[SOLVED] Are 60% keyboards not as good for big hands?

[Dave_2]

Does the size of your hands matter when choosing the size of your keyboard? Not sure whether to get a 104 key or 81 key.

 

[Turtle Rig]

It will definetly be awkward. Those keyboards are for gamers with normal sized hands, not a big boned 6 foot dude. If you want a TKL then grab one with bigger keys and overall bigger backbone and what not. Can you tell me how tall you are and about how big your hands are? 😏

 

[hang-the-9]

Does the size of your hands matter when choosing the size of your keyboard? Not sure whether to get a 104 key or 81 key.

60% keyboards (and other smaller form ones) get that size by mostly removing keys, not making them smaller (at least not the main typing keys), my 60-75 and TKL keyboards feel the same as my full size ones. With smaller keyboards you can have smaller secondary keys like shift and enter keys, some keys not in the exact same position you are used to, etc.. but the key size and spacing is about as standard as on a full size keyboard.

As above, a TKL vs a 60% style layout may be good for you, that just removes the num pad but leaves everything else in pretty much the same size and locations. Size of the keyboard depends on how you want the setup to look and if you care about how close the mouse is to the typing hands. Smaller keyboards are thought to be more ergonomic due to being able to keep the mouse closer without having the arms angled out as much. Rest is for really layout and looks more than actual function.

This is some of my different size keyboards for comparison, as you can see the mouse can be closer with the smaller ones, but the key sizes are the same. The top layout is my favorite right now, it's GK68 (so 68 keys) and has arrow, del, pg up and pg down kayes which I use often, but in a size only one row wider than the 60-65% layouts.

 

[Dave_2]

It will definetly be awkward. Those keyboards are for gamers with normal sized hands, not a big boned 6 foot dude. If you want a TKL then grab one with bigger keys and overall bigger backbone and what not. Can you tell me how tall you are and about how big your hands are? 😏

Not sure if I can upload a photo but, I am around 6' lmao. If I rest the bottom of my palm on the space bar, my fingers can reach over the edge of the board to the bottom.

 

[Turtle Rig]

To be honest with you I don't recommend a 60% keyboard for you. Try and search for a 10 keyless that's a little bit wider which will have bigger keys as well.

 

[Dave_2]

60% keyboards (and other smaller form ones) get that size by mostly removing keys, not making them smaller (at least not the main typing keys), my 60-75 and TKL keyboards feel the same as my full size ones. With smaller keyboards you can have smaller secondary keys like shift and enter keys, some keys not in the exact same position you are used to, etc.. but the key size and spacing is about as standard as on a full size keyboard.

As above, a TKL vs a 60% style layout may be good for you, that just removes the num pad but leaves everything else in pretty much the same size and locations. Size of the keyboard depends on how you want the setup to look and if you care about how close the mouse is to the typing hands. Smaller keyboards are thought to be more ergonomic due to being able to keep the mouse closer without having the arms angled out as much. Rest is for really layout and looks more than actual function.

This is some of my different size keyboards for comparison, as you can see the mouse can be closer with the smaller ones, but the key sizes are the same. The top layout is my favorite right now, it's GK68 (so 68 keys) and has arrow, del, pg up and pg down kayes which I use often, but in a size only one row wider than the 60-65% layouts.

Yeah I think the TKL board or something a little larger than 65% would be good. Thank you for the pictures those are really helpful.

 

[hang-the-9]

Yeah I think the TKL board or something a little larger than 65% would be good. Thank you for the pictures those are really helpful.

You're welcome. You can tell the actual typing area on the keyboards is the same, the difference is that keys are removed and some longer than 1U are made smaller for the smaller form factors. There is really no keycap size difference between them or spacing differences, they just feel smaller due to the overall size. You also probably would want to use a wrist rest with most of the smaller keyboards they tend to be taller and no built-in rests. I got this one from ASUS, looks nice and fits a TKL and smaller keyboard perfectly https://store.asus.com/us/item/2018...JQKk8xhtGLPXNlHcUBx3qYZ7u8euv-7BoC974QAvD_BwE

If you don't mind waiting a bit for shipping sites like Bangood have good selection and prices, those with hotswap switches allow you to remove them for similar brand/model switches to swap in switches to try without soldering.

https://www.banggood.com/Geek-GK64-...59.html?rmmds=buy&ID=515632&cur_warehouse=USA

https://www.banggood.com/AKKO-3068-...eft-hotproducts__3&ID=515632&cur_warehouse=CN

https://www.banggood.com/Royal-Klud...products__5&ID=5156326157193&cur_warehouse=CN

 

[Dave_2]

You're welcome. You can tell the actual typing area on the keyboards is the same, the difference is that keys are removed and some longer than 1U are made smaller for the smaller form factors. There is really no keycap size difference between them or spacing differences, they just feel smaller due to the overall size. You also probably would want to use a wrist rest with most of the smaller keyboards they tend to be taller and no built-in rests. I got this one from ASUS, looks nice and fits a TKL and smaller keyboard perfectly https://store.asus.com/us/item/2018...JQKk8xhtGLPXNlHcUBx3qYZ7u8euv-7BoC974QAvD_BwE

If you don't mind waiting a bit for shipping sites like Bangood have good selection and prices, those with hotswap switches allow you to remove them for similar brand/model switches to swap in switches to try without soldering.

https://www.banggood.com/Geek-GK64-...59.html?rmmds=buy&ID=515632&cur_warehouse=USA

https://www.banggood.com/AKKO-3068-...eft-hotproducts__3&ID=515632&cur_warehouse=CN

https://www.banggood.com/Royal-Klud...products__5&ID=5156326157193&cur_warehouse=CN

Got a Ducky One 2 SF Only con is the difficulty in finding nice average price keycaps ahaha, but the board itself is great, no problem with my hands and the main reason I wanted a smaller keyboard was additional space on my desk. Unfortunately it only took me a little while longer to realize the true virtue of hot swap boards for little extra money, if I ever upgrade I'm definitely keeping an eye out for them.