A niche, yet growing trend is for developers/gamers to utilize smaller form factor keyboards that are 60% layout. These keyboards reduce the number of keys and use layers for missing keys. The numpad is removed, and even arrow keys are removed into a nested layer. All function keys are also removed in favor of using a Mod or Fn layer. But what is the benefit?

A 60% keyboard has a few nifty benefits. One is its smaller form factor allows for easier adjustment of the keyboard when wanting to type at slight angles or when wanting to position the keyboard in front of a secondary display. As I write this article, Im actually using this keyboard on my lap instead of my laptop keyboard because of the better keys. The real nicety of this keyboard is how easy it truly is to adjust its angle when typing. This is something that can be a bit more difficult to accomplish when using a full sized keyboard.

There are some downsides to using a 60% keyboard for developers, however. Firstly. the lack of arrow keys can be a bit of a task to get used to. Instead having to rely on pressing a function or mod key to leverage these keys takes some getting used to. If the developer is a VI user, however, they can always use the classic vi movement keys H-J-K-L.

The compactness of this keyboard also makes it feasible to more easily travel with it. Take it to a LAN party to play some video games with friends, or take it wherever you want to get some coding done. It is much easier than lugging around a large full form factor keyboard in that sense.

I'm still up in the air as to if this wil become my fulltime keyboard but so far so good (minus the arrow keys)!