The Tippy Type makes typing with lengthy nails much less tedious

Long nails aren’t for the weak. Have you ever tried eradicating contact lenses with 20mm claws? Terrifying. But other than the concern of poking out my eyeballs, lengthy nail life makes little on a regular basis issues tough, too. Opening soda cans, urgent buttons, altering out trash baggage with out poking a gap, and even private hygiene — all of them require you to get artistic. But by far, probably the most annoying factor is typing.

Typing with lengthy nails is the embodiment of “magnificence is ache.” On telephones, it makes me sluggish, and I find yourself with so many typos. It’s worse on laptops, the place the keys are flat and basically incompatible with the curve of an extended nail. You find yourself typing with the guidelines of your nails and the edges of your fingers. No huge deal if I’m taking pictures off an electronic mail, however a 1,500-word evaluation? After some time, it hurts.

It’s why I used to be intrigued when the TikTok algorithm threw the $45 Tippy Type into my feed.

The Tippy Type is a silicone keyboard cowl for folk with medium-to-long nails. It options tower-like cylindrical keys so you possibly can sort as you naturally would: together with your finger pads and never your nails. The proposed advantages are two-fold. One, it shouldn’t damage in any respect. Two, it protects your manicure.

I can already hear the trolls making jokes about ladies caring about breaking a nail. If it’s so inconvenient, why not simply have brief nails? Well, I’m not out right here carrying lengthy nails for enjoyable. Being a reviewer typically means performing as a part-time hand mannequin for no matter gadget I’m testing. The Internet Nail Police has repeatedly proven up in my feedback through the years if my polish is chipped or, god forbid, there’s a smudge of dust underneath my pure nail.

The worst half is that they’re not flawed — the pictures and video footage received’t look as good. Never thoughts that that is largely a gendered burden. Something about longer nails elongates the fingers and makes for a extra engaging product photograph.

But good nails aren’t low-cost. A set of acrylic or gel extensions, for instance, can price as a lot as $120. Press-ons are way more economical, however I dwell in concern that one in every of them will pop off at an inopportune second. For instance, the opposite day, I misplaced one as a result of I pulled my pants on too aggressively. I’ve had a pair fly off whereas typing. And it’s annoying carrying nail glue in every single place you go — or, within the case of extensions, having to schedule one other appointment. Preserving your manicure for so long as attainable is a type of saving money and time.

In concept, this is the reason the Tippy Type is engaging to long-nail devotees regardless of its $45 price ticket. But like several product, it has to dwell as much as the promise.

The first time I used the Tippy Type out of its case, it felt bizarre. CEO and cofounder Sara Young Wang warned me that there’s a slight studying curve. She wasn’t kidding. It’s arduous to explain, however if you happen to’re used to squishier keys, this isn’t that. The keys are firmer and require a little bit extra strain than your typical laptop computer keys. The cylindrical form additionally offers you much less floor space so, at first, it’s important to take into consideration finger placement.

Adapting doesn’t take lengthy, although. I gauged my progress with and with out the Tippy Type utilizing a kind of one-minute typing exams. On the primary day, I received round 60 phrases per minute with 98 % accuracy. After a couple of week, I used to be averaging someplace between 80–90wpm with 98–99 % accuracy. Anecdotally, typing with the quilt has lowered my typos in comparison with typing with out it.

But it’s not excellent. I had no downside with each medium and lengthy press-ons, however if you happen to’re rocking extra-long nails, this won’t work properly. Also, some keys nonetheless aren’t the simplest to press. For instance, the arrow keys are small and awkward, and there’s no cowl for the perform keys other than the Esc key. In addition, you possibly can’t simply shut your laptop computer if you happen to’re, say, stepping out to the toilet. Lastly, the Tippy Type is just obtainable for MacBooks in the mean time, although Wang says the corporate is engaged on variations for Lenovo, Dell, and HP laptops.

Ultimately, whether or not the Tippy Type is value shopping for boils right down to how typically you utilize a laptop computer and the way dedicated you’re to your nail recreation. Are you want gymnasts Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, or Suni Lee, the place not even Olympics-level tumbling can cease you from long-nailed glory? Then, sure, it’s most likely value it. In my on a regular basis life, nevertheless, I principally use a desktop with a mechanical keyboard — which is extra forgiving to lengthy nails. I most likely wouldn’t have felt the necessity for a product like this if I weren’t within the thick of tech evaluation season.

Even so, the Tippy Type has been helpful for me these previous few weeks, when my deadlines have been tight, the evaluation phrase counts lengthy, and the nails fabulous.