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Ask HN: Would you replace your numeric pad with a trackpad?

9 points by TweedHeads ↗ HN
Take a look at your keyboard. Now at your numeric pad.

Now imagine there is a trackpad instead of all those useless keys.

Would yo use it?

45 comments

[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 110 ms ] thread
TweedHeads
I ask this question as I try to use my recliner as a workstation and the mouse is the only setback right now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recliner

I already placed a huge flat monitor on a stand at 45 degrees from the horizon so my neck rests comfortably in the recliner.

A wireless keyboard fits nicely on my lap, but I would like it to have a trackpad instead, to have my dream workstation complete.

More or less something like this:

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/4290/keytrak.jpg

(No, laptops are not an option)

nevinera
Have you considered a trackball? It seems to me that attaching a large trackball to the arm of your chair would be far better than having a trackpad on your keyboard.

Example trackball: http://www.ooscare.co.nz/products%5C154_Kensington%20trackba...

TweedHeads
Yes, I considered a trackball but attaching something to my recliner is not an option. That's why I got interested in a keyboard w/trackpad. Tx.
TweedHeads
I've considered all the options suggested and ALL of them are crippled versions of a keyboard, like for mobile use.

I am more inclined for a huge MS ergo keyboard but with a trackpad instead of num-pad.

TallGuyShort
I wouldn't call them useless keys. When I'm typing in any multiple-digit number, I find it so much easier to use the num-pad than than the single row of numbers at the top. I only use that top row when I'm inputting a single number in the middle of other text.

As for the track-pad, I think they're extremely inefficient. They were a good innovation for laptops, but I would much rather use the keyboard for everything. Since I rarely use the mouse as it is, I'd rather not give up what I consider to be useful keys for another one.

edit: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=keyboard+trackpad&#...

michael_dorfman
Nope.

Or rather, I might use it to click to find a site where I could buy a keyboard with a numeric keypad. I use the keypad all the time.

jonknee
No, I use those keys and I have a mouse for a reason. The number/arrow keys are actually why I'm using the old style Apple Bluetooth keyboards as the new ones don't have them (but the wired ones do, frustrating).
jcdreads
I type large numbers of numbers with the numeric keypad, and I absolutely hate having a numeric keypad stuck on the right of my keyboard. It gets in the way of my mouse, and it makes me move my unnaturally far to the right of my desk in order to center the text keys in front of my monitor.

I find that a keypadless Apple keyboard with a separate (moveable!) USB numeric keypad is perfect.

If the wireless mighty mouse were illegal, then I'd use a trackpad affixed to the keyboard, but only if it were affixed below the spacebar; never to the right.

stcredzero
I would like a trackpad like the one on the new MacBook. You could even print it with a numeric keypad and make it dual-use. I like using a keypad for entry, but I only need that occasionally. A trackpad would be more useful. Even better: also replace the arrow/delete/home/end cluster with trackpad gestures, or trackpad + special lefthand key. This would make it much more convenient to my right hand and save space.
ynniv
I can't function without inverted T arrow keys. I would lay down some cash for an external version of the Macbook trackpad, tho. The problem is that the only external multi-touch trackpad that I can find is the SmartTrack Neo (http://www.geekstuff4u.com/smarttrack-neo-for-pc.html), which doesn't have the same surface quality as the MacBook pad. Since Apple seems to be the only source for pads of this quality, it would be nice if they sold an external one.
stcredzero
If you could have arrow-key emulation that worked somewhat like mouse emulation from a trackpad, this would be tremendously powerful. Press down option while mousing on the trackpad, and instead of shifts of the mouse, you'd get arrow-keys. Add some acceleration and another key for highlighting, and this would be very flexible. It would be able to subsume a lot of key-combinations.
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pedalpete
Looks like you are talking about on a desktop keyboard. If that is the case, no I wouldn't want to have a trackpad instead of my numberpad (even though I don't use the numberpad much).

However, I had this discussion with a friend a few months ago when he was trying to decide what laptop to buy. He couldn't decide between two models because one had a number pad, and the other didn't.

If laptop makers would merge the two, that could be interesting. Something like hold the function key, and your trackpad becomes your number pad. Sure you don't get keypress feedback, but it's better than having all your numbers across the top row.

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gjm11
Yes, I would use it. I spend very little of my time at the computer entering numbers.

Now, imagine that instead of the number keys or touchpad, there's a bit of extra desk space into which you can move your mouse. That would probably be even better. Unfortunately, decent keyboards without a numeric keypad are scarce.

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hellweaver666
(I'm a Mac geek so apologies in advance!).

Yes - I would use one, if Apple made it and it had a big multi-touch Trackpad that also somehow magically doubled up as a numeric pad when I need it. Oh, and it'd have to have the same keyboard layout as the existing Apple keyboards, cos they rock!

aoeu
No, mouse closer better..

http://tlb.org/keyboardchop.html

TweedHeads
No, mouse can not be used in a recliner. Read my buried introductory comment at the bottom of the page.
lucumo
Agreed. That's why I use my left hand to control the mouse, even though I'm right-handed. Less movement, less muscle-stress.
justin_vanw
Why spend 3 hours sawing a crappy MS keyboard when you can have: http://pfuca-store.stores.yahoo.net/haphackeylit1.html

Notice that the ctrl key is in the correct position to the left of the 'a', and that there are dip switches to swap meta and super, and another to swap del and bs. Additionally there are 2 usb 1.1 ports (perfect for my powermate, which I use to control volume since it doesn't have multimedia keys). Also notice that Delete/Backspace is in the position usually taken by '\', which means you don't have to stretch your pinky (although it takes about 4 hours to get used to. I now go from this keyboard to other keyboards, and suprisingly I don't accidently mess this up). Also, esc is in the '~' place, and '\' and '~' are where backspace would have been.

Another fantastic keyboard is: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB167LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA1Mg...

I have the small apple keyboard also, it is a standard layout, but it is bluetooth.

ynniv
You want to buy a keyboard because it has the modifier keys swapped? The OS will do this for you for free, and you don't have to learn where the useful keys moved to... http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2490#l1

Even if you like where they are on your keyboard, I suggest disabling Caps Lock.

justin_vanw
And also the other reasons I listed, and also in the context of "I want a small keyboard, should I cut up a crappy one and spend 3 hours to get it together again or just pay 60 bucks."

I mean, I spend maybe 8-12 hours a day on this stupid ass machine, and I spend maybe 20 minutes in my car. I spend enough to completely buy my entire computer setup every 2-3 months just in car payments. How does that make sense? If I was sensible at all I would either have a much much much crappier car, or I would buy a Multron keyboard. http://www.maltron.com/maltron-kbd-ltype-intro.html

xenophanes
The numpad is needed to play some games like warcraft 3 or exile.
cmos
Possibly. I would probably prefer it in the same place as on my laptop, below the space bar.

At this point why can't we put the trackpad on top of all the keys? The action of pressing keys would not change, and 'stroking' them would move the mouse. The most brilliant design change for the ipod was when they put the buttons underneath the trackpad.

It would either be really annoying or super cool.

dunham
I probably would take the trade-off if it was a full multi-touch trackpad. These days I work with my macbook pro sitting to the left of a full keyboard and monitor. I frequently reach over to the trackpad to gesture (mostly zooming and two/three finger scrolling) and use the mouse (on the right) to point.

I'd also be interested in seeing a mighty mouse with a multitouch top. (In lieu of buttons / ball.)

anamax
Why would I replace useless keys with another useless device? (No, a trackpad is not a mouse replacement.)
lucumo
No, absolutely not.

First, I love my keypad. It speeds up typing numbers considerably. In fact, I find myself wishing the non-decimal hexadecimal digits were added to it as well. As well as a comma as thousands separator (or as decimal point when I'm typing Dutch).

Second, I loathe touchpads. They're much harder to control than normal mouses. I only use one when there's no other choice, e.g. in the train. I carry an external mouse with my laptop, so I can use that whenever I encounter a desk.

krschultz
This would have been better as a poll.

And no. I use the number keys all the time.

TweedHeads
I tried, but didn't know how and couldn't find info on how to do that.

Pointers welcome.

NoBSWebDesign
I would rather replace my trackpad with a numeric pad.
chengas123
I want a trackpoint (the red nipple in the middle of IBM laptops) on every keyboard I own.
zacharydanger
I agree. I've been using a Thinkpad for a while and now trackpads just feel icky. I actually looked to see if they exist. They do, but they're like 100 US$ and have a bulky trackpad attached on the bottom.