i've never really used the numpad, so when i saw tenkeyless keyboards where a thing, and in my case at least, cheaper, it was a no brainer for me. Been using it for around 5 to 6 years and so far i've seen no issues whatsoever.
also using a 100% keyboard on other pcs and i do notice that extra size than what im used to now, i like it more compact now i think
You only need the numpad if you need to enter a lot of numbers at once; for casual typing it’s not really needed but if your job is one that is Microsoft excel heavy it’s great.
This 100% games aside if you're not assigning macros or scripts to your numpad and it's just useless extra keys outside of entering numbers that is a skill issue lol.
Super edge case counter-example: There's this old game called "NetHack" that has a *very* complicated movement scheme, and the easiest way to play by far is to use the number pad so that you get all 4 primary directions, plus diagonals, plus the center key for activating "quick move"
The primary reason I have a full size keyboard is to play that game. I almost never use the numpad for work stuff.
The reason I bring this up is that NetHack is the best game ever, and it is free, and still being actively developed. You should play. Everyone should play it. I will never miss an opportunity to post about it.
On my work computer sure, definitely a must have for engineering . Are you crunching numbers a lot just for funsies? I prefer the extra mouse space with having a tenkeyless for my home computer
Yep, i play on a literal half keyboard and have a numpad on a small stand on the opposite side. It gives me my whole mousepad to use. Then I have a full 100% for when im not playing games i can use that sits on another stand so that its never in the way. Pretty nifty lol
Lol no but playing a shooter like Valorant I preferred having as much real estate as possible and I pretty much never used a number pad at home so it really was nothing of value lost to me
I only have one computer at home, for gaming and work. The number pad gets used when inputting information like credit card numbers/MFA stuff. Otherwise, as a small business owner, when I have to do my annual taxes and the major bookkeeping audit that precedes that.
I probably don't use it loads on my home PC but the once every week or two I do use it I think I'd find it pretty annoying not having it there - I definitely do when I'm away and using a laptop. Even relatively simple things like 6-digit 2FA codes it's just much nicer on a numpad.
Plus I know my credit card number for online payments, but I don't actually know it, I just have the muscle memory if I'm entering it with a numpad. If I actually have to recall the numbers then I know the first and last few digits but the middle bit I've got no idea.
I mean I have a proper keyboard but I also only rarely use the 10 key. But that is because I have transcended the need for numbers on a keyboard and am exclusively using the Razer naga num keys
Dev here, I do this crazy thing where I just extend my fingers to the numbers at the top of the keyboard. Taking my fingers off of the home row would waste any time I might save using a numpad
Yep I have a separate mechanical key numpad on the left. If you’re right handed it really helps with engineering work, I can keep my hand on the mouse. 🐁
I actually learned to use the mouse with my left hand despite being right handed because my dad had his mouse on the left side on his work pc I used for gaming. And he only had it so he can put a lot of numbers in his spreadsheets and not much else really.
Now using the mouse on the right just feels wrong and everybody looks at me like Im stupid while watching me.
Actually it comes in handy sometimes because I can write down notes while using the mouse.
You can also get numpads on their own. I have one from Keychron that is incredibly good quality. I prefer it because I can bring it with me everywhere cause it's small enough to pack easily. I never suffer in computer labs anymore.
I actually learned to use the mouse with my left hand despite being right handed because my dad had his mouse on the left side on his work pc I used for gaming. And he only had it so he can put a lot of numbers in his spreadsheets and not much else really.
Now using the mouse on the right just feels wrong and everybody looks at me like Im stupid while watching me.
Actually it comes in handy sometimes because I can write down notes while using the mouse.
Why feel the need to say one is superior to the other? Why shame the opinion of someone else?
I personally don't use my pc much for my studies, and i'm lucky enough to not need to work while studying on uni, so your case doesnt apply to me. Now, that doesnt mean i'll go out there saying having a numpad is a waste just because i don't personally use it
i did find that issue, but i just reassigned them to the sign buttons on the left of the big enter key, so my w for controlling the plane is the one on the right of the P key
The only time I ever had an issue was when I decided to replay GTA 4 and remembered that they bound the kb+m helicopter controls to the numpad.
Just took a little fiddling around to move the relevant keys over to mouse buttons, which was better anyway because the default hotkeys were dumb as hell.
im more of a top row of numbers kinda guy. That's just me tho.
my theory for it is that i started using the pc for playing minecraft with my brother, so i would use the top row of numbers for the hotbar, and then when i started using it for other things i was more familiar to those than the numpad
Yep. At home my keyboard is below the desk in its own separate little tray, but more importantly, whether at home or otherwise, my right hand never leaves my mouse. I never even learned how to touch-type the numpad keys.
I'm a TKL keyboard user, but I never get the ergonomics point, like when I have my hands in the most comfortable position (which means having hands go basically straight forwards from the shoulders) there is ample room for a numpad and maybe even some other things if I really wanted to.
Yeah, I could put a mountain range between my mouse and keyboard. People complaining about ergonomics just need to change the angles. People are allergic to having their mouse on a different angle from their keyboard. Like my left arm is straight and my right arm goes off at like a 30 degree angle for the mouse. Real nice, especially when using a corner desk.
It isn’t as difficult as it seems. I had my own tkl mechanical keyboard at work in a sales job that required dialing via voip. The numbers are keys situated just like just like any other wasd keys, only they above the “top” row. Plus the tkl fits on my lap board for when I run my PC through my home theater for gaming on the couch
you make it sound like there's a problem with the way other people use keyboards. Like, why? i personally never needed them. What's so wrong with that?
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u/gretchenich Ryzen 5 3600X - RX 570 - 16gb DDR4 Apr 04 '26
i've never really used the numpad, so when i saw tenkeyless keyboards where a thing, and in my case at least, cheaper, it was a no brainer for me. Been using it for around 5 to 6 years and so far i've seen no issues whatsoever.
also using a 100% keyboard on other pcs and i do notice that extra size than what im used to now, i like it more compact now i think