# Using your keyboard number pad **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 27, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041 "2018-09-27T17:47:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/1 "2018-09-27T17:47:42Z")
When you have to type numbers, do you use the keys above the letters or the separate keypad to the right? This, of course, assumes you have the separate keypad. I prefer the keypad and my NumLock is always engaged. My husband uses the pad for its other functions and disables the NumLock - that makes me say bad things when he uses my computer. :eek: Who’s with me? ---
**Author:** ![senoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@senoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senoy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/2 "2018-09-27T17:49:35Z")
Both. Depends upon what I’m doing. If I’m writing say the number 4 in isolation, I use the keys above the letters. If I’m filling in a spreadsheet with dozens of lines of numbers, I use the keypad. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/3 "2018-09-27T17:52:22Z")
The number pad? Don’t you mean the \* and + pad, with several purely ornamental buttons there as well? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/4 "2018-09-27T17:56:53Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > My husband uses the pad for its other functions and disables the NumLock … That would make no sense on a full-size keyboard, because those other functions are on dedicated keys located between the alphabet keys and the numeric keypad. If it’s a laptop or space-saver keyboard with no arrow keys and insert/delete etc between the main keyboard and the numeric keypad, that might be forgivable. But I personally don’t do that. I use the numeric keypad to type any long sequence of numbers. Also, I remember PIN numbers visually, on the numeric keypad. I’d have to think very hard to type any of my PIN numbers on a regular keyboard without a numeric keypad. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/5 "2018-09-27T19:00:38Z")
I use the numeric keypad on my desktop, and when typing numbers on a laptop reach for the keypad and have a _FTW?_ moment when it isn’t there. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/6 "2018-09-27T19:01:09Z")
The only time I use the keypad to enter numbers is when I’m entering my credit card number. Otherwise I’m not entering enough numbers in a row for it to be worth moving my hand all the way over there. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/7 "2018-09-27T19:05:12Z")
I use the keypad for doing number stuff, except when writing a sentence like “I have 2 dogs.” I use a desktop most of the time but as my second machine I specifically bought a laptop with a keypad, because I am so used to having one. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/8 "2018-09-27T19:22:37Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > The number pad? Don’t you mean the \* and + pad, with several purely ornamental buttons there as well? ??? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/9 "2018-09-27T19:25:13Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > That would make no sense on a full-size keyboard, because those other functions are on dedicated keys located between the alphabet keys and the numeric keypad. That’s the way I see it, but I’ll allow the man his quirks, as long as he doesn’t mess with my keyboard settings! ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/10 "2018-09-27T19:28:38Z")
> [@RadicalPi](#): > > ??? That’s next to the right shift key, not on the numberpad. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/11 "2018-09-27T19:33:43Z")
I use a full-sized keyboard most of the time and when I’m doing data entry (especially numeric-only data entry) the keypad is what I use. It’s a lot faster. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/12 "2018-09-27T19:35:27Z")
As a kid, I learned typing using a manual that had lessons for the number keys at the top just like it had for the rest of the keys, so I learned to use those number keys first and can use them as fast as the other keys. Consequently, I’ve never had any use for the keypad on the side. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/13 "2018-09-27T20:00:56Z")
Only when using classic software like Nethack. Sometimes I go thru spells where I have to enter numbers quite a bit and I find using the row keys faster. My fingers stay at “home base” more for the other stuff I’m typing. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/14 "2018-09-27T20:08:07Z")
I’m not organized or consistent with this - I’m a pretty clumsy typist. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/15 "2018-09-27T20:12:32Z")
You know what, when my son bought me a laptop some years ago, he asked me if I used the number keypad, and I said no. So I got a laptop without one. And then it turned out that I used it all the time, but not really consciously. Putting in my zip code, putting in passwords that required numbers, typing my address. I did not even realize I was doing it until I couldn’t. So yeah. On my desktop I use the number keypad all the time. Now I know. I don’t know how I could be so clueless, but that’s the nature of cluelessness isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/16 "2018-09-27T20:26:12Z")
I use the keypad when I need to enter a lot of numbers, and the main keyboard for single numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/17 "2018-09-27T20:35:05Z")
I guess I would use the number pad if I was entering lots of numbers, but I mostly just use the editing functions on the keypad. If there were a way to get the upper row of keys permanently shifted, I might get used to using the number pad instead, but I don’t think that’s possible. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/18 "2018-09-27T21:21:58Z")
I use the separate number pad. I spend as much time on a calculator as I do on a keyboard, so it feels much more natural. And since I use a laptop as my daily computer, I make sure to always get one with the number pad. It sure does decrease your options on what to buy, though! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/19 "2018-09-27T22:14:26Z")
My MacBook doesn’t have a separate number pad, so I use the numbers across the top. At the office, I use the keypad with my right hand and the mouse with my left hand. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041/20 "2018-09-28T15:35:52Z")
Number pad! That’s my claim to fame. I’m as fast as lightning on the number pad. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-your-keyboard-number-pad/822041.md?page=2)