Blank Keycaps vs Labeled Keys

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .
das keyboard 4 ultimate 2016 24804
Das Keyboard. The keyboard that made blank keycaps popular. das keyboard

Should you buy a keyboard with blank keycaps?

Blank keycaps forces you learn touch-type, because you can't hunt and peck, you have to put hands in touch-type position and use muscle memory to type.

Problem with blank keycaps is that it's hard to use the keyboard casually, because there's no distinguishing mark on the keys. You must put your hands in touch-type position.

Once you know how to touch-type, keyboard with no mark on keys is annoying.

If you do any design of layout, or change keybinding, key label helps a lot. What exactly is printed on them doesn't matter, but something, that can help distinguish one cell from a array of cells. (for example, design key layout or keybinding layout in emacs, that supports QWERTY, Dvorak, Colemak, etc.)

Advantage with Proper Key Labels:

Dvorak Key Stickers

dvorak key label stickers
Dvorak Keyboard Stickers

Keycaps

You can also get Cherry MX switch stem compatible keycaps.

see Where to Buy Keycaps

Dvorak Layout Topic

  1. Dvorak Layout
  2. Hardware vs Software Dvorak
  3. Myth of QWERTY vs Dvorak
  4. Dvorak vs Colemak
  5. Blank Keycaps vs Labeled Keys
  6. List of Hardware Dvorak Layout Keyboards
  7. How to Touch-Type
  8. Best Typing Tutorial, Speed Test, Typing Games

Keycap Topic

  1. Keyboard Keycaps: ABS, PBT
  2. Keyboard Key Label Tech
  3. Blank Keycaps vs Labeled Keys
  4. Artistic Keycap Gallery
  5. Artistic Keycap Gallery 2
  6. Where to Buy Keycaps
  7. Magicforce Keyboard Retro Keycap

Key Label Topic

  1. Backspace Key: Key Label's Influence on Key Purpose
  2. Key Label Evolution Atari
  3. Keyboard Enter/Return Key Symbol
  4. Blank Keycaps vs Labeled Keys
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