Logitech k480. I carry it everywhere. Has a three way switch, iPhone, iPad and Mac. Only problem is it interferes with headphones/wifi somehow. Mac cries piteously when the k480 connects.
On “field trips” where laptop is too much and just the iphone is too little, I have been pairing my ipad with a k380 for the last 200 years and cannot complain much. The only warning I get is that k380 causes some kind of interference with the apple pencil and other bluetooth connected devices. Can’t precise exactly how much though.
If you get an Android you can use termux and do literally anything. I like to write websites, write newsletters in vim and run a jekyll instance, transcode video with ffmpeg, etc.
I'd highly recommend the iClever BK05S. It's the same size as a normal laptop keyboard, so your fingers don't need to feel cramped. It lays flat and stable, it types well, it pairs easily, it charges with USB-C, and you can use it as a wired USB-C keyboard in a pinch.
I've just recently got a mechanical keyboard, after doing a workspace ergonomics assessment, and also cultural influence from various other developer friends, etc...
It's a Keychron Q10 Max (Alice Layout) - looks like a split keyboard but it's one piece. It's excellent typing, has both wired (USB-C) and wireless (Bluetooth, probably also radio too? I don't use that) connectivity too. I don't normally use the LED lights, but occasionally they are fun...
It's heavy, so not portable like the one the author uses. Had something like that before, the portability was nice, but then didn't use it much. This is not (practically) portable, but still has all the flexibility, and it's a joy typing with it. I wouldn't go as far as I love a piece of euqipment, but I do look forward using it every day.
I do think more about keyboards as I use Mac, Linux, built in laptop keyboards, this stand alone one, etc... And because of the variety it's really hard to build up some muscle-memory. Ctrl, Option, Alt, Fn, ... basically all the extra keys beside the alphabet are slightly different in all systems. So it's more conscious typing than I'd hope for, but not toooooo bad (and it's not the keyboard's problem, I might have to look into remapping stuff, but it's not that level of pain yet).
Next step is to get a foldable keyboard: Action is selling one for 6 eur or go fancy with IC bk-05s). Fits in a jacket pocket and with some getting used is almost as good
I had some huawei tablet for reading before, but now the main goal was to be able to ssh/kubectl to remote machines and for quick surfing, chats, etc (my new laptop is heavy).
I was trying to find a case + keyboard with good reviews, no luck
then, I didn't think it was possible, I've found out that you can use an apple magic keyboard with it and I had a spare one, so I have a case and a bluetooth magic keyboard.
The keyboard, comparing to anything that is sold for tablets is amazing, laptop experience.
If you want a full size foldable keyboard with function keys and a trackpad, I can recommend the ProtoArc XK01[0]. This is a good enough keyboard that I use it as my main keyboard at home, and it's surprisingly cool to be able to just fold up your daily driver keyboard and take it with you.
Does the trackpad make any sense, if you're using it on a device which already has a touchscreen? I'm not saying that the touchscreen is convenient, but a touchpad is mostly as impractical, and makes the keyboard seem to huge.
Interesting, but I'd prefer a version that's smaller by omitting the touchpad. (Well, I'd love to have a touchpad, but without physical mouse buttons it might as well not be there at all.)
I used to have long conversations via text. Some friendships existed primarily via text. The move to touch screens destroyed that. It just doesn't work for some reason. Nobody wants to have a long conversation using their phones. I'm not sure if it's due to the keyboard per se. I think it's more because you take the phone with you everywhere rather than sit down specifically to have a conversation. I'm not going to just keep talking forever throughout my day, so without a special time and place, it just stops altogether.
Not long ago there was this dude here that made a typewriter from an old laptop by using text only Debian neovim and a few other tools which made me think, it's funny how something like a typewriter evolves to a personal computer only to.. de-volve? back to a typewriter.
I love my keyboards the same way my wife loves shoes. We can't get enough of them. Clicking on different switches feels like a constant dopamine flow and a lesson in paying attention. If you have no idea what I'm talking about I highly recommend you start trying mechanical switches.
That's nice, never heard of anyone using a keyboard for a phone. I use it for for my mac though and I can't imagine my life now without it, each typing feels liberating. Although, mac's keyboard is not bad either, it's just different. You basically can't get tired when typing mac's one because it doesn't require any effort clicking actually buttons.
> I really wish there was an alt+tab replacement for window switching in iOS.
On Android it's a simple Alt+Tab to switch between apps; press it to bring up the current apps, then Alt+Tab lets you cycle through them too. In general Android is much more keyboard friendly.
Still waiting for the day when I can get rid of my work laptop and replace it with a phone entirely. Technically it's already possible, but it's just not practical until I can easily run docker containers on my phone. Also the samsung desktop mode is a bit underwhelming right now.
If this is not the default in the next decade I'm gonna riot. Hotels could replace the TV with a big computer screen and the corner chair with an office chair. Even a cheap hotel room could be an office without anyone having to bring their own toys with them. Just the phone in your pocket.
If you're willing to run stuff in a Linux VM in the cloud, I quite like exe.dev and the website is pretty mobile-friendly. Also, you can ask the AI to do stuff instead of typing it on the command line.
I leant Python on a Nokia N900, which ran a regular Linux with Xorg, ssh, etc.
You can still do this today with a Linux phone (e.g.: postmarketOS). Of course, a lot of your typical iOS apps won't run there (e.g.: Signal, Maps, etc), but you can't really run docker container on iOS (yet?).
If you really need all the usual iOS (or Android) apps maybe you just need two phones? Still lighter than a phone and a laptop.
59 comments
[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 69.7 ms ] threadAlso ctrl-z for undo! I recommend looking into Unexpected Keyboard for a virtual Qwerty with a control key.
It's a Keychron Q10 Max (Alice Layout) - looks like a split keyboard but it's one piece. It's excellent typing, has both wired (USB-C) and wireless (Bluetooth, probably also radio too? I don't use that) connectivity too. I don't normally use the LED lights, but occasionally they are fun...
It's heavy, so not portable like the one the author uses. Had something like that before, the portability was nice, but then didn't use it much. This is not (practically) portable, but still has all the flexibility, and it's a joy typing with it. I wouldn't go as far as I love a piece of euqipment, but I do look forward using it every day.
I do think more about keyboards as I use Mac, Linux, built in laptop keyboards, this stand alone one, etc... And because of the variety it's really hard to build up some muscle-memory. Ctrl, Option, Alt, Fn, ... basically all the extra keys beside the alphabet are slightly different in all systems. So it's more conscious typing than I'd hope for, but not toooooo bad (and it's not the keyboard's problem, I might have to look into remapping stuff, but it's not that level of pain yet).
Happy typing, everyone!
I had some huawei tablet for reading before, but now the main goal was to be able to ssh/kubectl to remote machines and for quick surfing, chats, etc (my new laptop is heavy).
I was trying to find a case + keyboard with good reviews, no luck then, I didn't think it was possible, I've found out that you can use an apple magic keyboard with it and I had a spare one, so I have a case and a bluetooth magic keyboard.
The keyboard, comparing to anything that is sold for tablets is amazing, laptop experience.
[0] https://www.protoarc.com/products/xk01-tp-foldable-keyboard-...
I love my keyboards the same way my wife loves shoes. We can't get enough of them. Clicking on different switches feels like a constant dopamine flow and a lesson in paying attention. If you have no idea what I'm talking about I highly recommend you start trying mechanical switches.
On Android it's a simple Alt+Tab to switch between apps; press it to bring up the current apps, then Alt+Tab lets you cycle through them too. In general Android is much more keyboard friendly.
If this is not the default in the next decade I'm gonna riot. Hotels could replace the TV with a big computer screen and the corner chair with an office chair. Even a cheap hotel room could be an office without anyone having to bring their own toys with them. Just the phone in your pocket.
You can still do this today with a Linux phone (e.g.: postmarketOS). Of course, a lot of your typical iOS apps won't run there (e.g.: Signal, Maps, etc), but you can't really run docker container on iOS (yet?).
If you really need all the usual iOS (or Android) apps maybe you just need two phones? Still lighter than a phone and a laptop.
Maybe there exists some kind of selfie stick / tripod that allows you to place the phone at eye height?
This is actually a setup I might prefer over using a laptop.