Hacker News Reader

Comment by amanzi | Hacker News Reader

How do you manage without arrow keys? I use a Cooler Master "M" sized keyboard which combines the arrow keys and a number pad. It's the smallest usable keyboard that works for me: http://www.coolermaster.com/peripheral/keyboards/masterkeys-...

View on HN

> How do you manage without arrow keys?

It has pretty easy to use arrow keys in a function layer. I just hold down the Fn key with my right pinky and use my right index and middle finger to hit the arrow cluster (see https://www.keychatter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/keycha... ).

I use a kbp v60 (see manual[1], switches 1,3,6 on), caps lock is remapped to an fn key, then there are arrow keys both on the left and right hand. I haven't had any trouble getting used to it, and its wonderful not having to move my hand half way across the desk to reach the mouse.

[1]: https://www.scribd.com/document/227820785/KBP-V60-User-Manua...

I have a Pok3r and the arrow keys are the one thing I miss. They are still there, but awkward to get at. I use emacs and don't need arrows for that as it uses different bindings. Many programs use those emacs binding too (like bash, less etc) but there are always some that only work with arrow keys.

What do you use arrow keys for? For example for Vi(m) you can just use hjkl. For gaming, you can just use wasd.

If you really do need arrow keys, get a keyboard which doesn't have a keypad.

I don't think I have any other reason to use them apart from muscle memory--I can't live without them now...

That's a valid personal reason to not want change, and a difficult one to tackle for alternative keyboard layouts.

Only reason I'd use them is shell (Bash/Fish in my case). In gaming and Vi(m) I just use the better alternatives which require less movement of the hand.

It does have arrow keys... I believe you hold the spacebar.

(and to be clear, while I'm OP, this is not my project, just thought it was cool/funny)

Reply on news.ycombinator.com