Enlarge / A caller keyboard announcement explores a space-saving alternate to dedicated arrow buttons.

Scharon Harding

Which keys are perfectly indispensable to a keyboard? Many volition archer you the full numpad is, portion others request macro keys. I personally importune connected a measurement knob for my home office setup. And arsenic idiosyncratic who has tested 60 percent keyboards, which person nary numpad oregon arrow keys, I'd adhd that for productivity and my sanity, arrow keys are besides mandatory.

Arrow-less keyboards person their market, but for the immense majority, nary arrows connected a keyboard is simply a deal-breaker. A mechanical keyboard Angry Miao announced contiguous asks america to see an alternative, though. Instead of arrow keys oregon relying connected a cardinal combo for arrow input (like astir 60 percent keyboard users do), it has a capacitive interaction sheet connected the beforehand borderline for inputting arrow and different functions with your thumbs.

Is Angry Miao connected to thing here?

It’s not astir the keyboard

Enlarge / Angry Miao's AM Compact Touch saves abstraction by replacing arrow keys with a thumb-controlled touchpad.

Before we dive into this intriguing touchpad, let's get thing retired of the way: You astir apt don't privation to bargain the Angry Miao AM Compact Touch wireless keyboard. For one, the peripheral is inactive successful the crowdfunding signifier (Indiegogo launches connected February 2, according to The Verge). Angry Miao is simply a known institution among mechanical keyboard enthusiasts with respective high-end constricted product releases successful caller years and palmy crowdfunding campaigns. Other mechanical keyboard companies, similar Keychron, thin to commencement products done crowdfunding, and immoderate publications, including The Verge and TechCrunch, person tested AM Compact Touch samples. But investing wealth successful immoderate crowdfunding run comes with risks.

Beyond that, the AM Compact Touch has a niche layout with nary arrow keys, numpad, oregon relation row. Those inactive funny volition besides look a steep price, reportedly $398 to $615.

Still, I couldn't assistance being fascinated by the AM Compact Touch due to the fact that it challenges however we usually navigate a keyboard. It besides bestows relation to a portion of the keyboard that's virtually ne'er used.

Do I find arrow keys indispensable connected a keyboard due to the fact that they're imperative for regular computing oregon due to the fact that that's what I'm utilized to? Now's arsenic bully a clip arsenic ever to see if keyboards request a shake-up.