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Split keyboards and how to build them

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Re: Split keyboards and how to build them

#61

Post by mech422 »

Merad wrote: post #47
betwixthewires wrote: post #45

I'm curious why none of these split designs ever feature a trackball on the right half integrated into the board somehow. There are plenty of FOSS trackball designs, it seems like it would just make sense, especially for ergonomic designs, to have a trackball set up where you don't have to move your hand over to move a cursor. Also I don't understand why they're always missing function keys.

The Ultimate Hacking Keyboard supports a trackball or trackpad attached to the right half. The expansion modules just recently became available though so it may be hard to find reviews or people with hands on experience.

They finally released the trackball module? Cool... I'll have to look for some reviews - I'm concerned the actual trackball looks a bit small?

Edit: are you sure they started shipping? the shop page still says under development?

Re: Split keyboards and how to build them

#62

Post by presentation »

I love the split layouts, I'm using a Redox Wireless as my daily driver :) Though I wonder, DIY keyboards usually focus on stuff like nice mechanical keyboard action, which to be honest I don't really care about that much. I would kill for a fully wireless Redox-like layout keyboard that has enough keys so you don't need to memorize weird chords to do things, just used normal chiclet keys, is as small and light as possible, and had a wireless receiver that doesn't suck (my Redox Wireless has a range of maybe 1 foot and freaks out all the time). The Kinesis Freestyle 2 is about as close as I could find (without a thumb cluster), but it's still pretty hefty and isn't fully wireless, plus I somewhat prefer the responsiveness and convenience of a Logitech-style unifying keyboard USB dongle over Bluetooth; and I found this other split keyboard [1], but it seems to be no longer produced.

I just wish there was a mass-market split ergo keyboard with similar form factor/polish as the Apple Magic Keyboard or one of any of the common Logitech keyboards out there.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/peripheral-logix-uekb-rf-ultraergo-wi...

Re: Split keyboards and how to build them

#63

Post by presentation »

srcreigh wrote: post #55
randmeerkat wrote: post #38

All I want is a low profile, wireless ergodox, with an aluminum chassis. I would willingly pay $500+ for such a keyboard, but it just doesn’t exist.

I think bluetooth is just hard to get right. I was recently in the market for a Filco Majestouch Minila keyboard. I was very scared off by a few reviews which said that bluetooth just stopped working after a while. Is $500 worth it if it could break after a year? Maybe if it was under warranty. Anyway I opted for the wired version. Never mind my Logitech MX Master 2 mouse which I could never get to work using Bluetoo…

A USB dongle would be fine! If there was a FOSS one as good as the Logitech Unifying Receiver that would be incredible.

I use the Redox Wireless [1], maybe check that one out? The receiver has an incredibly small range though, and it's not low profile unfortunately...

[1] https://falba.tech/19644-2/?v=24d22e03afb2

Re: Split keyboards and how to build them

#64

Post by germ »

__mharrison__ wrote: post #50

I get that these are expensive... But they might be a career saver. Listen to your body. If your fingers and wrists are telling you something, take action. It doesn't have to be an expensive split. (I have an ergodox with the Norman keyboard layout with other firmware goodies as well as running AutoHotKeys to give me emacs bindings all over the place.)

This. And don't underestimate how much a Keymap can be changed to fit your specific workflow. My Keymap (the default) [0] for GergoPlex is very Vim/i3/Linux orientated, but that's just because it's what I use. If you're not programming your keyboard, _why?!_

I get a ton of emails from people that wreck their hands from bad ergonomics/keyboards and are trying to find a solution. It's bloddy disgusting that we still use something like a 104/QWERTY on such a crucial input device.

[0] https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRS_TOYuIQQ/XhRERox3moI/AAAAAAABE...

[1] https://www.gboards.ca/product/gergoplex

Re: Split keyboards and how to build them

#65

Post by mech422 »

Kaze404 wrote: post #41

I bought an Ergo Dox a couple years ago. It was by far my most expensive investment so far (due to exchange rates and import taxes) but it was a complete game changer for me. As much as I was sold on it, a part of me still thought I was being duped into buying something that wouldn't really help me in any way but I'm so glad I was wrong. Typing on the Ergo Dox feels like a completely different experience from regular…

My Ergo Dox is 'ok'. I tricked it out with Kailh box navies and it feels nice except the thumb clusters appear to be designed for wilt chamberlain. The moon lander tries to overcome that with the adjustable tilt on the thumb clusters, but I'm custom printing a dactyl instead. Might as well make one fully tailored to my hands...

Re: Split keyboards and how to build them

#66

Post by fpgaminer »

__mharrison__ wrote: post #50

I get that these are expensive... But they might be a career saver. Listen to your body. If your fingers and wrists are telling you something, take action. It doesn't have to be an expensive split. (I have an ergodox with the Norman keyboard layout with other firmware goodies as well as running AutoHotKeys to give me emacs bindings all over the place.)

I read a blog post on Coding Horror back in the mid 2000s about the importance of a good chair. It really opened my eyes and convinced me that, regardless of the cost, an ergonomic working environment is worth every penny.

So fast forward about two decades ... and I finally bought my first ergonomic chair...

It's stunning how stubborn we can be, even when we know for certain that something is good for us. I don't even know why I put it off for so long.

All I can really say is, don't be me. Listen to comments like the one I'm replying to. Get good equipment. Your body will thank you later.

P.S. Self Rant: I was gonna write that the reason I put it off so long is that $1000 for a chair is a big number no matter how much I may believe in its benefit ... but then, the chair I ended up buying was like $500, delivered, with all the upgrades, because it was remanufactured and on a black friday sale. Why didn't I buy one sooner!? The hell is wrong with me?

Re: Split keyboards and how to build them

#67

Post by rattray »

I use an Apple Magic Keyboard with my left hand and my macbook keyboard with my right. I prop the laptop up a bit so the external keyboard is half underneath the laptop.

Simple, and keeps my fingers accustomed to the apple layout for when I need to type away from my desk. Also keeps my thumb on the trackpad.

Not as ergonomic as others, but for my shoulders a huge step up from just a normal keyboard

Re: Split keyboards and how to build them

#68

Post by alasdair_ »

nbzso wrote: post #3

Speaking of real ergonomic and health in my humble opinion, the designs with Concave keywell (Kinesis/Dactyl) are the way to go. I have jumped on to Kinesis Advantage 2 and all my wrist pain is no more.

I love the Kinesis (I own two of them). I just wish they made the exact same keyboard but in a split model.

As an aside, if you buy a Kinesis, look at getting the “LF” version of the Advantage, it comes with Cherry MX Reds instead of the defaults and the difference is enormous.

Re: Split keyboards and how to build them

#69

Post by mech422 »

wussboy wrote: post #11
Pet_Ant wrote: post #10

I just ordered the evolved version of the Ergodox EZ, the Moonlander. https://www.zsa.io/moonlander/ I expect it plus relearning Dvorak will be a pain but I want to set myself up for life and it seems like a good investment.

I'm sure everyone has an opinion about this, but if encourage you to learn Colemak instead of Dvorak. All of the standard keywords shortcuts (copy, paste, undo) are two hand operations in Dvorak which for me was a huge break up of my workflow.

Workman(1) might also be worth a try. Supposed to reduce pinky usage, overall finger travel, and balance left/right hand usage, compared Dvorak and Colemak

edit: carpalx(2) is another. I think that was one of the ones generated by a genetic algorithm for key placement?

1) https://workmanlayout.org/ 2) http://pinouchon.github.io/keyboard/layouts/2016/03/07/layou...

Re: Split keyboards and how to build them

#70

Post by __mharrison__ »

fpgaminer wrote: post #66
__mharrison__ wrote: post #50

I get that these are expensive... But they might be a career saver. Listen to your body. If your fingers and wrists are telling you something, take action. It doesn't have to be an expensive split. (I have an ergodox with the Norman keyboard layout with other firmware goodies as well as running AutoHotKeys to give me emacs bindings all over the place.)

I read a blog post on Coding Horror back in the mid 2000s about the importance of a good chair. It really opened my eyes and convinced me that, regardless of the cost, an ergonomic working environment is worth every penny. So fast forward about two decades ... and I finally bought my first ergonomic chair... It's stunning how stubborn we can be, even when we know for certain that something is good for us. I don't eve…

Sorry about that. When I'm not standing I am in a pretty retro chair... I get a lot of flak on Twitter but it works for me...

(I have another ergo/padded chair but my back/hind isn't giving me signals)

https://mobile.twitter.com/__mharrison__/status/134632333728...

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