I have a very consistent routine. I get up early. I exercise. I shower. I make coffee. I turn my computer on, then I place my hands on my keyboard and begin working.
Learning to type
I love to type. I enjoy it so much, and and in recent years I’ve grown to appreciate my ability to type more and more.
I have a clear memory of my early years in elementary school. It was at that time that I first learned to use a keyboard. I was very fortunate that my mid-1990’s public school had a well equipped computer lab, in which all students were given access. I remember that we were given basic computer literacy training in that lab, which included typing lessons. My memory of that time is that I didn’t find those classes particuarily interesting, but I managed to get by. I remember doing well to follow along until we started learning the number row, at which point I was getting bored and frustrated, and started tuning out. I find it fascinating that even now, after all these years, I still lack good muscle memory for the number keys.
We used an educational software package to learn, and unfortunately I can no longer remember what that would have been. I do remember that we were allowed to play Mario Teaches Typing, but only after our primary course work was completed. I remember kid-me not caring much for that game, and prefering to play other games installed on the computer. A favourite for me and my friends was Cross Country Canada 🇨🇦
Slowly but surely I did learn to type, and then to touch type (albeit slowly). Through the years (decades, good god…) between then and now I have become much faster and accurate. I feel that receiving those lessons early was an important groundwork on which I was later able to build my proficiency.
My first enthusiast keyboard
One day during my teenage years I was browsing in a Staples retail store and on a whim I purchased a Razer Blackwidow 2013, with Cherry MX Blue switches. It was a lot of money for me at that time, but I had remembered reading about how nice ‘mechanical keyboards’ were for gaming and just normal desktop use. It was the base model and had no RGB lighting but I didn’t care about that. It did have an extra column of macro keys along the left-hand side that I did appreciate. But it did always bother me that Razer required the use of their Synapse software to enable them, instead of just letting them emit generic key-codes by default.
I used that keyboard for well over a decade, and only just recently replaced it. That keyboard is still fine, I just wanted an upgrade. Enthusiast keyboards are often built so well that they’d likely last a lifetime if taken care of. I find this both very amusing and ironic.
What I’m using Now
My current setup includes the following:
- RK ROYAL KLUDGE R65 Keyboard
- Epomaker TH33 Numpad
- Epomaker RT100 Cables (2x)
- Red Samurai Custom Keycaps (white-label from Amazon)
I bought the keyboard first. I did not know what to expect, but was absolutely blown away! It was not expensive, it cost less than the Razer even adjusting for inflation. The marketing copy refers to the typing experience as ‘creamy’, which is grown-worthy. I don’t care so much what you call it I just know that I love the sound and feedback of this keyboard. A more technical description would state that the mechanical keys were ‘linear’, and that sound-dampening material was layered into the board to attenuate the sound of key presses. Regardless, I think its fantastic.
The numpad has a similar typing experience, but not quite as nice as the Royal Kludge. Overall I’m very satisfied with it.
The keycaps are just icing on the cake. I remember seeing the Drop.com Red Samurai keycap set years ago and thinking they were as gorgeous as they were expensive. I found these white-label caps on Amazon for a good price and decided to pull the trigger. I’m again, very satisfied.
Mapping Software
For years I used a small program called keyd with the Blackwidow. I still do use it on other computers but I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that I would not need it for my new setup. The firmware on both the numpad and keyboard are fully programmable. They both use VIA, which is derived from QMK, an open, user programmable, generic keyboard firmware.
I have a lot to say about keyboard macros, but I’ll save that for another post.
Why I’m grateful
I enjoy typing a lot, and I’ve gotten pretty good at it. I’m very grateful for having had those early lessons. I really feel as though I would not be as capable now without them, and then of course I wouldn’t have the opportunity to appreciate my own skill.
There seems to be a growing concern over a lack of computer literacy in younger generations, including an inability to type. As a millennial I find this a bit disturbing. I can understand a perspective that says that technology has changed and that typing skill is no longer necessary. My personal opinion is that it is an inherently useful skill. I can type as fast as I can think, which has been very useful for me for both writing prose and computer code. It’s a very valuable thing and it would be unfortunate if younger generations were to miss out.
Are you a typing & keyboard enthusiast like I am? Let me know! Type up an email to mail@lzon.ca, or send me a message on one of my social accounts linked on the homepage.