I think most people are on laptops now. Blows my mind but yeah.
My comparison is that screen size is like desk size. A laptop being those tiny pull out side desks at college, and a monitor being a desk. I was massively downvoted for that. People like their small screens.
I get a poked fun at a little bit on mechanical keyboard communities for preferring a full-size (I gotta type IP’s, need a numpad!).
I don’t think I could work solely on a laptop without external peripherals, it’s just not a good experience (also giant hands and chiclet keys is not a good combo). My work laptop exists permanently folded closed connected to a dock.
I’d put the analogy as trying to cook a multi-course meal in a saucepan on a single burner vs a full stovetop and set of pans (also you only have a paring knife).
My first real PC game was Civ 2 where I used the numpad to move, with the corners being for diagonals. and yeah, I don’t even really need it 90% of the time, but not having the numpad just feels wrong to me (though yes I still do play Civ 2 from time to time)
Not to be “that keyboard guy,” but you can still have a full numpad on a smaller keyboard using a separate layer that’s triggered by a key being pressed or held.
I know because I’ve done it - the keys are all grouped into the same orientation, they’re just not labelled. It’s an adjustment, but it’s worth it to me for the extra desk space.
I get that that’s not really an attractive option for some though.
I tried a TKL and a numpad for a while, but it just wasn’t comfortable for me for some reason. Not a fan of layering, just doesn’t come to me naturally
I think most people are on laptops now. Blows my mind but yeah.
My comparison is that screen size is like desk size. A laptop being those tiny pull out side desks at college, and a monitor being a desk. I was massively downvoted for that. People like their small screens.
I get a poked fun at a little bit on mechanical keyboard communities for preferring a full-size (I gotta type IP’s, need a numpad!).
I don’t think I could work solely on a laptop without external peripherals, it’s just not a good experience (also giant hands and chiclet keys is not a good combo). My work laptop exists permanently folded closed connected to a dock.
I’d put the analogy as trying to cook a multi-course meal in a saucepan on a single burner vs a full stovetop and set of pans (also you only have a paring knife).
My first real PC game was Civ 2 where I used the numpad to move, with the corners being for diagonals. and yeah, I don’t even really need it 90% of the time, but not having the numpad just feels wrong to me (though yes I still do play Civ 2 from time to time)
A few games use it for flight as well
The Amiga 600 was criticised for not having a numpad. I don’t think much needed it except DPaint (but that was a bit of very popular software).
Not to be “that keyboard guy,” but you can still have a full numpad on a smaller keyboard using a separate layer that’s triggered by a key being pressed or held.
I know because I’ve done it - the keys are all grouped into the same orientation, they’re just not labelled. It’s an adjustment, but it’s worth it to me for the extra desk space.
I get that that’s not really an attractive option for some though.
I tried a TKL and a numpad for a while, but it just wasn’t comfortable for me for some reason. Not a fan of layering, just doesn’t come to me naturally
Oof. I’ve been using a 60% split ortho for so long that I forgot some people consider TKL a compromise so they can have a smaller keyboard.
Not trying to change your habits, just pointing out that adapting is very easy in case you wanted to look into it!