Keyboard for laptop

[GoodBetterBest]

I don't know what's the better place to post this: Notebook or Hardware.

Anyway, I have 2 laptop with different keyboard layout. So when I got used to one, I make mistakes on the other. I'm thinking of getting a externa keyboard for home use. So I use the ext kb for both laptops.

Question is should I get the ext kb to have closer format as my office laptop so that when I'm back in office, I dont have to do so much switching ? Or the more ergonomic regular PC keyboard ?

How do you pick your keyboard ?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[firesong]

I don't know what's the better place to post this: Notebook or Hardware.

Anyway, I have 2 laptop with different keyboard layout. So when I got used to one, I make mistakes on the other. I'm thinking of getting a externa keyboard for home use. So I use the ext kb for both laptops.

Question is should I get the ext kb to have closer format as my office laptop so that when I'm back in office, I dont have to do so much switching ? Or the more ergonomic regular PC keyboard ?

How do you pick your keyboard ?

Thanks for any suggestions.

I just pick the keyboard I like and go with it.

I have friends who bought Keychrons for their office desktop/laptops. Thankfully most were sensible enough to not get blue switches (except for one - his colleagues really disliked him). Some people buy identical external keyboards for home and office and leave one in the office.

A long time ago, I used to use the Thinkpad X1 Carbon Gen 2 in the office. It had a horrible keyboard layout so I would never use the laptop keyboard if I could help it. Whenever I was at desk, I would always use an external keyboard. The image should explain why - the lack of a proper caps lock and the changed function of the left Shift key is enough to cause major issues while typing. The missing Function keys because of the stupid adaptive keys (that weren't sensitive) was also a headache. The worst layout Lenovo ever released on a laptop.

Not hard to see why management preferred more "normal" / "sensible" laptops and passed down this stupid laptop to rank and file staff.

 

[caterham7]

I don't know what's the better place to post this: Notebook or Hardware.

Anyway, I have 2 laptop with different keyboard layout. So when I got used to one, I make mistakes on the other. I'm thinking of getting a externa keyboard for home use. So I use the ext kb for both laptops.

Question is should I get the ext kb to have closer format as my office laptop so that when I'm back in office, I dont have to do so much switching ? Or the more ergonomic regular PC keyboard ?

How do you pick your keyboard ?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Depends on your preference.

E.g. I use my own keyboard even at workplace.

Am using a ajazz ak33 keyboard, wanted to use a mechanical keyboard, nicer to type compared to typical membrane keyboard

This model has 82 keys, smaller compared to traditional keyboard, so mouse is nearer to you. Still has dedicated page up / page down keys, which I need (many laptop keyboards no dedicated page up / page down keys)

Chose black/red switches, quieter compared to "noisy" clicky blue switches

 

[GoodBetterBest]

Better to have a BT keyboard that can take multiple host or have a KVM switch ? Suggestions ?

 

[firesong]

Better to have a BT keyboard that can take multiple host or have a KVM switch ? Suggestions ?

A few choices.

If all are laptops. mutliple Bluetooth, and/or use a USB-C/Thunderbolt dock.

If one is a desktop PC, you're stuck with the KVM or to use mutli profile Bluetooth.

 

[firesong]

Depends on your preference.

E.g. I use my own keyboard even at workplace.

Am using a ajazz ak33 keyboard, wanted to use a mechanical keyboard, nicer to type compared to typical membrane keyboard

This model has 82 keys, smaller compared to traditional keyboard, so mouse is nearer to you. Still has dedicated page up / page down keys, which I need (many laptop keyboards no dedicated page up / page down keys)

Chose black/red switches, quieter compared to "noisy" clicky blue switches

Brown is slightly nicer, but it is more noisy as has more tactility. Red is too smooth for me, and loses a lot of the feel of a mechanical keyboard. Still better than membrane, but some membrane keyboards come close to the feel of too-well-lubricated red switches. I guess the travel distance to bottom out will be more of an issue, but for people who don't bottom out their keys, it's a toss up imo.

For office setting, if your office is very open, be mindful that keyboards may be taken by colleagues.

 

[GoodBetterBest]

If I use an ext kb, then is it possible to switch on the laptop if wireless or BT ?
If I use an ext kb, can I switch between built-in and ext monitor ?
What about using KVM ?

If yes, what must I look out for when I buy ? Thanks.

 

[ozy615]

please don't use noisy keyboards in office.