Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ask Slashdot: Which Laptop Has The Best Keyboard?

Posted by EditorDavid on from the keeping-up-with-keypresses dept.

Slashdot reader Rock21k is thinking of replacing an old laptop. But... All newer laptops seem to have wide spacing between the keyboard keys, which I hate... At one time, this used to be for consumer laptops but most major companies have done it for business laptops as well... Probably over time I might get used to it, but definitely not the first choice. I understand I can use an external keyboard but that defeats the purpose of a laptop! Do you also hate wide spacing between keyboard keys? Which brand do you find least annoying? Leave your best answers in the comments. Which laptop has the best keyboard?

5 of 300 comments (clear)

  1. It's a Feature by chromaexcursion · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Wide spaced keys are closer to a desktop keyboard layout.
    Manufacturers consider this a feature, not a problem.
    The smaller the laptop, the tighter the key spacing. If you want tight keys, you need to look at a small screen.
    Most wireless keyboards have tight key spacing. You might look at those.

  2. Spacing is good by Misagon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Studies made in þe olde typewriter era have shown that having a wider surface on top of the keys leads to more unintentional key presses.
    The standard surface width is 1/2" or 12 mm, and with standard width (what is usually meant when talking about "key spacing") being 3/4".

    I think that what Rock21k is actually referring to is what is called "island keys" or "chiclet" keys.
    I don't think that whether the keys' skirts are angled or go straight down matters that much. The problems are rather that chiclet keyboard tend to have flatter surfaces but more often entirely flat, wider surfaces and less key travel than other keyboards.
    MacBook "Pro"'s keyboards with its ultra-flat "butterfly" scissor mechanism is especially bad.

    Also, some popular chiclet laptop keyboards (such as MS Surface "Type Cover") have very low surface friction, so fingers slip more often.
    Low surface friction wouldn't have been so detrimental to keyboard feel if the keys had been dished and had more space between them.
    Older keyboard keys tended to be made of plastic, such as ABS or PBT which has good surface feel even when glossy but backlit keys tend to be painted with a slippery paint layer with laser-ablated legends.

    --
    "We mustn't be caught by surprise by our own advancing technology" -- Aldous Huxley
    1. Re:Spacing is good by AmiMoJo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The curved surfaces help your fingers auto-centre. As you type your fingers can feel how far off centre they are and your brain makes corrections, resulting in fewer errors. With flat keys there is less tactile feedback on finger positioning.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  3. Re:2016 MacBook Pro! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is all very interesting. I actually found myself checking this comment thread to see if the current MBP keyboards would be listed in a positive way. It took me a few days to get used to, but typing on earlier MBPs now feels really uncomfortable.

    Different strokes, I guess.

  4. Re: 2016 MacBook Pro! by p91paul · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Easy, it's muscle memory...using something every day makes you able to move on it without thinking, and that kind of training makes you faster. Also, your test with the previous keyboard does not mean the newer is better, just that you learned the new one (forgetting the old). For a good comparison you'd need to take back data of an old typing speed test taken on your last day with your old keyboard and match it against the one you just did.