Hacker Read

tinus_hn · 2019-05-08 09:38:22

The keyboard has to remain connected when you’re not using it.

c22 | karma 4285 | avg karma 1.94 · | 2016-12-21 23:37:54+00:00

I have this problem too. They could've mostly solved it by just making the keyboard work wirelessly while detached. (Surface with kickstand on the coffee table, keyboard in my lap.)

visarga | karma 12425 | avg karma 1.65 · | 2016-05-21 07:40:53+00:00

You still have keyboard.

ido | karma 7058 | avg karma 2.27 · | 2009-07-28 09:53:55+00:00

Using a laptop's built-in keyboard & monitor for long stretches of time is unergonomic.

viraptor | karma 41139 | avg karma 2.79 · | 2018-05-04 22:23:42+00:00

With such keyboard you can't rest your hands on the keys anymore. It's not possible to work that way for any non-trivial time.

errcorrectcode | karma 773 | avg karma 1.56 · | 2022-02-06 09:47:42

Also, keyboards need to be split apart and attached to a chair like the DataHand keyboard (without the connecting board) of years ago. Typing on a single thing in front of you is asking for body wear and tear.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataHand

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szundi | karma 1036 | avg karma 1.31 · | 2024-04-15 20:40:55

Better step away from your keyboard then, until you start to use something and getting locked in.

Point is that if you need to be free, the barrier is lowER.

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lostboys67 | karma 363 | avg karma 0.8 · | 2017-01-04 08:45:26

Agreed and if your doing any typing at a desk for extended periods (> 1hour a day) you should really be using a separate keyboard.

aidenn0 | karma 26449 | avg karma 2.17 · | 2022-11-21 09:26:29

I have to take it off when typing on a laptop, but I try to avoid that whenever possible.

It's one reason why I wish for a laptop with the touchpad next to the screen and the keyboard next to the edge.

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codedivine | karma 1401 | avg karma 4.01 · | 2009-10-18 23:49:40+00:00

Also under no circumstances use a laptop keyboard for extended periods of time. Most of them are very unergonomic. And stop using touchpads if you use them.

ashtonkem | karma 18360 | avg karma 3.77 · | 2021-02-13 10:35:51

I have no idea why laptop keyboards are so important to people; they’re all terrible. Use a better, external keyboard when you’re stationary, your wrists will thank you.

Especially since it seems like even pre-pandemic laptops operated 80% of the time from a fixed position anyways.

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winstonx | karma 69 | avg karma 2.76 · | 2013-12-19 01:37:01+00:00

But then you can't see the keys or the monitor.

Phurist | karma 34 | avg karma 0.77 · | 2022-06-18 16:27:21

That sounds like a problem that exists between the chair and the keyboard.

jchanimal | karma 1583 | avg karma 3.76 · | 2022-11-19 16:16:15

It’s more about the affordances. I can’t trust notion not to drop into some command system. Therefore I need to keep my monitor turned on when typing. If I can’t type with the monitor turned off, it must not be a very reliable word processor.

h1d | karma 781 | avg karma 0.68 · | 2019-11-04 19:57:27+00:00

Why would devs type on the laptop keyboard for extended period of time?

If you work at a desk, you're supposed to add an external monitor and a keyboard.

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ant6n | karma 4064 | avg karma 1.41 · | 2016-11-20 04:21:33+00:00

It's also important to have a bit of travel for the keyboard - I for one don't like tapping on a hard surface to type.

foldr | karma 6163 | avg karma 1.17 · | 2021-06-01 18:50:48+00:00

When there’s a trackpad below the keyboard you only have to move your hand slightly to use it.

kenjackson | karma 20413 | avg karma 3.83 · | 2011-03-13 21:24:07+00:00

I'm writing this in bed with a laptop on my lap. The bluetooth keyboard (at least the one Apple has) is just not functional in this position. And I do a surprisingly large amount of work in bed.

cookie_monsta | karma 2128 | avg karma 2.86 · | 2019-12-15 01:52:13+00:00

Is it not possible to BYO keyboard? This must be a productivity drag on a lot of people in similar situations

rgoulter | karma 3152 | avg karma 2.28 · | 2022-08-05 06:29:38

My solution when traveling was to rest the keyboard on a bit of acrylic over the keyboard. https://www.instagram.com/p/CZRltWhpA6x/ (I didn't like the idea of resting an external keyboard on the laptop's keyboard directly).