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Show HN: I spent 2 years designing a mechanical Magic Keyboard

231 points · 197 comments · aemerson_

  1. deepsun · · focus · HN ↗
    Well, for programming it's not convenient -- no Insert/Pageup/Screenshot buttons.
    1. red_hare · · focus · HN ↗
      15 years of mouse-free professional programming and never in my life have I touched these.
      1. naikrovek · · focus · HN ↗
        30 years of professional programming and I touch "Home", "End", "PgUp", "PgDn", "Ins", and "Del" every single day.
        1. f311a · · focus · HN ↗
          You can do this using fn button, without moving your hand every time you need to press them.

          It's very convenient, when your hand don't move at all and can reach every button.

          1. naikrovek · · focus · HN ↗
            you can do it using any button you like. lots of keyboards are entirely remappable. i don't understand how/why one saying they never touch these buttons is some kind of flex, like it's somehow superior to avoid using some keys or something.
          2. chicagobuss · · focus · HN ↗
            It's also very convenient to not have to remember a bunch of extra combos or perform the gymnastics to press them, especially if you need other modifiers too like shift+pgup, shift+ctrl+pageup, etc
    2. f311a · · focus · HN ↗
      Why do you need screenshot button for programming? How many times do you press it? You can just use fn button for that.

      People are programming on a 36-key keyboards just fine and they don't miss any keys. It's easier to press fn + something than reaching out for screenshot button, which is usually far away. That way, you don't have to move your hands.

      1. jerlam · · focus · HN ↗
        Does a Mac even recognize the screenshot button?

        I take lots of screenshots and videos and add them to PRs, which clearly communicate what has changed.

      2. energy123 · · focus · HN ↗
        The cognitive load of having to press two keys takes its toll and breaks flow, even though it doesn't seem like it should make a difference, at least in my experience. I'm back to TKL or larger.
    3. platevoltage · · focus · HN ↗
      The screenshot hotkey combo is etched into my brain at this point.
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