Only the Dark Lord would create a keyboard that lacks a numpad.
Numpads are on the wrong side on built-ins. Gotta get a standalone and put it on the correct side.
The numpad gets in the way of the mouse which forces you to offset the keyboard and makes for bad ergonomics. Ever since I switched to a 65% keyboard with a separate numpad I’ve never looked back. Also plastic membrane keyboards just feel awful now.
And nowadays you can get a fully assembled solid metal keyboard with hot swappable switches that feels like typing on marble for around 100 bucks. It will last you forever too since you can replace broken switches. It is crazy that at the same time the traditional keyboard companies like Logitech are asking even higher prices for plasticky, rattly garbage that breaks after 2 years of use and isn’t even repairable.
Link?
I’ve caught the bug of mechanical keyboards and over the year got myself two 65% keyboards from two companies because I became obsessed in having a keyboard that sounds and feels exactly how I want.
Wobkey makes fully assembled ones (Zen65) with decent components already. They tend to be acoustically tuned to resonate the higher pitched sound which sounds like raindrops hitting a tin roof with the right switches.
Weikav makes equivalents (Nut65) but tuned to resonate a lower pitched thock. But you have to order your own switches and keycaps for it as they come as a base without those.
For keycaps I recommend the kits sold by Keychron because they are the best bang for the buck that I could find. A lot of the Amazon keycaps are junk quality and the “fancy” special edition" ones are expensive AF.
For switches I recommend you look for a sampler kit that has a variety of switches so you can see how they feel to your liking, but also how they sound with the keyboard and keycap combination that you want.
The setup I ended up settling on is a Weikav NUT65 with linear Durock Ice King switches and doubleshot PBT KSA profile keycaps from Keychron. But I have also assembled another keyboard with a Wobkey Zen65 base, HMX Butter switches and custom-made Yuzu keycaps (cherry profile). It sounds and feels different and is my second favorite.
There are other brands out there of very nice mechanical keyboards that don’t break the bank. Look up the reviews on YouTube. It’s an entire genre of video on its own. I’ve barely scratched the surface of mechanical keyboards. You can also mod them to fine tune the sound and feel.
Thanks!
Nah. It’s very rare that I would have a use for a numpad, and since I’m lefthanded it’s on the wrong side anyway. A less wide keyboard is much more useful than a numpad for me.
Still not a fan of that keyboard, though, I like having a larger Return key and a separate block for arrow keys and delete.
Gotta turn that wheel up top into a gold ring !
Surprised macOS & Windows don’t already have an elvish keyboard option.
