The number pad only ever became relevant to me after decades when I began playing video games that have more keybindings than I have brain cells. Caves Of Qud makes use of basically the the whole number pad just to manually move in 8 different directions.
Caves of Qud annoyed me with that, but I got vim-ish movement keys worked out instead. Normal hjkl, bnyu for diagonals, took a bit but now it’s second nature
Exactly. For me it’s closer to 40 years and I don’t think I ever used the number pad more than ten times. Tenkeyless is just better, unless you’re an accountant.
Or if you use different language keyboard layout. I mostly use Czech layout and if I wanted to type numbers without a numpad, I would need to hold shift+number to type them, or change the layout. So for me it’s more convenient to just use the numpad. Also I grew up with full sized keyboards so it’s also a habit.
I was a Unix sysadmin for years and never once used the num pad. I’m in sales now for 25 years and still don’t use it. I mean, it’s always been a goal of mine but I just never think of it when it’s time to use it, and it’s slower for me to use it than not use it. And I don’t enter enough numbers to get enough practice to be good at it.
I spent 30 years thinking someday I’d start using the number pad and then finally gave up. I like having the typing part centered more.
The number pad only ever became relevant to me after decades when I began playing video games that have more keybindings than I have brain cells. Caves Of Qud makes use of basically the the whole number pad just to manually move in 8 different directions.
Caves of Qud annoyed me with that, but I got vim-ish movement keys worked out instead. Normal hjkl, bnyu for diagonals, took a bit but now it’s second nature
Exactly. For me it’s closer to 40 years and I don’t think I ever used the number pad more than ten times. Tenkeyless is just better, unless you’re an accountant.
Or if you use different language keyboard layout. I mostly use Czech layout and if I wanted to type numbers without a numpad, I would need to hold shift+number to type them, or change the layout. So for me it’s more convenient to just use the numpad. Also I grew up with full sized keyboards so it’s also a habit.
Tkl/80 is my preferred size
I’m a full TKL man myself. I don’t mind the space, just don’t like using space for stuff I never use.
I’m a fan of TKL as well, but one annoying place where the numpad is missed is games and software that hardcode numpad keys
Do you people never do any actual work on your computers?
I have body parts that are less important to me than my numpad.
We just don’t work as accountants ;-).
Or programming. Or sysadmins. Or sales orders. Or order picking. Or…
You need to type a number quickly?
You need a keypad.
The end.
I was a Unix sysadmin for years and never once used the num pad. I’m in sales now for 25 years and still don’t use it. I mean, it’s always been a goal of mine but I just never think of it when it’s time to use it, and it’s slower for me to use it than not use it. And I don’t enter enough numbers to get enough practice to be good at it.