ANSI · QWERTY
Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key keyboard layout
Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key is a Windows compact desktop keyboard built to the ANSI physical standard with a QWERTY letter arrangement. It has 79 keys in 6 rows.
Modelled on the Generic Standard Windows Compact ANSI (2024+).
At a glance
- Platform
- Windows
- Standard
- ANSI
- Form factor
- compact desktop
- Keys
- 79
- Letters
- QWERTY
- Language
- US English
- Numeric keypad
- No
- Enter key
- Wide, horizontal (ANSI)
- Left Shift
- 2.25u, full width
Key map
What Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key is
As a compact desktop keyboard it drops the numeric keypad to keep the mouse closer to the typing hand, but keeps a dedicated function row. Numbers are typed on the number row above the letters.
ISO or ANSI?
Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key is an ANSI keyboard. The three things a typist notices: the Enter key is a wide horizontal bar on the home row, the left Shift is a full 2.25u wide with no extra key beside it, and the backslash key sits directly above Enter. The right little finger reaches Enter with a short lateral move from the home row, and the left little finger has a wide target for Shift.
Where the symbols sit
These are the keycap legends on Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key for the characters typists reach for most, taken from the layout file. A symbol printed on a keycap with another legend is reached with Shift or the third-level modifier (AltGr on Windows, Option on Mac), depending on the operating system's layout.
On a US ANSI keyboard @ is Shift+2, the double quote is Shift+apostrophe and # is Shift+3, which is what most typing tutorials assume.
- @ shares its keycap with 2
- " shares its keycap with '
- # shares its keycap with 3
- ~ shares its keycap with `
- \ shares its keycap with |
- | shares its keycap with \
- / shares its keycap with ?
Home row and finger placement
The home row on Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key is A S D F G H J K L ; '. Touch typing starts here: the left hand rests on A S D F, the right hand on J K L ;, and every other key is reached by a short move and a return to this row. CosmicKeys' finger guide animates that reach for each key of this exact layout.
Practice on Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key in CosmicKeys
CosmicKeys does not assume a US keyboard. Choose Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key from the keyboard picker and the on-screen keyboard, the finger animations and the per-key narration all use this layout's positions.
The core curriculum runs on every layout: home row, top row, bottom row, the number row, finger drills, mastery and speed lessons, plus custom lessons you write yourself.
The typing test at /typing-test works on any layout and reports words per minute and accuracy; the lessons, finger-level analytics and hand-position guides are the part that depends on the layout you pick.
FAQ
Is Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key ANSI or ISO?
ANSI. It has a wide horizontal Enter key, a full 2.25u left Shift and the backslash key above Enter.
Where is the @ key on Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key?
@ shares its keycap with 2. Whether you press it with Shift or with the third-level modifier depends on the operating system's layout for this keyboard.
Does Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key have a numeric keypad?
No. Numbers are typed on the number row; if you enter a lot of figures you can pair it with a standalone keypad and CosmicKeys' numpad lessons.
Can I learn to type on Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key with CosmicKeys?
Yes. Pick Windows Compact (ANSI, US) – 79-key in the keyboard picker; the lessons, finger animations and narration then use this layout's key positions. The typing test needs no account.