This outdated keyboard has no business still being around in 2026

• My future self will thank me
• Digital minimalism takes precedent
• A better solution already exists

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been using computer keyboards of the full layout variety, complete with number pad keys, a dedicated section for arrow keys, a sprawling array of function row keys, and other miscellaneous shortcut buttons. For all intents and purposes, this layout has been the de facto standard in the PC world for decades, and it’s not something I’ve traditionally had much of an opinion on in the past.

This all changed when I started to write for a living. Suddenly, I found myself sitting in front of my desktop computing setup for hours on end, putting digital words onto virtual paper on a full-time basis. For a while there, my daily driver keyboard was a full-sized Logitech MX Keys model, but I soon ran into the problem of discomfort and a major lack of available desk space.

Over the course of several months, I became fed up with feeling cramped in my work environment. Once I noticed that I was using the letter keys 95 percent of the time, and that all the extra stuff on the right-hand side of my keyboard was largely superfluous to my workflow, I decided it was time for a change.

My future self will thank me

My posture and sitting hygiene have improved since making the switch

After some research, I ultimately decided to stick with the Logitech brand that I was already familiar with, and so I sprang for the popular MX Keys Minikeyboard to replace my existing full-sized MX model. Immediately, I felt at ease: without all the extra keys present on the peripheral, my entire workspace felt cleaner and more deliberate.

Aside from gaining back some space on my desk, switching to the MX Mini significantly improved my comfort while typing. Rather than having to right justify the keyboard on my desk to better align the letter keys to my monitor and to my sitting position, everything felt immediately where it was supposed to be without any effort.

My job is by nature a sedentary one, and so I’ve become increasingly conscious when it comes to offering myself a non-straining work environment. The last thing I want is additional neck and back strain, and so my hope is that switching keyboards will fortify my long-term health by improving my day-to-day sitting posture.

PC keyboards are sold in a variety of different standardized size classes, including 100 percent full-sized, 80 percent compact tenkeyless, and 60 percent mini-sized. Each style offers its own strengths and weaknesses, based on its compactness-to-features ratio. For more information, Keychron offers an excellent size and layout guide on its official website.

Digital minimalism takes precedent

Number pads are a vestige of a bygone era in computing

These days, I’m all-in on digital minimalism. Technology is great, but too much of it can quickly prove overwhelming. Compact-style keyboards, to me, feel like modern PC peripherals made with contemporary users in mind. They’re space-conscious, they’re convenient, and, in my eyes, they’ve already become the go-to standard on most Ultrabook-style laptops for a reason.

By contrast, full-sized keyboards feel decidedly out of date. In some ways, the full-sized layout is a vestige dating back to the early days of computing, and it’s something that has managed to stick around by historic coincidence (in the same vein as the QWERTY keyboard layout itself, which has its roots in typewriters and not in modern hand comfort).

…I’d love to see a ground-up keyboard redesign be standardized for the modern era.

Having the number pad be standardized on the right-hand side doesn’t make a lot of sense for right-handed mouse usage, for example, and most of the function row keys on full-sized keyboards are simply left unused by the majority of hardware makers. Some keys that take up space don’t even make sense in the modern context, like the Scroll Lock key or the Pause / Break key.

In the future, I’d love to see a ground-up keyboard redesign be standardized for the modern era. As a clean break of sorts, such a keyboard design could prioritize compactness and ergonomics, without sacrificing on essential functionalities. I’d love for all consumer-grade keyboards to offer a dedicated multi-purpose dial (like this Logitech Craft model does), just as one example that springs to mind.

A better solution already exists

There’s no need to compromise if you’re a number cruncher

Now, I know my particular line of thinking when it comes to full-sized keyboards is a controversial one. Anecdotally, many people in both my personal and professional life swear by the number pad for data entry purposes, and I reckon most spreadsheet power users find the idea of forgoing a full-sized keyboard in favor of a compact model to be an appalling proposition. I’m also aware that gamers require a proper arrow key configuration for optimal control over the titles they play.

Even as a certified mini-sized keyboard evangelist, I can’t help but sometimes miss the convenience factor of typing my computer PIN directly into the number pad section of my keyboard the moment I sit down at my desk. And, with tax season coming up, not having access to a proper number pad is just asking for a headache.

Personally, I don’t see myself ever returning to an all-in-one keyboard solution…

With this in mind, I’ve gone ahead and purchased a dedicated keypad peripheral for my PC — a rechargeable one that relies on Bluetooth connectivity and that offers a highly compact, slim form factor. In my case, I sprang for a Satechi model, but there are many excellent options available on the market to choose from.

By opting for a compact keyboard and a supplementary number keypad as opposed to a single, full-sized solution, I’m reaping the benefits of extra desk space, a cleaner office setup, and improved comfort, all while still being able to number crunch as I please by simply whipping out my external keyboard peripheral from my desk drawer.

If you’re a die-hard fan of the traditional, full-sized computer keyboard layout, then I’m not here to try and change your mind. Rather, I’m simply expressing my contentment with a setup that works best for me and that provides me with the most flexibility. Personally, I don’t see myself ever returning to an all-in-one keyboard solution, but your mileage will, of course, vary based on your occupation, lifestyle, hobbies, and a multitude of other factors.