In Search of Compact Keyboard That Doesn't Suck?

dlaur asks: "I am a right-handed programmer who doesn't use the numeric keypad. While some may appreciate it, I find that it forces me to place my mouse too far away and I would prefer a more compact keyboard. I depend upon easy access to the navigation keys (arrows/ins/del/home/end/pgup/pgdn) while programming, and I find that, while compact keyboard layouts do eliminate the numeric keypad, they also cram the navigation keys into unnatural places. Does anyone manufacture a 'standard layout' keyboard sans keypad? Tip for entrepreneurs: I'll pay a lot for one."

Comments

Logitech dinovo laser

[steeph]

I've bought this one 2 months ago, for exactly the same reason.I like it a lot although it could have been better if it had been in the natural design. http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details /NL/EN,CRID=2158,CONTENTID=10777

Re:Logitech dinovo laser

[obi]

I agree with parent.

I've got the dinovo for a while too (with the MX900/bluetooth), and been very happy with the keyboard especially. I hardly use the keypad (the screen would be nice if only it worked under linux, and the integrated calculator is ok, but a bit limited) The MX900 mouse is a bit heavy and doesn't always recharge properly - I'll probably buy a wired mouse soon.

But the keyboard is top notch. Feels like it's very good quality (for the price, it better be). I prefer the soft/shallow keys of this keyboard, over the typewriter heavy/deep/IBM keys, so that's something you might want to consider. And it's bluetooth, so I can use it with my laptop too, and probably even with my Nokia 770 (haven't tried this yet though)

Many choices

[eyeball]

Behold. The Happy Hacking Lite 2 keyboard at the bottom of that page may be your best bet.

Re:Many choices

[Rude Turnip]

I also use a Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite 2. I do have a need for a numeric keypad for work purposes (punching numbers into spreadsheets). I purchased an IBM-branded USB numeric keypad for 20 or 30 dollars. It's really thin and I simply plug it into one of the USB ports on the keyboard. I've got my mouse plugged into the second USB port on the keyboard, so there is only one USB cable actually going into my laptop. Having the numeric keypad separate from the keyboard gives you lots of flexibilit in positioning. I prefer a sort of rightward-sweeping arc that starts with my keyboard in front of me, then the numpad up and out about 6 inches, and then the mouse.

Re:Many choices

[IntlHarvester]

I know that Happy Hacking is the knee-jerk response to any keyboard question -- but it doesn't come anywhere near his requirements for the navigation keys -- It doesn't even have dedicated keys!

Also, the Apple PowerBook keyboard was obviously designed by Happy Hacking-using crackbabies.

Just switch to left handed mousing!

[brianmf]

Did you try switching your mouse to the LHS of your keyboard?

I did this about six months ago, and havent looked back since. Typical setups put too many common functions on the RHS. Having the arrow keys, pgUp, pgDown, numeric keypad, del and mouse all in a small area is crazy. Switching the mouse to the LHS (and reversing the buttons) is the way to go. It allows you to use the mouse and the keyboard at the same time.

Just takes about a week to get used to it...

Re:Just switch to left handed mousing!

[TeknoHog]

I second this! You have two hands so why not use both of them efficiently at the same time -- right hand on the keyboard, left hand on the mouse. This is the way for right-handed people, because the keyboard requires more dexterity IMHO.

Oddly enough, I've done this for about six years, without swapping the buttons. I'm aware of the sense of symmetry in muscle memory, but I never felt the need. It's also easier for other people to use my machine, and vice versa.

IBM Model M Space Saver

[BitchKapoor]

Dude, I use the IBM Model M Space Saver keyboard, and it's totally awesome. It's just like a regular Model M high-durability buckling-spring keyboard, except minus the numeric keypad. Here's a page with a picture comparing the Space Saver to a full M and a Happy Hacking. This other page depicts the more typical beige Model M Space Saver, albeit retrofitted for Dvorak. BitchKapoor, over and out!

IBM Trackpoint SpaceSaver

[penguin-collective]

I like the IBM Trackpoint SpaceSaver. In addition to being a nice compact keyboard, the Trackpoint is great for people who don't like to reach for the mouse all the time.

Try a laptop!

[aquarian]

I switched to a laptop, and I'm never going back. Thinkpads have the best keyboards ever.

Yeah try it.

[TheLink]

(the enter keys are on the right side too...)

I switched some years back when I got a bit of RSI on right hand. So it's not for the same reason, but there's no real disadvantage.

Now I can use the mouse with both hands, but left hand is more for normal desktop mousing, right hand is for games - FPS etc ;).

Some of my colleagues thought I was left handed...

Oh yeah, I suggest you don't change the mouse button settings, that way you can use most people's mouse configs with either hand.

Compact Keyboard

[william_garrity]

ThinkPlus USB Travel Keyboard with UltraNav http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/P roductDisplay?catalogId=-840&storeId=10000001&lang Id=-1&dualCurrId=1000073&categoryId=2581898&produc tId=8717673 This is basically the ThinkPad keyboard. It's great--pointing stick and trackpad.

use a playstation keyboard

[liveevil]

I had the same problem, i wanted the narrower keyboard so it would leave more room for making those deft mouse moves in Quake. I was looking for a good one for a long time but found it totally by accident. I was at Circuit City looking for something else entirely, when I happened to stroll through the console games area. There it was on the shelf, a tiny keyboard made by logitech for the Playstation 2. It has a standard usb cable and works perfectly on my pc. It even has the WIN key, which has a picture of the Logitech logo instead of the windows emblem, but it works the same in Windows. Here's the website: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details /CA/EN,CRID=2282,CONTENTID=6636 or do a google search on "logitech playstation keyboard". It's the first search result. The website or the box doesn't say anything about it working with a pc, but I can assure you it works 100% like any other keyboard on a pc. I've been using mine for about a year without a single problem. Plus it's cheap, ~$20, a lot cheaper than most of the previous suggestions. See: http://www.dealtime.com/xPC-Logitech_LOGITECH_9671 99_0100_USB_KEYBOARD_FOR_PS2 Give it a try, it's a real gem.

Re:Learn vi!

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

I use Vi -- and I still need a mouse.

How very nice for you.

Too bad this thread is about keyboards that lack arrow keys - not going mouse-free. Please save your comment so that it can be recycled in a future slashdot posting that is actually on topic.