I’ve been typing with the Dvorak layout for 20 years now. Initially I pried the keys off of my qwerty keyboard and rearranged them. Very quickly though I realized that this visual dependency made it impossible to type on anyone else’s computer. Rather than carry my keyboard, I just learned to touch type.
/me literally explodes.
1 Like
Pics or it didn’t happen. 
2 Likes
The trackpoint driver sensitivity can be adjusted in the driver, it makes a big difference. The trackpoints on Model Ms are very sluggish compared to the trackpoints on ThinkPads, if the actions are not adjusted I find myself straining to use them.
[quote=“japhroaig, post:129, topic:78335”]
For hundreds of years us musicians have been trying to make action smaller and lighter, to increase speed and decrease fatigue.[/quote]
So the theremin is your ultimate instrument? And this your ideal keyboard:
4 Likes
Of course not, that’s an example of absurdity in the opposite direction 
(I kinda want that keyboard though!)
1 Like
I haven’t seen a keyboard like that since I was using an Atari 400
To be fair, the keyboards I’m talking about are sensitive to pressure and tilt; the weird rubber pads weren’t a cost cutting measure so much as a part of the technology. OTOH, the K-Board I had was unreliable at best and semi-died after about a year.
My perpetual joke (which probably isn’t funny but if “3PM in the morning” isn’t funny then everyone is wrong 
) is “saves more x for me.” I don’t have an interest in preaching the gospel of mechanical keys. I’m just happy there are enough people out there liking them that it sustains the market that lets me buy mechanical keyboards.
(I’ve forgotten to mention that another reason I love mechanical keyboards is that I type enough just for work that I wear out a membrane keyboard within 18 months on the outside. It’s annoying to have to change keyboards all the time.)
(After our conversation yesterday(? what are time stamps lol), I tried typing less loudly enthusiastically and found it didn’t really slow me down that much.)
The K-Board looked neat until I saw the price. 
2 Likes
The US International keyboard makes it much easier. This way you can right-alt to get accented characters without any number pad heroics.
1 Like
Pfft, real programmers use heroin!
…
Wait, what did I just say?
9 Likes
Hmm…
Question: Anything in the sub- $50 range for someone who wants to try a mechanical keyboard that won’t turn into garbage in six months?
1 Like
You may be able to pick up an old Model M used for around that range (prices I’m seeing vary from $45 to $450).
For new ones, here are a few on the big-orange-site-with-an-A that are in your price range using offbrand clone switches. I’m seeing mixed reviews for most. There’s a TOMOKO 87 key where the only negative review on it is … kind of silly. It’s been available for less than three months so it’s a little soon to say whether it will hold up for 6 months.
2 Likes
Second hand Cherry G80 is nice if you just want to give it a go. You can often pick these up for peanuts (especially in Germany). Alps switches are highly regarded as well and can be found in old Apple keyboards like the AEK2. Try the boards of the main mech communities at Reddit - Dive into anything, deskthority.net or geekhack.org where you can find people who won’t sell you crap.
3 Likes
Well, these are the folks who have been making a GUI for more than 20 years and still haven’t provided a Ctrl-key combo to create a new folder…
Not anymore (at least as of Windows 7).
Ctrl+Shift+N will create a new folder in Windows. I use this all the time.
5 Likes
Welp! Didn’t realize how long I’ve been not paying attention to Windows. Thx for the update!
Did you know holding down shift while right clicking within a folder gives you an “Open command window here” option? Also, Shift+Right Click on a file or folder gives you “Copy as Path”.
Now you do!
Bah! Real programmers use whatever’s attached to the machine in front of them! That goes for OSes and editors too, not just keyboards.
I never learned to touch-type, which has been a great advantage in my career. I’ve occasionally had 1 to 4 fingers out of commission for a week or two, and no biggie. 
1 Like
