I think most people are on laptops now. Blows my mind but yeah.
My comparison is that screen size is like desk size. A laptop being those tiny pull out side desks at college, and a monitor being a desk. I was massively downvoted for that. People like their small screens.
I get a poked fun at a little bit on mechanical keyboard communities for preferring a full-size (I gotta type IP’s, need a numpad!).
I don’t think I could work solely on a laptop without external peripherals, it’s just not a good experience (also giant hands and chiclet keys is not a good combo). My work laptop exists permanently folded closed connected to a dock.
I’d put the analogy as trying to cook a multi-course meal in a saucepan on a single burner vs a full stovetop and set of pans (also you only have a paring knife).
Not to be “that keyboard guy,” but you can still have a full numpad on a smaller keyboard using a separate layer that’s triggered by a key being pressed or held.
I know because I’ve done it - the keys are all grouped into the same orientation, they’re just not labelled. It’s an adjustment, but it’s worth it to me for the extra desk space.
I get that that’s not really an attractive option for some though.
I tried a TKL and a numpad for a while, but it just wasn’t comfortable for me for some reason. Not a fan of layering, just doesn’t come to me naturally
My first real PC game was Civ 2 where I used the numpad to move, with the corners being for diagonals. and yeah, I don’t even really need it 90% of the time, but not having the numpad just feels wrong to me (though yes I still do play Civ 2 from time to time)
I think most people are on laptops now. Blows my mind but yeah.
My comparison is that screen size is like desk size. A laptop being those tiny pull out side desks at college, and a monitor being a desk. I was massively downvoted for that. People like their small screens.
I get a poked fun at a little bit on mechanical keyboard communities for preferring a full-size (I gotta type IP’s, need a numpad!).
I don’t think I could work solely on a laptop without external peripherals, it’s just not a good experience (also giant hands and chiclet keys is not a good combo). My work laptop exists permanently folded closed connected to a dock.
I’d put the analogy as trying to cook a multi-course meal in a saucepan on a single burner vs a full stovetop and set of pans (also you only have a paring knife).
Not to be “that keyboard guy,” but you can still have a full numpad on a smaller keyboard using a separate layer that’s triggered by a key being pressed or held.
I know because I’ve done it - the keys are all grouped into the same orientation, they’re just not labelled. It’s an adjustment, but it’s worth it to me for the extra desk space.
I get that that’s not really an attractive option for some though.
I tried a TKL and a numpad for a while, but it just wasn’t comfortable for me for some reason. Not a fan of layering, just doesn’t come to me naturally
Oof. I’ve been using a 60% split ortho for so long that I forgot some people consider TKL a compromise so they can have a smaller keyboard.
Not trying to change your habits, just pointing out that adapting is very easy in case you wanted to look into it!
My first real PC game was Civ 2 where I used the numpad to move, with the corners being for diagonals. and yeah, I don’t even really need it 90% of the time, but not having the numpad just feels wrong to me (though yes I still do play Civ 2 from time to time)
A few games use it for flight as well
The Amiga 600 was criticised for not having a numpad. I don’t think much needed it except DPaint (but that was a bit of very popular software).