The CODE Keyboard

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2013/08/the-code-keyboard.html

by basil • 13 years ago

356 326 13 years ago

frewsxcv2• 13 years ago

I really don't see anything special about this keyboard. It's backlit and mechanical. Seems like it's been done a hundred times already.

twodayslate2• 13 years ago

I agree. I hope WASD starts making custom backlit keycaps though

BinaryBrainz• 13 years ago

Considering that their current methods of creating custom keycaps consists of either laser engraving or etching, and not actually molding plastic, I would not expect this to happen (ever).

You can get backlight keys in different colors through sellers that offer Ducky Keyboard brand backlight keys. You can find those in all sorts of colors and ISO/US formats, but nothing more than that unless you join some type of group buy through Geekhack.org or Deskthority.net where you can find all sorts of 'one-off' sets custom keycaps.

agumonkey3• 13 years ago

When I saw the book mention below the first picture, I thought I misread and that this first picture was just the starting point before being inspired by code analysis found in the book. I imagined a new , more efficient, principled layout.

jacques_chester3• 13 years ago

So did I.

For example, I'd think about reclaiming the top row, where the numbers live. On keyboards with a numpad, they're passengers. At the very least, invert the meaning of shift, so the default is to produce sigils.

dsuth2• 13 years ago

Having looked over a lot of mechanical keyboards recently, it's fairly uncommon to find both mechanical action and backlighting in a single keyboard. I think some of the 'gamer' class ones have them, and that's about it.

sharplusplus• 13 years ago

What I would really like is a version of the Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard, that is backlit + mechanical. And WIRED, please, I hate wireless keyboards.

VikingCoder• 13 years ago

I'm with you. I need something like the Egro keyboard, or my hands die with pain.

And, because I'm a dork, I'd really like one that has no keys printed on it. [1] But that's just because I like showing off.

[1] http://www.daskeyboard.com/product/model-s-ultimate/

Florin_Andrei• 13 years ago

I hate wireless keyboards

...until you hook up a PC to the big TV screen in the living room. ;) Then you'll beg for a good wireless keyboard.

hobs2• 13 years ago

Right, but most of us can buy any wireless keyboard, or even get a cool remote/keyboard combo, but a good ergo mechanical backlit keyboard for not a million dollars? nah.

ecopoesis• 13 years ago

Yes Yes Yes. And please come with extra key caps so I can put my Mac modifiers in the correct places. Though I'd prefer wireless.

mark-r2• 13 years ago

I've never understood the appeal of wireless keyboards. They don't move, so once the wire is placed it just doesn't matter.

chrismonsanto3• 13 years ago

I really can't think of anything good to say about this keyboard. I've used keyboards like this, and I've damaged my body with them. You know what matters a lot more than a backlight? Ergonomic design. Get a Kinesis Advantage instead.

frewsxcv2• 13 years ago

If only they were cheaper :/

Sukotto• 13 years ago

When pricing tools you have to consider the cost per time-unit, or cost per use. Looking at the total cost is a waste of time.

How often do you input text into a computer (or sleep in a bed, or whatever).

What is the hourly (or daily) cost of it over some reasonable timeframe (1 year, for example).

At what price point is owning a better tool worth it? (health wise, opportunity cost wise, etc).

w1ntermute• 13 years ago

Has anyone used the foot pedals with the Kinesis Advantage or Advantage Pro? Are they ergonomically recommended?

chrismonsanto3• 13 years ago

I have the foot pedals. I never use them, because it is so convenient and comfortable to hit Ctrl/Alt with my thumbs. Maybe there are better keys to assign to my foot pedals, but I haven't really thought about it much.

paddy_m• 13 years ago

I recently broke my arm and have been using foot pedals. I grabbed generic ones, and they help. I can't speak to the kinesis ones, they didn't seem to be easily programmable. The feel of the pedals I bought is horrible. Screwing them into a board with a carpet pad beneath helps a lot for organization.

kps6• 13 years ago

I have a triple foot pedal (from an old dictaphone) but never use it.

Mindless21122• 13 years ago

...or a Goldtouch Adjustable Comfort keyboard for a slightly less eccentric layout. Even a Microsoft Comfort Curve keyboard will treat you better than the world's greatest straight keyboard.

mmastrac• 13 years ago

I've been using split keyboards for many years and my wrists have thanked me for it. I get weird looks and people have a hard time using them, but it's worth it.

tomphoolery• 13 years ago

I have trouble typing on an ergonomic keyboard, otherwise I'd probably use it.

Incidentally, after years of proper piano training I feel like I hold my wrists in such a way that if I mostly keep typing, I won't strain my wrists too hard...and be able to type constantly all day. I only get pain in the wrists when using a Trackpad, surprisingly enough.

artgon• 13 years ago

I've been using a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic keyboard for a long time and it's relieved a lot of wrist pains I used to have. I'm a little tentative to switch to something without a palm rest and without being able to position my hands farther apart.

This looks pretty good, though. I've been looking for a new mechanical keyboard for a while but haven't found anything that quite fits yet. Would love to hear some reviews once this gets out there.

fhd26• 13 years ago

As someone who has suffered from RSI, my advice is to not fix a problem you don't have. I've been there, and it just cost me money.

In my case, I didn't need a curved keyboard or a split keyboard, those things ended up in the cupboard. I just had to get rid of the numpad to change my position from awkward to healthy. So, for me, this keyboard is actually interesting, the variant without the numpad that is.

stormbrew2• 13 years ago

Why does the numpad make your position awkward by its presence? Can't you just pretend it's not there? Every keyboard I've owned since the late 80s has had a numpad and I've hardly ever used it.

Oh never mind, I see your reply to the top post below now. Because it moves the mouse too far away.

Mindless21122• 13 years ago

I switched my mouse over to the left side of my keyboard (despite being decidedly right-handed) to avoid the numberpad issue. In the end I still had to ditch straight keyboards to avoid RSI.

(I've since gotten a keyboard without a numberpad and switched back, but I can still use a left-handed mouse pretty well. It's one step below having a trackball as far as confusing people who try to use my computer goes. :P)

doktrin3• 13 years ago

For a long time I used the Filco tenkeyless with Cherry MX brown key switches, together with an Evoluent vertical mouse. That particular combination was very good for my wrists.

Unfortunately, the Filco tenkeyless can be a bit tricky to find (and of course are not backlit).

CWIZO5• 13 years ago

Try this: http://www.contour-design.co.uk/products/rollermouse-red

I have it at the office and it's just amazing.

banachtarski• 13 years ago

I tried it and it didn't work for me. Hand size was wrong and the placement of the modifier keys was unintuitive. With my day-to-day usage, I couldn't come up with a mapping that fit my needs.

hkmurakami5• 13 years ago

I agree that with small hands, reaching the number row of a Kinesis advantage can be a challenge (I use one for my RSI issues, and I'm right at the threshold of hand size)

rbanffy• 13 years ago

The perfect one for me would be a clicky/mechanical, buckling spring, backlit Microsoft Natural.

If you are into straight keyboards, http://pckeyboard.com/page/PC122/UB40B5A

hobs2• 13 years ago

Yep! I like this code keyboard, but its ergo or no go.

coldpie• 13 years ago

I've been using the plain, MS Natural keyboards for over a decade; all the way back to when they had normal arrow key & home-cluster layouts. I buy one for every computer I use with any regularity, which turns out to be one at home and one at the office.

My biggest complaint is they're not super durable. A single spill of water will destroy the keyboard (I've gone through about 5 this way), and the buttons do wear out over time (my home keyboard's '1' key is wearing out).

As you say, a better built, mechanical MS Natural would be God's Own Keyboard.

urza• 13 years ago

I am also using[1] microsoft natural keyboard, because it is the best (for me) combination of ergonomic split-hand slightly skewed keyborad that has normal querty layout. BUT.. the quality of the kyeboard is terrible. I with it the MS Natural would get Cherry MX Clear keys and better wireless tranciever.

1 - http://urza.cc/pc2013

tiziano88• 13 years ago

+1, I use and love my Kinesis Advantage, one of the best investment I've ever made

stormbrew2• 13 years ago

Is there actually any evidence ergonomic keyboards reduce risk of RSI? Last time I looked into it it seemed like marketing fluff with no actual studies that backed it up.

fhd26• 13 years ago

RSI is a complex thing. Some people have pain that is fixed by uniquely shaped keyboards, others need to just switch ctrl and capslock, get rid of the numpad or whatever. I don't think there is such a thing as a keyboard that cures any kind of RSI. But I do think something super flexible like the Kinesis Freestyle comes close.

breadbox• 13 years ago

I don't know, but I hasten to point out that the Kinesis isn't one of those generic "ergonomic" keyboards. It's a very different shape. One of its best features is that the keys are vertically aligned in straight columns, so that you're not constantly exercising the muscles to move your fingers slightly to the left or right. It makes a huge difference.

If someone invented a magic laptop that had a built-in Kinesis keyboard but could still close up, I would spend ridiculous sums of money to own one.

cjh_4• 13 years ago

Although this is subjective, the kinesis advantage keyboard has really helped me better deal with my RSI; it has clusters of keys under each thumb and is fully programmable so I am able to move problem keys around (for me pinky keys are quite uncomfortable).

For me shift, space, backspace, tab, win, ctrl, alt, esc and enter are all thumb operations.

However I wouldn't go as far as saying it has solved my RSI, but it is definitely part of the solution that allows me to program 40+ hours a week (more like 50-60, 40 hour week professional + hobby programming).

FWIW the other parts include regular exercise, alternating mouse hands and using a trackball on my 'off hand', and a keyboard-heavy system (vim, dwm, etc.).

fusiongyro2• 13 years ago

Look at your hands. Look at a flat keyboard. Look at a Kinesis. Is this evidence? No, but fortunately you are allowed to use your brain on this exam.

eikenberry2• 13 years ago

Buy if for the Ergonomics, keep it for the thumb modifier keys. I can't go back to a normal keyboard now. Having the modifier keys under your thumbs is just to damn nice.

hkmurakami5• 13 years ago

Gotta admit that I wish the shift keys were on my thumbs too.

pkamb7• 13 years ago

I've always wanted to buy the Japanese version of my favorite keyboard, and remap the extra thumb keys to modifiers: http://i.imgur.com/uRI0joS.jpg

codinghorror7• 13 years ago

I love ergonomic keyboards too, but they're extremely specialized. A mass market keyboard needs to appeal to as many folks as possible, and using the "classic" standard keyboard layout is the best way to do that.

There is a tenkeyless option if that helps, and there is room at the front for a wrist rest that can be periodically replaced as it wears.

DennisP• 13 years ago

My wrists seem ok, but my finger joints felt like they were developing arthritis, which is a common malady for typists. I bought a couple Leopolds (one with red switches, one brown), learned to type without bottoming out much, and it cleared right up.

Miyamoto2• 13 years ago

I'm the opposite. I used to use ergonomic keyboards, including a Kinesis keyboard many years ago. It never solved my RSI pain.

What did solve my RSI pain was simple: posture. The height of my desk/chair/keyboard/mouse/monitor were not in proper alignment. Once I properly adjusted all heights the pain went away in weeks. I also got a tenkeyless (Filco Majestouch 2) mechanical keyboard, which helped for its form factor.

hkmurakami5• 13 years ago

Do you have a setup guide you recommend that others follow, or did you do it by feel and what felt comfortable to you?

hollerith2• 13 years ago

I used a Kinesis Advantage for many months as my only keyboard, but did not recover from RSI until I got rid of it.

Now I use Logitech scissor-switch keyboards (the K750 and the K800). Oddly enough, even though it has the same basic scissor-switch design as the Logitech keyboards, I do very poorly with Apple keyboards (and I did use one exclusively for a few months).

I guess there's no single solution to RSI that works for every typist!

P.S. What really got me over my RSI is learning piano teacher Dorothy Taubman's technique for prevention of RSI.

snarfy• 13 years ago

I went through two K800s before giving up and getting a mechanical. The K800 is buggy and broken.

The first K800 I owned, the spacebar broke off within 2 hours of using it. I sent it back for a replacement. I was a lot easier, and cautious with the replacement, which ultimately hindered my typing ability.

There was some kind of key ghosting going on that disallowed me to type "ID" too fast. The D would always miss. I had to purposefully slow down when typing things like UserID, ProductID, things I type all day every day as a programmer. That was the last straw for me.

Just off the top of my head I count over $1000 worth of logitech stuff I own, but the K800 is the first product I would recommend against.

jseliger• 13 years ago

I switched to a Kinesis Advantage years ago, and it's hard for me to imagine going back to a flat keyboard full-time for the reasons I wrote about here: http://jseliger.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/further-thoughts-on... .

jra101• 13 years ago

I was hoping for a mechanical keyboard laid out like the Microsoft Natural Keyboard. This one looks just like every other mechanical keyboard.

r-s• 13 years ago

I would buy that. I have very large hands and this keyboard is the most comfortable one I have ever used by far. I have a good mechanical keyboard which caused me nothing but pain.

bhauer• 13 years ago

Since he mentions Elon Musk, I just want to point out that this keyboard is about the cost of 1 share of TSLA.

AsymetricCom3• 13 years ago

Both are overvalued?

shanselman• 13 years ago

This looks like any typical mechanical keyboard, like a DasKeyboard. I don't see what sets it apart?

I have 4 Microsoft Ergo 7000s in case they ever stop making them.

AsymetricCom3• 13 years ago

Cherry Clear switches, steel backplate and dip-switches for various options such as Mac compatibility...

jamesaguilar• 13 years ago

Backlighting . . . man, tough crowd on HN.

hatu• 13 years ago

There are plenty of niche mechanical keyboard manufacturers. They even sell these kinds of keyboards as gaming keyboards now so it's not that niche. I got a Ducky which is a Taiwanese company that makes hundreds of different variations of this type of keyboard.

You can choose which Cherry switches you want and the length and pretty much anything you can imagine.

cwbrandsma• 13 years ago

I have several of these as well (wired and wireless with the boob mouse). I can't fathom not being able to get one.

fhd26• 13 years ago

Edit: Turns out they have a variant without the numpad, should have bothered looking for one! So, actually an interesting device. http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/code-87-key-mechanica...

I'd be interested in this if it didn't have a numpad, or maybe a detachable numpad.

I guess everyone has their individual RSI issues, but after experimenting with various devices, I noticed that mine were caused _exclusively_ by that silly old numpad thing I never use anyway. It forced me to place either the keyboard too far to the left or the mouse too far to the right, causing strain in either my left or right hand over time.

I really don't see what use a programmer (or any touch typist) might have for the numpad. I really don't see why they put one on this keyboard.

twodayslate2• 13 years ago

They have an 87-key board

http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/code-87-key-mechanica...

fhd26• 13 years ago

Ouch, I should have bothered actually looking for one instead of going ahead with assumptions, thanks!

solarmist• 13 years ago

They have it in 104 and 87 key versions (ie with or without a num pad). http://codekeyboards.com/

joshrivers• 13 years ago

It might be a good time to take a look at the product page.

JoshTriplett• 13 years ago

Other than for very specific ergonomic uses, I honestly don't understand the appeal of a heavy mechanical keyboard; the old IBM buckling-spring Model M keyboard doesn't appeal to me at all. Personally, I do all my work on a ThinkPad keyboard, and I actually have a USB ThinkPad keyboard/mouse for use with non-laptop systems or docking stations. I like the short throw of the keys, I like keys close together (as long as my fingers have room to type, which they do on anything >11" or so), and I like having a mouse on home row.

slackpad• 13 years ago

I agree and use the ThinkPad USB keyboard on my desktop machines - they are great ergonomically, especially if you ditch your mouse. It seems like the USB interface is super cheapie though with lots of missed key presses, or an occasional stuck key. I'd pay a premium for the ThinkPad form factor with higher quality electronics.

seanmcdirmid2• 13 years ago

You can tear my Model M from my cold dead hands. Ya, when I'm on a laptop, I use a chiclet keyboard like everyone else. But I can feel myself typing with the Model M, my finger energy is returned fairly efficiently on each keystroke, it just feels better for coding tasks.

sam152• 13 years ago

Looks a lot to me like a rebranded Ducky Shine (http://www.tankguys.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/...).

agumonkey3• 13 years ago

Different cut/angles, the Ducky Shine as rounder ones.

codinghorror7• 13 years ago

I do like the Ducky Shine, but this is a 100% custom design that Weyman and I came up with. It's not supposed to look radically different, but much cleaner and minimalistic. The details matter.

tinco• 13 years ago

Please go radically different next time! Now you've worked out the details you can go all out on the next model. Might I suggest this: http://m.kbdmod.co.kr/product/detail.html?product_no=12&cate...

jevinskie2• 13 years ago

Interesting. [0] The choice of colors is cool. I wonder how much RGB LEDs would have added to the cost? I'm guessing quite a bit, especially since you would need to control 3x as many channels.

jotux• 13 years ago

I don't really see the benefit of a backlit keyboard, especially for programming.

catshirt2• 13 years ago

it's for typing in the dark

abecedarius2• 13 years ago

Still puzzles me: who touchtypes looking at the keys?

TheMakeA• 13 years ago

Honestly, if I were going to try to solve one problem with keyboards it would be to make cleaning them easier. This seems like a good keyboard and I may consider picking one up if both of my Das Keyboards fail me, but I'm not rushing to get one.

scrame• 13 years ago

I got a das keyboard at home and at work. Its awesome, and I'd recommend a mechanical to anyone who works on a keyboard for a living. I would never buy anything like this from Atwood, though. His 'expertise' in software, personal attacks on other developers and tedious self-promotion don't really convince me that he's got the know-how to get into hardware production, but rather that he's found a way to make money off his sycophantic fan-base of mediocre programmers who take his word as gospel.

(remember Arringtons tablet, anyone?)

bdg• 13 years ago

His 'expertise' in software, personal attacks on other developers and tedious self-promotion...
convince me that he's got the know-how to get into hardware production

Please, make claims based on things that are related topics.

If you were convinced that he was great at software, attacked nobody and never promoted himself, would you then be justified with evidence that he could get into hardware? Of course not.

I agree with you that this moves are money-motivated, which makes sense as I see him as a businessman first and foremost, but what you've said detracts from that point.

tcdowney• 13 years ago

WASD is an established entity in the mechanical keyboard scene, so I'm sure they did most of the heavy lifting in regards to hardware.

I'm sure it will be a good keyboard (especially for enthusiasts looking to try out some Cherry MX clears).

gnarbarian• 13 years ago

Just wanted to put in my reccomendation for WASD. I got the Cherry MX brown switches (tactile bump). I love the ability to completely customize each key. I've had mine for about 2 years now and I really dig it.

http://i.imgur.com/kLWlIVo.jpg

they just came out with an 88 key version I might have to buy for my home office.

http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/wasd-v2-88-key-iso-cu...

Check out the customer creations to get some ideas of what you can do: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/gallery2/customer-cre...

cscurmudgeon• 13 years ago

I too have a das keyboard. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. I just got mine less than a year ago. One of the keys started getting sticky and would not jump back after a key press (the command key.) They haven't answered my email asking for any solution to this.

I saw similar complaints from other recent customers. It seems as though they have shifted production to a new Chinese facility which is causing more of these problems.

It works great, but breaks down quick. If you are in the middle of a coding project or something big, nothing can be more annoying: an awesome keyboard suddenly dying on you and absent customer service.

andrewvc• 13 years ago

Well, if it makes you feel better, the new code keyboard also uses Cherry switches, so they may hit the same issues. AFAIK cherry's the only mechanical switch key maker left.

joeblau• 13 years ago

Yeah, I have 2 DAS keyboards as well. Got em a few years back and they are so much better to type on. Mine have no letters on the keys so people that can't type don't just come to my desk and "Hop on my machine"

brianpgordon2• 13 years ago

It sounds really cool, but in practice having unlabeled keys has just been tiresome for me. The numpad symbols and F keys always mess me up, and I'm hopeless when it comes to trying to print screen. Also the Cherry MX Blue switches are amazing for typing but not that great for gaming since there's so much dead space between subsequent taps of the same key.

The point is, don't just buy a Das keyboard to hop on the bandwagon. They do have disadvantages.

davemabe• 13 years ago

I have had one too for several years and it's one of the best decisions I've made. It's still holding up quite well and no letters on the keys is great. Though I still, after all these years, have a little trouble being able to type the number keys without the labels on them.

Most people are intimidated by the absense of labels, but my daughter takes it as a challenge and does pretty well without them.

taspeotis• 13 years ago

I have two Das Keyboards (the Ultimate edition). Amazing typing experience, and the noise scares away distracting colleagues.

fhd26• 13 years ago

rather that he's found a way to make money off his sycophantic fan-base of mediocre programmers who take his word as gospel.

From all I know, he was making a decent living from his blog alone before he started StackOverflow. And let's just assume for a moment that SO made him a bit more. Alledging he's doing this for the money is... surprising. Being needlessly offensive doesn't really help your point either.

binarycrusader3• 13 years ago

I briefly owned a das keyboard: loved the touch response of it, but the wacky USB hubs they had built into it caused me no end of trouble on some more niche operating systems due to some non-standard implementation choices.

Also, I hated the high-gloss easily marred plastic on it.

I returned it shortly after purchase and said "never again".

codinghorror7• 13 years ago

A shiny finish on a keyboard is just.. evil and wrong.

andrewingram• 13 years ago

I imagine most big name guitarists don't have much expertise in building guitars, but that doesn't stop manufacturers making custom signature models. The end result is usually a pretty impressive piece of hardware that's tailored to the way the artist plays. The manufacturers gets the PR of having the guitarists attached to their brand, and the guitarist gets their dream guitar. I'm pretty sure the same thing is going on here.

bluedino2• 13 years ago

Not sure if it's the font or actual size of the letters, the labeling on the keys looks really, really small.

Apple/Lenovo have perfected keyboards in their laptops. It's been years since I've wanted an aftermarket one.

xiaomai• 13 years ago

This keyboard looks awesome. Another mechanical keyboard that is very interesting is this new split-design one: http://ergodox.org

2muchcoffeeman• 13 years ago

There is currently 4 days left on the current ergodox massdrop: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ergodox

Anyway I took a stab and joined the group buy. Apparently the clears have the same actuation force as the MS 4000.

lowboy2• 13 years ago

I built myself one of these, and they are awesome. Mechanical switches and firmware that you can tweak and compile yourself:

https://github.com/benblazak/ergodox-firmware

alexgartrell• 13 years ago

Anyone have any thoughts on the difference between this 87 key keyboard and the leopold tenkeyless? I've been using an ancient wired 87 key apple keyboard that I love but I'm intrigued.

http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyles...

L_Rahman• 13 years ago

Things missing from the Leopold:

1. Backlighting 2. Better Aesthetics 3. Cherry MX Clear switches

That's pretty much it. I personally don't think it's worth the 50 dollar premium when I'm just fine with MX Browns.

codinghorror7• 13 years ago

No media keys on the Leopold either, or painted backplate, etc.

MrGando• 13 years ago

Got to agree with you here, the keyboard is quite overpriced (IMHO).

I'm with an 87 keys with brown switches at the office and at home I use a Das Keyboard with blue switches.

For me it's either brown or blue, clear switches are too much in between. If you're going non-clicky pick brown or even red, if it's clicky, then it's blue all the way.

Pyrodogg• 13 years ago

I have two Leopold 87s w/ Cherry Browns, at work and home. I love them. They also have a solid build quality and with the Cherry Browns, they still have a slight 'clack' but not to loud. Never once had a complaint from a coworker. Never experienced the Cherry Clear switches.

I don't see backlighting as a necessary feature. I almost never have to look at my keyboard. If I do there's generally enough ambient light, even if the lights are off, my monitor throws enough around.

I run Windows so media key's are more than easily compensated for by AutoHotKey. Instead of Fn+Key you can make whatever shortcut you want. Obvously a different equation for other OSs.

antidaily• 13 years ago

As pretty as Jeff himself. I'm in for one.

CWIZO5• 13 years ago

I don't want to take anything away from Jeff, good for him for realizing his dream. But claiming that this is the best keyboard for programmers is an overstatement if I ever heard one.

Yes, it's mechanical, yes it has backlit keys and you can do some customizations. But where is everything else? Why are the keys still in the zig-zag formation? Why is the enter key so small? Why is the enter key on the right, where I have to use my pinky to hit it? Ever heard about ergonomics? Can I get one with DVORAK layout printed on? And so on and so forth.

If you want to create the best keyboard for programmers then create one that won't kill our wrists and hands.

codinghorror7• 13 years ago

You can choose Dvorak, Colemak, QWERTY via dipswitches on the back. As well as Mac (Alt/Command), disable Windows Key, switch Caps Lock with Ctrl, etc.

It comes with a key puller, so you can easily swap the keys with whatever keycaps you like. WASD sells tons of different keycaps.

I love ergonomic keyboards too but for a mass market item we wanted to follow the classic standards everyone knows first and foremost. Perhaps if the base model does really well, we can come back with an ergo model.

CWIZO5• 13 years ago

Well if I can swap the keys then that's awesome!

I can appreciate that you are trying to appeal to the masses, maybe I was just expecting something more from a $149.99 keyboard. Or better yet, expected more from a keyboard primarily aimed at programmers (that was built by a programmer).

Anyway: I wish you the best of luck and a lot of sales so I can see what you can come up with in the ergonomics department (I'll stick with my TypeMatrix for now :).

madsushi2• 13 years ago

Do note that you will need new keycaps to use Dvorak or Colemak. Each row of keys in a WASD keyboard has a slightly different height/slope, so you can't move the keys around between rows (without having all of your keys being different heights, that is). You'd have to order new keycaps with the correct letters AND the right height/slopes.

dxm• 13 years ago

You shouldn't expect anything less of Jeff Atwood. Every thought out of his head is apparent perfection for programmers, he's the only writer I know that makes people feel like idiots if they dare to do something differently to him. Take everything you read on Coding Horror with a salt lake.

CmonDev• 13 years ago

He wants to make some quick money - not release something risky.

doktrin3• 13 years ago

Can anyone who has used the Cherry MX clears comment on them as compared to blues or browns? I've found that I dislike blues, and loathe reds. Browns are hands down my favorite, and the key switch I use both at home and at the office.

I do understand being frustrated in the search for a high quality mechanical backlit keyboard, as there are shockingly few contenders out there. I'm currently using a Max nighthawk (green backlit with brown key switches), and enjoying it. However, the Ducky Shine II was very close to the top of my list.

codinghorror7• 13 years ago

Clear is sort of like blue without the noise. It's a strong actuation force, closer to real buckling spring keyboards... but without the deafening gunshot sounds every time you press a key. :)

baddox• 13 years ago

I've got a Ducky Shine II 87-key that's looks extremely similar to the CODE Keyboard. I got mine with Reds, which I don't care for, so I stick to my Filco with Browns or a Leopold with Blues, but the Ducky looks great, has great build quality, and has nearly all the features of the CODE Keyboard.

http://tigerimports.net/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p...

kinghajj• 13 years ago

Clears are heavier browns with a more pronounced bump. IIRC they have springs from the Blacks and the stem protrudes a bit more to make the actuation bump more noticeable. I got a Leopold FC660M from Qtan's ebay store yesterday, liking it more than my Ducky 9008 G2 Pro with Browns that I got in June.

neilk• 13 years ago

Why include caps lock?

codinghorror7• 13 years ago

You can disable it via the dip switches, as well as a bunch of other tweaks available via same.

randomfool• 13 years ago

Topre switches on an ergo layout, no numkeys plz!!!

madsushi2• 13 years ago

WASD Keyboards (well, Weyman) has given me some of the best customer support over the past few years. They even recently fixed my busted Caps Lock key (my own fault) outside of warranty for just $10. I broke my space bar in-warranty, and it was fixed for free. I wanted some custom settings/layouts the keyboard designer couldn't handle, and they obliged. My WASD has lasted for several years now (including a few minor repairs) and I've had nothing but good experiences with them. I've been waiting for their v2 keyboards (they've been "coming soon" for months) and I'm excited to see they finally launched!

graeme2• 13 years ago

I had RSI. Got over it, but still found mechanical keyboards uncomfortable.

For some reason, I find the MacBook air 13 inch keyboard to be the most comfortable I've ever used.

I don't know why. Part of it may be the low height from the ground, and part is the great trackpad. (I tried the magic mouse and hurt my arm)

I expect other people have different opinions of the air's keyboard. The point is that I don't think there is any one keyboard that works best for everyone.

cjh_4• 13 years ago

Scissor switches can be quite comfortable, and the macbook air has quite nice switches (IMO I like the thinkpad x1 carbon's a little better, but it is close), and the location of the trackpad being under the keys is much more comfortable than having a physical mouse to the left or right.

For my desktop I have a kinesis advantage, but I often find using my thinkpad for long periods of time to be very comfortable, I just wish I could find a decent trackpad for my desktop(s).

mdkess2• 13 years ago

Why are we continuing to use staggered layouts on keyboards? It is clearly inefficient, and not difficult to switch to a matrix (ie. grid based) layout, since all of the keys are close to where they were before.

Second question - in this day and age of easy connectors, why are numpads attached to the side of keyboards? What do left handed people do? Or people who don't use the numpad? Why not have the numpad detachable? Same goes for the arrow keys.

pkamb7• 13 years ago

There's an easy fix for the "staggered" layout problem: type "Z" with ring finger, "X" with middle finger, "C" with index, etc.

It's beyond me why the "Z with little finger" technique is so widespread. It's universally taught, yet you're obviously bending your fingers in an uncomfortable and unnatural direction when you go to press the bottom row.

No one's complaining about the staggered layout of the right-hand keys, because it matches how your fingers bend. Staggering is great when it matches the natural angle of your fingers on the keyboard.

mdkess2• 13 years ago

I don't think on the right side it matches either. From J if I move down I always hit between N and M. Actually, at least on my keyboard, I think that the right side is worse - I find myself in a position where my thumb is on the space bar, my middle finger and index finger do all of the typing, and my wrist constantly shifts to hit enter.

On the left side - if I hit Z with my ring finger. If I wanted to type ZERO, normally it would be Z(pinky) E(middle) R(index) O(right ring), but with this the easiest is to hit E and R with the index finger.

Anyway, doesn't make sense to have to hack around a layout whose only purpose was to key mechanics to not jam in typewriters.

sergiotapia• 13 years ago

I don't know if it's cognitive bias or what; but I've been using my iMac for about 5 months now, and the small keyboard that comes with it is fantastic. My wrists don't hurt, and the keys are crisp and clear to touch type on.

$150 for a keyboard is really steep.

jcurbo• 13 years ago

I'm a current Filco owner and previous Model M user. This looks like exactly what I would have produced if I could make my own keyboard. Ordered an 87-key, looking forward to trying it out.

X-Istence3• 13 years ago

I don't understand what the obsession is with the old IBM Model M type keyboards. I am able to type faster and more accurately on my Apple flat aluminum keyboard that I have ever been able to type on a Model M. On top of that, switching to a flatter keyboard that sits closer to the desk has actually caused any and all pain I used to get while typing to go away.

The other thing is I'd miss the extra function keys I get on my full size Apple keyboard. Specifically F13-F19, which I have bound to a whole bunch of different things that help me throughout my day.

gojomo• 13 years ago

Different (key)strokes for different folks.

hkmurakami5• 13 years ago

Some people have reported smaller hand fatigue using the Model M. I am not one of them, but I respect their different needs.

It's like the Gladwell piece on spaghetti sauce: there's not just one "favorite recipe" for all of humanity. :)

cjh_4• 13 years ago

FWIW I type on a mechanical keyboard daily (cherry mx browns) but I am not a fan of the model m keys (buckling springs or rubber dome IIRC), they are very different in feeling.

My Thinkpad x1 carbon keyboard comes next, scissor switches can be quite nice.

nitrogen2• 13 years ago

The Model M uses buckling springs. Rubber domes are the cheap keyboards you get for $10.

graeme2• 13 years ago

I have the same experience as you. I expect there are small differences in arm structure or posture that make us prefer the apple keyboards.

Here is what I wrote: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6287087

EvanYou• 13 years ago

Same here. I've used a Filco MajesticTouch (with Cherry MX Brown) for a like a month but switched back to Apple keyboards because I prefer its flatness.

dsuth2• 13 years ago

This is the exact model I'm typing on now, and have a Das Keyboard for Mac at home (because I couldn't find anything less pretentious-sounding with Mac keys). The thing I prefer with this keyboard over the Mac standard, and similar low-profile keyboards, is the lack of 'mushiness' when you hit a key. Did I hit that key with the right amount of pressure? Did it really register, or just kinda mush into place?

This is literally never an issue with mechanical keyboards, because no guesswork is required. Once you're used to the activation points and tactile feedback, you should find that you're using less pressure and getting greater accuracy with your typing.

At least, that's how it worked for me.

nucleardog• 13 years ago

I've got two Model M keyboards at home. I could threaten to beat you with one for disagreeing that it's the best thing ever, knowing full well I could continue writing scathing retorts online with it immediately after, but I won't... Because it's not the best ever /for everyone/.

I have an Apple keyboard at work. I don't love or hate it. I'm indifferent to it. But I can totally understand why it may be the right keyboard for you.

Me? I type significantly faster and with fewer mistakes on my ancient Model M. The biggest factor I can see for me is the huge amount of feedback it provides both tactically and audibly (much to the chagrin of my neighbours, I'm sure). I think it helps my brain keep track of what my fingers are doing with less conscious effort, allowing it to work a few steps ahead of my fingers. I grew up when basically all keyboards were chunky and clicky, so it's probably primarily just what I'm used to.

Different editors for different folks. Different browsers. Different operating systems. Different styles of vehicles and modes of transport. Different clothing choices...

Different keyboards.

altrego99• 13 years ago

I have a Logitech $10 keyboard. I can keep it on my lap when I type.

seanmcdirmid2• 13 years ago

I brought my Model M to work. The only problem with the Model M are open offices; thankfully my Chinese office mates are very tolerant to noise (and of noise in general, like cell phones ringing all the time).

The year on mine is 1993, which is when I graduated from high school.

binarycrusader3• 13 years ago

  I could threaten to beat you with one for disagreeing that
  it's the best thing ever, knowing full well I could
  continue writing scathing retorts online with it
  immediately after, but I won't... Because it's not the
  best ever /for everyone/.

Uh, you speak as if the Apple aluminum Keyboard wouldn't hurt just as much or be almost as durable :-)

pointernil• 13 years ago

Yea! A Model M as close encounter weapon of choice and some older nokia phone models as range weapons. Way to go to win any "fight" in the age of "planned obsolescence".

Btw, could it be the "feedback" those keyboards are providing is helping to balance the forces within hands/fingers an thus help to prevent various issues/strains heavy typing can cause?

tammer2• 13 years ago

The difference is pressure - you have to be used to typing softly on newer Apple keyboards or else you'll soon get pain from the low travel.

Learning to do so can be very rewarding, since the low travel allows a very fast keypress. Typing softly in general is great for finger pain, and mechanical keyboards allow one to use more force but retract before connecting with the keyboard's backplane (bottoming-out in keyboard-speak) and causing the louder "clack" after the initial actuation.

prawks• 13 years ago

Cherry MX Red switches require less actuation force than an Apple keyboard. A Red will take 45g of weight to depress, while an Apple seems to be closer to 60g [1].

[1] http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1727025

wffurr• 13 years ago

I pound on my Apple keyboard and my Macbooks like a madman. It's actually quite loud, especially when I get going.

How soon am I supposed to feel pain in my hands? Two years? Four? Hasn't happened yet.

I have come to really prefer the low travel keyboards, even with my hammer hands.

throwit19793• 13 years ago

or else you'll soon get pain from the low travel.

Huh? I am wracking my brain trying to figure out how, biomechanically, a short keystroke can cause pain.

kepano• 13 years ago

I had the same experience. After hearing friends rave about mechanical keyboards I ordered a custom one from WASD. Great build quality though custom engravings are less sharp than I expected. It's a lot of fun to click clack away on, but within 2-3 weeks I developed serious wrist pains that I had never experienced before. My typing wasn't any faster, the noise was distracting (even with "quieter" Cherry Brown switches) and it was seriously crowding up my workspace.

I switched back to the wired Apple keyboard and the pain gradually went away. For my posture and setup the ergonomics of a thin keyboard are a lot better. I can see the romantic beauty of mechanical keyboards, but they're not for everyone. If you're able to, borrow one from a friend before splurging... YMMV.

mixmastamyk2• 13 years ago

Did you use a "wrist rest" up front?

mbell• 13 years ago

I don't understand the fascination with keyboards by software developers. I spend a lot more of my day thinking, testing, navigating code, etc, than I do punching keys. There are a lot of professions where keyboard interaction is critical but I don't think software development is one of them.

jacobparker• 13 years ago

  navigating code

I do this with the keyboard (vim)

mark-r2• 13 years ago

It's all about the effortlessness that comes when you do start typing. You want it to be as automatic as possible so you're not wasting any of your attention on it. If a keyboard lets you type faster or with fewer typos, that's a win.

P.S. I prefer the mechanical switches but I had to give mine up for the sake of my wife, who was driven batty by the noise.

chaz• 13 years ago

I don't see anything wrong with picking tools you like to use. I'm not a writer, but I do like the crisp feeling of a nice pen on nice paper. A Bic ballpoint on a cheap pad is just not the same, even though it gets the job done.

reidrac• 13 years ago

Yes, that's the trend for the last years... writing code with the mouse _shrugs_ ;)

overgard2• 13 years ago

It's not so much that I spend a lot of time punching keys, it's just that I don't want to /think/ about punching keys. If a keyboard is off, it's always a slight distraction while you're trying to focus on other things.

kamaal2• 13 years ago

I can type faster and accurately on any keyboard. In fact once you've learned how to touch type, you can type on any kind of keyboard.

But you are missing the whole point.

Apple's flat keyboard is designed to look nice. Glossy finish, easy to carry and use cases around that. This looks like a keyboard designed for people who don't treat the computer as a work machine but as a utility device. More like browsing the internet or for writing emails.

But if someone is going to spend hours doing some deeply involving work like solving a problem, or trouble shooting or laying first bits of a project or stuck in deep with some interesting issue for hours. Which if you take your time seriously, you will work on such tasks anyway. Then comfort becomes a more important factor than looks and cuteness of the tool.

This is where IBM Model M scores over the glossy Apple's keyboard.

chipotle_coyote4• 13 years ago

No, he's not missing the point, he's expressing a preference. As shocking as this may be, there are people who do actual real programming that involves solving problems and troubleshooting, and being stuck in deep with interesting issues for hours, on Apple's current keyboards. I know more than one of these people. I know more than one of them have tried objectively good mechanical keyboards and discovered that they prefer Apple's flat keyboards.

Personally, I prefer my Unicomp Spacesaver M keyboard, which I'm typing on now. But Apple's current keyboards are still some of my favorites, and it's not because they're pretty, it's because for low travel keyboards they're really fantastic. There's clearly a lot of thought that's gone into the haptics. They're not squishy. They feel good to type on. I'd rather use them than several mechanical keyboards that I've bought, and I'd much rather use them than any membrane keyboard that I've ever used, including some fairly expensive "ergonomic" models. I actually suspect, somewhat to my chagrin, that I'm faster typing on Apple keyboards than I am on the Unicomp.

Yes, Apple stuff is pretty. Tra-la, look at me, I'm an Apple product! Woo! But aesthetics and functionality are not opposite ends of the same axis.

AndresNavarro2• 13 years ago

I don't think he's missing the point. I also find the scissor type keyboards to be a better fit than the model M and derivatives. And I also touch type & spend hours a day typing.

harrytuttle2• 13 years ago

Agree but in my case a ThinkPad T400 keyboard. Quiet with positive feeling and plenty of space between keytops.

My model M made my hands hurt and pissed everyone else off after about 5 minutes. Plus it's not practical even with my docking station / desktop setup.

bluedino2• 13 years ago

The bad part about the T400 for some people is the ESC key is on the 7th row, where it should be on the 6th on the left of the F1 key.

___1___• 13 years ago

The much prefer the Model M to any other keyboard I've used including Apple keyboards.

I do like the old Transparent Apple keyboards (G4 era?) with the nice slab of metal in it to keep them heavy.

overgard2• 13 years ago

Having used them for years, I still kinda hate apple keyboards. It's the shape of the keys. Most keyboards have keys with a slight indent, which guides your fingers as you type, whereas the completely flat keys on apple keyboards makes every keypress feel tentative. They /look/ nice, but the overall feel is terrible.

kps6• 13 years ago

switching to a flatter keyboard that sits closer to the desk has actually caused any and all pain I used to get while typing to go away.

Then your desk was too high.

But hey, ISO 9241 made the same mistake, and drove the best keyswitches ever off the market for being over an inch high.

X-Istence3• 13 years ago

My desk is the right height so that my elbows form just over a 90 degree angle with the table. Having my chair lower, and thus having my arms bent more is extremely uncomfortable.

The problem I have with the Model M and their various clones is that the keys simple sit too high. The only way I could get comfortable is by getting one of those keyboard gel cushions that sits in front of the keyboard. Not required with the Apple keyboard.

mjolk• 13 years ago

From my experience, the obsession lies somewhere in the overlapping segment of the euler diagram of "nerd-cred", liking the tactical feel, and nostalgia.

cgag• 13 years ago

This is a serious question: why does anyone want backlighting?

InclinedPlane• 13 years ago

Gaming. If you want to game in the dark then it helps to have backlit keys.

throwit19793• 13 years ago

So you can see the keys under low light levels. Not everyone touch-types.

0X1A• 13 years ago

"I'm just happy to live in a world where the first truly great mechanical keyboard finally exists now." That's subjective. To me this keyboard is average and over priced. I personally hate that keyboard layout, so for me, this isn't the first truly great keyboard.

davexunit3• 13 years ago

This is a very overpriced mechanical keyboard. The backlighting is silly and useless. Check out http://elitekeyboards.com/ instead. The Leopold keyboards are very fairly priced. The Rosewill mechanical keyboards from NewEgg are pretty alright, too. Filcos are on the higher end of the price spectrum but are a better value than the "CODE".

imsofuture2• 13 years ago

Also there's a lot of good-value Chinese mechanical keyboard imports (like the unbeatable Choc Mini).

NB one of the things you're paying for with the CODE is decent integration, I'm sure. I do have to USB->PS2->USB this Choc Mini keyboard to work with OSX (seriously!). It works fine though!

davexunit3• 13 years ago

Thanks for reminding me of the Choc Mini. They look very nice.

osener• 13 years ago

You can use this kext with Noppoo keyboards: https://github.com/thefloweringash/iousbhiddriver-descriptor...

8ig8• 13 years ago

Interesting. The checkout page is php. ;)

__--__• 13 years ago

I've got to be honest, this thing is making me want to upgrade my CMStorm Quickfire. It really is the little details that I can appreciate, like backlighting, dip switches, the different layout for the function keys and the possible weaponization via steel backplate. I somehow feel better knowing I can defend myself with my keyboard. :D

I see the code keyboard as filling a void in the mechanical keyboard market between filco/wasd/cmstorm and happy hacker in terms of configurability and simplicity.

ecaradec• 13 years ago

I bought a Filco Majestouch and couldn't use it a work as it totally hurted my wrists. I really had to adapt to not hit the keys too hard. Also the cherry mx blue caused difficulties for navigating inside code because the course of the key is longer and I often hit the keys repetedly when browsing code.

fetbaffe• 13 years ago

I also bought a Filco Majestouch 2 with Brown switches. It just too high in the front so the wrists hurt and kind of heavy pushing down the keys so I go tired writing on it.

A bit of disappointment.

superbaconman• 13 years ago

This sounds like a wired device? I've been looking for a good wireless mech keyboard for a while now...

tracker1• 13 years ago

Using a Unicomp Customizer 104 at home, and one with the trackpoint at work. Love them both, though don't use the trackpoint much... I have a TSR for Win+[]\ (volume down/up/mute respectively and that is all I really need.

Though they're really noisy (buckling spring), so the cherry clear switches on the CODE Keyboard do appeal to me. I'd like to see an option for mac key layout though.

numo162• 13 years ago

The CODE has a dipswitch to change it to a mac layout. If you need to look at the keys to work with your layout, that's a different problem all together

zbinga• 13 years ago

If you make one with two extra keys under the space bar, for use as thumb-activated modifiers, and Cherry blue switches as an option, I will buy one. For now, it's not really bringing anything new to the table, except for those Cherry clears, but I don't care for them.

anotherevan2• 13 years ago

People might be interested in the Combimouse which is in development. It's a keyboard in two parts, where the right part doubles as a mouse.

http://www.combimouse.com/index.htm

Current Indigogo campaign: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/combimouse-combination-key...

(Disclaimer: I'm not involved with this project aside from contributing to a previous campaign.)

joshontheweb• 13 years ago

Seems cool. I'd pull the trigger if it was wireless.

anotherevan2• 13 years ago

I love my MS Natural Ergo 4000 keyboard. Straight keyboards feel cramped and awkward. Every now and again I take it outside and blast it with the air compressor to clean it out, and it has lasted so long the type has worn off the middle row.

The nubs of the J and F keys had also worn down that much that I ended up getting an old soldering iron and scarring those two keys again.

I suspect ergo keyboards are not as advantageous if you are a hunt and peck rather than a touch typist (most useful thing I ever learned in school.)

I like the dip switch options on Jeff's keyboard.

baby2• 13 years ago

I got really excited at first reading this, someone agreeing with me that keyboards nowadays were not evolving.

And yes good mechanical keyboards matter, but that's not what we should improve them on.

A good keyboard should have : usb 3.0 ports, mic/headphones entries, wheel to control the sound etc...

davexunit3• 13 years ago

No. A keyboard should have keys for typing and nothing more. Do one thing and do it well.

reirob• 13 years ago

I almost agree. I personally though NEED the trackpoint. I agree on that getting of everything else including numpad and windows keys is what will make a good keyboard.

baby2• 13 years ago

I completely disagree. Where should I plug my microphone and my headphones ? Where should I plug my usb stuff ?

Only the mouse, the keyboard and the mouse are usually easy to access, the desktop tour is usually not. If I'm occupying a lot of space on my desk with a keyboard, I want it to be more than just a typing block. Believe me, I tried keyboards with jack plugs and usb sockets and it's amazing how a simple "evolution" they are.

As for the volume wheel, it's the best way to control the volume and the keyboard is the natural place to put it, where would you put it if not on the keyboard? On the screen?

laureny• 13 years ago

While I can understand the appeal of mechanical keyboards (at least appeal for you but hatred from your coworkers), I really don't understand why any programmer today is still using a non-ergonomic keyboard. These straight keyboards will kill your wrists, forehands and tendons eventually.

If you intend to be typing on a keyboard for more than the next five years and you're still using a straight keyboard, do yourself a favor and buy a split keyboard today.

Pains from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome will most likely follow you for the rest of your life, just not worth it.

brianpgordon2• 13 years ago

You can type on a straight keyboard with your wrists turned in like with an ergonomic keyboard.

babby• 13 years ago

Yeah, this is my default posture. Something tells me a lot of this RSI nonsense is due to bad technique.

I code, game on a standard keyboard, no issues - don't get me wrong, I've had RSI before, but it was down to technique, posture.

T-hawk• 13 years ago

Absolutely. That's my natural position and I've been typing hours per day for 20 years with no signs of stress injuries at all.

A good way to describe it is that the home keys are not asdf jkl; but rather more like qwdc mkp[ . I don't have any real fixed home position though, my wrists always "float" over the keyboard. Particularly the right wrist spends more time near the brackets and slashes for programming.

numo162• 13 years ago

Switching to colemak has helped to alleviate a lot of the wrist pains I was having for a while. http://colemak.com/

bdunbar• 13 years ago

While I can understand the appeal of mechanical keyboards (at least appeal for you but hatred from your coworkers)

We resolved that problem: everyone in the group has a mechanical keyboard.

nsxwolf2• 13 years ago

For $149 I would prefer PBT keycaps vs ABS.

Aldo_MX• 13 years ago

The perfect keyboard for me is the Logitech Wireless Solar K750, but it has 2 big flaws:

a) It discharges in around 3 days of heavy coding, and requires real sunlight, I had to leave the keyboard at the garden when the battery exhausted, and there are no alternate ways to charge it (the least I expected was a detachable USB cord).

b) Hardcoded limit of 40 pairings and no indication of that limit unless it won't pair anymore, I used to have two "Unifying receivers", one at home, one at the office, so I exhausted that limit relatively fast... It was frustrating and disappointing when I reached that limit...

iconjack• 13 years ago

Control key is the wrong place.

kamaal2• 13 years ago

Mandatory reading when it comes to keyboarding: http://oreilly.com/news/zenclavier_1299.html

So far, I've used many keyboards. Nothing comes close to the IBM Model M, or their modern incarnations. Here in India, you get a TVS Gold keyboard which is the basically IBM Model M of India. The difference between that and my office HP standard keyboard is so enormous, I can nearly write a short book detailing it.

Firstly the build, Model M's ones are built like a tank. They will last decades. Secondly the spring feedback and clicky auditory feed back you get. Thirdly, and the most important feature of the keyboard is the impedance match when your fingers hit the keyboard and the resistance/friction those keys offer. The Model M some does this so well, you will almost feel you are becoming one with the keyboard, combined with this the clicky auditory feed back and the rugged build is what makes the IBM Model M the king of all keyboards.

Now every time I use the Model M at home and then come and use the keyboards at office, I see two straight issues. One I see is either the keyboard is offering too much friction/resistance which in case my fingers hit the keys faster but the keys don't mechanically respond as faster, or in cases of keyboard like the Apple's flat aluminum keyboard the resistance is too less and fingers tend to slower compared to the keys. And yes the feed back thing isn't in any way remotely comparable to the Model M.

Lastly you can argue that, this should even matter to you as a coder. As good coding is above typing skills. Though I agree with you, I would suggest you read the article I posed at the top of this comment.

Beyond all, once you've some really awesome. Even the very normal all begins to feel like bad.

Long story, short- a good geek/nerd keyboard needs to:

    1. Provide auditory feed back while typing.
    2. The impedance match between the key response and
    your finger's hit force need to match perfectly.
    3. Keyboard must be rugged.
    4. Important code related keys should be big.

pkamb7• 13 years ago

I'm still waiting to buy a mechanical keyboard with a TrackPoint. Until then, the ThinkPad external USB keyboard [1] is perfect. Its big delete key is great, too.

[1] http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/55Y9003/460/60AC6A0...

wiredfool• 13 years ago

I've got two old Model M 13s with trackpoints. Unfortunately, the buttons on one of them are failing. I never realized how much I used the trackpoints till they didn't work.

pekru• 13 years ago

Came here to say this.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPo...

$59 and truly functional

rocky1138• 13 years ago

This is neat, but personally I don't find keyboards that exciting. Nor do I anticipate ever owning a desktop machine again. Maybe if this sort of thing could be done on a laptop, I'd be pumped.

My fave keyboard is still the IBM 101 clickity from my PS/2 days in school.

nimish• 13 years ago

The nicest looking of the many mostly identical mechanical keyboards out there.

Should've gone with double-shot injection molding for durability; I wonder what it would have cost.

binarycrusader3• 13 years ago

Order website is confusing:

"Availability: In stock" at the top of the page, and then below in the product description says "We are now SOLD OUT".

So which is it?

Also surprised that the key caps are ABS plastic instead of PBT at this price point or at least there's no option for that.

Nevermind though; I'm going to wait for a few reviews of this to be posted. (Someone please post a review if you get one!)

Zweihander• 13 years ago

I don't understand the fascination with clear/grey switches - blue/green's really aren't that loud compared to buckling spring's and you get the full double-dip feedback. If you're in a super-quiet office then I agree, it makes a difference - but why would you have an open office that didn't have a good deal of collaboration/talking/acceptance of noise?

The disable switches on the back of the keyboard are a very nice touch but beyond that, there is a lot from the ad that's standard fare for higher end keyboards these days. That price really needs to go down by 20-30$ for it to stay competitive beyond the initial rush of Atwood fans.

chx• 13 years ago

I am typing on a Kinesis Freestyle set vertical with its Ascent and it Kicks Ass(TM). You can't beat the ergonomics of a vertical keyboard.

buro9• 13 years ago

Backlight on a mechanical keyboard?

For me, that will just light up where the clumps of dust and crumbs are.

venomsnake• 13 years ago

Interesting stuff ... sadly with shipping and VAT + customs it will come close to 270 USD in Europe. But probably I will purchase one.

It is very close to the perfect keyboard for me - just add blank keys and replace the clear with green (I love the chaingun sounds early in the morning.

theboywho4• 13 years ago

I wonder what was the real price of making this keyboard, probably not more than $10. I mean China.

This is getting ridiculous. It's not because there is now HN, reddit and everything that can feed a hipster that you should fall into this trap and buy a €149.99 a keyboard.

AhtiK2• 13 years ago

These keyboards come with Cherry MX switches. Very hard to find them cheaper than $1 a piece. For a 104 key keyboard that's already over $100 :)

In addition to better feel and ergonomics [1], switches also have better maintenance properties. If one goes bad, easy to replace. If something spills, easy to clean.

With non-switch keyboards once a key stops working unless it's just a hair blocking the contact, the whole keyboard needs to be replaced.

[1] Feel and ergonomics are definitely debatable, but I'm just super happy for the switch to Filco Ninja Majestouch-2 tenkeyless ~ a year ago.. Before that I was a big fan of cheap Logitech UltraX keyboards but a after even a day with switches, UltraX felt like something unconsistent, blocking and muddy.

hkmurakami5• 13 years ago

If you can find it $1 retail, wholesale is fractions of that price. (some parts can even be 1/10 the price)

theboywho4• 13 years ago

You are one example of people falling into the trap, sadly.

$1 a piece is the price you get in the US, and as an individual trying to buy Cherry MX switches from a company that already bought them for a lower price.

In china things are different, and when you are a company and buying in bulk, the price can go to as low as $0.2 for a switch.

This keyboard is ridiculously overpriced. I am against this because it clearly shows the guy just wants to exploit this "kickstarter" mindset and HN entrepreneurship culture of "price high" and people will think it's revolutionary.

This reminds me of the beats by Dre headphones.

foxpc• 13 years ago

I agree! It's truly overpriced. I have expected a cheapish, not groundbreakingly, but still, cheapish mechanical keyboard as it was presented by some programmer, not a company that is going for money money money all the way.

But looking at the price, you could easily get a Das Keyboard Model S with Blue/Red/Brown (your choice!) keyswitches and also, there's a discount during the school-preparation period.

AndyKelley• 13 years ago

Does it solve the key rollover problem?

http://superuser.com/questions/73685/keyboard-doesnt-let-me-...

I've always wanted a keyboard that let me press as many keys as I want to at the same time.

Aqua_Geek• 13 years ago

From the site:

We know you live and die by keyboard shortcuts. We do too. On the CODE keyboard, up to six keys can be pressed at once, which is known as 6-Key USB Rollover.

(http://codekeyboards.com)

alcari• 13 years ago

More importantly, it's got a PS/2 adapter, and that supports N-key rollover.

pqs2• 13 years ago

What about the Happy Hacking keyboard? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Hacking_Keyboard

petepete• 13 years ago

I use a HHKB Pro 2 and I believe it's as close to keyboard perfection as humanly possible. It's evident from the pictures that it partially inspired this CODE keyboard.

swah2• 13 years ago

I'm thinking of giving a try to mini-keyboards, but I also use the arrow keys/pgdown/pgup frequently. So I have 3 tenkeyless for now.

vbv• 13 years ago

I'd get this one if it was curved and without the numpad to reduce the distance to the mouse.

jpalomaki• 13 years ago

I've been testing out various keyboards, also the mechanical ones. The one that I have liked most is the Apple wired keyboard (with numpad). Since I'm using this with windows I remapped a few keys[1] to make it for more suitable for my habits.

The keyboard has low profile and the feeling on the keys is "very precise". Also it is quite affordable.

[1] http://juhap.iki.fi/webdev/keymapper-mappings-for-using-appl...

asgard1024• 13 years ago

Here's an idea for a new keyboard. Just a board with studs like in Lego, and a bag of individual keys (switches), that you could arrange on the board in any way you would wish.

So you could build, in a way, any physical layout you would want. You could go fancy and use colored switches. And so on.. endless possibilities.

gosub• 13 years ago

What I would like is the possibility to buy/order a low-cost, non-mechanical, customized keyboard. Mass-manufactured keyboards cost less than 10€, could a custom printing job for the keys add that much?

buster• 13 years ago

Meh, no QWERTZ :(

noir_lord• 13 years ago

Looks nice but I love my Cherry G80's (and they are less than half the price) too much to upgrade just yet (though the silent keys might be kind in a crowded environment).

refrigerator• 13 years ago

No offence to the maker, but this seems like a huge gimmick. There's nothing that separates this mechanical keyboard from others in the same price range, and there certainly isn't anything about it that makes it more developer-friendly than other boards. They've just slapped the letters CODE on the back and called it a keyboard for devs...

stunpix• 13 years ago

I have two questions:

1. I want to engrave international symbols by myself. Will they have a backlight like original symbols?

2. Many people around the web are very pleased with their Cherry MX based keyboards. This is understandable when they are switching from cheap keyboards with same keystroke length. But what about people that have switched from laptop or Apple keyboards with shorter keystrokes? I found for myself that twice shorter keystroke is also twice comfortable (much less movements for fingers). Does it make a sense to try again a keyboard with long keystrokes, but with good mechanics like the CODE? Has anybody tried to use CherryMX keyboard after using laptop or any other keyboard with short keystrokes? Could you share your experience?

Pxtl• 13 years ago

A proper coding keyboard would have the numbers A-F next to the numpad.

rkangel• 13 years ago

I'd think about this, but it isn't convertible to a UK layout. It's not just a question of keycaps - we have another key to the right of the apostrophe (~ and #) narrowing the return key, and the return key takes up the space of the \ and | key, with that moving to the left of z.

taternuts• 13 years ago

Mechanical keyboards are awesome and after a year+ typing on them I can't stand typing on regular rubber domes. My favorite switch is the MX Brown, as the Blues got annoying to me. My current keyboard, which I think is a better coder's board, is the tex beetle ( http://i.imgur.com/ivEH2Av.png ). If you want to go down the mechanical keyboard rabbit hole I recommend checking out http://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalkeyboards

gtani• 13 years ago

Keyboard preference is something that takes a while to build and a while to undo, if you use just one. I have a few Matias tactile kb's (deep key travel) and a couple Mac aluminum wired kb's (laptop like key travel), use both simultaneously

(I also switch between piano, woodwinds, guitar/fretless bass and sometimes cello, which is Hors catégorie as far as the complexity of the left hand action compared to the other three

shawnbaden• 13 years ago

I've been using a UNICOMP UB4044A (http://pckeyboard.com/page/UKBD/UB4044A) since mid 2007 and it. is. fantastic. I love the tactile feedback from the keys. My co-workers even find the noise from the buckling springs comforting when I'm typing fast and furious knowing that work is getting done. I highly recommend it at $80.

digitalpacman• 13 years ago

Uh... I see no value in this. Why not talk about a keyboard with language specific placement of letters? Who cares about a super basic and generic keyboard?

nvarsj2• 13 years ago

It should go without saying that keyboards are highly personal, especially for developers. Having said that, this keyboard looks pretty terrible to me - nothing novel and all the things I dislike in standard keyboards. Really, a keypad?

Look into a $100 10 keyless cherry switch keyboard for a big improvement (filcos are particulary good). Or my favorite layout, the happy hacker keyboard pro.

The CODE Keyboard

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