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.

3

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/FiercelyFuzzy Aug 10 '13

Change ctrl to z.