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If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

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Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#171

Post by aidenn0 »

qes wrote: post #25

One day I'll likely be faced with making my own keyboard layout or losing the wonderful Home/End/PgUp/PgDn/Delete layout I've been used to for years now on a long discontinued keyboard model (I seriously have a box of spares under the bed that I bought when they stopped being made). I've found myself adaptable to the action of many keyboards, but there's some layout features I'm very particular about.

Logitech still makes some keyboards with that distinctive large delete key, but I'm in the US, so I don't know if they have an ISO layout version of it.

Example: https://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/wireless-keyboard-k35...

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#172

Post by lleolin »

I've wanted a left-side number pad for a long time. I've contended that (for right-handed people) having a number pad on the right is poor ergonomics. If I centered such a keyboard in front of me, then the number pad would be in the way of my mouse. So I end up offsetting the keyboard several inches to the left, which causes me to have to position my arms awkwardly in order to reach the letters. I ended up using keyboards with no number pads at all (in my case a Leopold FC660C).

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#173

Post by amiga_500 »

Fellshard wrote: post #155
samatman wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What an Ergodox lets me do is this: while standing, with good posture, I extend my arms, level with the ground, to where they comfortably and naturally want to be. Then, I put the keyboards there, adjust the desk up to that height, and put books under the monitor until the center is exactly level with my eyes. Trackball to the right. This is dramatically more comfortable than anything else I could be doing. It's hard…

For me, I notice the difference in my shoulders. They tuck in with a compact keyboard, and then my wrists bow inward. It ends in a slouch and increasing neck pain over time - even my personal laptop makes this noticeable after a short amount of time. Ergodox EZ may puzzle people with its layout, but the split island part alone has made computing comfortable for me, especially when combined with a sit/stand desk. Ther…

Same here. This is why I got a split keyboard at work. I'm at home right now on a normal keyboard and the shape of my shoulders is terrible.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#174

Post by amerine »

souterrain wrote: post #4
amerine wrote: post #2

I love custom keyboards. Sharing work like this is pretty inspiring. All I’ve done is solder two ergodox’s from massdrop, but it was a blast.

I find custom keyboards to be beautiful, but I have a very hard time using a proper mechanical keyboard. I am not a proper touch-typist, and lack the patience or free time to re-learn. I tried with an Ergodox for some time, but it became so frustrating that it interfered with my appreciation for the engineering and artistry of the thing. Any suggestions relating to low-profile, short-travel switches/keycaps that will…

Unfortunately I don't have advice to pass along, I'm sorry. :-(

I found the Leopold FC660M randomly on the internet and fell in love with it and have't touched another keyboard since.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#175

Post by [deleted] »

overkalix wrote: post #70
ganonm wrote: post #49

Around 2 years ago now, I took the plunge and bought myself an Ergodox EZ split island keyboard. Quite franky, it is the biggest quantum leap in the ergonomic experience of interacting with a computer I have seen since learning Vim. It is comfortable, effortless and fast. If you spend any significant time interacting with computers it is a complete no brainer to invest in optimising the IO channel between your brain…

$300 for the simplest keyboard...

[deleted]

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#176

Post by frostburg »

I find building keyboards very relaxing (here is my work so far: https://ereign.is/objects/).

The split orthos are very usable and comfortable after a few hours of acclimatization (I mostly use a commercial Topre board for now, I should finish designing QMK layouts that better serve my needs).

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#177

Post by peterburkimsher »

bloopernova wrote: post #93
stevehawk wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

complaining about $300 for a great keyboard is like complaining about a pricey bed. You use it for how many hours of the day if you're a programmer/engineer? Maybe it's worth spoiling yourself.

Precisely, although I don't think it's spoiling yourself. You use some things a whole lot that it makes sense to spend comparatively more on them than you would on "normal" items: * Bed * Office chair * Keyboard and mouse * Monitors * Footwear * Cooking basics like a couple of knives and a pan or two. Perhaps this can explain it better than I will ever be able: https://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Sam_Vimes_Theory_of_Ec…

Your list of "Bed, Office chair, Keyboard and mouse, Monitors, Cooking basics like ... a pan or two." (all except footwear) aligns very well with my list of "things that don't fit on a plane".

Unfortunately my life isn't stable enough to invest in something that I can't carry with me when I have to move. It's luxuries like these that I've often had to go without entirely (having a chair and desk is so nice compared to using a laptop on a mat on the floor). If immigration were easier, I'd have already settled down, but instead it's been 8 years and counting living like this. I really hope my pending resident visa application comes through this time, so I can start investing in things like those.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#178

Post by lostdog »

username90 wrote: post #136
steve19 wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> - you can afford the lower productivity (e.g: you are not a freelancer that needs a regular output) Why lower productivity? The person who created it thinks it will lower RSI therefor increase productivity.

Is RSI even that normal? I have never heard anyone talk about it in real life, only in these threads does it seem like everyone has it.

It is pretty common. People are afraid to talk about it, so they generally won't bring it up.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#179

Post by Ycros »

ganonm wrote: post #49

Around 2 years ago now, I took the plunge and bought myself an Ergodox EZ split island keyboard. Quite franky, it is the biggest quantum leap in the ergonomic experience of interacting with a computer I have seen since learning Vim. It is comfortable, effortless and fast. If you spend any significant time interacting with computers it is a complete no brainer to invest in optimising the IO channel between your brain…

I used to use an Ergodox Infinity that I built from a kit. Since then I've moved to the Model 01 from https://keyboard.io

Why? I find the thumb clusters way better, I feel like they're just a bit too far away on the ergodox keyboards. That, and the shape of the keys and the curve of the stagger are better IMO.

The downside is you can't use any keycaps because they're unique to this keyboard.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#180

Post by 0-_-0 »

octocode wrote: post #67
jcims wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plus nobody else will want to use your computer. Win win!

Especially if your keys are blanks.

The guy sitting next to me at work uses and Erogox with blank keys. He's otherwise normal.
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