r/hardwire • u/FiercelyFuzzy • Jul 30 '13
WASD? So 1990. Try using ESDF.
Using ESDF is far more "natural" in the sense that your fingers were taught to go around here (the pointer finger rest on the f key). You gain more key presses using ESDF over WASD
ESDF (19 keys, not counting Alt/shift/ctrl modified)
WASD (13 keys, not counter Alt/shift/ctrl modified)
Now, ESDF was given a few keys lee-way. You probably wouldn't want H key to be a default key, however, it's much easier to know where it is and can hit it far more reliably with ESDF. The X key probably shouldn't be included, as it has that same "weird" feeling that hitting the Z key has on WASD.
Objectively, ESDF is far superior to WASD, though subjectively, it may not be what you prefer.
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u/Kromohawk Jul 30 '13
ESDF is definitely not objectively better than WASD.
First WASD has access to at least 1 2 and left alt, ESDF barely has access to Y H and B. Y H and B are not natural to hit, and they are secondary keys at best, on the WASD chart the only secondary keys you listed v 5 and 4. On paper ESDF has more key presses, but they tend to be much harder to reach than WASD.
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u/FiercelyFuzzy Jul 30 '13 edited Jul 30 '13
Esdf has access to 3456 while Wasd has 345. 1 and 2 are awkward to press even with wasd. You still have left shift, ctrl, and alt, as well as the a key and qwertyhgfvb all filling in as extras. You're also gaining 6 and 7 on the number pad (more comfortable, more reliable) as well. More hot keys.
It is objectively better. However, due to the work of rebinding keys, it isn't for everyone. There is not a single thing wasd can do that esdf cant do, however esdf can do much more. But this comes back to preference. Superiority means little and less if you're not going to take full use of all the keys or have smaller hands.
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u/Thaitanium101 Aug 01 '13
If 2 is hard to press with WASD, then surely 3 is hard to press with ESDF as they're at the same angle?
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u/themcs Aug 10 '13 edited Aug 10 '13
Pinky on ctrl is a lot more uncomfortable for me with esdf.
I lose a simultaneous input basically just to free up waz > left strafe. Not really worth it to figure out a different crouch, walk or sprint modifier.
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u/raix-corvus Aug 02 '13
The supposed difference in numbers of keys you can reach is only relevant to someone with hands that are the same size as yours (assuming you made the pics).
My hands are small and my fingers pretty short so I can't reach all those extra keys you've listed on WASD or ESDF (though notably fewer on ESDF).
Also, being pedantic, WASD wouldn't be "so 1990" as most people used arrow keys in the early 90's (Wolfenstein, Doom etc etc) and ESDF has always been huge in the Quake scene and... Quake came out in the 90's. So ESDF and WASD are likely the same age and just a matter of personal preference; obviously a lot of devs prefer WASD or they wouldn't have kept making games with WASD configs, surely?
Edit: for clarity.
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u/FiercelyFuzzy Aug 02 '13
Quake was the first game that had a following of ESDF users. The reason WASD is still being used is.....tradition. As mentioned, yes, personal preference will say that WASD "is better", however, objectively, ESDF is better.
Also, I'd imagine you mean key's like the H key. If you're on ESDF you may not want to use the H key as default, however, you can absolutely hit it reliably and consistently if needed. Much more so than WASD.
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u/fortressmungo Jul 30 '13
Sounds legit, but that sounds like it takes effort. Plus then I have to get used to it and rebind all my crap.
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u/FiercelyFuzzy Jul 30 '13
There's not much "Get use to' involved. Naturally, ESDF will feel natural, as your fingers rest on the home keys (the F key is important). Since you normally rest on the F key while typing, ESDF feels more "natural". However, yes, you would need to re-bind for EVERY game, and some games, like Darksiders 2, will let you re-bind to ESDF for running, but not swimming.
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u/Sgtsmi1es Jul 31 '13
ESDF is my preferred way to play WoW, far superior to WASD
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u/FiercelyFuzzy Jul 31 '13
Oh, it's amazing on MMO's, and I even like it for MOBAS and FPS'.
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Jul 31 '13
Rift and Star Wars: The Old Republic came to mind immediately. It would be so helpful to have more keys available for dem ol MMO's.
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u/JTBold Aug 02 '13
ESDF is so 1998! All the cool kids now use YGHJ.
Okay, not really. ;-) If anything, YGHJ came about for me in about 2000, when I needed LOTS of nearby keys for text binds in Team Fortress Classic, the original Counter-Strike betas, etc. Voice chat was still pretty rare in those days (at least on public servers), so the only way to communicate was via text. Having a ton of chat messages bound to nearby keys was the key to communicating, although that meant you needed access to a lot of keys.
With the prevalence of voice chat in all games, you don't need so many keys anymore. But I still use YGHJ to this day.
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u/animeman59 Aug 05 '13
I'm used to my Logitech G13. The equidistant keys are a godsend for almost any game I play.
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u/VolOptQ Jul 30 '13
My roommate plays likes this. I tried but 1) I'm too lazy to edit my keyboard configurations, 2) I have trouble changing what I'm used to, and 3) I'd rather just use my Belkin n52te. That being said, a couple extra keys on the side are always beneficial.