My Journey with the 108 Keyboard Layout
Alright, so let’s talk about these 108-key keyboards. For the longest time, I was strictly a tenkeyless (TKL) guy. You know, ditch the numpad, save some desk space, look all cool and minimalist. I even dabbled with those tiny 60% boards. Full-size keyboards? Pfft, I thought they were for accountants or something, just clunky old things.
Then, disaster struck. My prized TKL, the one I’d spent a good chunk of change on, decided to just… die. Kaput. Right when I had a bunch of stuff to get done, of course. Typical. My cat, bless its furry little heart, decided my desk was a great place for a parkour session, and my coffee went flying straight into the keyboard. Fried. I was fuming, I tell ya.
So, what do I do? I’m in a panic. I rummaged through my old tech junk box, and what do I find? An ancient, dusty 108-key keyboard. One of those cheap, plasticky ones that probably came free with a computer years ago. My first thought was, “Ugh, really? This thing?” But hey, beggars can’t be choosers, right? So, I plugged it in, grumbling the whole time.
And you know what? It wasn’t half bad. Here’s what I found out, the hard way:
- That numpad? Actually useful. I never realized how much I fumbled with the number row for inputting figures until I had a dedicated numpad again. Spreadsheets, even just typing in phone numbers or codes – it was suddenly way faster.
- Those extra keys above the numpad? The calculator key! Oh man, I hit that by accident at first, and then I was like, “Wait a minute, this is handy!” Quick calculations without reaching for my mouse or phone.
- Dedicated media keys. My old TKL had some media functions buried under Fn layers, but having actual, physical buttons for play/pause, volume, mute? Super convenient when I’m listening to music while working. No more Alt-Tabbing or fumbling with function keys.
I spent a good few weeks with that old clunker while I figured out what to do about my deceased TKL. And during that time, I kinda got used to it. It wasn’t as sleek, sure, and it took up more space. But the sheer utility of having all those keys readily available? I started to appreciate it.
So, what’s the takeaway? I guess it’s that sometimes you don’t know what you’re missing, or what could be useful, until you’re forced into it. I used to scoff at 108-key layouts. Thought they were overkill. But now? I get it. I still love my smaller form factor keyboards for certain things, like gaming or travel. But for my main work setup, having all those buttons on a 108-key board is actually pretty great. It’s not about being old-fashioned; it’s about having the tools you need right there.
I eventually got a new mechanical keyboard, and guess what? I seriously considered another 108-key. Didn’t end up going full size again for my main rig (went with a 96% for a compromise), but I definitely don’t look down on them anymore. That old, cheap 108-key taught me a lesson. It’s still kicking around as a backup, and I don’t dread using it anymore. Funny how things work out, eh?