** The Official OcUK Mechanical Keyboard Thread **

[HangTime]

Ctrl+Esc is the same as the Windows Key also

Not really, I use Windows key + E to launch windows explorer, Winkey+R for Run, Winkey+Pause for system info etc; ctrl+esc+E doesn't work.

Not saying lack of a left Windows key is a dealbreaker necessarily, but I can see it taking some getting used to for people like me that actively use it.

 

[Sin_Chase]

Fair enough for other Non-Start Menu based Shortcuts.

 

[Sin_Chase]

Seriosuly tempted to get the UK Filco Majestouch-2, NKR, Tactile Action Keyboard will red WASD keys. Hundred quid is a lot though.

Do it!

 

[EdwardTeach]

Thanks Ill check that out for sure. Im finding that forcing my fingers into the proper positions and always typing the proper way is slowly getting me used to it. Its just very slow at first and I find myself making more mistakes.

Check out burning cargo, its an in browser typing game.

I bought a mechanical keyboard ~6months ago and decided to learn to touch type (prodded by the fact that the keys on Nippon choc mine's are barely visible).

I have found it quite tough, I was already a very fast typist, but had developed my own unique style. I could almost type blind, but my hands would move around the keyboard a fair bit, more like piano playing so I needed the odd glance for orientation. Reconciling the orthodox method of typing with my brains desire to type as I have been doing for years, would literally give me a headache!

I am nearly there now and I found burning cargo very useful. It has an addictive quality which is helpful when you are trying to conquer something that can only be mastered by repetition.

 

[dpmcalli]

Check out burning cargo, its an in browser typing game.

I bought a mechanical keyboard ~6months ago and decided to learn to touch type (prodded by the fact that the keys on Nippon choc mine's are barely visible).

I have found it quite tough, I was already a very fast typist, but had developed my own unique style. I could almost type blind, but my hands would move around the keyboard a fair bit, more like piano playing so I needed the odd glance for orientation. Reconciling the orthodox method of typing with my brains desire to type as I have been doing for years, would literally give me a headache!

I am nearly there now and I found burning cargo very useful. It has an addictive quality which is helpful when you are trying to conquer something that can only be mastered by repetition.

Yeah this is the same transition Im going through. I was a reasonably fast typist but spent a lot of time looking at the keys. Im getting much better but I still have a long way to go and its hard work re-learning the muscle memory.

Burning Cargo seems good. I spent some time in this game in a similar fashion: http://www.phoboslab.org/ztype/

I would definitely recommend the more traditional lessons on http://www.typingweb.com/ as I feel Ive made good progress following them.

 

[HangTime]

Touch typing isn't all it's cracked up to be IMO, sure if you are a great typist then it makes a big difference but many people can get by just fine without it. I learnt to type at a young age (on a typewriter, which was actually pretty good for training accuracy because if you ****ed up there was none of this backspace cheating, you were reaching for the tippex!) but I've never reached 'pro' level and only do about 60wpm if I want to retain accuracy. Interestingly because I learnt on a typewriter and my first computer was an Amstrad CPC I learnt to always use the numbers along the top even if I'm doing numeric data entry, when the numpad is much more efficient for that.

Even then despite having had formal training I still don't do everything by the book; you are supposed to 'cross shift' (dunno the proper term) i.e. if you are pressing a key with your left hand you are supposed to hold down shift with your right hand and vice-versa, but I don't always do that.

Back in the day as a kid I developed a very rapid variant of the two finger style, except that I also used other fingers for the keys on the edges (e.g. 'A') so that my hands remained fairly central in general. I still think that method was perfectly acceptable for general use but obviously due to training I moved on to touchtyping by about 1990.

 

[Kojak]

Touch typing isn't all it's cracked up to be IMO, sure if you are a great typist then it makes a big difference but many people can get by just fine without it. I learnt to type at a young age (on a typewriter, which was actually pretty good for training accuracy because if you ****ed up there was none of this backspace cheating, you were reaching for the tippex!) but I've never reached 'pro' level and only do about 60wpm if I want to retain accuracy. Interestingly because I learnt on a typewriter and my first computer was an Amstrad CPC I learnt to always use the numbers along the top even if I'm doing numeric data entry, when the numpad is much more efficient for that.

Even then despite having had formal training I still don't do everything by the book; you are supposed to 'cross shift' (dunno the proper term) i.e. if you are pressing a key with your left hand you are supposed to hold down shift with your right hand and vice-versa, but I don't always do that.

Back in the day as a kid I developed a very rapid variant of the two finger style, except that I also used other fingers for the keys on the edges (e.g. 'A') so that my hands remained fairly central in general. I still think that method was perfectly acceptable for general use but obviously due to training I moved on to touchtyping by about 1990.

You can get along perfectly fine without learning to type but there are advantages to using all of your fingers instead of just a few. Most of the time I type around 60-80 words per minute touch typing. However, there are times when my speed soars. At these times it's almost as if my thoughts are appearing onscreen as I'm thinking them and it's amazing. Of course then I become conscious of the speed I'm going at and begin to make mistakes.

 

[Moeks]

Well I might touch type but I very rarely exceed about 80wpm ...thing is I am usually making up what I am typing as I do it ...if I already have a clear picture of what I want to say before I start typing I can go faster but usually I don't so if anything it's probably more like 50-60wpm. Also if I try and go faster than my sort of natural pace, my accuracy takes a nose dive.

 

[ryryryan]

I still type with 4 fingers (2 each hand lol), dunno if i should try and learn to type with all of them or not. Trying now but unsure of which fingers to use when haha! End up going really slowly! I'm pretty fast as it is anyway.

I do have a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate and I love it. While the loud noise isn't so good when other people are trying to sleep, the typewriter like sound is awesome

EDIT: Ah, nearly 2 years later and I hit my 100 posts. Free Postage time

 

[Moeks]

Well it should feel natural to use all your fingers and where they should fall, however if you have been doing something different for a long time then retraining your brain and muscle memory will take some doing ...and a lot of swearing I imagine.

 

[Curunen]

Any other mini keyboards to compare with the noppoo choc mini with brown switches?

Filco tenkeyless is nice, but it's not really a mini keyboard IMO.

I'm really liking the look and the price of the choc mini at the moment, but concerned about the dull print on the keys.

 

[NinetyOne]

Any other mini keyboards to compare with the noppoo choc mini with brown switches?

Filco tenkeyless is nice, but it's not really a mini keyboard IMO.

I'm really liking the look and the price of the choc mini at the moment, but concerned about the dull print on the keys.

Could look at the KBC Pokers if you don't mind missing the F keys. The Pictures of the choc mini don't do it any justice, it really does look good.

 

[Harrybololxd]

I bought a Filco Majestouch-2 brown switch about 6 months ago to replace my logitech G15 (first version) and even though the price tag is quite high I would definetly buy another.

 

[Curunen]

Could look at the KBC Pokers if you don't mind missing the F keys. The Pictures of the choc mini don't do it any justice, it really does look good.

Just had a look at those, but the choc mini looks much nicer I think.

 

[NinetyOne]

Just had a look at those, but the choc mini looks much nicer I think.

Then don't hold back, get a choc mini!

 

[Moeks]

You wont regret getting a Choc Chip Mini, they really are very good and there is one to fit most tastes.

I have had my Choc Chip Mini with red switches a few weeks now and I am really pleased with it. It's my favourite keyboard now, I love the light touch MX reds. So much so I am going to sell my Filco Zero Tenkeyless I think, I doubt I will use it again as I really prefer the much lighter activation point of the Cherry reds ...also I can type quietly on the MX reds, which is nice after the racket of the white Alps.

 

[Curunen]

Cool, thanks for that. Just noticed it comes in white too.

The only three issues I have with it are - the non-UK layout, the dull key print, and the lack of a dedicated play/pause button. But I can live with those!

 

[InKursion]

Hi, I'm a touch-typist at aroundabout 110-130WPM (corrected), and I actually found the Zowie Celeritas to be the best all-round mechanical board. I'm a writer-reviewer and a literature postgraduate by day and (formerly, at least) a pretty heavy competitive gamer by night. Any board with the Cherry Brown switches should do you pretty well for the 'best of both worlds' between touch-typing lightness and a decent gaming weight. I got mine from the OCUK store after requesting some more stock from the team in the appropriate sub-forum. Do recommend.

 

[Curunen]

^If zowie did a mini keyboard, I'd be all over it for sure. I'm just not into full size keyboards.

 

[Moeks]

Yea, I used to vastly prefer full width keyboards but ever since I discovered how much better I can line my arms, shoulders and wrists up by using a tenkeyless keyboard and thus being able to have it closer to the mouse I've been a convert, I really find it much more comfortable for extended use of both mouse and keyboard simultaneously, I guess if you mostly just use the keyboard for extended writing and only touch the mouse occasionally then it wouldn't really be an issue though as you can live with the mouse shoved off to the side a bit.

I've found getting used to the lack of keypad relatively painless, I do input a fair amount of numbers although not massive amounts like someone working with spreadsheets might.

When I learned to type though I used to use the number bar, as it was on a type-writer not a computer keyboard so didn't have a keypad. Use of the keypad is a habit I picked up later, actually quite a lot later as when I first started using computers in the early '90s I didn't really use the keypad.

If you don't feel that you 'need' the keypad and you have never tried the ergonomic wonder that is a short keyboard (the rest of the keys can still be full sized) then I recommend it. If you do really need a keypad you can always by a separate one if need be. Personally I would rather the keypad was on the left side of the keyboard anyway, like a left handed keyboard ...although I would still want the home keys and arrows on the right, thus allowing me to use the keypad with my left hand and keep my right hand on the mouse.