I've never understood the idea of using a 60% tenkeyless when your job requires you to type a lot. Even if you go full-size it dosen't take that much more space and you save you fingers the extra work for number and function keys.
> Even if you go full-size it dosen't take that much more space and you save you fingers the extra work for number and function keys.
If I go back to full size, it takes enough space that my shoulder hurts from the off-center kb/mouse, and it makes my fingers work harder and slower to reach the numpad and function keys.
I used to have a full size mechanical, switched to a 60%, and more recently an asymmetrical split 5x6+5x7 keyboard. The two small ones run a fully programmable FOSS firmware (QMK), so I can get keybindings that help me work faster.
The F-keys are used rarely enough that it's fine having them replace the top number row on the 2nd layer. I have a button to toggle to the 2nd layer, and two buttons that activate the second layer when held (one where the Fn key is on laptops, another where Enter is). On the 2nd layer, HJKL are arrow keys, WASD + QE + RF are also arrow keys + home/end + pgup/pgdn. The 2nd layer also has volume+media keys, print screen, and some other stuff on it. So I can navigate around the computer much faster since my hands never ever leave the home row.
The split keyboard is ortholinear (keys arranged in a grid, not staggered). I've had Caps Lock replaced with Escape for a long time and it's way superior to having escape above the tilde. There's no spacebar, all keys use 1 unit on the grid. My left thumb has space and backspace right below it; the right thumb has space and enter below it. So esc+bksp+enter no longer strain the pinkies, and they are faster to use. Aside from that it's pretty much a normal keyboard; however the split does make it a fair bit more ergonomic - both halves can be moved around and tilted.
40% keyboards without the number row on top, on the other hand... I don't know how anyone can use those for real work.
Also, I haven't needed to do it, but you can place on your second layer (or dedicate a key just for it) a key that will take you to the third layer. Put a numpad + mouse keys + F-keys on the 3rd layer and it's perfect for data entry. Or numpad + WASD + arrow keys, so you can play the occasional game which requires both WASD and arrows.
It's portable (although it's not a feature I care that much about), but programmatic layers are a huge plus for me. I use Vim and now I don't need to move a hand off my home row to use arrows and I love this. So, it's not really about space. It's also aesthetically more pleasing which is subjective. I'm a bit of a minimalist. I refuse to use multiple monitors such that I don't get used to having the additional screen-space, because I do have a tendency to work at coffeeshops and my workflow remains the same in the office and outside of it.
There is a certain maximum number of keys that your fingers can actually reach. At some point, chords end up being easier to type.
I think 3 row keyboards are too few keys, but the number row is actually pretty hard to type, so eliminating it isn't necessarily insane. I have a number row on my keyboard but I also have "raise" and "lower" layers, one of which gives you a number pad on your right hand. I find the numpad easier to reach than 1 and 0 and try to use it all the time. I have symbols mapped to a layer, so the crucial ones are on home row, with the other ones on the letter keys below the number that normally types them, with some exceptions for keys I've moved elsewhere. I also have dedicated keys for := and != which is quite enjoyable. (You can see the complete map at https://github.com/jrockway/qmk_firmware/blob/master/keyboar...)
Basically, if you're programming you are probably typing a lot of symbols. On a traditional qwerty layout, all those symbols are shifted AND on hard-to-reach keys. Moving them anywhere else is an improvement. Having more keys is good for infrequent things like arrow keys, page up/page down, insert/delete... basically OS functions that you use during normal usage of your computer, but that you've programmed any application you actually care about to not use. (In Emacs/Vim you aren't using arrow keys to move around your text, for example. Or at least I don't, preferring C-n/C-p/C-v/M-v/C-f/C-b to the OS keys.)
Depending on your setup, you might never/rarely need to use certain keys. The numpad is a waste of space, there's literally no need for it. Arrow keys are rarely needed if you use Vim and i3wm (plus vi mode in bash and vi shortcuts for Tmux). On my keyboard if I need the arrow keys I just press Fn+esdf (wasd offset by 1). All the other rarely used keys (F1-F12, PgUp/Dn, &c) are just a Fn key away. I find that combining keys is more convenient that having separate keys far away.
This setup is not for the real world, it is for fame and stream. I can't even imagine not using my 2nd monitor. I have 4 monitors by the way.
With all the distraction and talking, with smiley and responses, I don't think anyone can really deliver anything properly on time. Some people play games, some use different tools for streaming. This is one of those.
Some people love multiple monitors, like many of my colleagues whom I respect despite using multiple monitors /s. But I have yet to understand how multiple monitors are inherently more efficient than e.g. multiple desktops, or switching between windows, especially when I'm wearing glasses. (This is not an invite to try and "convince" me, I've tried.)
Similarly, some people simply prefer not having to move their hands as much with the smaller keyboards, including - what a surprise! - people with smaller hands.
What I really don't get is why you'd need to put down other people's choices to validate your own.
While I have a preference, as do most people, I didn't say it was better than alternative solutions (my argument is pretty much that their equivalent), and didn't imply that one choice somehow made the user more professional or serious ("not for the real world, it is for fame and stream").
Maybe, I've been in the tech industry over 15 years professionally (excluding geeky childhood of course), and the second monitor for coding or any type of tech business was a blessing once it became affordable for most people. I just cannot imagine not having a 3rd right now.
Keepass (or another offline pass manager), Skype, multiple shells open, ftp manager, notepad (or whatever you call it for coding), browser, some Spotify (okay I get this one is not a must), and sometimes calculator.
I can't even imagine not having a numpad like she doesn't have. In our work environments, everyone has a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. I've seen even 6th monitor. Her system is for streaming, and I don't think while streaming anyone can get anything done properly. Let alone the privacy of the company you are hired to do the job.
> I can't even imagine not having a numpad like she doesn't have.
My wrist pain got better when I ditched my number pad.
Lots of people have reported the same.
I also use 1 monitor, I use to use a lot, now my main monitor at home is an ultra wide. It provides less real estate than 2 monitors, it is about 1.5 monitors in width, but unlike dual monitor setups there isn't a line in the center of my vision and my main work window is straight in front, with emulators and terminals off to either side.
But I also have a setup with just 1 1900x1200 monitor. Honestly it doesn't make much difference. I am not using keepass at the same time I am coding, while I am coding I am writing code. Heck zen mode in various editors, full screen no menu bars, exists for a reason.
The OSs we all use today were written in text mode editors. Much of the work is still done in text mode editors (I know quite a few devs at Microsoft who use Vim!)
Don't judge others for doing what works for them.
FWIW, Visual Studio Code does most of what you have, all in one UI. It supports shells, scratchpads, and expression evaluation in pick your favorite language. I use deployment scripts instead of FTP, running from a console, so again one less thing.
IMHO multiple monitors are great for those times when I am manually taking data from one place to another, or for when I am live viewing changes.
I have never had a productivity boost from seeing email appear in the corner of my eye. How in the world is that good for coding? Likewise for a blinking tab in Slack or Skype. I'll check Slack once an hour or so, but I honestly don't want to see the notifications while I am focusing!
Just want to chime in that my home setup is pretty similar to the one she lists -- and I'm very much not famous and have never even contemplated streaming.
I don't like a 2nd monitor -- having one makes me rotate unnecessarily and doesn't provide anything that multiple desktops and generally multiple windows don't provide.
I prefer a tenkeyless keyboard for everything -- the less I have to move my arm to reach the mouse the better.
