Xah keyboard Blog
- patreon me $5
- amazon egift card to xah@xahlee.org , $20 is nice.
- paypal to xah@xahlee.org , $20 is nice.
- bitcoin me 19dfoa3Q7oehm9MwCULQzBG8vqfCaeMazH
on its own page.
major updates on ergodox pages
Gergo Keyboard
added my video
Linux: X11 Keyboard Key Names
minor update
updated
added photos.
new photo. emacs logo on trackball.
L-Trac Trackball
Russian Keyboard Layout and Programing
minor update.
added photo
new photo
added photos.
todo, write up
@demon btw there's also an article on 'ban shift key'. but, i've tried to get rid of shift about 3 times in separate years, but ultimately they all failed. basically, when using OS or app shortcuts, i find that sometimes one just need shift. hard to do so sans a dedicated shift as is. I also tried to have just a single shift, that didn't work out neither.
i guess my question is why not use the thumbs for shift?
@demon i think there are 2 reasons for me. one is, even with keyboard with lots thumb keys, but practically, each thumb can only have 3 comfy thumb keys. but there's lots commands competing for those spots. Also, if you have a thumb key for shift, there's a question about whether it should be both hands. So, it'll may use 2 thumb spots. For me, i ultimately chose not to have shift in thumb. But i think shift at thumb is absolutely a great idea. (the traditional shift spots, are shitty. )
the reason i ultimately don't have thumb for shift is because... few reasons. one is that, if you do it on one keyboard such as kinesis, but your other keyboards for work or home may not be the same keyboard, such as uhk or gergo or any other. So, you have some sort of juggling mental map/layouts of diff keyboards. If shift stay in traditional positions, you have 1 less such worry. Second reason is, as i mentioned, traditional software often expect a normal shift, at traditional position. so it's hard to remove all shift or make them one-time-shift or other weird mod. third reason is, the symbol keys (shifted number) is a bit complex. depending on what keyboard and cirmware capabilities, it's complex to create symbol map sans being a number key, or impossible to do that at all. (i think it's impossible on kinesis, but i haven't really explored.)
put it in another way: if you just have 1 keyboard, or just 1 type. say, all your keyboards are ergodox, then, you create your own optimal shift/symbol system, and that'd be good. but with diff keyboards, weird customized layout creates more complexity. (especially shift. unlike control alt winkey, the shift is more complex because it ties to number symbol)
and why use the number row if you have to reach farther?
@demon this is about the science of keymapping. :slight_smile: for example, i can ask, why press 2 keys when you can just press one?
i have a article on how to compute shortcut layout efficiency score. Emacs vs vim, Compute Keybinding Efficiency http://xahlee.info/kbd/efficiency_of_keybinding_emacs_vs_vim.html
and my last vid on gergo keyboard talked about that
gonna post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjtW6bJh3ws
Xah Talk Show 2020-07-18 gergo keyboard review, and keyboard geeking
@demon i've been using uhk for 3 months as my main. and that is extensively used.
one major problem with that is, if you have a duel function key, that key will lose the ability to be hold and repeat. One great example is the back delete key. I put it on thumb. (partly due to kinesis habit, partly because it's really freq used). But, i also made it to be a dual fuction modifier. But now, i can no longer hold that key to repeat delete.
this is the biggest problem i found with dual function key.
another issue with one-shot shift is that, now if you need TO TYPE CAPS, the one shot shift becomes a problem. Unless, now you need another key for capslock.
or, unless you always work in emacs vi etc that has a command to upcase word or sentence. But, often in browser, discord, chat etc, it's not practical to assume you always in emacs.
for example, when in chat, someone is typing all caps, either as a joke or something, and you want to joke back or report, STOP THAT! but, then you realize it's hard to type that cuz u don't have standard shift nor capslock.
or for example, say you are not a gamer, but this one time you want to try out a game your friend suggested. Then, you realized you can't cuz your keyboard no have normal shift.
small issues like that.
another example. In Mac or Windows, sometimes you have pressing shift 5 times to turn on certain keyboard feature.
the thing with extreme customization is that, once you stopped using that particular keyboard or system, for a few months, it's hard to come back to it cuz you forgot what keys do what. This happens in life. e.g. unexpected you have a vacation, covid, or got sick, etc.
in those situation, when u r back at your keyboard, you have to fetch your notes or diagram of your layout. Or, when your app/OS changed due to new comp etc or switch job, or lang, the workflow changed. then, often you find your ultimate, truly finely customized ultimate layout, is no longer optimal. Then, it's back to redesign all over again. very time consuming.
L-Trac Trackball
back on sell at amazon.
a highly recommended headset.
HyperX Cloud II - Gaming Headset Buy at amazon
macOS: Create Custom Keyboard Layout
major update
Mac Keyboard Viewer
updated
Matias Mini Tactile Pro Keyboard
more updates
you could return the Leopold FC660C keyboard and buy 3 Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard or Optical Key Switch Keyboard or the superb Epomaker Niz Plum or any number of ergo mech programable split Best Ergonomic Keyboards, Xah Pick
gonna play with this in the coming days.
updated
roccat ends linux support?
Roccat keyboard and mouse used to have great linux support. Seems, that ended. see
https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/5js1l2/im_stefan_achatz_stopping_programming_linux/
- Keyboard Key Switch Mechanisms. major update.
- IBM Model M keyboard. minor update.
- HAVIT Keyboard. new photos
- Leopold FC660C keyboard. new photo
Kailh Switch
major update
major update.
got a new idea. gonna swap the keycaps in HAVIT Keyboard to use on Gergo Keyboard
old pages, minor updates
major update. now formula in JavaScript
my old article. my spacious office in y2k, with Sun Microsystems hardware.
Sun Microsystems Type 6 Keyboard
old article, repost.
wow, you can buy a Huawei phone on amazon.
Huawei P30 128GB+6GB RAM (ELE-L29) 6.1″ LTE Factory Unlocked GSM Smartphone (International Version) Buy at amazon
random updates.
- Test Your Mousing Efficiency!
- Razer Nostromo Gaming Keypad
- Razer BlackWidow Keyboard
- OrbiTouch keyless keyboard
- Nakabayashi Digio Trackball
- Mouse vs Keyboard: Is Mouse Bad for Programer?
- What's Mouse DPI? Does DPI Matter?
- Microsoft TrackBall Optical
- Microsoft Classic Intellimouse 2017
- Optimus Popularis Keyboard
- Falcon-20 Programmable Keypad
- Retro Keycaps
- Mad Catz RAT 5 Gaming Mouse
minor updates. ROCCAT is known for linux support.
my smart phone Moto G5 Plus
todo, read https://mntre.com/media/reform_md/2020-05-08-the-much-more-personal-computer.html
minor updates to a bunch of pages. mostly fixed the amazon link to direct product, not search.
todo , work in progress display
- Tangent Ripple Grading Panel
- Swiftpoint Z Gaming Mouse
- Stenotype Machine
- Logitech G300s Gaming Mouse
- SteelSeries Sensei Gaming Mouse
minor updates
todo. work in progress 40 Percent Crap
French Keyboard Ergonomic Layout
updated. thanks to the creator of dvorak-fr.
now, i need a unicode symbol to represent wireless, for wireless keyboard
ok, here's a symbol closest to bluetooth ᛒ. Unicode Rune ᚠ .
Keyboards without Numeric Keypad todo, review
Xah's Truly Ergonomic Keyboard Layouts todo need fix the layout app new url
French Keyboard Ergonomic Layout
updated
added a video
now, review.
Microsoft surface book problems
My Microsoft surface pen stopped working one day after a Microsoft Windows update. Also, typecover keyboard, which i don't use much. But one day, i tried to use it, it won't power on.
updated Microsoft Surface Pro
todo. read. [Chapter 6:CASE STUDY 2:CHORD KEYBOARDS By Bill Buxton. At http://www.billbuxton.com/input06.ChordKeyboards.pdf ]
Bill Buxton is a input expert in academia. He's old, 60 or 70s. He has a collection of input devices and website. But the photos are all tiny. He's on twitter. But i stopped following him. Cuz he doesn't really post interenting things.
I repeat, never buy logitech webcam. Added a video review.
Mistel Barocco is back!
Ultimate Hacking Keyboard
updated on the spec of the bridging cable.
cheap action cam can work as webcam
just discovered.
someone bought this. Logitech G700s Mouse. $400 on amazon. by the way, that was the best mouse.
massive curved monitor
someone bought it. join xahlee club discord
Typing Habits, Repetitive Strain Injury ⌨
now with nav box at bottom of every page there.
How to Program Kinesis Keyboard
updated. bottom.
You got my page key philosophy wrong! I am never against page up down key. In fact, prefer to have those keys. And, i've always been espousing ctrl+pgup or pgdn to switch tab. Cuz, it's more ergonomic, and less keystrokes. But most nerd idiots insists ctrl+tab and shift tab. And those hhkb and 60% faaks no even have page up/down key, so they prefer ctrl+tab and ctrl shift tab crap. However, in studying the page key, all aspects, including history, i think it's a sorry state that the page key got invented. Because, mouse wheel, or touch pad swipe, is much more fitting. More efficient. But, understand, we cannot change history. Wheel and touchpad were invented 20 years later. So, in summary, it's a bit complex. Page up/down, physical keys, are great. Faak the nerd idiots with their 60% or 40% faak. But, in view of history, page up/down really shouldn't be there in the first place. Also, i so despise those nerds who use space instead of page down. Page down is proper. Space is hack. For example, u can see emacs, often have space to do page down. And it's very common among nerds in 90s. Faak hackers and their ways.
Keyboard Page Key
massively expanded.
Modifier Keys Usage Frequency
major expansion.
Gergo Keyboard
Massive update.
New layout for xah fly keys. Fantastic.
And criticism of gergo keyboard.
on its own page
benzene666 keyboard
added. on hexagonal key arrangement
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
added tips about save screenshot in jpg format
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
minor update
Character Frequency Counter. Added new feature. Filter out Chinese.
major update.
tons of new photos.
See also: Keyboards with Volume Wheel
Das Keyboard
minor update
new photo. thanks to sezen.
Logitech G502 Mouse
added more photos
Where to Buy Keycaps
updated
Emacs vs vim, Compute Keybinding Efficiency
major update
CODE Keyboard minor update
Microsoft's PowerToys project, the Keyboard Manager, is looking good. added to Windows Keyboard Software Guide
Mac vs Windows vs linux
someone asked me, which is better. A very frequently asked question.
someone asked about typing dvorak with pinyin or other input system.
Elecom HUGE Trackball
Elecom HUGE vs Logitech MX Ergo,
A review by Takom.
Best Laptop Someone asked. This is my recommendation.
Diverge 4 is out. and bunch of updates on other pages.
Mac Keyboard Tools
updated
Xah Keyboard Guide
new gui design
Windows Keyboard Software Guide
added a app that shows key press and keycode.
See also: Programable Keypads
Kinesis Keyboard Gallery added a new mod.
Best Numeric Keypads minor update
minor updates.
XahTV 2020-06-06. math of seashell, kinesis vs UHK vs xbows keyboards, juggling and math
now, am back to kinesis advantage2 as my main keyboard. I must say, it is truly more comfortable than uhk.
Jonathan Blow smashes Razer BlackWidow keyboard. see How Razer Keyboards Suck
- todo, work in progress Emacs Meta Key History
- patreon me $5
- amazon egift card to xah@xahlee.org , $20 is nice.
- paypal to xah@xahlee.org , $20 is nice.
- bitcoin me 19dfoa3Q7oehm9MwCULQzBG8vqfCaeMazH
If you have a question, put $5 at patreon and message me.