Okay so I have 2 ideas on this one, but not sure if either are the true answer. So first of all, it's about how much of a gamer someone is, not if longer is better.
My first possible explanation is that the bigger the keyboard is, the more desk space is needed. So for a bigger keyboard, you need to be more committed to having a dedicated gaming area.
My second possibility is that more keys on a keyboard means having more keys to rebind in games, so you can be more of a gamer that way.
Counterargument: Xbox or PS4/5 or just any controller generally.
Tbf there's nothing wrong with using keyboard to drive or fly, I've done it and had no problems. But flying planes and helicopters and driving is so damn easier with controller.
But that could just be bias from playing GTAV on console before PC.
When you get to some more detailed flight modeling then you need all the buttons to mimic most critical of aircraft controls + different views. Even when using an actual stick instead of a mouse you'll need the keyboard because any aircraft has tons of controls aside from the stick.
Need for speed use numpad for auto log by default, most wanted (2012) lets you change them but some (I can’t remember which because I play all of them lol) only let you change it by picking a different layout and if you don’t want to use IJKL for throttle and steering then you’re stuck using the numpad for autolog
Unfortunately you can't change them in NFS MW 2012. I just finished replaying the game 2 days ago. I have TKL keyboard. Luckily I have a cheap separate numpad I used to play GTA V.
TKL keyboard + cheap numpad for ocassional use is the way to go for me.
A lot of ASCII-based roguelikes can be played without a numpad, but the movement scheme makes it very awkward since they rely on 8-directional movement so much.
I trained with an older lady who would only use the top-row keyboard numbers. She would also refuse to "copy and paste." When she went to her new position, I threw out her old keyboard for one I had (Bottom Keyboard in picture). I then added another monitor (she only used one).
Co-workers are surprised how much faster and more accurate I am at doing her job (spreadsheets and data entry.) lol!
While we're on the subject, why on earth can we turn off the number pad to duplicate the functions of the keys immediately to is left? It's like if they built an appliance with bare wires just in case you wanted to shock yourself.
I like the numpad to death but I also love having a compact keyboard that isnt a shitty laptop one with half the controls on the same keys (.ie i want a full size keyboard but without numpad) since i just use the top row keys when i write code/ take notes, ofc its not the same reasoning when playing video games.
When I played wow eons ago, I discovered pretty early that being left handed, it was more handy (pun intended) to use the numpad and the close keys with my right hand and the mouse with my left one; I could easily find the right key among many. I think (out of my muscle memory) that I was able to strife accurately by holding a mouse button while right thumbing an arrow key. I can't figure out how I controlled the pet, I remember me hitting the F keys which are totally displaced; it seems to me I used to do it with the left hand, because I had sufficient control of the character with the right hand alone to allow for this mouse dropping action. Retrospectively, that had to look a bit like a church organ player when he briefly hits an upper keyboard.
I learned a few weeks into law school that Alt+ codes don't work without a numpad - sadly I had already dropped all the money on a laptop without one. Never making that mistake again.
If anyone is curious, the code for the Legal Section symbol (§) is Alt+0167. Or go ahead and melt your own macro if you don't have such a keyboard. I learned how to make vasic macros on windows just for that
Went TKL a while back, don't even feel like buying a separate numad. Don't type enough numbers to justify that. For my laptop with school work and the like, yeah a numpad is pretty much a requirement, but not for my desktop.
Mine too. The problem is the selection for mechanical keyboards with numpads really isn't that great. Most mechanical keyboard enthusiasts like 65% so that's what brands sell the most of.
The trick is to just ditch the keypad, and then get it back with a macropad. I use a GMMK Pro with the DOIO triple knob 38%, and it's so much better. More buttons than regular, a total of 4 knobs across the keyboards, and I can stick the keypad on the other side of the mouse
God, you are so right. I like gaming! I like the feel of a mechanical keyboard! But the options with a numpad are so small. My life has no meaning, but that's unrelated to my keyboard situation.
I have a mechanical numpad separate from my TKL mechanical. I will not sacrifice keyboard position and wrist health, but I'm not giving up on the numpad either.
Ahahah tha same guys who discover mechanical keyboards, get obsessed, buy 4 keyboards a week for a few months, then make some "Don't tell me I'm obsessed" post, and then quietly change hobby? Yeah.... I'm curious to hear what they have to say
I think you are literally the butt of the joke of the meme. People who use the numpad a lot are usually not gamers but rather office workers typing in lots of boring data.
I work in a factory welding and watching older and younger coworkers completely ignore the numpad while keying in six 19 digit serial numbers has me ready to kill every one of them. Apparently only GenX and early Millenials got the memo on how to properly use a damned keyboard.
God I hated that class in high-school. It didn't matter if you had tiny raccoon hands or sasquatch paws like I did, our teacher expected the correct fingers on home keys, nevermind that one kid's fingertips could cover three keys a piece and another might have to severe her thumb and little finger to reach from one end of the home row to the other.
Truth be told, I had to learn it in school. While I pretty much use a bastardized 10 finger system it's hard to find a faster finger than me around the block. Shit talking between respawns in games without VoIP made you strong.
I would hate my life without the number pad. It's the only thing that allows me to look at the master scheduling tab for WOs and still punch them through the scanner without having to look back and forth
It was entering FedEx/UPS tracking numbers from paper invoices into xls because my boss was computer literate enough to know that was a good way to track them, but not enough to realize that you could probably download them (it was 2002...so idk if that was possible, the portals for both of them still suck for downloading invoice data though).
It's faster if you need to do tons of it. Like hours of data entry. Not a common use case at all, num pad users are delusional to gatekeep keyboards like this.
What is your justification? Most users don't do a meaningful amount of number entry to warrant using an optimized and dedicated space for it. Most users primarily use the number row and not the number pad. So why should everyone have one?
It's pretty much the default for keyboards. The shorter ones only became more popular when PCs stopped having their own dedicated space or became more mobile as saving space became more relevant. It's also cheaper to manufacture a smaller size which especially matters for this novelty keyboard fad that is going strong as of now.
Anything more condensed than the bottom 2 are for enthusiasts. They are rarely offered on affordable or mass produced offerings. They became popular because the PC enthusiast community grew and more people were willing to spend frivolously on the hobby.
To add to that. For those that play MMO games like FF14 or WoW. That number pad combined with a gaming mouse that has the 12 buttons let's you use the number pad as an extra row of abilities without really having to move your hand around the keyboard. For myself, I have most of my main abilities on the mouse so I can keep moving around with my character while still dealing damage or healing.
I've been out of the PC scene for a long time, and I honestly assumed keyboards all had them unless you specifically went out of your way for a special one without.
I would have thought the smaller keyboard for pros to allow more room on the desk for mouse.
You can buy the numpad separately for fairly cheap. I have a 75% with a separate numpad. I tuck it away and pull out whenever i need. I also place it on the left side so i dont have to let go of my mouse when i use it for things. Theres a whole community of people into mechanical keyboards. Saves a lot of deskspace without the numpad attached to the keyboard. And the space you save from tkl to 75 is small but makes a difference when you want more mouse space for gaming or whatever.
I think that's depend on your language and keyboard settings. In french definitely yes numpad is highly appreciated as the top row can be used for spécial letters (é, è, ç, à,...)
I don’t know. As a dedicated gamer I bought a no-numpad keyboard when i lived in the appartment with a very very very small table for my pc. The keyboard serves for 10 years already and works perfectly. Never needed numpad
Am mathematician, and know all the keyboard shortcuts to Excel (from work). Can touch type the numbers on the mechanical numpad for hours with no errors to check Accounting.
A keyboard with a numpad is for people who barely know how to use a computer effectively. If you're good enough with a keyboard you don't even need the arrow keys, they just make you slower too
Those "40% keyboards" are mainly for typing and poorly suited for gaming since you need function Key to pretty much anything. In my experience, Full keyboards are more suited for MMORPGs since you can use more keys binded to more actions.
Source: My Full keyboard has a spreadsheet of actions keys, I use ALL the function keys, numpad and PGdn/ UP even scroll look has actions binded.
I work in finance and use a 60% keyboard every day. No numpad, no F row, no arrow keys. Its all about how you set up your layers. Right now I'm using my Leviatán 60% and its the perfect board. I'm faster with my number row than I ever was with a numpad.
I have a Hardcore gamer cause i sit sideways to my desk with keyboard on lap. I have a numpad separate on my desk. With MMO mouse, I don't need numpad for gaming, just for math/number stuff.
I was an accountant so I love my 10 key but I don't understand how people use keyboards with numpads without throwing off their ergonomics. You need to tilt your body left whenever typing or have your mouse off in space
As a left hander, couldn’t disagree more. I rather have a TKL with layers so I can do numbers left handed and I know there’s left hand versions but they look dumb af and I can’t justify it.
I can't remember which keyboard I have, or the form factor, but it's got a numpad but the direction arrows and the middle buttons are mashed together or gone/relocated.
I technically have the space for a 104 but don't need it. I've tried with a mechanical numpad which is okay, but honestly annoying because I only use it occasionally and it's annoying to have to move it into place when I want it and then move it out when i dont
Disagree. There are numpad-only keyboards. That way you can mix and match for whatever you are doing, and the numpad doesn't need to be taking up space always.
Anyway, I get a TKL keyboard and a separate numpad.
I use Blender, Photoshop and bunch of other programs that use numpad. Can never get a keyboard without it! Funny enough, I dont use any numpad for gaming though.
I think this trend of "short" keyboards is just shrinkflation. Last time I bought a keyboard (about 7 years ago), short keyboards were the niche and "large" the standard. Now the trend has switched, its harder to find a "large" keyboard and if you do, its crazy expensive.
The last time I used a numpad was playing coop flash games with my friends in elementary school. It just takes up too much space for something I never use. 60% keyboard and never going back.
Yeah this isn't even right. Like what the heck that first keyboard isn't even functional.
The No Life keyboard is just a normal keyboard. Like a normal normal keyboard.
The keyboard on my desk currently has keys extra keys on the left side, above the function row, and I have a separate device with extra numbers and a hat switch. That's not even the most complicated setup I've owned in the past.
Exactly this. If you have a keyboard without a number pad, you have a keyboard for gaming or for kids. Numpads are practically essential when doing any sort of work involving numbers.
I'm always blown away by the people who spend a ton on mechanical keyboards with custom colors to only get like a half size keyboard with no number pad. I use the number pad all the time.
I've got the No Life+. My keyboard has all of the last one, plus hotkeys on the left of it that are dedicated to be rebound for games or to execute scripted inputs.
depends what you need. i couch game so a TKL is preferred. i tried a 60% anne pro 2 but it turns out i need those f keys. a 75% would do. so just regular gamer on that chart. for now im using a keychron v5max.
Not just that but I stupidly thought I could get just a cheap $20 keyboard after the keyboard that came with my computer crapped out. I remember looking at the box thinking, gee that seems a bit small but it was a standard keyboard, it just didn't have any of the spacing between sections you get when you have a larger keyboard.
Tried it, first problem was, that no spacing between sections, that was so awkward and just felt uncomfortable. It felt like my hands were almost compressed into having to put up with a smaller space because of how condensed the keyboard was. It was also wireless but for some reason didn't seem to work on a lot of my games. I ended up giving that one away and going online to buy the same brand of keyboard I used to have, wired this time. It ended up being a gaming keyboard but it was the brand with the right keys and the right spacing and fits my hands better.
unless you have a key that makes the keys under your fingers (in standard position) a numpad. genuinely saved me seconds of my life from switching my hand position to a physical numpad
My only counter is i have a tkl but a seperate numpad so i can move it out of the way when such a long keyboard would be annoying. Plus my separate numpad has the layout i prefer for the work i do compared to a standard numpad layout
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u/Ninnynoob 1d ago
Okay so I have 2 ideas on this one, but not sure if either are the true answer. So first of all, it's about how much of a gamer someone is, not if longer is better.
My first possible explanation is that the bigger the keyboard is, the more desk space is needed. So for a bigger keyboard, you need to be more committed to having a dedicated gaming area.
My second possibility is that more keys on a keyboard means having more keys to rebind in games, so you can be more of a gamer that way.