[Tye]

Originally Posted by phs

I remember seeing a half-keyboard on the net. Manufacturer says you can type real fast once you get used to it. That should even be mooore portable.

OK, I'll bite.
If we follow the arguments for and against "alternative" keyboards, maybe we should add another row to the top of the standard keyboard with nothing but puncuation characters. This way we never need to touch the shift key.
I can now touch type numbers on my Stowaway just like my standard keyboard because my fingers know to go to the Function key that allows me to type numbers. Just like when I type punctuation like this... "!@#$%^&*()". :evil:

[Tye]

Originally Posted by phs

I remember seeing a half-keyboard on the net. Manufacturer says you can type real fast once you get used to it. That should even be mooore portable.

OK, I'll bite.
If we follow the arguments for and against "alternative" keyboards, maybe we should add another row to the top of the standard keyboard with nothing but puncuation characters. This way we never need to touch the shift key.
I can now touch type numbers on my Stowaway just like my standard keyboard because my fingers know to go to the Function key that allows me to type numbers. Just like when I type punctuation like this... "!@#$%^&*()". :evil:

[phs]

Originally Posted by Tye

OK, I'll bite.
If we follow the arguments for and against "alternative" keyboards, maybe we should add another row to the top of the standard keyboard with nothing but puncuation characters. This way we never need to touch the shift key.
I can now touch type numbers on my Stowaway just like my standard keyboard because my fingers know to go to the Function key that allows me to type numbers. Just like when I type punctuation like this... "!@#$%^&*()". :evil:

Some punctuation marks already have dedicated keys. You don't have to hit Shift to get a period, comma, apostrophe, or semi colon. Do we need dedicated keys for the others? Would we be more efficient if the punctuation marks have their own row? Probably not, because we're all used to the standard keyboard layout. If we add a new row, that wouldn't be standard anymore, now would it?

Sure anyone can touch type on a keyboard without a number row. Sure anyone can learn to juggle that Function key real fast. He can even learn to speak French while he's at it.

[Tye]

[quote="phs"]

Originally Posted by Tye

...Sure anyone can touch type on a keyboard without a number row. Sure anyone can learn to juggle that Function key real fast....

My point, exactly. :wink:

Well, my friend, I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one. Personally, I do own, and have used, a Stowaway sans number keys for a couple of months now and it works beautifully for me. It sounds like it is not an option for you.

I do hope the original poster received some useful feedback for his decision.