What about the Enter key? - Experiences

spremino
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21-Nov-2009 00:25:12#1 What about the Enter key?

For those who use the Enter key a lot, like programmers, having it that far is not comfortable. Among alternative layouts, only Arensito addresses this issue.

How would you suggest addressing it? DreymaR has said he's using an Autohotkey macro to map CapsLock + Space to Enter. Maybe, those with a 104 (European) layout could shift the bottom row under the left hand - as it's suggested for improved comfort - and map the Qwerty's "B" to Enter, to reach it with the index finger.

Programmers could also customize their editor, making it insert a newline after a line ending symbol.

Any other suggestion? Thanks.

Dvorak typist here. Please take my comments with a grain of salt.

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RevRal
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21-Nov-2009 00:56:00#2 Re: What about the Enter key?

The most intuitive I can think of is SHIFT + SPACE = BACKSPACE.

BUT, I've always had this gripe that the space key is not two separate keys. What a waste of a great potential shortcut!

shift + left-space = backspace
shift + right-space = enter

I'm living in a dream world :(

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tomlu
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21-Nov-2009 01:06:45#3 Re: What about the Enter key?

Shift + Space will probably suffer from accidental backspaces.

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spremino
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21-Nov-2009 11:30:20#4 Re: What about the Enter key?

RevRal said:

BUT, I've always had this gripe that the space key is not two separate keys. What a waste of a great potential shortcut!
shift + left-space = backspace
shift + right-space = enter
I'm living in a dream world :(

Check out Japanese keyboards, they have a lot of keys for thumbs. This is a Topre Realforce 91UDK (without number pad):

Last edited by spremino (21-Nov-2009 11:31:07)

Dvorak typist here. Please take my comments with a grain of salt.

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DreymaR
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23-Nov-2009 09:22:46#5 Re: What about the Enter key?

I've thought about those boards but decided against actually getting one for reasons of price and compliance. They are cool, and pretty much how I'd have built a board (except for the row stagger of course).

The 'european' keyboards are referred to as 105-key (or 102-key if you don't have the GUI/RGUI/HomeMenu keys) not 104-key. Their real name are ISO boards I think, whereas the 'US' 101/104-key boards are ANSI boards.

Last edited by DreymaR (23-Nov-2009 10:52:34)

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spremino
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23-Nov-2009 10:08:14#6 Re: What about the Enter key?

DreymaR said:

I've thought about those boards but decided against actually getting one for reasons of price and compliance. They are cool, and pretty much how I'd have built a board (except for the row stagger of course).

Indeed importing a keyboard from Japan is expensive. However, since they are long lasting (Cherry switches are rated at 50 millions keystrokes) quality keyboards, you are not going to buy one keyboard a year. Let's suppose you end up paying 150 euros for one - which amounts to 90 euros more than a Cherry keyboard - and use it for (at least) 5 years, you would be paying 5 cents a day to use it. Wouldn't the enhanced experience be worth the extra 5 cents a day?

DreymaR said:

The 'european' keyboards are referred to as 105-key (or 102-key if you don't have the GUI/RGUI/Home keys) not 104-key. Their real name are ISO boards I think, whereas the 'US' 101/104-key boards are ANSI boards.

Yes (but you said Home key instead of Application/Menu).

Last edited by spremino (23-Nov-2009 10:18:46)

Dvorak typist here. Please take my comments with a grain of salt.

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RevRal
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24-Nov-2009 21:59:48#7 Re: What about the Enter key?

spremino said:

RevRal said:
BUT, I've always had this gripe that the space key is not two separate keys. What a waste of a great potential shortcut!
shift + left-space = backspace
shift + right-space = enter
I'm living in a dream world :(
Check out Japanese keyboards, they have a lot of keys for thumbs. This is a Topre Realforce 91UDK (without number pad):
http://img8.zol.com.cn/bbs/upload/2011/2010087_0600.jpg

Very nice! A friend of mine is in Japan so I'll ask him to pick one up for me.

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PiotrGrochowski
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31-May-2015 08:27:01#8 Re: What about the Enter key?

RevRal said:

The most intuitive I can think of is SHIFT + SPACE = BACKSPACE.

But you won't be able to make all-caps without caps lock. In colemak it is replaced by backspace.

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PiotrGrochowski
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31-May-2015 08:30:29#9 Re: What about the Enter key?

I suggest placing enter in the semicolon. Less of distance. Even better for CarpalX layouts which have separate layouts for moving/not moving semicolon so that enter or letter can be in homerow.

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DreymaR
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31-May-2015 13:58:33#10 Re: What about the Enter key?

Definitely a suggestion! But a somewhat radical one. I try to keep special/modifier keys in their roles for the most part, as otherwise there's bound to be more implementation troubles – especially across platforms.

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