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Best programmer's keyboard

Started by Vectorg Mar 19, 2009 at 7:40 PM 26 replies 12.9k views
Original Post
Vectorg
Vectorg
Only fellow hardcore programmers will know what I'm even talking about... maybe. I need a new keyboard. My current keyboard has a typematic rate of 40-per-second on XP. I tried a new Logitech-Deluxe-250 and the typematic rate topped out at 30-per-second. It's a USB and my old keyboard is a PS/2. Go to a computer store or online and say the word "typematic". Duh is the response. Am I the only person left who adjusts their keyboard repeat rate? Try to contact Logitech or Kensington... impossible. I want the typematic rate as fast as possible, and the key-delay as short as possible. Am I the only one left? I don't need keys dedicated to email or backing up my data. That is just plain scary. What is the best programmer's keyboard?
Toolmaker
Toolmaker
Why do you want such a high typematic ratio? When you're programming, you're 99% of the time not button smashing in a way a typist would be pounding away. Most expressions require special characters anyway, and those slow you down massively.

Hell, writing this reply is done in a higher typing speed than coding, because I don't relaly need to think my code through.

But to be on topic: I don't know. I mostly work on a laptop and this keyboard is fine.

Toolmaker
 
eedok
eedok
I'm more worried about ergonomics than how quickly my keyboard can repeat a key. I find the Microsoft Comfort Curve works best if you're someone who's hands often wander off the home row, and the Natural 4000 to be the best if you tend to stay in the home row while typing.
LockePick
LockePick
The Natural 4000 is a great keyboard and completely saved me from destroying my wrists. One of the best purchases I've ever made in my life. Seriously.

I'm not sure what your obsession with the typematic rate is about - a word I've never even heard of before this - but Windows has a setting for that and I can't imagine ever needing it to go faster.

Different (key) strokes for different folks, I guess. The price of having unusual needs like that is not having many options.
zedz
zedz
>>Why do you want such a high typematic ratio?

not only that, 40 per second is faster than the world record for typing
Cypher19
Cypher19
QWERTY. I'm left handed, and having so many common letters and words be handled by just the one hand means that I can keep my right hand in the mouse moer often. This results in a nice symmetry in my body (one hand on keyboard + one hand on mouse results in my forearms being perpendicular to my body) and considering most of what I do involves hte mouse, means that I don't have to move it off very often.

This is the exact layout I want: http://www.datacal.com/s_images/chinese-keyboard-black-usb_l.jpg
Black Knight
Black Knight
I'm using Comfort Curve 2000 too.
I don't know anything about the typematic stuff though,Visual Assist does of most the job anyways.I just type a few letters [rolleyes]
Dmytry
Dmytry
Isn't key repeat rate configurable? (If that's what you're talking about edit: yea that's what you're talking about)

I'm just setting it in keyboard preferences. Both repeat rate and delay. You can even adjust it in BIOS AFAIK, but I'm not sure that setting doesn't get overridden by your system.
ChurchSkiz
ChurchSkiz
I'm totally dumbfounded. You want it so that when you hit a key, it instantly repeats itself? And you are hitting the limits of your key delay? What kind of messed up words are you typing that the repeat rate isn't high enough for you?
Do you have variable names like jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj and dddddddddddddddddddddddd?

Can you post a video on youtube of how you work? I really want to see what you are doing.

Codeka
Codeka
I'm guessing it's mostly so that moving around with cursor is faster, not so much for actually typing words, etc. Still, I've personally never had a problem with the default speed of my keyboard. Usually I just use the mouse...
Mantrid
Mantrid
Quote:
Original post by Hodgman
Quote:
Original post by Cypher19
This is the exact layout I want: http://www.datacal.com/s_images/chinese-keyboard-black-usb_l.jpg
That's what I consider to be a "normal" layout - but it's almost impossible to find these days!

I ended up getting the serial numbers off my Dell PC at work and ordering a corporate keyboard instead of a "friendly" home user one.


me too, ive had the same keyboard for 6 years for this very reason! ps2 and everything

some of the replies to this thread are pretty funny XD
davepermen
davepermen
Quote:
Original post by Codeka
I'm guessing it's mostly so that moving around with cursor is faster, not so much for actually typing words, etc. Still, I've personally never had a problem with the default speed of my keyboard. Usually I just use the mouse...


maybe he should learn about ctrl-arrow combinations, and home/end and all the combinations there?

but yes, else the mouse works great.

i have a keyboard from logitech, called wave i think. it's nice to type on.
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Don Carnage
Don Carnage
Maybe it's too hardcore, but I want one: C64 USB keyboard.

Too bad I won't cannibalize my old breadbox to make this.
It is I, the spectaculous Don Karnage! My bloodthirsty horde is on an intercept course with you. We will be shooting you and looting you in precisely... Ten minutes. Felicitations!
Axiverse
Axiverse
Haha. Like it was stated above, I really don't see what anyone would need a high repeat rate for anyways. I don't usually use that feature at all except maybe holding the direction keys or the page up/down keys. I must say it is quite fun to program with variables named like ________ or _________ especially on school assignments.

And the Das Keyboard, it looks really nice, but wow is it expensive. And it's not even backlit... ;)
Programmer One
Programmer One
Maybe we're just not hardcore enough, as the OP had mentioned, to understand why such a high repeat rate is so valuable. [rolleyes]
Winegums
Winegums
Quote:
Original post by Hodgman
Quote:
Original post by Cypher19
This is the exact layout I want: http://www.datacal.com/s_images/chinese-keyboard-black-usb_l.jpg
That's what I consider to be a "normal" layout - but it's almost impossible to find these days!

I ended up getting the serial numbers off my Dell PC at work and ordering a corporate keyboard instead of a "friendly" home user one.


Yeah this is my pain also...to be honest I realy derive no benefit from the expensive "feature-rich" keyboards with buttons for email, internet etc. It'd take me all my time to get into the habit of hitting those buttons instead of using the desktop shortcut (and I think it'd be slower too).

The good thing is that the standard "normal" keyboards tend to sell for very cheap, you can also get them boxed with Dell PCs.
MaulingMonkey
MaulingMonkey
Quote:
Original post by Vectorg
Am I the only person left who adjusts their keyboard repeat rate?

Yep.

Quote:
Original post by cyansoft
If you want to go hard core, go with the infamous Das Keyboard.

Oooh, N-key rollover. I may will probably have to get that. Too bad they don't make an ergonomic version.

I'm currently using a Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. Took some getting used to as all my previous keyboards had been standard non-ergos, but aside from the F-key groupings and ergo split in the middle, everything is where it belongs. Only nuisance is hitting the F Lock key by accident which tends to lead to mass confusion.

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