Mechanical Keyboards

I have a Glorious GMMK2 that I took to the office. It has arrow keys and the page up/down and end keys. (Home is fn+end). I find this to be the happy middle for me. The tiny boards with no arrows were frustrating. Big boards I get uncomfortable after a while due to the mouse being so far away. A smaller board that has the keys you regularly use is more ergonomic since you can keep your arms and hands closer to your core. I don’t mind using fn to access function keys or more rare use case keys. This very much comes down to what you do on your computer. When I had to type in user IDs non-stop working on a help desk…numpad was important. I don’t type strings of numbers as frequently now so it is not as important.

It probably feels more ergonomical, I would also have a smaller if I were to buy one tbh

When I used full size keyboard it knocked down my microphone so many times that it became anoying. Moving the keyboard away from microphone wasn't an option because it wasn't comfortable for my hands. Moving microphone itself also wasn't an option because of the cabels and also there is no better position for it on my desk. Combine all of that with the fact that I didn't even use numpad. Smaller keyboard is so much better for me but I see why some people like full size ones.

I dont prefer smaller, because at work when I'm in the office I do a lot of spreadsheet work and consequently use the numpad and arrow keys alot.

At home while gaming I almost never use them and never did, had mini keyboards for years but sometimes I have to use my computer for actual work and lo and behold if my halds and fingers dont immediately start looking for the numpad...

Me with my G910

"Keyboards are getting smaller? 😮"

I don't have a use for a numpad and it typically sits where I have my mouse so I rather have the space than the numpad. If I really needed one I'd likely just get an external numpad that I can plug in and have it to the side somewhere.

Personally, my favorite size / layout are , as they keep their F-keys and the Home / Page keys, but everything is compacted into one uniform block without useless gaps. Perfect blend between functionality and aesthetics for me.

Numpad not needed since already have number keys above the alphas (and you can buy separate tenkey pads if they’re really needed). The extra space on desktop gained by a shorter keyboard is far more useful. All of mine except two are TKL, the others are 60%. Below that you fall into specialist territory and having typed on QWERTY layouts with function keys for decades I think I’m a bit too old to unlearn and relearn typing, but some people find it fun to use weird and wonderful ortho, dactyl or 40% keebs with multiple programmable “layers”.

User getting younger and keyboards smaller.

Isn't more keys generally better?

No. It's not. 101 keyboards have a lot of redundancy and that's just wasted space on the desk.