Keyboard sizes....

[bonehead123]

Please make 1 choice:

FYI: By 100%, I mean one with all 104 keys & number keys ect...

Which size/layout do you prefer for normal, everyday use (not counting special apps/activities like CAD/Audio/Video/gammin etc)

Not looking for specific brands or styles or recommendations, just general preferences

I started this poll because I wanted to gauge the accuracy of a statement made in another thread: "most users don't want/need anything bigger than a TKL"

TIA for all responses

 

[Double-Click]

It's really hard for me to give one option.

At work I cannot live without a numpad, but at home I prefer TKL since I don't need it as much.
BUT...since I do have a stand alone num pad just in case...I voted TKL.

 

[Solaris17]

I came from a 100% but do to space I switched to an 85%. I would never use anything less than an 85% and I do miss my numpad. So I voted other.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Started with TKL then at 75% for a while, swapped back to 100% and quickly to another TKL, I never use the numpad and desk space is at a premium.

My preference is 75% but it's hard to find the keyswitches I want for a reasonable price and TKL isn't too much bigger.

 

[dj-electric]

If a 130% KB with analog knobs and a bunch of additional programmable keys could exist, that would be my choice. Space is not an issue

 

[Bill_Bright]

One that fits my keyboard tray while allowing my mouse to move freely next to it.

So QWERTY and no more than 18 inches wide.

 

[N/A]

60% option

 

[Sithaer]

I've used 100% till my current TKL 75% and this feels just about right for me.
Honestly I'm not sure if I'm ever going back to full sized KBs unless I had a real need for a numpad for whatever reason.

 

[Beginner Macro Device]

Anything less than 100% is not an option for me.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Gmmk V2 96%

I couldn't live without a number pad but do want to save space and other than log ins could have lived with a 65%.

This is a keeper to me possibly lifer since I can change caps and keys.

For most, all the letters and character keys really are enough, I only use numpad for logins so do want it but essential it is not.

I don't miss spreading my hands that far apart now I don't too.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Actually, 100% is misleading in terms of "size". 100% just means it has all 104 keys, number pad, arrow keys, F-keys and Home/End/Up/Down keys.

It could be 24 inches wide or 16 and still be considered "full" or 100%.

 

[Vayra86]

TKL, so much better for mouse/kb work. Separate numpad, should I ever need one, would be my preference.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Actually, 100% is misleading in terms of "size". 100% just means it has all 104 keys, number pad, arrow keys, F-keys and Home/End/Up/Down keys.

It could be 24 inches wide or 16 and still be considered "full" or 100%.

In all cases I think it refers to key representation ratio value, not size.

Good point, size isn't the point though it is sort of.

 

[tabascosauz]

Curious to leave out 60% entirely.

65% is not TKL.

Regardless, TKL and 60% for me. Separate numpad fills in any additional need.

 

[Canned Noodles]

100% because I make extensive use of the numpad + multimedia keys and other doodads.

 

[bonehead123]

FYI all, based on the replies/votes so far, I have added the other sizes to the poll choices, some of which I did not realize were a 'thing"

Anything less than 100% is not an option for me.

View attachment 311156

100% because I make extensive use of the numpad + multimedia keys and other doodads.

This is me for sure, regardless of whether I am woking or at da cribb...

"they can have my Full-sized 100%'er when they can pry it from my cold, dead hands"

 

[Chrispy_]

I'm upset you've lumped TKL (80%) and 75-65% all into the same category.

True TKL is a completely standard keyboard layout in every way. It's just missing the tenkey numpad which is no big loss as every single key on the numpad is a redundant duplicate that you can do without unless you are a spreadsheet jockey.

• Full-size or TKL fit into one category of "standard layout".
• 75% and below barely fit into the second category of "reduced, proprietary layout".

Below TKL you are entering a dark underworld that completely lacks layout standards, key spacing, key position, and even key size. I'm using a 75% Keychron K3 to type this right now and the layout isn't standard; I'm missing a few keys entirely, and others I can enter using (hidden, unmarked) Fn key combinations which is why I have a bookmark saved with the cheat sheet for those key combos. Muscle memory does not work on the right 20% of this particular 75% layout, and it's different to several other, also-unique 75% layouts.

It's not a complaint, it's a compromise that I chose for this specific device, but that's because this isn't a desktop, it's a Bluetooth keyboard for an HTPC. I need basic web-browsing and casual gaming at most. I cannot work on this keyboard layout. 30+ years of standard-layout muscle memory are too valuable to ruin, and I don't (want to) spend enough of my time using it to change that.

For people who only ever use one keyboard, or do not touch-type, the layout doesn't matter - they'll adjust to it the way we all adjust to things. I cannot do that because the majority of the time I'm using keyboards that aren't mine, and the overwhelming majority of those are the standard layout defined by the first of the two categories.

 

[AsRock]

If a 130% KB with analog knobs and a bunch of additional programmable keys could exist, that would be my choice. Space is not an issue

Check chyrosran22
He has some larger keyboards, to many to list but here's one, but try not be shocked at the price tags.

 

[bonehead123]

I'm upset you've lumped TKL (80%) and 75-65% all into the same category.

True TKL is a completely standard keyboard layout in every way. It's just missing the tenkey numpad which is no big loss as every single key on the numpad is a redundant duplicate that you can do without unless you are a spreadsheet jockey.

• Full-size or TKL fit into one category of "standard layout".
• 75% and below barely fit into the second category of "reduced, proprietary layout".

Below TKL you are entering a dark underworld that completely lacks layout standards, key spacing, key position, and even key size. I'm using a 75% Keychron K3 to type this right now and the layout isn't standard; I'm missing a few keys entirely, and others I can enter using (hidden, unmarked) Fn key combinations which is why I have a bookmark saved with the cheat sheet for those key combos. Muscle memory does not work on the right 20% of this particular 75% layout, and it's different to several other, also-unique 75% layouts.

It's not a complaint, it's a compromise that I chose for this specific device, but that's because this isn't a desktop, it's a Bluetooth keyboard for an HTPC. I need basic web-browsing and casual gaming at most. I cannot work on this keyboard layout. 30+ years of standard-layout muscle memory are too valuable to ruin, and I don't (want to) spend enough of my time using it to change that.

For people who only ever use one keyboard, or do not touch-type, the layout doesn't matter - they'll adjust to it the way we all adjust to things. I cannot do that because the majority of the time I'm using keyboards that aren't mine, and the overwhelming majority of those are the standard layout defined by the first of the two categories.

Well unfortunately, it won't let me change the poll options now, only add more, so my bad there

Anyways, I have never been able to use the top row of number keys for anything beyond the special characters....

But I AM a "spreadsheet jockey", as well as dealing with complex numbering systems for engineering drawings and records management metadata, with decades of muscle memory that just won't go away or adapt to less than 104 keys, plus my hands/fingers are a tad large, so that plays a part in both my work & home uses, but oh well

 

[sneekypeet]

Well unfortunately, it won't let me change the poll options now, only add more, so my bad there

Anyways, I have never been able to use the top row of number keys for anything beyond the special characters....

But I AM a "spreadsheet jockey", as well as dealing with complex numbering systems for engineering drawings and records management metadata, with decades of muscle memory that just won't go away or adapt to less than 104 keys, plus my hands/fingers are a tad large, so that plays a part in both my work & home uses, but oh well

PM a moderator, they can help with changes.

As to the thread, I typically type witht he keyboard in my lap, laid back in my chair. Due to this,and my lack of using the number pad, I tend to go with TKLs.
I have tried quite a few smaller models, but once you start double and triple layering commands per key, its confusing and makes custom keycaps a pain due to the lack of multi-layer function options.

 

[Selaya]

100%.



.

 

[Chrispy_]

Well unfortunately, it won't let me change the poll options now, only add more, so my bad there

Anyways, I have never been able to use the top row of number keys for anything beyond the special characters....

But I AM a "spreadsheet jockey", as well as dealing with complex numbering systems for engineering drawings and records management metadata, with decades of muscle memory that just won't go away or adapt to less than 104 keys, plus my hands/fingers are a tad large, so that plays a part in both my work & home uses, but oh well

Don't get me wrong, for work I will accept nothing less than a 100% layout. Hell, in the London office I have an old Microsoft Natural that's just about ready for its 5th or 6th trip through the dishwasher. That's like a 110% layout that takes up 150% of the desk space!

For gaming, I don't care about the layout or size as long as the left half of the keyboard is a standard layout - and that includes F1 to F8 as those are common default keybinds for games.

The thing is, I want a standard layout for anything more than putting in a website address and bashing out a quick message.

TKL is only a 30-40mm wider than the most compact 60% layouts available, so I'm not really sure what the USP is for the audience of sub-TKL layouts, other than being different for the sake of being different among a small niche crowd of keyboard enthusiasts. Maybe I'm getting old, but are they trying to make a statement by having a minimalist tiny keyboard - to hell with the consequences? I personally cannot stand having to push a combination of keys to register a single keypress, and it's even stupider when one of those alternate function keys is part of a common mutli-key function. CTRL+ALT+INSERT is hard if ALT+Fn does something other than ALT, but INSERT requires you to hold down the Fn key. When you have to call up the on-screen keyboard to type something because your typing device can't do it, you know it's dumb AF and the keyboard industry has (hopefully) reached peak stupid at that point.

 

[bonehead123]

PM a moderator, they can help with changes.

Done, hopefully they can do this

 

[Chrispy_]

Check chyrosran22

I've just subscribed to his channel for entertainment purposes.
He is pure cynical gold with a soothingly-smooth potty mouth to rival my own cockney vocabulary.

 

[Bill_Bright]

In all cases I think it refers to key representation ratio value, not size.

You lost me at "ratio". Ratio to me, suggest a "percentage" of one dimension compared to the other dimension.

For a example, 16:9 monitors come in all sorts of sizes, such as 22, 24, 27, and 32 inch, yet they still have the same "ratio" or "percentage" for the screens' actual length compared to its width.

There is no "standard" AFAIK, for actual keycap sizes, or the spacing between the various key sections (i.e., standard 104 keys, home/cursor keys, and number keypad).

So pretty sure when they say 100%, 75% , 60% etc. they are, most of the time, talking about the number of keys. But even then, there is no standard. (https://switchandclick.com/keyboard-sizes/)

Look at this "full size" keyboard. It is 17.6 inches wide. Then look at this "compact" keyboard. It is 21.4 inches wide!

So to me, it really makes no sense. It is like calling a Toyota Corolla a "full size" car. Why? Because it has 4 doors, of course!

Keyboards, IMO, should be categorized by the number of keys they have (or don't have in the case of TKL). If they are going to go by actual physical dimensions, the IEEE or ATX or someone needs to set genuine industry standards.

In the meantime, laptops have "compact" keyboards. Most PCs use full sized. But there are lots of different sizes between.