Do we really need two shift keys? [Archive] - Two Plus Two Older Archives

asofel

11-01-2005, 03:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
You don't touch-type, do you....

[/ QUOTE ]

I type quickly and still don't use it. I probably should i just didn't get it down at the beginning and its a bad habit that has stuck. Using or not using it wouldn't seriously affect speed IMO

Exitonly

11-01-2005, 03:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Nope. That was about the only thing I didn't listen to in typing class and just got used to making Q W A S Z etc with my left hand only. Worked fine for me so far...

[/ QUOTE ]

ditto.

El Barto

11-01-2005, 03:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sometimes you only have one hand free, and it is tough to use the shift key and reach a letter all the way on the other side of the keyboard. I often choose the shift key that is closest to the letter I want to use it with.

daryn

11-01-2005, 03:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

anyone who really types does. what do you do if you need to capitalize a Q W E R T A S D F Z X C G or V?

Exitonly

11-01-2005, 03:59 PM

Do you have baby-sized hands? you can't reach the left shift key AND a QWERTYASDFG etc?

aK13

11-01-2005, 04:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

I actually only use the right one -- Never the left.

WackityWhiz

11-01-2005, 04:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

anyone who really types does. what do you do if you need to capitalize a Q W E R T A S D F Z X C G or V?

[/ QUOTE ]

use your pinkie to hit the left shift key and work from there... everybody is doing it

BottlesOf

11-01-2005, 04:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

anyone who really types does. what do you do if you need to capitalize a Q W E R T A S D F Z X C G or V?

[/ QUOTE ]

My left pinky finger is on the left shift key and another finger on the left hand is on one of those letters. Usually.

Soul Daddy

11-01-2005, 04:00 PM

No, and I have no need for the second Ctrl or Alt keys either.

jason_t

11-01-2005, 04:01 PM

BottlesOf

11-01-2005, 04:01 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

I actually only use the right one -- Never the left.

[/ QUOTE ]

You are clearly a witch.

IndieMatty

11-01-2005, 04:01 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

anyone who really types does. what do you do if you need to capitalize a Q W E R T A S D F Z X C G or V?

[/ QUOTE ]

use your pinkie to hit the left shift key and work from there... everybody is doing it

[/ QUOTE ]

Ulysses

11-01-2005, 04:02 PM

WackityWhiz

11-01-2005, 04:03 PM

Does anybody else use their left hand to hit the Y key?

TheMainEvent

11-01-2005, 04:04 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

Why is the right one so far away from the ;? I think that is the root of the problem here.

Aces McGee

11-01-2005, 04:04 PM

I use the one on the right for punctuation.

What would you replace it with?

I vote for either a third ctrl key or just making the key that types ? and / really long.

-McGee

PS--Did keyboards always have two "Shift" keys? Because I remember some keyboards with very large "Enter" keys that was roughly the size of the "Enter" and "Shift" keys on my current keyboard.

daryn

11-01-2005, 04:04 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

anyone who really types does. what do you do if you need to capitalize a Q W E R T A S D F Z X C G or V?

[/ QUOTE ]

I touch type very fast and use just the left one.

[/ QUOTE ]

what about if you have to capitalize an A, i still say it is CLEARLY more efficient to use both shift keys.

jason_t

11-01-2005, 04:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Does anybody else use their left hand to hit the Y key?

[/ QUOTE ]

It depends on the keys I'm typing immediately before and after.

When I type the word "why" I use my left hand and when I type the word "you" I use my right hand.

Basically it seems that if my right hand is occupied the previous letter than I will use my left hand to type the 'y'.

BottlesOf

11-01-2005, 04:05 PM

pinky finger and ring finger on left hand. They keys are right next to each other, the fingers are right next to each other...it's beautiful.

WackityWhiz

11-01-2005, 04:06 PM

I have a laptop, and my left pinky finger rests on the shift key when I'm not typing. I can barely get my right pinky finger to stretch to the other shift key.

Warik

11-01-2005, 04:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

I type 120-130wpm and the only key on my keyboard that I've never touched is the right shift key.

Complete waste. They should make it a porn shortcut button or something.

Yeti

11-01-2005, 04:07 PM

[ QUOTE ]

I touch type very fast and use just the left one.

[/ QUOTE ]

jakethebake

11-01-2005, 04:08 PM

I only use two fingers to type anyway so it's pretty moo for me.

MarkL444

11-01-2005, 04:10 PM

i possibly have never used the right one.

Ulysses

11-01-2005, 04:17 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

anyone who really types does. what do you do if you need to capitalize a Q W E R T A S D F Z X C G or V?

[/ QUOTE ]

I touch type very fast and use just the left one.

[/ QUOTE ]

what about if you have to capitalize an A, i still say it is CLEARLY more efficient to use both shift keys.

[/ QUOTE ]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Nope, the left works pretty well. My left pinky handles the Shifting, my right pinky handles the Entering.

kyro

11-01-2005, 04:20 PM

I use both. I agree with the poster who said the real useless keys are the duplicate Ctrl and Alt keys.

asofel

11-01-2005, 04:20 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

anyone who really types does. what do you do if you need to capitalize a Q W E R T A S D F Z X C G or V?

[/ QUOTE ]

I touch type very fast and use just the left one.

[/ QUOTE ]

what about if you have to capitalize an A, i still say it is CLEARLY more efficient to use both shift keys.

[/ QUOTE ]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Nope, the left works pretty well. My left pinky handles the Shifting, my right pinky handles the Entering.

[/ QUOTE ]

/images/graemlins/confused.gif

ah nm, entering in general, i thought you meant your right hit the A key.......and that gave me a pretty interesting visual.....

housenuts

11-01-2005, 04:21 PM

i primarily use the right. probably 95% of the time

razor

11-01-2005, 04:21 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
anyone who really types does. what do you do if you need to capitalize a Q W E R T A S D F Z X C G or V?

[/ QUOTE ]

use your pinkie to hit the left shift key and work from there... everybody is doing it

[/ QUOTE ]

this works... just not very well.

but why be efficient?

manpower

11-01-2005, 04:28 PM

I've just realized that I use the left shift key almost exclusively. I had always thought I use both. In fact so much so that I was about to respond that "of course you need both keys" until I started typing. Fascinating.

stabn

11-01-2005, 04:28 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes.

[/ QUOTE ]

xadrez

11-01-2005, 04:40 PM

Obviously youve never experienced HOT, DOUBLE-SHIFT ACTION

B Dids

11-01-2005, 04:45 PM

When I first read this, I was postive I used both. I've discovered that I only use the one on the right, and NEVER on the left.

I'm left handed, which either explains that or means it makes no sense.

SomethingClever

11-01-2005, 04:54 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

anyone who really types does. what do you do if you need to capitalize a Q W E R T A S D F Z X C G or V?

[/ QUOTE ]

I type 70-75 wpm and I don't think I've ever used the right shift key.

And I usually capitalize.

CORed

11-01-2005, 04:57 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

I do. But then, I learned how to type on a manual typewriter. With those, you had to snap your wrist as you hit the key to get enough force to make the bar hit the paper, so it wasn't really practical to use the same hand you were typing with to work the shift key. Also, it took some force and a fair amount of motion to get the shift key all the way down. If you didn't push the shift key all the way down, your capital letter would end up higher than the other letters in the line, or if you really missed, it, you ended up with the lower case letter lower that the rest of the line, or half a lower case letter below the line and half a capital above the line. When I first used electric typewriters, and later, computers, I would often catch myself snapping my wrist and banging the keys much harder than necessary.

krimson

11-01-2005, 05:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Does anybody else use their left hand to hit the Y key?

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, I also only use the left shift key, even if typing a capital Z or Q.

SackUp

11-01-2005, 05:04 PM

Did most of you just not have typing classes in school or what?

I think I started typing classes from around the 2nd or 3rd grade on so I could not imagine not using all ofthe keys correctly. It would be so much harder to type if you didn't use both shift keys.

I think you should all enroll in typing classes!

Jordan

11-01-2005, 05:26 PM

[ QUOTE ]
PS--Did keyboards always have two "Shift" keys? Because I remember some keyboards with very large "Enter" keys that was roughly the size of the "Enter" and "Shift" keys on my current keyboard.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, the large enter keys you remember came from not having a "|\" key. The second shift was there.

Nicholasp27

11-01-2005, 05:32 PM

I ONLY use the right one

the left one is only good for crouching when playing half-life/max payne/etc

JackWilson

11-01-2005, 05:32 PM

What's funny is that most people are saying you use the right one when capitalizing things with your left hand, whereas I still use it a lot, but I capitalize things on the left with my pinky on left shift and one of the fingers on my left hand hits the letter and the same on the right.

chuddo

11-01-2005, 05:36 PM

i only the right shift key. my pinky is usually hovering just above it, mainly because i use my left hand for 70% of the keyboard and use my right thumb on my touchpade.

this way i can type and mouse around all from the same position.

icepick

11-01-2005, 05:39 PM

I use both. Both under QWERTY, and on my Dvorak keyboard.

http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/images/kb_classic-wht720x430.jpg

Nicholasp27

11-01-2005, 05:40 PM

guess those that use their left hand for the 'y' key wouldn't like that keyboard

Aloysius

11-01-2005, 05:46 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Did most of you just not have typing classes in school or what?

I think I started typing classes from around the 2nd or 3rd grade on so I could not imagine not using all ofthe keys correctly. It would be so much harder to type if you didn't use both shift keys.

I think you should all enroll in typing classes!

[/ QUOTE ]

I, like most of the right-handed posters in this thread, don't use the right side shift-key.

"We mentioned the "Shift" keys earlier. You probably already know that you need to depress the "Shift" key while typing if you want to produce a capital letter or the upper character on a key. What many people seem to forget is that there are *two* shift keys. You should use the right shift key when typing with your left hand and vice versa, so that you're not trying to depress two keys simultaneously with one hand."

I took a typing class. I bet most people did at some point too... wonder why it doesn't stick to use both shift keys.

Nicholasp27

11-01-2005, 05:51 PM

i'm right handed and i use only the right shift key

i guess i just like using my left hand as little as possible

i do use the left ctrl, alt and windows keys, however

Aloysius

11-01-2005, 05:58 PM

[ QUOTE ]
i'm right handed and i use only the right shift key

i guess i just like using my left hand as little as possible

i do use the left ctrl, alt and windows keys, however

[/ QUOTE ]

Weird. You're a freak of nature.

tonypaladino

11-01-2005, 06:04 PM

I almost always use ony the right one. I type with my left index finger, my right index finger, my right middle finger, right thumb for the spacebar, and right pinky for shift and enter.

I always failed my typing class in jr high.

rohjoh

11-01-2005, 06:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

I actually only use the right one -- Never the left.

[/ QUOTE ]

But I am left handed, that might have something to do with why I only use the right shift key.

Senor Cardgage

11-01-2005, 06:07 PM

I've always used both. It honestly surprises me that so many people seem to only use one or the other. I would've thought that would be extremely inconvenient.

tonypaladino

11-01-2005, 06:08 PM

Oh, and when I had one of those erogonomic spit keyboard dealies, I used the middle shift and tab keys.

WDC

11-01-2005, 06:08 PM

We don't but They do.

CrazyEyez

11-01-2005, 06:38 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I use both. Both under QWERTY, and on my Dvorak keyboard.

http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/images/kb_classic-wht720x430.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]
That's not a Dvorak keyboard.

bobbyi

11-01-2005, 06:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I type 120-130wpm and the only key on my keyboard that I've never touched is the right shift key.

[/ QUOTE ]
This means that you actually use CAPS LOCK? I think of that as the classic wasted key. Especially given its prime location.

Vavavoom

11-01-2005, 06:52 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I use both. I agree with the poster who said the real useless keys are the duplicate Ctrl and Alt keys.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now WTF are they all about...

waffle

11-01-2005, 07:33 PM

[ QUOTE ]

This means that you actually use CAPS LOCK? I think of that as the classic wasted key. Especially given its prime location.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is why sun keyboards rule.

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/4063/suntype6detail9wq.jpg

(I only use the right shift key. 60-80 wpm.)

icepick

11-01-2005, 07:33 PM

[ QUOTE ]
That's not a Dvorak keyboard.

[/ QUOTE ]

You are correct. I couldn't find a pic of one exactly like mine. Mine is the same shape, just each key has dual labels.

And there are no shift or tab keys in the middle of mine. Space, del, end, home, backspace, ctrl, alt, that kind of thing.

tomdemaine

11-01-2005, 07:40 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone use the one on the right side of the keyboard?

[/ QUOTE ]

How exactly do you expect us to play pinball games? use the Z and / keys like some kind of sub human monster?

dibbs

11-01-2005, 07:42 PM

Nope, I don't use it, not really freakin out about it though.

Can someone tell me what Number Lock and Scroll Lock do? Ive never managed to figure that one out.

astroglide

11-01-2005, 07:45 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scroll_lock
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numlock

chuddo

11-01-2005, 07:47 PM

http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n11/dvorak2.jpg
for those who dont knkow what the hell a dvorak keyboard is.

The Goober

11-01-2005, 08:35 PM

[ QUOTE ]
This is why sun keyboards rule.

[/ QUOTE ]

The first thing I do on any new computer is to re-map the caps-lock key to a control key. I can't imagine having to reach way down with my pinky ever time I wanted to hit control.

bobbyi

11-01-2005, 11:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
This is why sun keyboards rule.

[/ QUOTE ]

The first thing I do on any new computer is to re-map the caps-lock key to a control key.

[/ QUOTE ]
Remapping it to Esc is another useful idea if you use vi for text editing.

Russ McGinley

11-02-2005, 12:06 AM

I capitalize with the left shift key only and I type 90-100 WPM. So yeah.

ZeeJustin

11-02-2005, 12:35 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I capitalize with the left shift key only and I type 90-100 WPM. So yeah.

[/ QUOTE ]

jwvdcw

11-02-2005, 01:50 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Do you have baby-sized hands? you can't reach the left shift key AND a QWERTYASDFG etc?

[/ QUOTE ]
So what do you do if you're typing a letter like "Q" that is supposed to be typed with the left pinky?

I understand that you COULD just use the left shift, but theres no way that its quicker to do so, thus the right shift key serves a purpose.

mason55

11-02-2005, 01:55 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
PS--Did keyboards always have two "Shift" keys? Because I remember some keyboards with very large "Enter" keys that was roughly the size of the "Enter" and "Shift" keys on my current keyboard.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, the large enter keys you remember came from not having a "|\" key. The second shift was there.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm pretty sure you meant to say:

"Yes, the large enter keys you remember came from having the "|\" key moved next to backspace. Each was one key-width, thus leaving room for a large enter key."

mason55

11-02-2005, 01:56 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I only use two fingers to type anyway so it's pretty moo for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

moo? did you mean mute?

New001

11-02-2005, 06:04 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I use both. I agree with the poster who said the real useless keys are the duplicate Ctrl and Alt keys.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now WTF are they all about...

[/ QUOTE ]

One-handed Ctrl-Alt-Del? I generally use the left Ctrl and Alt for most shortcuts, and the right Alt key for shortcuts that use the arrow keys (back and forward webpages, for one). Am I the only one?

spamuell

11-02-2005, 06:17 AM

I use the right shift key whenever I'm typing a question mark because you can do it with one hand. It's stupid though that a question mark requires you to press shift where (on a UK keyboard at least) a semi-colon or a hash (pound) don't.

Benholio

11-02-2005, 06:41 AM

[ QUOTE ]
i'm right handed and i use only the right shift key
i guess i just like using my left hand as little as possible
i do use the left ctrl, alt and windows keys, however

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too. Never really thought about it. I've completely worn the cover off of the right shift key, and the left one is rarely used. I type pretty fast too (~80-100 wpm).

For Alt and Ctrl I use the left side primarly.

dtbog

11-02-2005, 03:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
When I first read this, I was postive I used both. I've discovered that I only use the one on the right, and NEVER on the left.

I'm left handed, which either explains that or means it makes no sense.

[/ QUOTE ]

agreed

Mason Hellmuth

11-02-2005, 03:18 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I only use two fingers to type anyway so it's pretty moo for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

moo? did you mean mute?

[/ QUOTE ]
Classic!

Ray Zee

11-02-2005, 09:54 PM

i never use the one on the right side for any reason at all. but i also never use the one on the left side either.

11-02-2005, 10:02 PM

I Never Thought About It Before But That Is The Key I Use Every Time I Capitalize Something. (The right side.)

icepick

11-02-2005, 10:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I only use two fingers to type anyway so it's pretty moo for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

moo? did you mean mute?

[/ QUOTE ]

Mute? Did you mean moot?

mason55

11-03-2005, 01:44 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I only use two fingers to type anyway so it's pretty moo for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

moo? did you mean mute?

[/ QUOTE ]

Mute? Did you mean moot?

[/ QUOTE ]

wtf is moot?