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

Post by 2rsf » Mon, Dec 16, 2019, 2:50 PM UTC

npo9 wrote: post #224

memn0nis wrote: post #221

Are mechanical keyboards that much "better" (I know this is subjective) than normal laptop keyboards (I have a macbook pro). I'm considering buying one but they are quite expensive...

It depends. Mechanical keyboards last for about a decade, probably more. During which time I’ll be at my main computer and typing about 20,000hours. So using a mechanical keyboard less than a penny an hour. So yeah, if something makes my time a little more comfortable I’d consider it worth that cost.

Post by Siecje » Mon, Dec 16, 2019, 3:22 PM UTC

cellis wrote: post #132

10 months in with my Ultimate Hacker Keyboard, and I can confidently say that it brings me more joy than any other electronic device I have, with maybe the exception of my MBP. Before I had mild RSI here and there, but with the UHK I have zero pain, ever. But it did take a lot of learning. I spent about 3 months feeling like an idiot ( hitting keys that weren't there, forgetting which macro I'd mapped, typing an arro…

Post by rickyc091 » Mon, Dec 16, 2019, 4:23 PM UTC

BigJ1211 wrote: post #291

tomc1985 wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By my read y'all need more practice typing, not a fancy expensive ergo keyboard. Other than the occasional hand cramps this lifelong nerd doesn't have any of those problems on this old, mushy MS natural.

I thought so too untill I started having RSI/CTS issues. I've since switched to a 'fancy expensive ergo keyboard'. And it fantastic, I'm about as fast as I was on a traditional qwerty, but with less errors. However most importantly I have far less RSI/CTS complaints when typing on my redox than I do with a non-split (even ergo non-splits). My arms are in a far more natural position and so is my wrist thanks to the te…

Post by rickyc091 » Mon, Dec 16, 2019, 4:25 PM UTC

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…

Post by rumanator » Mon, Dec 16, 2019, 4:34 PM UTC

clarry wrote: post #276

MrMorden wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've used the €50 keyboard; it's certainly better than the €5 keyboard (at retail) that ships with most desktops, but it's still not anywhere near as good as a Kinesis or Maltron, the cost of either is less than 1‰ (so a rounding error of a rounding error) of the cost of employing me for a year, and they'll last longer than the five-year depreciation period for office equipment.

Yep. I've used a Kinesis Advantage Pro for some 10-15 years. I used Microsoft Natural Ergonomic for a year or two but it's not comparable. One can easily spend more in coffee over a few months than it costs to buy one of these somewhat better keyboards.