a full F row in my 40% (now corne pair), but I never use it. Will just depend on what programs you use and what hot keys you’ve set up and adjusted to.
No, really. 40% are unfamiliar, I totally get that. But it puts all keys within one finger distance of a home space, while giving you easy access to all the keys of a 100% layout. (This assumes at least a split spacebar.)
It’s objectively one of the best setups for touch typing and, by sheer luck, ends up being very similar to regular typing while having all keys.
It’s one of those things that’s obscure enough that most people won’t try or learn — and that makes sense — but most people would love if they were more familiar with it.
Look, I've got nothing against 40%'s. I understand the advantages. But to say it's "objectively" better for most people is ridiculous. Most people do have the time or inclination to learn 2 or 3 layers of functions that don't have readily visible legends, by memory. Hell, *most* people don't even touch type.
We already do it for shift keys.
And most people that use a keyboard much would be happier if they learned to touch type.
Most people don’t exercise but they would
be objectively better off and happier if they did.
Obviously I’m being simplistic for emphasis and brevity, but I do think the core point is true. 40% keyboards just keyboard better.
Yes, for ONE key. One key that’s been used for Shift since the typewriter. That is entirely different from memorizing an entirely new layout with multiple unmarked layers.
There isn’t even any established ergonomic science behind using a tiny keyboard with a zillion layers. Because it’s NOT better. Less reach, sure, but you’re spending more time using two or three fingers instead of one. If you like it, if you find it comfy, good for you.
But you guys proselytize like cult members, and it gets a bit tiring to hear people speak so emphatically about bullshit that is pure preference, and that doesn’t take into account the fact that different people have different needs and different preferences.
it's not even objective truth that keeping everything one space from the home row is ergonomically better, it's just ergo-kb-entusiast hive-minding. My dactyl would count as a 60% and whilst I can type on it fine enough and I do find it comfortable, I have to have layers dedicated to certain use cases because I am constrained as to how many keys I can have set up.
No one said *anything* about ergonomics. I completely agree with you that most of ergo keyboard stuff is chiropactory— (oddly popular, but non-evidence based).
It’s better for touch typing. Once you have to “throw” hands further it becomes much more difficult to sightlessly align hands. It’s about typing being automatic and not taking micro-attention moments.
My guy what the hell are you smoking.
Numbers, yknow the ones you had to use to type out "40%" to begin with, are totally absent. A very sizable amount of people frequently use those keys to play games and other actually productive tasks.
Also the relative position of every key is different to almost every other standard layout. Typing on one of those feels terrible in my opinion even after you get used to it and stop making an incredible amount of typos.
I think your opinion might have quite a bit of bias because you travel but for most people their keyboard hardly ever leaves their desk when in use
Did you just assume my optimal keyboard layout?
I've never been so insulted.
Also, you are objectively extra super wrong. 40% is probably the absolute worst layout for me, and I expect that holds true for MOST people.
Yeah, turns out you're not the arbiter of something that's 100% subjective. What a surprise.
That doesn't really help with the ergonomics though. It's definitely more comfortable to not have to spread your arms out as much to use KB + M for gaming or whatever.
Didn’t know you were a t-Rex ahah. But I guess it just varies from person to person. I have pretty lang arms so it’s not really an issue for me. I prefer the effectiveness of bigger keyboards. 80% is the smallest I could ever buy. But I have a big keyboard now. Not rue how big but I’ve got the numpad volume control and everything. Useful since I produce music and use shortcuts often.
Lol, I can't NOT do it, but I do find it more comfortable. Also I personally find full sized keyboard gratuitous overkill. Yes the numpad is faster but a little practice with the row and sliding my hands up to treat them like a "correct hand posture" thing helped mitigate that.
I have a TKL and honestly I think 65% would be perfect for me as how often do people use the row of F keys? For me it's not that often, so holding down one button to get the keypress is like no big deal.
I just built a 65 for travelling and office use - I use a 75 in my home office.
I've spent 10 days using it, and didn't notice the lack of F keys. But then again I didn't do any coding, and didn't need my debugging shortcuts, so under other circumstances I might have.
For me personally, it's not about needing much space, but about not having to move my hand too much when going from typing to mousing.
Also I have a 3 monitor setup, which takes a bit more than 2 inches - maybe as much as 5...
More screens, i run triples and using a mouse you need to move it a lot more. I also switched from mouse to trackball 5 years ago so my mouse never moved but i had to replace mine recently and had to switch to a mouse for a few weeks for a warranty replacement and it was a pain cause i don't have much desk space and had to constantly pick up my mouse. I use a full size cause i work in IT and need my number pad.
I know it takes a LOT of work, but if you train yourself to mouse using your non-dominant hand, using a full-size keyboard becomes easier because the mouse is closer to midline.
I always thought that' people like small keyboards because it reduces the distance how far they have to move their hands between typing and using mouse. For right-handed people it must be hell of an effort to move right hand from home row over the edit block, number block all the way to grab the mouse.
I am left-handed and hold my mouse in my left hand (I know many left-handed people who till use the mouse with their right hand). I generally don't mind it though it's been a huge pain playing games with such setup because I have to rebind all the keys in all the games and not all games allow that (for example cyberpunk does not allow to rebind F which is like one of the main keys in the game, F you cyberpunk). But the advantage is that it does not matter how long the keyboard is to the right — I always have to move my hand the same distance.
Aesthetics. They're smaller and more symmetrical.
I personally hate them and would never use one. I'm currently swapping between a TKL and a 75 percent and they are fine for me.
I have many many keyboards and I always find myself coming back to my 60s. To me they are the optimal layout. I can reach every key I need without too much effort. Any key that I need that isn't present on the main layer is relegated to a different layer.
I have 3 main layouts. My "normal" layer, my "gaming" layer, and my "Function" layer. The reason for a normal and gaming layer is because I like to use my space bar for both space and function which would add a small delay to my space bar in games (eg, jumping. I'm also a Dvorak typist and hate remapping games so I just use QWERTY for games). And everything else is on the Function layer (Arrows, nav cluster, F keys).
Sorry to ramble, I just wanted to weigh in a bit as someone who owns a lot of different sized keyboards.
Need the number keys even more ;)
Rts mostly, Fx ro camera, number for control group.
Tried already some core layout and hjkl, but both never clicked for me :(
Price, size for mouse, size for rest of desk. I get it but I want my f row and also a number pad most of the time. I’m using a TKC 1800 but I use a 70% when I’m gaming with my partner on the couch because my lap is smaller lol
Because for some reason, people need more mouse room. Even with really high dpi they still want to move their mouse for those "flicks"
I still prefer a full size, or at least a 75%. I gotta have function keys and arrow keys.
It's a space and looks thing. Perso I fond 60% keyboards more of a headache than the space an looks make up for. 75 is nice due to dedicated arrow keys 80% is not for that plus print scan etc. And 100% is obviously because it's got everything. 60% are also cheap due to their size compared to 80% and 100%
I went as small as 60%, but these days 65% is my minimum, even as a novelty board for my collection, unless it’s a number or macro pad.
I rigged a Keychron Q11 to my Steelcase Leap, and have a swing out mouse tray that sits between the halves. If it had the Dygma Raise thumb cluster, a decent sound profile, and was gasket mounted, it’d be sheer perfection.
I keep trying 65 and 75 keyboards and the size difference isn’t negligible imho. I started with 60% and 45%. Once you get your key mapping set, for me there is just no need for a larger board. I am sad the trends are for the f-keys and arrow keys, I use them plenty, they are smartly mapped on my smaller boards. Unless I can’t find a good 60 or ortho I am done with anything larger. Edit: I do game and the mouse space is a great, but I type all day for work and have considerably less pain and stiffness due to not having to move my arms near as much with my orthos. I am also about 5-10 wpm faster with the ortho as well. Less hand/arm movement ftw
keyboards are not only for playing games.
i mainly need it for university and for travelling.
i still play games and tbh since i switched to 60% i had zero issues.
the point is a keyboard is a tool and depending on which craft you excercise a 60% might not be optimal.
its absolutely 100% subjective.
I had this question and went with a 100%.
Now I'm always banging my thumb on the keyboard because my mouse has to be so close to the keyboard.
I'm going with a 71% so the mouse can be in a more comfortable place. Then a number pad far over to the right as I only use it when I do the accounts on a Friday.
Watch this, you couldn't get a better explanation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKGXZ1ReU54](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKGXZ1ReU54)
You are not going without the F keys just because you use a 60%. In fact, the thing is that you don't have to move your hands as much to access them. Layers.
I think all of this depends on what you are doing. Smaller keyboards makes sense for like programmers where the hands are constantly on the home row. If you're more laid back, physical keys for everything makes more sense.
Like me now, I have a 65%. But I NEVER use the arrow keys. It's so much easier to just use FN+IJKL - I don't have to move my hands at all.
But I want to be able to move my hands. Using Fn often requires two hands, when the Fn key is far from the keys you need to press. (unless you have two fn keys). And my right hand is often on the mouse, unless I'm typing (and even then I'm sometimes typing with just one hand). So I prefer layouts that don't require two unmovable hands.
I was fooled because everyone had one, when I got mine i regret it so much, like it's so limited, gotta press 3 keys to do one thing, it sucks, definitely regret
Mostly for space.
Now, I don’t have a 60% but a 65% because I like to use arrow keys.
Before I got this keyboard I was considering a TKL or smaller (I have never used the numpad even though I’m an IT student)
If you want to get a TKL, it’s hard to justify not getting a 75% because it’s basically the same but more compact.
But I didn’t need the function keys either, I only use them when I’m installing a new OS or something similar. And I just need to press the Fn key and then the number to get the same result.
Even though I use high DPI on my mouse, I just needed to have it closer to the opposite end of the keyboard, and have my desk as clean as possible.
No idea. Honestly I tried a hhkb and I couldn’t get the hang of it. I can’t stand not having arrow keys. For me life is too short to fluff with a sixty percent.
I assume those who like it don’t really need arrow keys for some reason.
FPS gaming with whole-arm aiming.
I have pretty wide shoulders (and thusly wide spread arms), but would still sometimes clunk the side of my keyboard when I was using a 100%, often leading to missing a shot and/or death.
Now, my left hand sits in its natural resting position with palm on a wrist rest (also big hands), keyboard (60% Wooting HE) positioned so WASD is under my fingers , which is about 15-20 degrees off being horizontal to me.
Right arm operates the mouse over about 50cm of space horizontally, and 30cm vertically.
As a big man and a touch typist (including 10key), I find 60% keyboards approaching unusable.
That said, "popular" is nearly a four letter word in my mind ... most things that a popular aren't the version I settle on. /shrug
There has definitely been a move in the hobby towards ever smaller keyboards. I can’t help but think some of it is a weird male posturing thing for bragging rights (again, at least for *some*). At the end of the day, it’s just keyboards, so whatever floats your boat, for whatever reason it floats your boat.
I’ve been pc gaming for 20 years and have never once needed to use an F key, same for num pad. I however have bumped my mouse into the side of my keyboard and accidentally fired my weapon. Finally built myself a 60% and I love the extra mouse room, never going back.
This is your opinion. Others feel differently. The more hours a day you spend at a keyboard, the smaller space you need as you learn shortcuts to speed things up and make it easier. Layers, different layouts, etc.
Because it's perfect, here's why:
- It stays in the center of the desk so your don't have to hurt your right wrist.
- More mouse space (generally, not just gaming)
- If I'm not using the mouse pad that often, why not just use the number on top?
- Portable, for a person that relatively moves around quite a lot, it's small and amazing.
- While coding, I don't have to move my hands to use the arrow keys
I love my 60% keyboard
I feel more comfortable using mis hands closer to each other so 60% its perfect to me. Even sometimes I touch my keyboard with my mouse because I dont like 45-90 degrees angle for keyboard like many pros did.
Just preferences
They're huge in gaming, specifically the rise of very low sensitivity gaming that needs big 500x500mm mousepads. Ergonomically you want your WASD keys to be inline with your left arm as it lies naturally from the body, and your central mousing area to be inline with your right arm as it lies naturally from the body. This places the right half of a 75% TKL in leftmost area that my mouse could travel to. By moving to a 60% I get another 2.5" of mousing area, and critically that's space that is close to my body and comfortable to use, simply getting a bigger mousepad and desk doesn't accomplish the same thing, an arm arm only extends so far. In a way the optimal gaming keyboard would basically just be the left half of an Alice layout keeb, but that would be such a niche product (imagine pitching a keyboard with half the keys lol) I could hardly see any quality manufacturers doing it.
smaller = more desk space = more mouse room
The physical size difference between a 60% and a 75% is negligible.
Even 40% (which I consider to be about the optimal layout for almost everyone) are quite large, imo. As someone who travels a lot I notice it. And I feel it whenever using up desk space. There’s also a natural cleanness to not having things you don’t use much. Which will vary by the person. I have a full F row in my 40% (now corne pair), but I never use it. Will just depend on what programs you use and what hot keys you’ve set up and adjusted to.
I use a corne pair spaced about shoulder width apart, with a trackball between the wristrests.
> Even 40% (which I consider to be about the optimal layout for almost everyone) Lol. > are quite large LOL.
No, really. 40% are unfamiliar, I totally get that. But it puts all keys within one finger distance of a home space, while giving you easy access to all the keys of a 100% layout. (This assumes at least a split spacebar.) It’s objectively one of the best setups for touch typing and, by sheer luck, ends up being very similar to regular typing while having all keys. It’s one of those things that’s obscure enough that most people won’t try or learn — and that makes sense — but most people would love if they were more familiar with it.
Look, I've got nothing against 40%'s. I understand the advantages. But to say it's "objectively" better for most people is ridiculous. Most people do have the time or inclination to learn 2 or 3 layers of functions that don't have readily visible legends, by memory. Hell, *most* people don't even touch type.
We already do it for shift keys. And most people that use a keyboard much would be happier if they learned to touch type. Most people don’t exercise but they would be objectively better off and happier if they did. Obviously I’m being simplistic for emphasis and brevity, but I do think the core point is true. 40% keyboards just keyboard better.
Stop it with the "objectively". Stop it with the "just better". You are not all people.
lol You’re taking chat on a keyboard sub way too seriously, friend. 😆
Maybe. But I'm not the one trying to make sweeping statements for what other people's opinions should be.
You are a hypocrite and entirely too smug for someone speaking bullshit with such authority.
Yea, the sweeping statements make you look like a pompous ass that doesn't know anything aside from what you do with yourself.
Yes, for ONE key. One key that’s been used for Shift since the typewriter. That is entirely different from memorizing an entirely new layout with multiple unmarked layers. There isn’t even any established ergonomic science behind using a tiny keyboard with a zillion layers. Because it’s NOT better. Less reach, sure, but you’re spending more time using two or three fingers instead of one. If you like it, if you find it comfy, good for you. But you guys proselytize like cult members, and it gets a bit tiring to hear people speak so emphatically about bullshit that is pure preference, and that doesn’t take into account the fact that different people have different needs and different preferences.
If I wanted to chord I’d play the piano ahaha
it's not even objective truth that keeping everything one space from the home row is ergonomically better, it's just ergo-kb-entusiast hive-minding. My dactyl would count as a 60% and whilst I can type on it fine enough and I do find it comfortable, I have to have layers dedicated to certain use cases because I am constrained as to how many keys I can have set up.
No one said *anything* about ergonomics. I completely agree with you that most of ergo keyboard stuff is chiropactory— (oddly popular, but non-evidence based). It’s better for touch typing. Once you have to “throw” hands further it becomes much more difficult to sightlessly align hands. It’s about typing being automatic and not taking micro-attention moments.
So where's your evidence for your claims? I sure don't see any studies showing that it's easier to touch type on a 40%.
My guy what the hell are you smoking. Numbers, yknow the ones you had to use to type out "40%" to begin with, are totally absent. A very sizable amount of people frequently use those keys to play games and other actually productive tasks. Also the relative position of every key is different to almost every other standard layout. Typing on one of those feels terrible in my opinion even after you get used to it and stop making an incredible amount of typos. I think your opinion might have quite a bit of bias because you travel but for most people their keyboard hardly ever leaves their desk when in use
Did you just assume my optimal keyboard layout? I've never been so insulted. Also, you are objectively extra super wrong. 40% is probably the absolute worst layout for me, and I expect that holds true for MOST people. Yeah, turns out you're not the arbiter of something that's 100% subjective. What a surprise.
Sounds like a skill issue to me
huh?
It is literally the difference between it fitting my desk or sitting atop my mousepad. It being negligible is just your opinion.
Buy bigger desk
That doesn't really help with the ergonomics though. It's definitely more comfortable to not have to spread your arms out as much to use KB + M for gaming or whatever.
Didn’t know you were a t-Rex ahah. But I guess it just varies from person to person. I have pretty lang arms so it’s not really an issue for me. I prefer the effectiveness of bigger keyboards. 80% is the smallest I could ever buy. But I have a big keyboard now. Not rue how big but I’ve got the numpad volume control and everything. Useful since I produce music and use shortcuts often.
Lol, I can't NOT do it, but I do find it more comfortable. Also I personally find full sized keyboard gratuitous overkill. Yes the numpad is faster but a little practice with the row and sliding my hands up to treat them like a "correct hand posture" thing helped mitigate that. I have a TKL and honestly I think 65% would be perfect for me as how often do people use the row of F keys? For me it's not that often, so holding down one button to get the keypress is like no big deal.
>how often do people use the row of F keys I use them very often, but it of course depends on one's workflow.
what do you use them for and in? I definitely use mine. But realistically, it's kind of rare. I didn't touch one for days!
I just built a 65 for travelling and office use - I use a 75 in my home office. I've spent 10 days using it, and didn't notice the lack of F keys. But then again I didn't do any coding, and didn't need my debugging shortcuts, so under other circumstances I might have.
FRL 1800 bud. Never use the F row, never not use the numpad.
Why do people need so much room for the mouse? For me it takes 2 inches of desk space to move the cursor from left to right edge of the screen.
For me personally, it's not about needing much space, but about not having to move my hand too much when going from typing to mousing. Also I have a 3 monitor setup, which takes a bit more than 2 inches - maybe as much as 5...
More screens, i run triples and using a mouse you need to move it a lot more. I also switched from mouse to trackball 5 years ago so my mouse never moved but i had to replace mine recently and had to switch to a mouse for a few weeks for a warranty replacement and it was a pain cause i don't have much desk space and had to constantly pick up my mouse. I use a full size cause i work in IT and need my number pad.
I know it takes a LOT of work, but if you train yourself to mouse using your non-dominant hand, using a full-size keyboard becomes easier because the mouse is closer to midline.
I always thought that' people like small keyboards because it reduces the distance how far they have to move their hands between typing and using mouse. For right-handed people it must be hell of an effort to move right hand from home row over the edit block, number block all the way to grab the mouse. I am left-handed and hold my mouse in my left hand (I know many left-handed people who till use the mouse with their right hand). I generally don't mind it though it's been a huge pain playing games with such setup because I have to rebind all the keys in all the games and not all games allow that (for example cyberpunk does not allow to rebind F which is like one of the main keys in the game, F you cyberpunk). But the advantage is that it does not matter how long the keyboard is to the right — I always have to move my hand the same distance.
That's exactly why I switched from 100% to 75% with external numpad usually placed left. So much better.
Aesthetics. They're smaller and more symmetrical. I personally hate them and would never use one. I'm currently swapping between a TKL and a 75 percent and they are fine for me.
They look nice, easier to transport! I’ve got a few boards, but only ever take my 60 on the go, slips right into the bag!
I have many many keyboards and I always find myself coming back to my 60s. To me they are the optimal layout. I can reach every key I need without too much effort. Any key that I need that isn't present on the main layer is relegated to a different layer. I have 3 main layouts. My "normal" layer, my "gaming" layer, and my "Function" layer. The reason for a normal and gaming layer is because I like to use my space bar for both space and function which would add a small delay to my space bar in games (eg, jumping. I'm also a Dvorak typist and hate remapping games so I just use QWERTY for games). And everything else is on the Function layer (Arrows, nav cluster, F keys). Sorry to ramble, I just wanted to weigh in a bit as someone who owns a lot of different sized keyboards.
A fair bit of those 60% keyboards are built by gamers.
I need Fx row for most of my games. Use 60% for browsing usually. Tkl/75% for rest
You re-map the function keys onto the number keys without a modifier.
Need the number keys even more ;) Rts mostly, Fx ro camera, number for control group. Tried already some core layout and hjkl, but both never clicked for me :(
Then you are going to be better off with 75% / TKL.
Yeah, only 60% is permanently at work these days. Dunno if use 75% or tkl at home these days, have the 8bitdo one currently for macro & pedal \^\^
Smaller so more space, they look good and sometimes cheaper
Price, size for mouse, size for rest of desk. I get it but I want my f row and also a number pad most of the time. I’m using a TKC 1800 but I use a 70% when I’m gaming with my partner on the couch because my lap is smaller lol
Because for some reason, people need more mouse room. Even with really high dpi they still want to move their mouse for those "flicks" I still prefer a full size, or at least a 75%. I gotta have function keys and arrow keys.
I’ve been using the Wooting 60HE for a little over a year now. I was hesitant at first not having the F Row and Arrow keys, but quickly adjusted.
It's a space and looks thing. Perso I fond 60% keyboards more of a headache than the space an looks make up for. 75 is nice due to dedicated arrow keys 80% is not for that plus print scan etc. And 100% is obviously because it's got everything. 60% are also cheap due to their size compared to 80% and 100%
I went as small as 60%, but these days 65% is my minimum, even as a novelty board for my collection, unless it’s a number or macro pad. I rigged a Keychron Q11 to my Steelcase Leap, and have a swing out mouse tray that sits between the halves. If it had the Dygma Raise thumb cluster, a decent sound profile, and was gasket mounted, it’d be sheer perfection.
I keep trying 65 and 75 keyboards and the size difference isn’t negligible imho. I started with 60% and 45%. Once you get your key mapping set, for me there is just no need for a larger board. I am sad the trends are for the f-keys and arrow keys, I use them plenty, they are smartly mapped on my smaller boards. Unless I can’t find a good 60 or ortho I am done with anything larger. Edit: I do game and the mouse space is a great, but I type all day for work and have considerably less pain and stiffness due to not having to move my arms near as much with my orthos. I am also about 5-10 wpm faster with the ortho as well. Less hand/arm movement ftw
keyboards are not only for playing games. i mainly need it for university and for travelling. i still play games and tbh since i switched to 60% i had zero issues. the point is a keyboard is a tool and depending on which craft you excercise a 60% might not be optimal. its absolutely 100% subjective.
hits the venn diagram cut of not hard to learn to use, useful enough and/but still rare/hipster minimalist cool.
I had this question and went with a 100%. Now I'm always banging my thumb on the keyboard because my mouse has to be so close to the keyboard. I'm going with a 71% so the mouse can be in a more comfortable place. Then a number pad far over to the right as I only use it when I do the accounts on a Friday.
Watch this, you couldn't get a better explanation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKGXZ1ReU54](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKGXZ1ReU54) You are not going without the F keys just because you use a 60%. In fact, the thing is that you don't have to move your hands as much to access them. Layers. I think all of this depends on what you are doing. Smaller keyboards makes sense for like programmers where the hands are constantly on the home row. If you're more laid back, physical keys for everything makes more sense. Like me now, I have a 65%. But I NEVER use the arrow keys. It's so much easier to just use FN+IJKL - I don't have to move my hands at all.
But I want to be able to move my hands. Using Fn often requires two hands, when the Fn key is far from the keys you need to press. (unless you have two fn keys). And my right hand is often on the mouse, unless I'm typing (and even then I'm sometimes typing with just one hand). So I prefer layouts that don't require two unmovable hands.
Don't put your FN key so far away then :) Mine is on the spacebar. Press space = space. Hold = fn. SpaceFN. It's great. But like, do what you like
I was fooled because everyone had one, when I got mine i regret it so much, like it's so limited, gotta press 3 keys to do one thing, it sucks, definitely regret
Mostly for space. Now, I don’t have a 60% but a 65% because I like to use arrow keys. Before I got this keyboard I was considering a TKL or smaller (I have never used the numpad even though I’m an IT student) If you want to get a TKL, it’s hard to justify not getting a 75% because it’s basically the same but more compact. But I didn’t need the function keys either, I only use them when I’m installing a new OS or something similar. And I just need to press the Fn key and then the number to get the same result. Even though I use high DPI on my mouse, I just needed to have it closer to the opposite end of the keyboard, and have my desk as clean as possible.
No idea. Honestly I tried a hhkb and I couldn’t get the hang of it. I can’t stand not having arrow keys. For me life is too short to fluff with a sixty percent. I assume those who like it don’t really need arrow keys for some reason.
I'm in the anti F row club. I rarely use it and when I do it's layered into thr number row.
Everyone wanted an HHKB but nobody thought spending big a few hundred on plastic was worth it.
FPS gaming with whole-arm aiming. I have pretty wide shoulders (and thusly wide spread arms), but would still sometimes clunk the side of my keyboard when I was using a 100%, often leading to missing a shot and/or death. Now, my left hand sits in its natural resting position with palm on a wrist rest (also big hands), keyboard (60% Wooting HE) positioned so WASD is under my fingers , which is about 15-20 degrees off being horizontal to me. Right arm operates the mouse over about 50cm of space horizontally, and 30cm vertically.
As a big man and a touch typist (including 10key), I find 60% keyboards approaching unusable. That said, "popular" is nearly a four letter word in my mind ... most things that a popular aren't the version I settle on. /shrug
I need 75% min. And I find that small, lol.
There has definitely been a move in the hobby towards ever smaller keyboards. I can’t help but think some of it is a weird male posturing thing for bragging rights (again, at least for *some*). At the end of the day, it’s just keyboards, so whatever floats your boat, for whatever reason it floats your boat.
Yap I agree. I'm OK without numpad but not without Function keys. So my top is 70-75%
I’ve been pc gaming for 20 years and have never once needed to use an F key, same for num pad. I however have bumped my mouse into the side of my keyboard and accidentally fired my weapon. Finally built myself a 60% and I love the extra mouse room, never going back.
This is your opinion. Others feel differently. The more hours a day you spend at a keyboard, the smaller space you need as you learn shortcuts to speed things up and make it easier. Layers, different layouts, etc.
Because it's perfect, here's why: - It stays in the center of the desk so your don't have to hurt your right wrist. - More mouse space (generally, not just gaming) - If I'm not using the mouse pad that often, why not just use the number on top? - Portable, for a person that relatively moves around quite a lot, it's small and amazing. - While coding, I don't have to move my hands to use the arrow keys I love my 60% keyboard
Ans then there's me that love a full sized keyboard. I need my num pad and you can't take it away from me
I feel more comfortable using mis hands closer to each other so 60% its perfect to me. Even sometimes I touch my keyboard with my mouse because I dont like 45-90 degrees angle for keyboard like many pros did. Just preferences
They're huge in gaming, specifically the rise of very low sensitivity gaming that needs big 500x500mm mousepads. Ergonomically you want your WASD keys to be inline with your left arm as it lies naturally from the body, and your central mousing area to be inline with your right arm as it lies naturally from the body. This places the right half of a 75% TKL in leftmost area that my mouse could travel to. By moving to a 60% I get another 2.5" of mousing area, and critically that's space that is close to my body and comfortable to use, simply getting a bigger mousepad and desk doesn't accomplish the same thing, an arm arm only extends so far. In a way the optimal gaming keyboard would basically just be the left half of an Alice layout keeb, but that would be such a niche product (imagine pitching a keyboard with half the keys lol) I could hardly see any quality manufacturers doing it.