Within the world of keyboards there are so many types that listing them would give for several articles. Among them there are two in particular, one of which we have already dealt with (60%) while the other is the reason for this article. We are of course talking about the so-called tenkeyless keyboard, a variant that is hitting hard in the sector because users are beginning to know it after years of existence and where they are now seeing its benefits thanks to being attractive.
Why all the fuss now when they’ve been on the market for years, if not decades? Well, it is something that should be seriously debated, but in any case, in the first place, we must explain what they are and then go back to the arguments of their current popularity, so let’s get to it.
Tenkeyless keyboard definition
You don’t have to be a scholar to see that the translation of the term already describes more or less to a greater extent where this type of keyboard goes. A Tenkeyless or TKL keyboard if we take its abbreviation is nothing more than a type of peripheral that includes 10 fewer keys than a normal and complete one.
If we are scrupulous and detailed, in reality the term is not correct as such, because what manufacturers do is not remove 10 keys from a particular keyboard model and launch it as TKL, but rather directly replace all the numpad keys, and that means that we are talking about a greater number of them, about 16 or 18 depending on the model or manufacturer, something that goes to the taste of the same.
Therefore, a Tenkeyless keyboard differs from a normal one in the absence of precisely said numpad on the right side of the keyboard and thus this type of peripheral is a “new” field for users who want a smaller overall size.
So is this their only difference or is there more?
The differences are not only in terms of the total number of keys, but they are designed to house the maximum capabilities of a keyboard in the minimum space. And it is that logically the size is the key section here, since what is sought is to reduce the horizontal centimeters of them as much as possible.
The answer to this is given by the needs, since there are users who need to move the keyboard to their right to be centered on the screen (if they play in a horizontal position to the monitor) or if they rotate their keyboard, then they need a shorter length to not leave the desktop.
Logically, a Tenkeyless keyboard solves both problems with a single stroke and obviously we are talking about a wonderful solution for those who have smaller desktops. That said, do not confuse a Tenkeyless keyboard with a 60% keyboard, they may seem the same because they are compact, but if we look at the physical format it is different despite both being rectangular.
The Tenkeyless will always have the same traditional format of keys, as well as their separation and only dispenses with the aforementioned numpad, which is why it is classified as compact and there are no more changes here, it is simply a shorter keyboard. The keyboard at 60% is even more compact, it changes its arrangement of added keys, such as the arrow keys, delete, etc… And on top of that it is taken to the minimum expression.
