Blind Not Dumb (Posts about input)https://www.feoh.org/categories/input.atom2024-01-21T01:02:42ZChris PattiNikolaA few random thoughts on keyboardshttps://www.feoh.org/posts/a-few-random-thoughts-on-keyboards.html2015-07-28T00:00:00-04:002015-07-28T00:00:00-04:00cpatti<div class="line-block">
<div class="line">I've recently been very underwhelmed with the keyboards Apple ships with their computers. They're trying to make them all feel like laptop keyboards, which is an idea I</div>
<div class="line">rather disapprove of.</div>
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<div class="line">In particular the recent <a class="reference external" href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MB110LL/B/apple-keyboard-with-numeric-keypad-english-usa">Apple Keyboard</a></div>
<div class="line">has such shallow key travel it's very easy to fall into the bad habit of pounding the keys, and the overall layout feels squished</div>
<div class="line">and constrained.</div>
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<div class="line">I've had a couple of the old school model A1408 "Apple Keyboard" (and its wireless cousin) in my drawer for years because I remember</div>
<div class="line">liking them.</div>
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<div class="line">Thus far it's definitely a big improvement over the current squashed and squishy laptop like keyboard, but my gold standard for</div>
<div class="line">keyboards is the <a class="reference external" href="https://www.razerzone.com/store/razer-blackwidow-ultimate">Razer Black Widow Ultimate</a> - I use one at work with my</div>
<div class="line">Linux desktop PC and it feels glorious to type on. Beautiful mechanical keys with very distinct tactile feedback and a satisfying</div>
<div class="line">(if perhaps somewhat loud for your officemates :) click.</div>
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<div class="line">The original Apple keyboard definitely has a better typing feel but lacks the tactile feedback of the Razor or other modern</div>
<div class="line">mechanical keyboards making the typing feel still come off a bit squishy for my tastes.</div>
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<div class="line">I may end up investigating other modern mechanical keyboards to replace them - we'll see. One irritation I have with the Razor is</div>
<div class="line">that they're platform specific. Is there REALLY any good reason for this other than to try to get me to shell out another $100 for</div>
<div class="line">yet another keyboard? I rather resent that as other brands seem to cope just fine in both platforms.</div>
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<p><em>UPDATE 02/22/2016</em></p>
<p>I ended up buying a Das mechanical keyboard for home, and thus far it's made me appreciate my Razer Black Widow even more.</p>
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<div class="line">It's not that anything is particularly bad at all about the Das, it's a perfectly fine mechanical keyboard, I just prefer the</div>
<div class="line">more 'clicky' feel of the Razer, and really appreciate the niceties like the lit, labeled keys.</div>
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<div class="line">As it turns out, choosing the Das with no labels on the keys has turned into an enormous pain. I touch type fairly well, but</div>
<div class="line">even still when I occasionally need to press some fairly arcane sequence of keys (Yes I <em>DO</em> need to hit Alt+F15 occasionally :))</div>
<div class="line">the lack of labels really rains on my parade.</div>
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<div class="line">There's also the little tidbit that <em>occasionally</em> you might want your spouse or other friend who doesn't touch type be able to use</div>
<div class="line">your keyboard and they simply won't be able to do it. At all.</div>
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<p>So, unless you REALLY know you like it, don't do that :)</p>Oh Swype, Where Have You Been All My Life?https://www.feoh.org/posts/oh-swype-where-have-you-been-all-my-life.html2015-03-21T10:40:00-04:002015-03-21T10:40:00-04:00cpatti<p>For years my Android using friends have been revving about <a class="reference external" href="https://www.swype.com">Swype</a>.</p>
<p>When tablets and smartphones first appeared on the scene, many of us were so awash in the glow of our shiny new toys that we overlooked a glaring weak point - text input.</p>
<p>In a stunning display of uncreative design, the keyboards for these devices were simply 'virtualized' versions of their mechanical counterparts.</p>
<p>The result seems like a regular keyboard, but bereft of the comparative elegance and efficiency of touch typing we are left in an incredibly unsatisfying state of perpetual hunt and peck. To add insult to injury, this ethereal target we're eternally stabbing at changes underneath us to suit the whim of the author of whichever app we're using.</p>
<p>With Swype, one simply glides one's finger from letter to letter spelling our words. Swype handles tedious details like putting spaces between words or after periods.</p>
<p>I could keep babbling, but suffice it to say it has been a life changer for me. Paired with <a class="reference external" href="https://blogsyapp.com">Blogsy</a>, my iPad blogging ttyl of choice, you may be hearing from me more often!</p>