TR Forums

Just curious.

Conventional (Enhanced) layouts are those used by the 101/102-key Model M, and by most keyboards today, as well as slight variations on those layouts (differently shaped enter keys, Windows keys, that sort of thing).
Extended conventional layouts add dedicated media, macro, and/or extra function keys. The media keys are popular on consumer boards, the macro keys are popular on gaming boards, and the extra function keys used to mainly be on terminal keyboards.
Tenkeyless layouts remove the numeric keypad, but leave the navigation cluster and function keys.
Navigationless layouts with tenkey remove the arrow and other navigation keys (Insert/Delete/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn), but leave the numeric keypad. Not common nowadays, but Cooler Master has one board with such a layout, and the IBM PC, PC/XT, and PC/AT keyboards had such layouts.
Compact layouts are a tenkeyless layout that is extremely condensed, like a laptop keyboard. Some even leave off dedicated navigation and function keys entirely, like the Happy Hacking Keyboard and other "60%" layouts.
Fixed ergonomic layouts are those with a split in the main typing area to prevent your wrists from rotating, and may have other shape differences as well. The Microsoft Natural keyboard is the example that's typically given in this case.
Adjustable ergonomic layouts are those that can have their split angle adjusted, and may have other adjustments as well.

Ou est le fromage?

EDIT: We all know I'm a Model M evangelist. Which reminds me that it's time to take it apart and clean out the board chow. Nice bit is that the top cover can go straight into the dishwasher.

Damnit, I forgot the cheese option. Editing poll, you might have to re-vote.

Conventional 104-key (with Windows keys) for me. Preferably a mechanical with Cherry MX blue switches.

Oh, and my own vote was for a conventional layout, even though my favorite keyboard is my 122-key Model F (which is an extended conventional layout).

(I want that board, with less stiff springs, and in a 104-key layout, really.)

I've managed to catch the mechanical keyboard bug, so I've got lots of 'em. MX browns are my favorites, but I've got blues, blacks, and whites in 104 and tenkeyless. Fond memories of the 83-key Model F brought me to the Model M a few years ago. But to answer the question, 104 layout is the one. I use the number pad quite a bit.

Conventional or tenkeyless is fine but give tenkeyless the nod overall. I like the reduced space it occupies and I'm plenty quick on the number row. I also like how you can bring your mouse hand closer to its natural resting position on a desk, at least for me. I prefer that multimedia keys be implemented as the secondary function on the F-keys. My keyboard of choice right now is a Cooler Master Quickfire Rapid with Cherry MX Red switches.

MS natural keyboard pro all the way, been using it since 98 and it still keeps on ticking. Got an extra to scavenge for parts if this one ever fails.

Still using my 1391401, but lately I've been wishing for the extra three keys as more stuff takes advantage.

Also: small Enter and large Backspace, thanks much. L-shaped Enter is a tool of the Great Old Ones.

Small backspace drives me nuts; I consider it to be a deal-breaker.

Also got me some "Tux the Penguin" keycaps from WASD Keyboards to replace the Windows keys on my RK-9000s.

slowriot wrote:

Conventional or tenkeyless is fine but give tenkeyless the nod overall. I like the reduced space it occupies and I'm plenty quick on the number row. I also like how you can bring your mouse hand closer to its natural resting position on a desk, at least for me.

I like Tenkeyless for the same reason. I have a Filco MX-Brown variety currently.

kumori wrote:

I like Tenkeyless for the same reason. I have a Filco MX-Brown variety currently.

Whereas for me, living in the financial world, the 10-key is an absolute must. Horses for courses and all that.

I have had this white Microsoft Natural (i.e. ergonomic) Keyboard for years and it still remains strong. Long typing sessions almost require one since a normal KB will probably tire you out more quickly. Other than perhaps a cleaning, it still types great. No conventional keyboards for me.

Captain Ned wrote:

kumori wrote:

I like Tenkeyless for the same reason. I have a Filco MX-Brown variety currently.

Whereas for me, living in the financial world, the 10-key is an absolute must. Horses for courses and all that.

I live in the legal world where we avoid numbers whenever possible, including by removing them from our keyboard!

kumori wrote:

Captain Ned wrote:

kumori wrote:

I like Tenkeyless for the same reason. I have a Filco MX-Brown variety currently.

Whereas for me, living in the financial world, the 10-key is an absolute must. Horses for courses and all that.

I live in the legal world where we avoid numbers whenever possible, including by removing them from our keyboard!

I don't blame you. Who wants to get sued over something that need not happen?

For me, a 10-key is essential if not mandatory. My next laptop either will have one or at least I can buy a USB 10-key keyboard extension.

I prefer the US International layout specifically, which is sometimes a problem when buying locally. At my last job, my employer bought a laptop for me and I requested for it to have a US International layout instead of a German layout, because I'm Dutch. I ended up getting a laptop with the Dutch layout (which drove me nuts), which may be called Dutch but isn't really used that much in the Netherlands. The problem is mainly with the key layout, not so much what is printed on the keys but the fact that the Dutch layout has an upright Enter and the German layout has a narrow left Shift key.

At the job before that, I resorted to bringing my own keyboard.

Firestarter wrote:

At the job before that, I resorted to bringing my own keyboard.

Yeah, I've been doing that for years.

I did that for a while too until work let me buy a Unicomp with my previous computer. It's already saved them money compared to the other two techs, whose keyboards got replaced when we got new machines last year.