I keep seeing websites use those things, and it drives me utterly insane. Not only is it an onscreen keyboard, but nothing stays still when I'm using the damn thing. I hope more websites don't think it's a good idea.
I find it wild they've been mainstream now for 16 years and I still just absolutely hate them. I would gladly sacrifice screen for a good physical keyboard.
My biggest complaint is regarding web sites/applications that basically ignore the existence of keyboards. Some of this comes from the UI toolkit that they're using, but it's pretty egregious. For just "brochure" web sites, it's not that big of a deal, but some are really, really bad about tabbing order, or tabbing at all, and certain controls don't work correctly without the mouse/touch.
I can’t code with those damn things. I got one from work and returned it, I do not understand how they decided people needed it. I haven’t looked at my keyboard since Mavis Beacon back in elementary school and suddenly it demands my attention, so annoying
The keyboards seem to be very divisive. I know a lot of people who like them or don't mind them. I flat out cannot use them, and not for lack of trying.
What you’re describing are literally the most horrible keyboards I have the displeasure to use.
For example: the IBM Model M is one of the single worst typing experiences imo. The only way to type on that thing is use about 5x the force I normally do.
No wonder our industry is plagued by RSI - it lionizes horrible things like this due to misguided nostalgia.
I have one for work and absolutely hate it. No tactile feedback at all, so it's easy to mis-hit a key. I also echo the guy who said he accidentally hits Siri now because of it. It happened to me A LOT until I realized you can change what shows on it by default. Now I keep mine with expanded controls at all time. It's still annoying because I have to look down to be able to press the right key. I prefer having physical buttons.
EDIT: ALSO the keyboard itself is AWFUL. The absolute WORST keyboard I've ever used. It's terrible to get stuck typing on.
And they are unbelievably clicky, too. Worse than some of the mech keyboards in my office. I find them awful to type on and have an old Retina laptop instead.
I've actually been incredibly curious about how well the on-screen keyboard works for these windows 8 machines on a long-term basis (or at least actual usage, not just fiddling around in the shop), but nobody talks about them.
I can therefore only conclude that they're quite terrible?
I dislike it immensely, mainly because it changes all the time and this makes ot hard to use worhout looking at it every single time. The best way is to use an external keyboard.
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