Programmer Goes on Mission to Build a Better Keyboard
Nobody is ever perfectly satisfied with a keyboard, as there is always something about it that just isn't right. Jeff Atwood though, he likes his keyboard a lot... because he built it himself.
Programmer Jeff Atwood has decided that he wanted to make a keyboard -- a keyboard that is perfectly crafted to his needs. In his eyes, no keyboards that were available on the market were perfect, so what can you do but build your own?
"I was indoctrinated into the keyboard cult when I bought my first computer. But I didn't appreciate it. Few do. The world is awash in terrible, crappy, no name how-cheap-can-we-make-it keyboards," Atwood detailed. "There are a few dozen better mechanical keyboard options out there. I've owned and used at least six different expensive mechanical keyboards, but I wasn't satisfied with any of them, either: they didn't have backlighting, were ugly, had terrible design, or were missing basic functions like media keys."
Jeff Atwood then teamed up with WASD Keyboards, and in partnership they made the CODE keyboard. The CODE keyboard is designed to be very minimalistic, yet functional. The keyboard features some very rare Cherry MX Clear mechanical switches, which have tactile feedback, but are not clicky. The choice for these is made because of the natural feeling, yet quiet operation. This should make the keyboard usable in office environments. The keyboard also features white backlighting, which has seven different brightness settings, plus off. To make sure that the keyboard is strong enough to take some serious keyboard mashing, it has even been fitted with a solid steel backplate right between the PCB and the keys. You won't be able to see the backplate with all the keycaps placed, but you'll certainly feel it. Due to the backplate though, the keyboard weighs a hefty 1.1 kg.
Normally, between the Ctrl key and Alt key we would find the 'Windows' key, which on the CODE keyboard is simply left blank. The Alt key can be swapped for an Apple Command key, the normally useless Scroll Lock key can be reassigned as a disable windows-button key for gaming, the Caps Lock key can be reassigned as a tertiary Ctrl key, and more. You can even change the keyboard's electrics into thinking that it is a Dvorak or Colemak keyboard, and then mix and match the keycaps accordingly for a whole new keyboard layout. Cool? We certainly think so.
This here though, is just a small sample of all the little details that Jeff Atwood and WASD keyboards have put into the CODE keyboard. For the full listing, head here.
At the time of writing the keyboard is already sold out, though from the looks of it a new batch might be in the works. The price for ordering one is also on par with other high-end mechanical keyboards at $149.99.
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And that was still not "good enough" to prevent fast typists from jamming heads.
They were designed to MAXIMIZE type speed by separating commonly used letters so the rods would not collide. That's just as valid today, you don't want one finger doing all the work. No other system has ever been proven superior, so I can't imagine what you are on about. Even if you believed the Dvorak myth, this supports it (though I doubt you could learn it).
Regardless there is nothing special about this. Its a backlit mechanical keyboard, of which there are many. And if you need backlighting you're using your keyboard wrong or need to learn to type. the only thing "special" is he picked some rarely used (not actually rare) switches. And he slapped his name on it for a price premium. Even then there are other backlit boards using these switches, and which switches you prefer is personal.
Maybe that guy just switches them too fats so you cant get used to it.
Also why spend all that money on keyboards (Ive seen them cost upto 350€). You could spend that on better components, while 30€ keyboards will do just fine. Also the visuals seem pretty uninportant for me (except if its really really ugly); I mean, you look at the screen, not at the keyboard (or case for that matter).
Ill never understand some things...
Iamadev and this keyboard disappoints based on that point alone.
I won't buy a wired keyboard, and almost all the "nice" mechanical keyboards are wired.
Ducky's 9008 G2 has NKRO over USB, that's what I use. If you really want backlighting, Ducky now makes ones with backlighting and makes it with MX cherry blue, red, black and brown. Only difference is the MX cherry clears.
I'm unimpressed.
My 9 year old Dell keyboard has no wearing visisble of the keys of any sort.
Anyways this is a pretty nice looking keyboard. The FN and multimedia buttons look well placed.
They were designed to MAXIMIZE type speed by separating commonly used letters so the rods would not collide. That's just as valid today, you don't want one finger doing all the work. No other system has ever been proven superior, so I can't imagine what you are on about. Even if you believed the Dvorak myth, this supports it (though I doubt you could learn it).
Regardless there is nothing special about this. Its a backlit mechanical keyboard, of which there are many. And if you need backlighting you're using your keyboard wrong or need to learn to type. the only thing "special" is he picked some rarely used (not actually rare) switches. And he slapped his name on it for a price premium. Even then there are other backlit boards using these switches, and which switches you prefer is personal.
I would love for you to explain the Dvorak myth of which you seem to be so aware. In what way is Qwerty superior to anything, other than being more common? Dvorak was set up after research was done into minimizing finger movement and other factors to increase typing efficiency, when typing using the English language. The US NAVY did a study in the early 40's, and concluded Dvorak was far superior. Qwerty was neither designed to speed typists up or to slow them down. Qwerty was designed to minimize the event of typists jamming the machines they were using by placing common two-letter groupings on opposite sides of the keyboard.
"It has been estimated that a QWERTY typist's fingers travel 16-20 miles a day, while a Dvorak typist's fingers will only travel about 1 mile. This is a major benefit to the health of your fingers." - http://www.theworldofstuff.com/dvorak/
"As of 2005, writer Barbara Blackburn was the fastest English language typist in the world, according to The Guinness Book of World Records. Using the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard, she has maintained 150 words per minute (wpm) for 50 minutes, and 170 wpm for shorter periods. She has been clocked at a peak speed of 212 wpm." - http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question103372.html
I have a Keytronic LT Classic keyboard I bought around 1999-2000 and I'd take it over this one any day. It cost me under $30 and after 13 3/4 year it still doesn't show any visible wear. I'll probably use it until they stop providing a PS/2 slot on motherboards. I only wish I'd get such a keyboard at work where it actually matters...
I honestly don't think it's worth anywhere near that price.
I would pay 10% of your asking price. $14.99 for that keyboard.
Keyboards are a waist of money if you buy anything expensive.
This process also means that the paint will eventually come off through use.
a better solution though more costly is a 2 step mold flow production process for the keys.
Black plastic is used for the keys and the letters have no plastic at all.
then in the second step, another machine either fills the letter areas with a frosted clear plastic to diffuse the lights from the LED, or a paper like diffusion material is electrostatically charged and then placed on the back of the clear plastic of the lettering during the second injection process.
I don't think I have ever seen a keyboard use this production process, but it is common on cars, boars, and medical equipment where people would really prefer their buttons to not fade after a 2-3 years.
Non painted plastic for buttons also means that strong hospital grade disinfectants can be used without stripping the color off of the object.