What keyboard do you use?

Laptop user here, looking for solid keyboard options to upgrade.
What keyboard do you use and why did you choose the particular model?

Comments

[Michel Renaud]

I use a Kinesis Freestyle for my work laptop and a Freestyle 2 for my personal computer (iMac): kinesis-ergo.com/keyboards/freesty...

I used a Das Keyboard at home for about two and a half years but switched back to the Kinesis a couple of months ago when I developed problems in my right arm.

[Félix Paradis]

TLDR:

I use an Ergodox-EZ which I like better than my Dygma Raise even though the learning curve is MUCH steeper

Long version:

felixparadis.com/posts/quest-for-t...

[Julien Gabriel]

Thanks for this feedback! I'm really looking to buy Ergodox-EZ
I'm currently using a Typematrix without letters on keys. So I know how to type without looking my keyboard, and also with one hand on each half of keyboard.
What kind of computer do you use ? Mac ? Win ? Linux ?

[Félix Paradis]

You're welcome!

I've been using a mac for the past 10+ years (might switch to Linux when my macbook pro dies though 🤔)
But, keyboard-wise, it doesn't really matter. Both the Ergodox-EZ and the Dygma Raise work well on the 3 major Operating Systems.

[Julien Gabriel]

That's great then! The Typematrix is a pain to configure on MAC OS event with some app like Karabineer...

[Kay Kleinvogel]

There are 2 keyboards I'm using. One for the office (open floor) and one for my home setup.

For the office I'm having the Logitech mx keys.
It's such a great keyword and it's not loud so I won't distract my colleagues.

For my home setup I'm having a razer black widow rgb with orange switches. Just such a nice feeling especially when there is nobody to bother with the sound.

[Avalander]

I've been using a Ducky One RGB with Cherry MX Red switches for the past two years. It works really well, it is easy on my wrists and it has some cool light effects.

[G33kNoob]

anyone ue TKL for programing?
is it really nice ?

[Andžs]

As a casual gamer, a year ago I got Logitech G Pro which is a TKL mechanical keyboard (MK)... it's nice, so nice for programming, Lightroom, web, emailing, command line, any kind of shortcuts... Even my GF (she's not geeky at all) admits that there is something into mechanical keyboard input feel.

Have you ever pressed down keys really hard and longer than normal because Ctrl+C didn't work as expected and you didn't knew it was your fat fingers or bug in software/OS? MK's work very consistently and accurately on any key while giving mechanical feedback. So your brain gets used to it and it gives this freeing typing feeling, like the fresh mountain air at 1-3km altitude.

But ever so often when dealing with the number inputs (Excel / bitrate / bandwidth / TFA / calculator etc.) I really miss full numpad even though use moue a lot and close proximity is nice feel as well. So, that's a tradeoff.

[Adrian C]

TKL is the best layout! Ergonomics of keys + numpad + mouse are bad. Getting rid of the numpad solves this.
Get a separate numpad if you really need numbers.

TKL seems to be the minority tho. There was an article on Ars Technica about this and the TKL fans were outvoted :-/

[Victor Samson]

TKL is my favourite layout. I'm too reliant on arrow keys to get rid of them!

[G33kNoob]

how about inputing number? i think its a bit difficult for programing ?

[Geoff Davis]

I personally don't have an issue not having a numpad. I haven't used a keyboard with a numpad in years, and never while programming.

I find having numbers close to the letter and operator keys makes using those together a smoother experience.

[Geoff Davis]

Using one now. Yes, a TKL is perfectly suited to programming!

[Vladimir Smyshlyaev]

The previous year I decided to invest in Ergodox EZ (ergodox-ez.com). It was hard to get used to it while I had to all the time change between my office keyboard (Logitech K380) and the ergodox one, but since pandemic started it took a week to build layouts for myself and get used to it. Especially challenging was Cyrillic layout because there are not enough keys in the rows to place all the letters to their common places. Here what it has become: configure.ergodox-ez.com/ergodox-e...

But in the very end, there is a feature of the keyboard I love the most - it is ortolinear. I used to have pain in my left wrist because I bent it to the left following the placement of the keys, don't need to do it anymore.

The same team also builds Planck keyboards, those are more compact, cheaper (than ergodox but still expensive), still ortolinear but have a bit conceptual way of switching key layouts.

[Daniel Schulz]

I've got a Logitech Craft and love it. The MX keys feels just the same and is way cheaper, so that would be my go-to option these days.
Disclaimer: I don't like mechanical keyboards.

[Octavian Matei]

I have Logitech MX Keys and I just love it :-)

[G33kNoob]

Seem good keyboard, but in my country the price $150 seem overpriced in taxes

[Brian Brewder]

Wow, lots of different keyboards here that I've never heard of. I'll have to check some of them out. For me, it's the Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Keyboard. The mouse is garbage (I just toss it), but the keyboard meets all my requirements.

• Ergonomic keyboard - Easy on the wrists for long coding sessions.
• Wrist support - Again, important to help preserve the use of my hands (it would be difficult to work without them)
• Oversized [DELETE] key optimally placed - It's my most used key in this section of the keyboard.
• Arrow keys in the standard configuration - Makes it easier to hit the keys without looking.
• Numeric keypad - This is a must on a desktop keyboard for me.
• Minimal size - I don't like the big, clunky keyboards. I wish they wouldn't bother with the media keys, but the MS solution is reasonable to me (it's a hard switch, I just leave it on my F-keys).

[Jabawaka]

Same here, may I add as a bonus point you can place the numeric pad to the left of the keyboard to enjoy extra symmetry and ergonomy!

[Adrian C]

For me, Thinkpad keyboard is the best I've used.
The only negative is having to switch ctrl and fn keys in the bios. (seriously, who thinks fn should be in the bottom left hand corner? Outside, now)

I don't like mechanicals, the keys feel way too high above the surface of the desk.

[Geoff Davis]

I alternate between a Leopold FC750 with Cherry MX Clear switches (relatively affordable and great quality: USD$130) and a Tokyo60 with Cherry MX Clear switches (more expensive, but easier to customize; group guy on Drop.com: USD$150, approximately).

Here's a photo of the Tokyo60 with GMK Oblivion keycaps: