Are Tenkeyless (TKL) Keyboards Right for You?

i actually had a bit of an odd keyboard journey. For basically a decade now i've been swapping Ctrl and Caps lock on my computers - using either a program or built in method (MacOS allows you to do this using the built in system menu). I found this to be excessively useful as it makes a lot of shortcuts very easy to press, especially as I'm very much a keyboard shortcut over mouse kind of person. About a year or so ago I got sick of constantly having to retrain my brain or find some way to remap Ctrl/Caps lock on any computer i use. Heck, it may not even be possible to remap if it's something like a work computer, or not wise (for example when i'm helping my parents so have to use their computer). And after a bit of searching I found the Sun type 6 UNIX layout and the custom keyboard world. At that point my only reason to get a custom keyboard was to mimic what i thought was the best keyboard layout, without having to constantly try to hack something to remap keys - the sun type 6 UNIX variant's keyboard layout (for those too lazy to look it up: the bottom row is Mac style - i.e. the closest key to the space bar on either side is Super/Meta (called meta in this case), Caps lock and left Ctrl are swapped, The backspace key (number row) is broken up into 2x1u keys (\ and `) and backspace is moved down to where \ normally is (and the same size as the ANSI \ key)). My layout requirement basically meant anything off the shelf, or akin to off the shelf (like ducky or keychron) wouldn't work. I looked at HHKB but for various reasons decided against it. I actually ended up with a 60% because of the cost - it was just about a custom layout i wasn't going to spend like $400 on it.
Ironically a few weeks back my PCB got borked, so i had an opportunity to both see what life would be like without my custom keyboard and if i wanted to replace it get a TKL. Ultimately decided to just go with 60% again (again, due to cost). The funny part is, when i had to go back to using a normal keyboard I'd often press left Ctrl (where Fn is on my custom layout, yes this means my keyboard doesn't have a caps lock) and WASD for arrow keys or Alt+Ctrl (trying to press Fn)+4 (as Fn+4=F4) to close a window etc. I have apparently gotten so used to the 60% layout in about a year or so. Would I get a TKL? Honestly , yea if i could sell my current keyboard and had enough money, I certainly would...but either way there's no way i can move away from fully custom keyboards or my ridiculous layout (honestly, even if i went TKL i'd probably still put Fn in the left bottom corner and Fn+WASD would still be arrow keys).

My numpad section is very dusty

I personally dont find the hand position on TKL keyboards more comfortable. Maybe its because I'm a larger guy and have a naturally wider frame, but to use a TKL and mouse at the same time, I have to scrunch my hands together at an uncomfortable angle or keep the keyboard really far away. When I use a full-size board, this doesn't happen and especially when gaming, both my arms are at a natural straight line that is very comfortable. Just felt like this warrants a mention.

If you get a TKL you can always get a separate numpad later that can be positioned to your preferences, but if you commit to a full-size keyboard you're stuck with a numpad always being on the right side. (also can't use desk space as efficiently or lay on your lap like a TKL can without bumping armrests)

You're spot on about the lack of side enter key being the thing that you'll notice the most when you're switching. But once you use your TKL keyboard for a few days and get used to it, there's no going back. Seriously, unless you're someone who works with numbers a lot, there's no reason why TKL keyboards are not the standard.

I love TKL but I will never have one... Numbers are always needed from gaming to spreadsheets and having an extra numpad keyboard kills the whole TKL setup...

A TKL keyboard would allow me to place my mouse directly alongside. Currently I work with a full-size keyboard allowing me total convenience when working in photoshop.
Do some of the keys on a TKL have multi-functions? I am so used to the Print-Screen key function and the Microsoft emblem key on my present keyboard!

I'm in a space where my current mechanical is a hand-me-down and is frustrating me. Also my desk space shrunk and now I'm looking at a TKL for at least the next 9 months, and I will greatly miss that numpad Enter.
But I /could/ program my G502 with an enter button on the thumb...

yes

Yes, I bought one for the first time and it’s honestly the smallest I would ever to but so amazing. It’s the best form factor EVER

Personally, desk space isn't really an issue since I can just get an under-desk keyboard tray for $20. I also have VERY wide shoulders and longer arms so I've never had any spacing issues. On top of all that, I just grew up always having a tenkey. And when I tried to use my Dad's iMac for the first time, I reached for those keys and just got confused. For pure gaming, the numpad isn't necessary at all. But for office work and literally anything else you plan to do with a computer, it's almost a necessity at this point.

no cuz i play gta and i need the numpad for flying. i dont like messing up the default settings

I love the fact that TKL are comfortable, but due to my work, i cannot live without a num pad, and a separate numpad is a NO NO.

Anyway, i feel full size comfortable anyway, i purchased a g915 today, i will try it this week!

I can see the visual benefits and the benefits for carrying the keyboard around - but the other benefits of TKL don't seem to apply to me. Maybe it is because I am relatively tall, but a full size keyboard and a mouse are just at the right distance to each other for me. In fact, I am right now typing this on my laptop, which, as an older 15" device is TKL, and it feels cramped to me. I don't like it, and I wouldn't have bought it that way (but since I got ot for free, who am I to complain). The "offset" argument may be true for single screen setups, but if you have 2x 24" screens side by side, a full size keyboard eaisly fits centered next to the mouse. ;-)

However, the biggest disadvantage to me is entering numbers when not having the num pad. I can type number WAY faster there than on the top row, even though I normally don't need to look at the keyboard and I am relatively fast when it comes to typing. (Well, that's what I do most of the day anyway. Maybe TKL is okay when you are a gamer, type mostly text or do things like video editing, where you have one hand on the mouse most of the time, but if you need to enter text and numbers quickly, I think they are a pretty bad idea. I would never want to have one on my desk. It is bad enough that new keyboards don't seem to be able to get angled up as much as they used to, at work I already had to prop up the back end of the keyboard on some scrap aluminum profile to get it to a decent angle.

You discussed some very useful points.. thank you brother 👍👍

He looks like Chris Pratt

No because I use numpad 4,5,6,8 for movement keys

If only the 40% of full size keyboards was moved to the left, it would fix almost everything

dude i literally dont even use number pad i shouldve brought myself a tkl keyboard smh $200 down the drain

One thing that I always wonder, and if there is a reason please do explain why, but why don't we have our numpads on the left instead. It would just give you way more mouse space and you wouldn't necessarily lose functionality. But if there is a genuine reason why this isn't very mainspread, I would love to know why.

tkl would be perfect if they removed arrows instead of numpad

I know why it’s called a tenkeyless keyboard because the numpad is also referred to as a tenkey because there are ten number keys on a numpad. So a tenkeyless keyboard can also be called a numpadless keyboard.

Correction: TKL or any other full size keyboard does not provide any ergonomic benefits if the keys are laid straight. Please, google it and you will find solution for ergonomic keyboard developed by Logitech, Microsoft and other companies.

Why would you need your hands closer together? I never found that to be a problem. Angling was never a usefull "solution" for a not existing problem 🤣

I miss the side enter too much--got a steelseries apex pro tkl--wish I got fullsize but it's not a big deal

So I got named after a keyboard and the funny thing is I play on console

Also, i cant use some trainer while using TKL lolol

why is it called "ten key less"? ist not even ten key less, its 17.

LOL, rotating your keyboard? Crazy XXL mousepad? Having the mouse a foot off the keyboard for no reason? I don't have any of these problems with my full-size... It all sounds a bit made up to me. The one good reason for a TKL would be it's "couchability" / reclined use across the lap if there were more Bluetooth / 2.4 GHz options. So far the only convincing one seems to be the Keychron K8. Typing this on my Logitech K380 on my Galalaxy Tab S7+, wich is a great fit as it's exactly the same width (much better option than Samsung's Keyboard cover, BTW). I really like it, if it weren't for one problem: I miss dedicated navigation keys! Since I am a coder, I need to navigate, select and use function keys a lot, e. g. doing a CTRL-SHIFT-END (becoming CTRL-SHIFT-FN-LEFT) or even SHIFT-PGDN (becoming SHIFT-FN-DOWN) in modeless editors is just a pain. Especially when switching back and forth between having them and not having them. Even though I've used the K380 for a few months now, requiring the FN-key (only on the left-hand side on the K380 BTW) to input function keys (doubling for Media and Android home/recent/menu/back keys in their unshifted layer) and navigation keys still is more of a concious thing and thus hasn't stopped annoying me. So I'm mostly looking for a wireless standard-layout TKL (mechanical or not, to be honest) mostly for that reason. On my desktop, I doubt anything will ever beat my ISO 102-Key Model M.

good vid but it was strange hearing "tiki-l." i never knew how it was pronounced lol

all of the anti 100% keyboard factors are specific to you...

why was this in my recommended 3 years later lol

That sponsorship Segway was smooth.

Yes, don't convince me otherwise

I would just buy a numpad

I would hate a tkl as I type every number ever into the number pad.

As a left handed user who mainly uses the right side of the keyboard, and ESPECIALLY the numpad with my little right finger...
The rising popularity of tenkeyless keyboards makes me absolutely.
Fucking.
LIVID.

TKL kinda sucks for me, i’m a Gmod player. You need those extra keys.

I really wish there were more ten keys with the ten key on the left side instead of right..

Map the enter to the mouse.

I hate TKL keyboards.

It looks great and i like that it saves space, but i just use the num pad too often to not have it unfortunately.

That medium keyboard looks like the best option for people that do office work and game

Actually, I’ve seen that tkl keyboards are cheaper than the full version

I am about to jump into it. I do like the 96% keyboards.

I have a TKL, and an external USB numpad for when I need those keys. I have found that this allows me to put the numb pad wherever I need it to be instead of being attached to the keyboard.

I know this is an old video, but SteelSeries offers TKL gaming keyboards at ~$30 less than the fullsize version of the keyboard. Just a tip!

I don’t really prefer tenkeyless keyboards and i like the one with them.