Hello I'm new here, looking at getting a typewriter style keyboard.

[y11971alex]

For some reason, I always find it more convenient to place the mouse between myself and the keyboard.

[whm1974]

Perhaps save a bit more and get the real creations of this suicide artist, it actually costs similar to a custom Korean keyboard.

Spoiler:

And pair it with a retro mouse

However, reviews of users about the Taiwan Typewriter style key caps said that their fingers got 'stuck' in between the caps quite often.

I could build a decent computer for what that Datamancer cost. And yeah I was wondering about getting my fingers stuck in the keycaps.

I'm having second thoughts, maybe I'll get the WASD V2 87-Key keyboard with Cherry Blues instead?

[Sigmoid]

The arrow keys I could definately dispense with or have on an Fn layer, but I like direct access to Del, Home, and End in the locations I'm used to.

When I moved to notebooks for most of my work, I realized that for exampe with Del, using fn-bksp feels less disruptive than having to move my hands way outside the typing area... The less I have to move my wrists, the more fluid and comfortable the workflow feels - which is why I prefer a trackball or trackpad to a mouse, actually.

I do want a seperate mechanical numpad that I can put on the right side of my mouse with a TKL or occassional 60% and have the best of all worlds.

To reach over from the mouse to the numpad? Interesting approach. I really like @Menuhin's left-hand numpad concept, it looks like it can be awesome for data entry with a pointing device.

[Phenix]

Maybe an Z96/ 96 in general?
Provides you with arrows and an numpad(+toggle nav cluster on/off).
Basically an CM TK, but with arrows, programmable, better built *tough it costs more*

[Laser]

I'm having second thoughts, maybe I'll get the WASD V2 87-Key keyboard with Cherry Blues instead?

Also, just to make sure you know it: unless you're alone in the room, any type of clicking keyboard (Cherry MX Blue/Green, clicky Alps, Model M, Model F, Space Invader switch etc.) will drive everybody else around you pretty crazy when you're typing

[whm1974]

I'm having second thoughts, maybe I'll get the WASD V2 87-Key keyboard with Cherry Blues instead?

Also, just to make sure you know it: unless you're alone in the room, any type of clicking keyboard (Cherry MX Blue/Green, clicky Alps, Model M, Model F, Space Invader switch etc.) will drive everybody else around you pretty crazy when you're typing

Well I live by myself so that shouldn't be a problem, unless the folks next door(I live in a SRO) can hear me typing.

That reminds me. When I was in High School in the early 90's taking a couple of computer labs courses, there were quite a few students who quit the classes because they couldn't handle the clicking and clacking of the IBM and Apple IIe computers we had there. I remember me and my fellows who remained having a good laugh about that.

[randomist]

The arrow keys I could definately dispense with or have on an Fn layer, but I like direct access to Del, Home, and End in the locations I'm used to.

When I moved to notebooks for most of my work, I realized that for exampe with Del, using fn-bksp feels less disruptive than having to move my hands way outside the typing area... The less I have to move my wrists, the more fluid and comfortable the workflow feels - which is why I prefer a trackball or trackpad to a mouse, actually.

I do want a seperate mechanical numpad that I can put on the right side of my mouse with a TKL or occassional 60% and have the best of all worlds.

To reach over from the mouse to the numpad? Interesting approach. I really like @Menuhin's left-hand numpad concept, it looks like it can be awesome for data entry with a pointing device.

Instead of mouse I often use the arrow keys for things like spreadsheets... until they grow beyond the scope of that approach... Which is why I often prefer something like Matlab and deal with all of the datasets as textfiles. Anyway, left hand on the arrow cluster and right hand on the numpad on the other side of the mouse is a pretty comfortable position.

[Orpheo]

The arrow keys and navigation cluster are not superfluous for those who need to enter numbers and navigate at the same time!
Yes I like tkl, but I bought a numpad that I can hide in the drawer, place it left or right and it's useful when you wanna frag some noobs without having nerves aching.

Get a full size as your main keyboard. I would say get a vintage cherry g80 with doubles shots. You will have that vintage feel those typewriter look-alike keycaps can only hint at imitating, have sumptuous keycaps that will last a lifetime (wet sanding) and will eventually buy a dozen more boards until you are ruined or your other half scream of despair.

Or this ;p

I have a better coverage now that I got 3 sets of those, but here's the first pic with one set (10€)

Doubleshots ABS from an electronic typewriter. The plastic is very high quality IMHO.






Actually if you wanna a real blast, get a real typewriter like an Erika, they are the best for those glass top keys. And by the way, bakelite keys are superior in feel to glass top.

[whm1974]

Sounds like that will cost way more money then I want to spend.

[pixelheresy]

[pixelheresy]

I'm having second thoughts, maybe I'll get the WASD V2 87-Key keyboard with Cherry Blues instead?

Also, just to make sure you know it: unless you're alone in the room, any type of clicking keyboard (Cherry MX Blue/Green, clicky Alps, Model M, Model F, Space Invader switch etc.) will drive everybody else around you pretty crazy when you're typing

Totally depends on the keyboard and the office.

I have a Das Keyboard 3 (fairly heavy construction, Cherry MX blues) and I put on red o-ring dampeners on it. It clicks nicely but doesn't clack. I work as a software developer in an open office layout. Most of us do wear headphones at least part of the day, but there are frequently people chatting with each other, etc. so my keyboard is not particularly bad. I don't think that it is just a matter of polite Swedes not telling me that it annoys the shit out of them. Actually, one of my friends on the other team (basically back to back with me) who uses a WASD CODE 61 with Cherry Browns was pretty impressed how the o-rings modified the sound and actually improved the feel (I think it feels a little less rattle-y and doesn't bottom out hard when type heavily). I am glad I found a good combo that falls right below the level of annoying the shit out of people and still have a satisfying click/tactile feedback. Mainly because I think MX browns feel like garbage.

Would you get away with a flimsy Cherry-band board? Hell no. You'd be lynched by the end of the day. Could you find a combo that works? Absolutely, so long as you don't work in a completely silent office environment.

[whm1974]

I'm having second thoughts, maybe I'll get the WASD V2 87-Key keyboard with Cherry Blues instead?

Also, just to make sure you know it: unless you're alone in the room, any type of clicking keyboard (Cherry MX Blue/Green, clicky Alps, Model M, Model F, Space Invader switch etc.) will drive everybody else around you pretty crazy when you're typing

Totally depends on the keyboard and the office.

I have a Das Keyboard 3 (fairly heavy construction, Cherry MX blues) and I put on red o-ring dampeners on it. It clicks nicely but doesn't clack. I work as a software developer in an open office layout. Most of us do wear headphones at least part of the day, but there are frequently people chatting with each other, etc. so my keyboard is not particularly bad. I don't think that it is just a matter of polite Swedes not telling me that it annoys the shit out of them. Actually, one of my friends on the other team (basically back to back with me) who uses a WASD CODE 61 with Cherry Browns was pretty impressed how the o-rings modified the sound and actually improved the feel (I think it feels a little less rattle-y and doesn't bottom out hard when type heavily). I am glad I found a good combo that falls right below the level of annoying the shit out of people and still have a satisfying click/tactile feedback. Mainly because I think MX browns feel like garbage.

Would you get away with a flimsy Cherry-band board? Hell no. You'd be lynched by the end of the day. Could you find a combo that works? Absolutely, so long as you don't work in a completely silent office environment.

Like I said, I live alone in a SRO apartment. So the noise wouldn't be a problem.

[whm1974]

Well I ordered the AZIO Retro Keyboard.

[belowgeek]

Well, if you do not mind the actual board, there are some typewriter-style keycaps that can be found on Massdrop.