Why are keyboards getting smaller?

Smaller keyboards:

• Encourage you to move your hands less. Part of this is allowing your mouse to be closer, especially if you’re right handed.
• Aesthetically look cleaner and less cluttered

I'm one of those weirdos who actually really likes using a smaller keyboard so I'll give you a few reasons I like smaller keyboard and a few why I don't like larger ones.

First of all, desk space. I have a very small desk so not having the numpad makes for a lot more space for my mouse.

I also find when gaming that my arms fall at a weird and uncomfortable angle when I have the keyboard and mouse at a comfortable distance apart.

I don't tend to use the numpad, or 9 key cluster above the arrow keys very often so the ones I do use (delete, Pg up and Pg down) are just mapped to a new layer. My board is ortholinear so I've also got the numpad mapped to a layer if I ever want to use it.

The function row is also re-mapped over the number row with the - and + acting as 11 and 12 because I very rarely need to use a function key and a number key at the same time or in quick succession so theres no need for the seperate keys.

I don't program much but when I do, I've got all the relevant symbols labelled with their layers on the front of the cap so they're not hard to find when I need them.

I'm also very much not a tidy desk person and I do a lot of my hobby work at my desk so having a nice small keyboard I can cram wherever I can when I need it and just move out of the way when I don't means I'm not always shuffling stuff around my desk to make space for this huge keyboard.

Overall however, I just really like the look of a nice, small, compact keyboard with everything I need just there. It's visually nice to have a uniform block of keys with no gaps, no larger or differently shaped keys, and that's just not something a larger keyboard offers me.

I can absolutely see how this sort of thing doesn't work for most people because there is an element of having to re-learn muscle memory and such, but for most people that have tried it, they seem to find that when it works, it works very well!

Hoo boy. This is an issue close to my heart about which I could talk for an unreasonable length of time.

I'm an accountant. Yes, spreadsheets. I always thought I you'd have to pry my numpad from my cold dead hands.

About 6 months ago I bought one of the saucy little mech boards of which you speak. A keychron k6. It was a whimsical purchase. It would make my thinkpad set up look better when I posted pictures to /r/thinkpad.

Turns out, I love using it so much that I can do without a numpad.

The core element to answer your "why not full size" question is simply that this little harlot fits in my backpack, where a 100% board would not.

Anyhow, I have a d-pad, and 2x function keys that can modify any key to whatever you want. So I don't miss having any of the extra special keys. It took surprisingly little time to get used to.

On occasion, I do have to grind through entering a list of numbers, but it's really not that often and doesn't take that much extra time.

A mystery for me, the numpad is essential and at least 60 percent of the nav cluster is in constant use. And I prefer the full keyboard look

I don't know but I feel the same. My main gripe is with media keys, because I don't want Fn key combinations, but dedicated media buttons, which is increasingly rare. The most appealing keyboard I have laid eyes on recently is Das Keyboard which has a volume wheel, media keys and is full size, but it's very pricey and not perfect still.

The avarage user doesn't need all the buttons accessible at every moment as such are willing to trade convenience for space saving and cost reduction. Some people though mainly professionals with hyper specific niches go the opposite direction and trade space and cost for oversized keyboards in the name of efficiency.

Trading terminal keyboards are the easiest keyboards to point to utilizing their additional keys for more streamline trading in an era before algorithmic trading

Belive it or not just like click switches, large keyboards still popup within the mech keyboard community. Hyper 7 being the most well known (and has a group buy currently going) but there's also the wombat 200% which features twenty rotary encoders. Some people have been getting the best of both worlds by utilizing a modular mindset. A 75% keyboard with an external numpad and macro pad has the same functionality as a battleship.

I have a 40% ortholinear kb because it's more ergonomic. My fingers are never have to travel more than 2 keys away from home row. There are enough built in layers that I never feel like I'm missing a key. All keys are remappable. Beyond that I think it looks neat - folks always ask about it when they see it. When using a mouse and keyboard, my arms are kept at a reasonable distance apart (overall hands are closer together), so I can work or game longer without feeling like my shoulders or back are strained.

I use keyboards in the 40%-65% range. For me it is about reduced travel. Almost no travel for typing any key and minimal travel for the mouse.

I wouldn't use a keyboard that small if it wasn't for QMK, the open source keyboard firmware. We essentially have dedicated layer keys. A key when tapped or held remaps the keyboard. For myself that is usually caps lock and a couple keys on the bottom row. I select keyboards that have the space bar split into 3-4 keys for this to work. 4 is preferred to put backspace next to space.

With 40 keys and 3 layers that's (40 keys - 3 layer keys) * (1 base layer + 3 activated layers) = 148 keys within reach of home row. A full size is around 120 keys.

I'm used to software using "leader" keys like vim and tmux, so it never really bothered me to use layers. I don't get why anyone would want their hands always moving to reach keys since I started using layers.

• QMK (rather, "easily" accessible keyboard firmware creator) makes keyboard less and less reliant on having a dedicated button for all of the functionalities provided by full size.
• No need to move out of homerow is super nice, especially if you dont need to use your mouse frequetly.
• its nice

I don’t get it either, but I also with with AS400s daily and therefore need f1-24 and I’m not going to deal with all the layering setup needed for that when I can get a normal keyboard and hit shift+F4 for F16 instead of shift+left ctrl+F4. It doesn’t seem like much but when you’re using F13-24 a lot then it gets annoying.

I also want numpad, I don’t want to type IP schemes on the number row

I switched to a TKL (tenkeyless) to reduce the distance between my hands when my right hand is on the mouse, and it feels so much better.

I got a programmable keyboard, so I remapped the keys around where my right hand rests to be the numpad keys when I hold the capslock key. That way I can still have the convenience of the numpad without having an actual dedicated numpad, although I'm still getting used to using it this way.

For most users/use cases, there isn't a need for for so many dedicated keys - if they are prepared to learn layouts with multiple layers. There are several notable advantages: cost, portability, reduced footprint (keeping hands closer together when using mouse and keyboard), and reduced finger travel/stretch. These last two are good preventative measures for carpal tunnel.

I chose a 40% ortholinear keyboard specifically because I make heavy use of the numpad in my work. I keep the numpad on one of four layers and I find using it to be quicker and more seamless to transition to than when using a full sized keyboard. I only wish that more manufacturers made ortholinear layouts....

I use a 64 key keyboard. Barely have to move any of my fingers which is great for reducing my RSI. I hate how standard keyboards just have this one giant key for your thumb. Your thumb is your strongest digit and it's just used to slap this slab. On the ortho keyboards I've become more used to recently often have a thumb cluster so you can have all of your modifiers and whatnot there. Less stretching with your pinky for ctrl, fn whatever (which is how I got my RSI). Having enter, shift, backspace and delete at my ... Thumbtips ... Is a game changer.

I liked having less space between my hands (left hand on the keyboard, right hand on the mouse). I also rarely use the numpad and other keys, so the negligible sacrifice was worth it for better ergonomics.

Gamers generally want more room on the desk so their mice can travel further without needing to be repositioned.

I love having a numpad for extra keybinds in MMOs and for number inputs for work, but I've since switched to a TKL and never looked back.

I still miss the numpad but that thing can be bought separately, and not smashing my mouse into my keyboard is a big plus.

Looking into upgrading to a Wooting 80HE once that launches; it's like a TKL that wants to be questionably special, but given Wooting's reputation I'd wager it'd still be better than anything else on the market.

I love using 65% boards. Main reason being that I get more desk space, more space for my mouse, more ergonomic as my mouse hand doesn't have to be as far to the right (this is particularly better for gaming), it's easier to travel with if the need arises, and I just think they look neat.

I like having more real estate for the mouse. If I need the numpad, I just reach for it.

I can live without the nav cluster. I can just Fn+arrows for pgup/dn/home/end. But can't live without arrows.

I've never used the numpad when I did have a full sized keyboard, and I want a smaller keyboard because the distance from the mouse and the WASD is smaller, which is more comfortable for me when gaming, but also when switching between typing and navigating with the mouse, the shorter distance is more pleasant.

I use a 75% keyboard because I don't want a numpad, but I do want the arrow keys and F row without needing a function layer for them.

No idea, I really like having the numpad and all of the other keys that the full layout has on my Varmillo VA108

I wrote a short Introduction to Small Keyboards a while ago for the guys from keeb.supply when they first stocked kits for my Zilpzalp keyboard.

Maybe it'll help understand some of the appeal of small boards and how to productively use them 😊

I rather have my keys closer to the mouse. I don't miss having a num pad at all.

I like the ability to remove or add the numb pad depending on the work or play.

I was team numpad all the way, but then I received a 60% as a gift and I have to say, I'm quite impressed with it.

It's pretty decent for gaming, you get more desktop real-estate for your mouse which is a huge plus. I'd also hazard a guess and say that the smaller size is more attractive for the average computer user.

Now that everything seems to take USB-C it's really easy to swap out your board for something more suitable for your task. So if you really need a numpad, you can just swap your full size board back in.

Depending on your use case, you might be surprised how far you can get with a 60%. I thought the lack of arrow keys and F1-12 was really going to bite me, but I can use them easily enough for most cases - but not always. For instance, I wish I could still select text with Ctrl + Shift + arrow/home/end, but that's out of reach now. But for 99% of my usage, it gets the job done.

I've recently built and am transitioning to a 50-key split-ergo keyboard. I code for a living so, a bit of getting used to, to be honest. The big advantage is in ergonomics and portability. Fewer keys means that fingers have less travel distance.

It is because mech keyboards are really expensive and people sacrifice size for affordability. That's one of the main reasons anyway. Also you can then buy a numpad separately, I like a separate numpad.

I use a keyboard with 64 keys (Keyboardio Model 100), with a layout that would likely drive any normal person mad: there are no numbers on the base layer, and all modifiers are on the thumb cluster. My top row is shifted symbols like @*$^%!&. I love it. I can reach every key without moving my hand, which helped tremendously with my RSI. With clever use of layers, one-shot modifiers & layers (where one-shot means that you press and release a modifier, and it remains active for the next keypress only), I have access to every symbol available on a traditional layout and more, without having to move my hand or do weird finger gymnastics.

It's not a keyboard I'd normally carry (it's heavy, split, and takes up more space than a traditional full-size one), that's not why I like it small. I like it small because I don't need to move my hand to reach all the keys, and that increases my typing comfort a lot. I have no use for a dedicated numpad: I can just press my right palm key and turn that half of my keyboard into a numpad. If I'm typing a single digit, I don't even need to hold the palm key. If I'm typing a longer number, I can double tap the palm key to toggle the numpad layer on, and tap it a third time once I'm done. I don't need cursor keys, because I can tap the left palm key to turn the keyboard into navigation mode: the right side controls the text cursor (ie, arrow keys, page up/down, home/end), and the left side controls the mouse. Most of the time, I don't even need a mouse, because I can control the pointer from the comfort of my keyboard. I do have a trackball placed inbetween the two halves for the rare cases where I require more mousing than what is comfortable with keys, but... that's not used all that often.

So, in short, the reason I prefer small and split is because they let me type without moving my hand, or stretching my fingers uncomfortably, and I still have convenient access to every symbol I need. I might need to do a bit more "work" to type certain things, but that's a small price to pay for the comfort I gain by not having to move my hands.

I can write at ~120WPM with this setup (but I normally don't need to, my normal typing speed is closer to ~60WPM, because my speed is limited by thinking speed, not my typing speed), I write code with this, I write prose in both English and Hungarian, and I even play some games with it! (Most games I play with a controller though, because I can do that from the couch.)

Just because it is small doesn't mean it can't do everything a full-sized keyboard can. I just do the same things in a different way, with different compromises. With a full-sized one, if you want to type numbers, you either have to move your hand to the numpad, or use two hands to type something like 1994. I can type that number with one hand, without moving my hand: instead of moving hands, I switch layers. With a full-sized keyboard, if you need Home, End, PageUp, PageDown or the like, you either need to move your hand, or you need whatever program you're using to have different bindings for the same functionality. I can just press a key to go into navigation mode, and move the cursor whatever way I like, without moving my hands, or finding an alternative binding - works in every program, anywhere - instead of moving hands, I press an extra key. I found that pressing an extra key (especially if I don't need to hold it) is more comfortable than moving hands. I also found that not moving my hands increased my accuracy, because I don't need to find the home position when moving my hand back: it never moved in the first place.

70% is the happiest middle ground for me: still have function row so less modifier-holding required (vertical space was never the issue) & tighter than tenkeyless while not giving up keys. Luckily these are readily sold & the default laptop keyboard setup. Numpads IMO are a niche peripheral that are rarely used & add stress to mouse usage since that numpad has to be crossed over every time for the average user; separate numpads can be bought and located somewhere more ergonomic.

I'm a severe numpad hater but I hate when they also steal the arrow keys.

I type on a Cooler Master Masterkeys Pro M. It's very slightly reduced from a standard 104 key ANSI layout. It has a numpad but is missing the three arrow key columns (what I've taken to calling the nav group as most of those keys are for navigating a document) All that functionality is in the numpad, like it always was, except on this keyboard it's not laid out like an old Model M, they transferred the arrow keys, home-end-page up/down-ins-del keys and such into the numpad in a way that makes sense if you're used to them. Takes a second to get used to, and I actually ever use the numlock key on this keyboard, but it works. The alphanumeric key section is more or less perfectly normal ANSI layout (there's a fn key between right Super and Ctrl) so it's perfectly ordinary to type on.

Narrowing the keyboard a bit like this does two things for me:

1. Moving my hand from the home row to the mouse is ~4 inches shorter. A full 104 key is so wide that either the mouse ends up way off to the right, or to reach the home row I have to reach my right hand to my right. My right wrist spends less time at extreme angles.

2. It frees up room for my space mouse to the left of the keyboard on my tiny little keyboard tray.

I really don't get the folks who not only did away with the F row but also the number row and have to deal with layers to get to stuff like that.

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.

I rock a full size realforce r2 at work AND and home because I feel more productive with a keypad and other helper keys. It's less mental overhead. I'm not using the mouse much when I type (modal editor)

I'm a 65% user and it's great. The only keys right of the main block that I ever really use are delete, PrtSc, and the arrow keys - so all a full size keyboard does for me is force me to awkwardly bend my arms to the left as I type. I especially dislike numpads on laptop keyboards for that reason.

And I work with numbers a lot. I just prefer the number row. I have remapped the rightmost column of keys to more useful functions as well.

I use a ducky 60% when I got into the office.i use it because it fits in my messenger bag. It gets used once a month.

I use a model m from 1990 at home. (It's older than my wife lol)

If I were to buy a new keyboard it would be a unicomp model m. So keyboards of decent size are out there.

As a small keyboard user myself, I made the switch because I wasn't using those keys anyways and the few that I were could easily be handled with layers. I have one of those desks with the sliding tray where the keyboard sits, so being able to free up space so the keyboard fits comfortably is nice.

There’s a lot more keyboards without the numpad and the block of middle keys - whatever they’re called - or with the middle keys reduced or squashed up awkwardly on the side, than full-size plain old 102- or 104-key layout keyboards.

I don't like reduced-size keys or reshaping the block of six keys. My guess is that reshaping the block of six keys (Insert, Home, etc) is to mirror laptop layouts, so one doesn't have to switch between different layouts mentally. No real need on a desktop, but on a laptop, space is often at a premium.

But getting rid of the numpad is something that I am definitely enthusiastic about.

There aren't that many uses for the numpad. In my experience:

• You actually do a bunch of numeric entry. I think that very few people do this, but for those people, sure, it's useful.

• A few games use it, largely because it happened to be there for numeric entry. Because laptops don't generally have a numpad, shifting to keybinding schemes that use it have become far less common.

However, the numpad sits right where the mouse would ideally be if the keyboard is reasonably centered.

In general, I'd rather have my hands stay on the home row. If you have to use keys off in neverland, like arrow keys or F-keys or the like, you need to relocate your hands. Preferable to use modifier keys and chord them with regular keys in the "main block" of keys. If you're a vi or emacs user, you likely don't use the arrow keys for cursor movement.

There was also a trend back around, oh, early 2000s to have a bunch of extra keys added to the keyboard, stuff like Play, Pause, etc. That seemed to kinda fall out of favor.

Less keys = less finger movements. Also for travel. And finally it’s like camber on cars it’s just a flex.

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

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? 😮"

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”.

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.

We have a TVS Gold, the most popular mechanical keyboard in India that comes with Cherry MX Blue switches. You will find it in government offices, banks and elsewhere, and they work for decades. I would prefer quieter red/black switches, but the full traditional key layout is a joy to use.

People probably prefer smaller layouts for their wrist issues and for minimalist aesthetics.

I have a split ergo (Ergodox) and an ortho (Preonic). The Ergodox is my normal keyboard and has modifiers and a number row. I use the ortho for cad/3d work when my right hand stays on a mouse so I can type commands and inputs one handed. I still don’t have muscle memory fully down to use layers for symbols and numbers but could get there.

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.

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.

User getting younger and keyboards smaller.