# So - are you cool, like me, by using only the number keys along the TOP of your keypad... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 1, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733 "2020-01-01T19:01:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Courk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@Courk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Courk)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/21 "2020-01-05T05:52:10Z")
I remember years ago an episode of Unsolved Mysteries (or something similar) was about a guy with amnesia who couldn’t remember anything about his past. He got a job and was really good at using a number pad, so they reasoned he could’ve been an accountant or banker previously. I don’t know why that stuck with me, but occasionally I’ll be typing along on the number pad in my non-banking, non-accounting job, and wonder if they were at all right in their guess. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/22 "2020-01-05T07:02:48Z")
I joined the Cult of the Mechanical Keyboard awhile back. Read up and went with a TKL keyboard to save desk space (aka 80% keyboard, missing that entire right part). I decided I absolutely hate it, doing anything in Excel or whatever is a chore. I have a separate mechanical keypad now. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/23 "2020-01-05T12:00:27Z")
I kept being irked by software that could only use one or the other of the two places on the keyboard for typing numbers. And I still am. My keyboards at home and at work don’t have the righthand keypad, and the Alt key at work doesn’t work right without one. Why’d they have to make this such a mess? ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/24 "2020-01-05T12:17:03Z")
I’m a bookkeeper and I just wish my laptop had the number pad. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/25 "2020-01-05T14:54:16Z")
My primary PC at work has a full keyboard with a number pad. It’s handy since that’s where I’m most often using Excel, typing telephone numbers and filling out credit card information. My laptops at home do not have a separate number pad. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/26 "2020-01-05T15:05:32Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I use the number keys across the top of the keyboard, but I am definitely not cool. Likewise. I also type with my middle fingers only. I have found that this obstructs the view of the keyboard less than using the forefingers (which I keep pointed front-upwards when typing)! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/27 "2020-01-05T15:36:51Z")
I’ve spent the last 25 years of my life using an adding machine, a telephone and the numeric keypad on a credit card machine. I can use the keypad on my keyboard as fast as I can type. The numbers along the top row require me to look at what I’m doing and slow me down considerably. I wouldn’t even consider a keyboard or laptop without a keypad. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/28 "2020-01-05T15:49:59Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > Likewise. I also type with my middle fingers only. So, with everything you type, you’re giving us the finger? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/29 "2020-01-05T16:40:14Z")
For regular typing of numbers in running text, I definitely use the numbers at the top of the keypad. For number entry into a database or whatnot, good lord does the keypad speed things up for me. It’s been a bit over fifteen or so years since I’ve done that sort of data entry, but there’s no comparison for me in terms of speed. And it’s way more comfortable for me when doing repeated numerical entries. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/30 "2020-01-05T16:58:19Z")
I took office machines in high school. Learned 10 key adding machine and many others. I used my 10 key adding machine regularly at my service shop. It was easy transitioning to a PC keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/31 "2020-01-05T17:19:45Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I took office machines in high school. Did they make you bring them back? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/32 "2020-01-05T18:09:50Z")
Ha, the equipment in that room was too antiquated to take. Bookkeepers remember this monster? Thankfully I never used one again after finishing my class. [https://images.app.goo.gl/dmqf29XYFaPMUEcw8](https://images.app.goo.gl/dmqf29XYFaPMUEcw8) We had no idea how much technology would change in less than 8 years. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/33 "2020-01-05T18:21:46Z")
My laptop doesn’t have a numeric keypad. I wouldn’t buy a keyboard for a PC that didn’t have a numeric keypad. It’s essential for entering data into spreadsheets. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/34 "2020-01-05T23:17:49Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > So, with everything you type, you’re giving us the finger? Sort of, though inverted! Make of it what you want! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/35 "2020-01-05T23:29:57Z")
The numeric keypad is easier when doing data entry, which is why I use it when I’m at work. But my home laptop only has numbers at the top of the keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/36 "2020-01-06T04:45:49Z")
When I was in sales I absolutely had to have a numeric keypad, enough to that I bought an external one for the laptop I had at the time. My laptop now has one, and I’ll use it when I’m entering students grades and such. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/37 "2020-01-06T07:47:22Z")
I won’t even buy a laptop that doesn’t have a numeric keypad on the right side of the keyboard. As an engineer, I type nearly as many numbers as I do letters, and that is MUCH faster than using the top row. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/38 "2020-01-06T08:44:12Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I use the ones on top, but have to ‘hunt and peck’ them. And I’m not cool. ☹ this is me …you won’t believe the crap I get for it … ---
**Author:** ![DrForrester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/39 "2020-01-06T11:38:23Z")
Brought back memories of this [thing](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51RLGgBdznL._AC_SX430_.jpg). I never use the keypad. Never understood the point of the NumLock button. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733/40 "2020-01-06T16:19:38Z")
I’m a legal secretary, so don’t do much in the way of typing in numbers, even though I have a numbers keypad. On the occasions that I must type in numbers, I use the top row of keys, just like I was taught in typing class so many years ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-you-cool-like-me-by-using-only-the-number-keys-along-the-top-of-your-keypad/845733.md?page=3)