Ask HN: What's your favorite keyboard for programming? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: What's your favorite keyboard for programming?

20 pointsychw41 comments

Mine is HHKB (Happy Hacking Keyboard Profession 2), and loving it. What's yours?

http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=pfu_keyboards,hhkbpro2&pid=pdkb400w

Cooler Master QuickFire Stealth

After trying Das Keyboard, I realized I wanted something smaller. I found the CM, a ten-keyless design that had the correct inverted T configuration and am hooked. By correct, I mean some 'keyboard designer' didn't get their hands on the placement of insert, delete, etc.--you know, those keys that nobody uses except programmers and touch typists that have been wiring their brains for them for years.

They have a variety of Cherry MX switches to choose from. They also have some nice extras behind a hardware Fn key like the ability to turn the Windows key off and nicely placed volume keys. I like it very much compared to my Das Keyboard.

This is what I use at home/work as well. A solid keyboard with a lot of switch options, a nice form factor, and good key layout. Definitely recommended.

Completely agree with you on this one.

The ErgoDox, hands-down. Split-hand, thumb clusters, mechanical switches, runs on an Arduino-like board (Teensy) so the firmware[0] is very customizable. I have common progamming symbols under the homerow triggered with a layer key near my thumbs.

I wrote an article about it: http://jjt.io/2013/11/25/why-any-developer-should-check-out-...

[0]: https://github.com/benblazak/ergodox-firmware

Sorry, but how do you get one? Is the simplest way to order "kit" and build yourself?

http://www.typematrix.com/dvorak/

Dvorak, and a compressed format with vertical key spacing - tbh if I were learning a keyboard format from scratch I would probably use colemak instead (fits my key distribution slightly better, but both blow qwerty away).

As to the keyboard, I really like the movement of enter/backspace, and arrow keys/home/end etc.

Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate

Cherry Blue switches at home, Cherry Brown switches at work.

You have good taste :P (by which I mean, that's literally the same set up as me)

That makes three of us.

Nearly four. I have the Cherry Blue switch version in my home office and love it. I've been strongly considering getting the same with Cherry Browns for my work office.

I had both as well. But after I tried the HHKB, I found I like the Topre keys much more. :)

Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000. It works really well in my lap and that significantly reduces fatigue.

Leopold Tenkeyless Tactile Touch

http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyles...

Cherry MX Brown switches

I bought this first for home and within 2 weeks got a second one for work. I like the responsive (but not crazy loud) Cherry browns.

Moving my (less used) 10-key to a separate keypad on the other side of my (much used) mouse has been the single biggest improvement. It allows my keyboard to be much more centered to my body without pushing the mouse far right.

Link: http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=pfu_keyboards,hhk...

Kinesis Freestyle 2 http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/shop/freestyle2-for-mac/ with the VIP tent accessory and a trackball between the spilt (raised up so it's at the same level as the edges of the keyboard. Being able to keep my hands straight and minimizing movement to move my cursor is great (I keep a apple wireless keyboard around for if other people need to use my computer)

IBM Model M from May 1987 that I've had since the early 90s. I guess this makes me a) old and b) in possession of a keyboard manufactured before many posting on HN were born!

Another Model M owner here. I have one from 86 at work and one from 92 at home IIRC. It was very difficult to find them with Spanish layout, but I can type on them like 50% faster than on any other keyboard I have tried due to the great feedback, they don't make my hands tired and they feel just great.

I have the Kinesis Advantage and it's done wonders for my hands. I use to show early symptoms of RSI and since switching to the Advantage, they've all but disappeared.

What was the learning curve like?

I switched from a Microsoft Ergonomic to a Kinesis a month or two ago, because I wanted my mouse closer to avoid shoulder fatigue. I was pretty fast right from the beginning, but it took me a couple days to relearn space, enter, backspace, equals, and tilda. By day three I was getting comfortable. I still make mistakes, especially around hyphen vs equals, but they are getting less and less.

Now I'm trying to teach my brain to switch between Kinesis and the old way. The first few times I worked on a laptop I was furiously pounding on the spacebar trying to make the cursor back up, but even that has gotten easier lately.

So I'd say the learning curve is really pretty easy! Maybe harder if you don't touch type. A year ago I also tried the Truly Ergonomic, and that was a much harder adjustment.

I heard the "Code Keyboard" is pretty good. Anybody tried?

http://codekeyboards.com/

It doesn't have Mac mode, though.

What do you mean by Mac mode? The site says "Are you on a Mac, and need to swap Alt with Command?" and has a dip switch to make the change.

That's what I meant. Great news! Tempted to try. Do you know how green switch feels? Never had them.

I use a Nighthawk X8 (MX Browns) for everything.

http://reddit.com/r/mechanicalkeyboards is fairly large and is dedicated to keyboards of all kinds.

http://www.maxkeyboard.com/max-keyboard-nighthawk-x8-blue-ba...

I'm thinking about replacing my wireless keyboard at work with either a HHKB or a Code Keyboard. Which would you guys recommend?

I just picked up a WASD (http://www.wasdkeyboards.com) with Cherry blues, and I love it. I'd previously used a flat Apple keyboard for years and I was concerned that it would be a difficult transition - but it only took a few minutes to get acclimated.

btw, if you are ordering from WASD and have a mac, you can also order a set of customized mac keycaps that match exactly the apple keyboard. Just download the keycap layout file from my blog, and order them from WASD:

http://www.clingmarks.com/custom-mac-mechanical-keyboard-let...

wasd have a mac keyboard layout in their v2 designer now

Apple Extended Keyboard, the "Enterprise" model, not the II. Sadly quite difficult to find them these days, as the II was more popular. Worse, I can't bring my AEK to work because the right arrow key stops working for a few months if I move it much.

I just use my laptop keyboard. That way I don't have to readjust when travelling.

I have severe RSI pain when I type too much on Macbook's keyboard.

Switching between Macbook and Kinesis Advantage pro(as external keyboard) and couldn't be happier.

Yes, this one is kind of expensive but mine is 6yrs old already and still going strong.

Logitech G19 Programmable Gaming Keyboard with Color Display. It's not that ergonomic but has tons of extra keys that you can program with macro plus color display plus SDK.

I have an old Mitsubishi Diamond Touch. To me it feels perfect for typing for long periods, and has media controls which are always needed.

Logitech K120. It replaced a Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600 which looked nice but had small function keys that were awkward to use.

Logitech K750, wireless solar keyboard.

Have: Microsoft Ergo 4000. Want: Ergo keyboard+mechanical keys+backlit.

Dell SK-8115 is a classic.

Logitech K350 is fine.

Noppoo Choc Mini, Cherry MX Brown

wow, this one looks so cool! Do you know if they have a mac version?

It is a USB keyboard - it will work on Macs just as well.

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