Accidental Keyboard Enthusiasm

23 Aug 2015 • 2 minute read

Over the last 5 years I’ve managed to collect quite a few mechanical keyboards, to the point where I think I qualify as an (accidental) enthusiast.

Das Keyboard (3) Model S Ultimate

This was my first mechanical keyboard. The soft Cherry MX Brown switches make it my favourites for long periods of typing. Even so, I rarely use it any more. At the time of writing, this model is still available on the Das Keyboard website.

CODE Keyboard

I was really excited when Jeff Atwood announced the CODE keyboard. I already knew that I wanted my next keyboard to be compact and have backlit keys, so the CODE seemed to come at just the right time. Not long after buying the CODE, I purchased some Keycool rainbow keycaps so brighten things up.

The CODE has Cherry MX Clear switches, which makes for a much firmer keyboard than the Das. I find the clears preferable for short bursts of typing, but over long periods they tire my hands out.

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Transitioning to a new keyboard layout

1 Nov 2014 • 8 minute read

I’ve long been considering switching to a different keyboard layout. I tend to type with mostly my forefinger and middle finger, only using my ring and pinky fingers occasionally to stretch out to the modifier keys. Despite this, I still manage to type at around 120WPM on a staggered QWERTY keyboard.

Thinking back, I probably started teaching myself to type at a reasonable speed around age 10. I’m now in my mid-twenties. My typing technique (or lack thereof) never really bothered me, but 15 years of typing with poor technique has started to take its toll. Recently I’ve started experiencing hand fatigue, and I’m beginning to see early signs of RSI. So I figure now is the perfect time to make some changes to the way I type.

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