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There’s three things that set my keyboard apart from normal keyboards. 1.) it’s ortholinear, 2.) it’s has a 40% layout, and 3.) the keycaps are blank and I can talk about each one at a time
An ortholinear keyboard means it’s keys are laid out in a perfect grid rather than a staggered layout in standard keyboards
A key board that has a 40% layout means that it has 40% of the keys on a full keyboard. A MacBook for example has a 75% layout because there’s no number pad. There are also 60% keyboards, and 30% keyboards and 80% keyboards, etc
So there’s 40% keyboards (left) and ortholinear keyboards (right)...
I have a keyboard called a Planck, which is both 40% and ortholinear
Is there any advantages really to using this other than a standard keyboard? Not really. Use what you’re used to. Is it enjoyable and a much different experience that I prefer? Absolutely
That being said, there are reasons to give it a try. This is a helpful video that explains some plus sides of ortholinear vs staggered keyboards https://youtu.be/Ho_CFfdsmc8 ">https://youtu.be/Ho_CFfdsm...
The creator of that video also has a video explaining why he prefers a 40% keyboard over a larger one https://youtu.be/L4yaSphm5dc ">https://youtu.be/L4yaSphm5...
And since he likes ortholinear keyboards and 40% keyboards, you guessed it, we have the same keyboard from the same company. I just have different key caps and my case is black. https://youtu.be/NcnMR8D0G5o ">https://youtu.be/NcnMR8D0G...
And why do I have blank key caps? I like the look and it forces me to not look down at my keyboard so my neck thanks me for that
And besides the space bar, having it blank and be ortholinear means a button can be whatever it is. Like instead of a caps lock button which I don’t use, I have a CTRL button which I use more but is inconvenient to reach on a normal Mac keyboard
Well, to clarify it’s even better.
It’s a TAB button when I tap it, when I hold down the same button it becomes CTRL
It’s a TAB button when I tap it, when I hold down the same button it becomes CTRL
But again I wouldn’t take that guys videos too seriously. Some of the things he said have been true in my experience, other things haven’t. But here’s maybe something to think about:
We use tools that other people have designed for us and for the most part we don’t question them. I spend eight hours a day interacting with a keyboard. Why do I accept the default settings?
Why don’t I see if there’s something that I might like better? This doesn’t just go for keyboards. Why use the default settings for any software you use? Is there value in tinkering and poking around?
With my keyboard I got to customize everything. I even get to pick the sound it makes when I press a key. I got to decide how much resistance it gives when I press a key. It feels what I want it to feel. Do I type faster? Yeah I went from 90 wpm to 140 wpm but it’s not the point
I just love how it feels and for a tool that I’m forced to use all day, to make it feel and sound like something I want to use more has been good. In a profession handcuffed by Apple and Adobe who try to force you into their rigid worlds, this has been my small act of defiance
