Work Smarter Not Harder with the Hub20 Programmable Macro Numberpad

We’ve all heard the phrase “work smarter, not harder,” and it’s definitely a philosophy that you should be embracing in your life. If you work in construction, why would you put in the sweat to carry a pile of concrete bags over several trips when you could just use a wheelbarrow to do the job in one trip? For office workers who spend their time in front of computers, this means finding ways to take advantage of the power your computer offers in order to work more efficiently. Macros are perfect for achieving that, and the new Hub20 programmable macro numberpad is a great option for activating those macros.

In the world of computing, a “macro” is a small program, script, or shortcut that you can use to automate a task. On the most basic end, you have simple keyboard shortcuts, such as CTRL + S to save your document instead of having to click around in the toolbar menus. On the more complex side, you could have a macro that automatically takes each name listed in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and makes a new spreadsheet for it. You can use macros to automate nearly any kind of repetitive task to save yourself huge amounts of time in the long run, and the Hub20 is a feature-packed auxiliary keyboard that you can use to quickly and easily run the macros you create.

Hub20 resembles a typical numerical keypad, and you could use it for purely that purpose if you wanted to. But the real power of the Hub20 is in its customizability. You have up to 20 individual keys to work with and each of them can be assigned to a specific keyboard shortcut combination or macro. It also has a pair of rotary encoders that can be used for functions like zoom, volume, playback speed, or whatever other functions you might require for your work. There's also a built-in three-port USB 2.0 hub with Type-C connectors, allowing you to hook it up to additional keyboards, memory sticks, wireless receivers, and other small devices. It’s compatible with both VIA and QMK, which are popular keyboard configuration programs, so you have the freedom to set up Hub20 however you like. Each of the 20 keys has a Cherry MX-compatible mechanical key switch for satisfying tactility, and 26 individually-addressable RGB LEDs are arranged around the board to provide visual indicators or fun lighting effects.

Hub20 is available as a kit on Tindie starting at $60, with a wide range of options available for switches, key caps, and cases.