Poll: Does your keypad make your mouse awkward to use?

[Uncompetative]

Many people use the mouse in their right hand on the right-hand side of their computer's keyboard. Yet, since the widespread introduction of extended keyboards with built-in numeric keypads they now have both further to move their hand in order to acquire the mouse (i.e. slower) and they tend to awkwardly angle their wrist so that the mouse rectangle remains straight with the bottom edge of the screen (i.e. like a laptop's trackpad the x, y movement is only translated from flat to vertical, not rotated as well). These problems don't arise with a compact keyboard, such as this:

http://www.aresluna.org/attached/computerhistory/articles/macintoshbytereview/pics/photo1

Note: there are indeed no cursor keys, you don't need them as you can move the text insertion cursor with the mouse.

I appreciate that this may seem a very dull topic, but my motivation for asking this on a gaming-related forum was that I was curious to see if there were many other PC users who felt that they could do without the numeric keypad in exchange for some comfort and productivity. Many gamers seem to prefer WASD + mouse as opposed to mouse + cursor keys, so feel free to comment on your setup and observations of this issue.

 

[Fairee]

I'm on a laptop. So the "mouse" is rubbish anyway.

 

[marfoir(IRL)]

If my keyboard was a map the numpad would be the area marked "here be dragons".

Past my enter key is unused territory on my keyboard, except for some single presses every now and then, WADS ftw!

 

[Uncompetative]

I'm on a laptop. So the "mouse" is rubbish anyway.

Actually, I prefer using a mouse on the right-hand side with my SONY notebook on the rare occasions I want to remind myself what Windows 2000 was like...

 

[Inverse Skies]

I've been using laptops for around 10 years or so now, so I'm perfectly at home with a touch pad or accupoint. Sometimes though when I'm typing I'll brush the touch pad which can cause unnecessary clicks which can be annoying. This isn't often though, thankfully.

 

[Fairee]

I'm on a laptop. So the "mouse" is rubbish anyway.

Actually, I prefer using a mouse on the right-hand side with my SONY notebook on the rare occasions I want to remind myself what Windows 2000 was like...

I would do that . . . if the laptop wasn't balanced on a chair in front of me, with no space to put a mouse.

 

[Uncompetative]

If my keyboard was a map the numpad would be the area marked "here be dragons".

Past my enter key is unused territory on my keyboard, except for some single presses every now and then, WADS ftw!

Well, there may be other (somewhat expensive) options:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/26/happy-hacking-keyboard-lite-2-for-mac-touts-apple-key-demotes-c/

and:

 

[Uncompetative]

I'm on a laptop. So the "mouse" is rubbish anyway.

Actually, I prefer using a mouse on the right-hand side with my SONY notebook on the rare occasions I want to remind myself what Windows 2000 was like...

I would do that . . . if the laptop wasn't balanced on a chair in front of me, with no space to put a mouse.

Sounds like a pain in the neck... waiting to manifest itself.

 

[_Janny_]

Nothing really makes me uncomfortable, I can use any side of the keyboard as long as the mouse is to my right. I'll just leave my hands contort themselves accordingly.

 

[Fairee]

I'm on a laptop. So the "mouse" is rubbish anyway.

Actually, I prefer using a mouse on the right-hand side with my SONY notebook on the rare occasions I want to remind myself what Windows 2000 was like...

I would do that . . . if the laptop wasn't balanced on a chair in front of me, with no space to put a mouse.

Sounds like a pain in the neck... waiting to manifest itself.

More a pain in the back....

Also I have no space to stretch out, or even sit properly. I'm sat cross legged right now, and the only other option is legs either side of chair (which is equally uncomfortable).

 

[DigitalSushi]

I'm on a laptop. So the "mouse" is rubbish anyway.

Actually, I prefer using a mouse on the right-hand side with my SONY notebook on the rare occasions I want to remind myself what Windows 2000 was like...

I would do that . . . if the laptop wasn't balanced on a chair in front of me, with no space to put a mouse.

put it on a desk, any desk, you'll get RSI using a notebook awkardly.

if you get RSI they give you a wicked claw hand though, so thats a plus, it makes you look like your a pro bowler everyday of the week.

 

[Uncompetative]

Yeah downside to that keyboard youd have to use a MAc

Id like to see the numpad moved to left of keys tbh. FLight sims etc use em

Maybe you need a separate numeric keypad like this USB one:

http://www.amazon.com/Adesso-19-Key-Numeric-Retractable-AKP-150/dp/B0000TW3N8

Search for yourself, there are plenty out there.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

I wish my keyboard had a keypad, I like to use it when typing numbers (I do that often as I'm studying Engineering).

 

[Fairee]

I'm on a laptop. So the "mouse" is rubbish anyway.

Actually, I prefer using a mouse on the right-hand side with my SONY notebook on the rare occasions I want to remind myself what Windows 2000 was like...

I would do that . . . if the laptop wasn't balanced on a chair in front of me, with no space to put a mouse.

put it on a desk, any desk, you'll get RSI using a notebook awkardly.

if you get RSI they give you a wicked claw hand though, so thats a plus, it makes you look like your a pro bowler everyday of the week.

I have no available space to put it on a desk. Honestly, my back hurts and I would move it if I could.

 

[DigitalSushi]

I have no available space to put it on a desk. Honestly, my back hurts and I would move it if I could.

Do you do back exercises?, seriously, if you carry on like that your gonna hurt yourself.

 

[LordMarcusX]

Yet, since the widespread introduction of extended keyboards with built-in numeric keypads...

Widespread introduction? I've never seen an IBM computer keyboard that didn't have a built-in number pad, and that would go back at least to 1990.

 

[JemJar]

I often remap controls from WSAD onto the numpad (8546) as it leaves a host of buttons around the movement controls to be set to anything useful - it's pretty easy to rest a thumb on Enter and use Delete / End / Page Down with my little finger.

 

[Uncompetative]

I'm on a laptop. So the "mouse" is rubbish anyway.

Actually, I prefer using a mouse on the right-hand side with my SONY notebook on the rare occasions I want to remind myself what Windows 2000 was like...

I would do that . . . if the laptop wasn't balanced on a chair in front of me, with no space to put a mouse.

put it on a desk, any desk, you'll get RSI using a notebook awkardly.

if you get RSI they give you a wicked claw hand though, so thats a plus, it makes you look like your a pro bowler everyday of the week.

I have no available space to put it on a desk. Honestly, my back hurts and I would move it if I could.

Ok. It seems as if you are hunched over because you need to look down at the screen which is joined to the keyboard in your lap. If they were separated, by plugging in an external USB keyboard with a reasonably long cable, you could raise the laptop to a more comfortable height. It could be put on a cardboard box on the chair and by reducing the resolution of the screen (at worst 800 x 600) you could push it a little further away and still be able to see the screen ok. It may even be possible to hook up your laptop to a TV. If large enough, you could use your computer from the comfort of a sofa, although you might want to consider using a wireless keyboard to avoid mishaps as people walk through the room. You would need to use a USB trackball, or just see how you got on with keyboard shortcuts.

However, a cheap table, even a folding occasional table that you might use for a TV dinner would be more ergonomic. This article may help:

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/16555/computers_and_the_internet/top_10_laptop_ergonomic_tips_to_prevent_and_reduce_pain.html

 

[Uncompetative]

I often remap controls from WSAD onto the numpad (8546) as it leaves a host of buttons around the movement controls to be set to anything useful - it's pretty easy to rest a thumb on Enter and use Delete / End / Page Down with my little finger.

That sounds good, also you should get the benefit of you being able to tell you have your home (middle) finger on 5 as this key generally has a raised bump - a tactile hint that saves you from looking at where your hand is situated.

For this reason, some people have recommended RDFG over WASD as F has a bump on it. Personally, I only game with pads.

 

[Fairee]

I have no available space to put it on a desk. Honestly, my back hurts and I would move it if I could.

Do you do back exercises?, seriously, if you carry on like that your gonna hurt yourself.

Mate, don't worry. I'll be fine.