July 6, 2026
Less keyboard, more chaos
I Like Small Keyboards
Tiny keyboards are dividing desks, wrists, and entire workflows
TLDR: The writer says tiny keyboards can be more comfortable and efficient once you learn them, because your fingers move less. In the comments, fans swapped gear tips while skeptics argued the real nightmare is switching between different setups at home, at work, and in your own brain.
A software engineer just made a full-throated case for very small keyboards—the kind that look alarmingly incomplete to normal people—and the comments instantly turned into a support group, product recommendation thread, and low-key civil war over what counts as "usable." The writer says fewer keys can actually feel more comfortable, because the buttons you use most stay close to where your fingers naturally rest. In plain English: less reaching, less strain, more muscle memory. But of course, the internet heard that and replied: okay, but at what emotional cost?
The biggest split in the crowd wasn’t really "small keyboard good or bad"—it was how small is too small. One commenter cheerfully yelled "mee too," which is basically the tiny-keyboard equivalent of a stadium wave. Another rushed in with Planck and Preonic recommendations like a keyboard dealer whispering, "hey kid, want to go even smaller?" But others were not fully converted. One said 65% is the sweet spot, especially for wrist pain, while another warned that switching between a normal office keyboard, a tiny flat one, and a split ergonomic one is a total "mindfuck" that wrecks efficiency.
And that’s the real drama: not whether these mini boards work, but whether your brain, job, and office commute can survive them. Even fans admitted layers, layouts, and missing keys can get weird fast. Tiny keyboards may promise finger happiness—but the comments make one thing clear: everyone wants less pain, nobody agrees on the religion.
Key Points
- •The author built a 44-key Atreus in 2014 using a laser-cut acrylic case, hand wiring, diodes, a microcontroller board, and blank keycaps.
- •They later stopped using the Atreus regularly and often returned to a standard 60% keyboard, partly because DotA was difficult on the smaller board.
- •In 2020, the author built a 42-key split Corne, reusing parts from the Atreus and benefiting from lower-cost custom PCBs.
- •The article argues that small keyboards can improve access to frequently used symbols and function keys by placing them on layers near the home row.
- •The author says the main downside of very small keyboards is the learning curve, especially for rarely used keys, and considers 42 keys a practical balance.