# Keyboard advice for my computer **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** computer-hardware\ **Created:** [June 2, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417 "2024-06-02T17:48:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/1 "2024-06-02T17:48:44Z")
I received a keyboard for my last birthday, and somehow I didn’t notice that it didn’t have any arrow keys until after they had left. It works perfectly well, but the lack of arrow keys comes up sometimes as an annoyance. Is there any kind of little add-on I can buy for them? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/2 "2024-06-02T17:54:37Z")
The first thing that comes to mind is that they do sell separate numpads for laptops. Those would have arrows on them. Just look for “external numpad.” There also are also macro keyboards that just have a limited number of keys that you can configure to whatever you want them to be. Some are even already arranged in the arrow key form. That said, a keyboard without arrows is very strange to me. Can you find the model online, or at least show a pic? What does sometimes happen is that there are arrow keys, but they require some special key combo to activate. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/3 "2024-06-02T18:00:42Z")
I’m an idiot. A grade-A numbskull. No one else can do a brainless thing today bc I already did one. I JUST NOTICED that 4 of the keys (UHJK) have little arrows on the side. 😑 And I checked and you have to press the FN key to “switch” them to arrow mode. Thanks for your reply. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/4 "2024-06-02T18:12:58Z")
Even then, it might still be nice to have dedicated arrow keys. The terms to look for, as I said, are “external numpad” and “macro keyboard” Heck, [here’s a super cheap one](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lutiore-Black-Four-key-Mini-Keyboard-Arrow-Keys-4-Keys-Up-Down-Left-And-Right-WASD-Custom-Shortcuts-SayoDevice-Small-Keyboard-Y8V5/3939658982) that is just the arrow keys. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/5 "2024-06-02T18:15:19Z")
Excellent! I have a Razer Huntsman Mini. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/6 "2024-06-03T16:27:59Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > That said, a keyboard without arrows is very strange to me. My [pirate](https://live.staticflickr.com/175/440004911_ad2e718c84_c.jpg) keyboard doesn’t have arrow keys. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/7 "2024-06-03T17:24:30Z")
Gaming keyboards (like the Razer brand) can dispense with arrow keys because games traditionally allocate main-keyboard keys for things you might expect arrows for, like movement (i.e., “WASD” movement keybinds). ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/8 "2024-06-03T17:26:30Z")
On behalf of the Union for Hyperactive Jewish Kids … I’m glad we could help. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/9 "2024-06-03T17:30:13Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I received a keyboard for my last birthday, and somehow I didn’t notice that it didn’t have any arrow keys until after they had left. Wow, I’ve never in my life seen a keyboard without directional keys. I wonder where they got it. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/10 "2024-06-03T17:33:06Z")
Amazon. Computer stores that cater to gamers. Direct purchase from the manufacturers. Pretty much the same places you can buy productivity-oriented keyboards. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/11 "2024-06-03T17:50:41Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Wow, I’ve never in my life seen a keyboard without directional keys. It’s a 61-key “mini keyboard” like this: [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61pmBJRyRSL._AC_SL1500_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61pmBJRyRSL._AC_SL1500_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/12 "2024-06-03T17:54:23Z")
Wow! Okay, now I have seen one. LOL ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/13 "2024-06-03T18:10:17Z")
The very first “modern” PC came with a keyboard that lacked dedicated arrow keys (as they were assigned as alternative mappings for the number pad, hence “num lock”): [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/IBM_Model_F_XT.png) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/IBM_Model_F_XT.png) ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/14 "2024-06-03T18:23:13Z")
I can see why they would be considered secondary keys. I hardly ever use mine to be honest. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/15 "2024-06-03T18:23:21Z")
This is known as a 60% keyboard, or sometimes 65%, the main difference seems to be any added programmable keys. No Function key row, no arrow keys or the Ins/Home/PgUp section. 80% keyboard is just missing the numpad section but has the arrows and the rest. Most games these days use WASD to replace the very old school arrow keys. From a productivity standpoint I’ve decided I like 100%, but I use an 80% with a separate USB numpad now. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/16 "2024-06-03T18:24:35Z")
I’m Old School; I like all my keys! LOL ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-advice-for-my-computer/1002417/17 "2024-06-03T18:26:28Z")
If you do anything in Excel, even the lightest data entry, you end up missing every key on smaller keyboards. Except Scroll Lock, I never use that thing.