161–170 of 335 posts
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I had the same problem and solved it by switching the mouse to my left hand. It was awkward at first but then I got used to it. I move my left hand about three inches to get the mouse. With my right hand (using the old MS split keyboard) it was nearly a foot!
But then how do you cut and paste? Ctrl-Z, X, C, V are going to be hard to reach if you're mousing with your left hand.
Using a Unicomp Customizer 104 at home, and one with the trackpoint at work. Love them both, though don't use the trackpoint much... I have a TSR for Win+[]\ (volume down/up/mute respectively and that is all I really need. Though they're really noisy (buckling spring), so the cherry clear switches on the CODE Keyboard do appeal to me. I'd like to see an option for mac key layout though.
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I'm the opposite. I used to use ergonomic keyboards, including a Kinesis keyboard many years ago. It never solved my RSI pain. What did solve my RSI pain was simple: posture. The height of my desk/chair/keyboard/mouse/monitor were not in proper alignment. Once I properly adjusted all heights the pain went away in weeks. I also got a tenkeyless (Filco Majestouch 2) mechanical keyboard, which helped for its form factor…
Do you have a setup guide you recommend that others follow, or did you do it by feel and what felt comfortable to you?
The middle image is how I used to be. My fixed desk was too high (even with my chair at maximum height) and so my arm/wrist was bent up.
I then got a height-adjustable desk and a monitor stand, and I made my setup more like the top image. However, my monitor is quite a bit higher that what is shown in that first image. I look straight ahead and don't tilt my head down.
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When pricing tools you have to consider the cost per time-unit, or cost per use. Looking at the total cost is a waste of time. How often do you input text into a computer (or sleep in a bed, or whatever ). What is the hourly (or daily) cost of it over some reasonable timeframe (1 year, for example). At what price point is owning a better tool worth it? (health wise, opportunity cost wise, etc).
Yes, but your time-unit won't change if you get a Kinesis Advantage over a regular keyboard, so, even per time-unit, it's still more expensive.
I don't understand what the obsession is with the old IBM Model M type keyboards. I am able to type faster and more accurately on my Apple flat aluminum keyboard that I have ever been able to type on a Model M. On top of that, switching to a flatter keyboard that sits closer to the desk has actually caused any and all pain I used to get while typing to go away. The other thing is I'd miss the extra function keys I ge…
I've got two Model M keyboards at home. I could threaten to beat you with one for disagreeing that it's the best thing ever, knowing full well I could continue writing scathing retorts online with it immediately after, but I won't... Because it's not the best ever /for everyone/. I have an Apple keyboard at work. I don't love or hate it. I'm indifferent to it. But I can totally understand why it may be the right keyb…
The year on mine is 1993, which is when I graduated from high school.
While I can understand the appeal of mechanical keyboards (at least appeal for you but hatred from your coworkers), I really don't understand why any programmer today is still using a non-ergonomic keyboard. These straight keyboards will kill your wrists, forehands and tendons eventually. If you intend to be typing on a keyboard for more than the next five years and you're still using a straight keyboard, do yourself…
You can type on a straight keyboard with your wrists turned in like with an ergonomic keyboard.
I code, game on a standard keyboard, no issues - don't get me wrong, I've had RSI before, but it was down to technique, posture.
I don't understand what the obsession is with the old IBM Model M type keyboards. I am able to type faster and more accurately on my Apple flat aluminum keyboard that I have ever been able to type on a Model M. On top of that, switching to a flatter keyboard that sits closer to the desk has actually caused any and all pain I used to get while typing to go away. The other thing is I'd miss the extra function keys I ge…
I don't understand the fascination with keyboards by software developers. I spend a lot more of my day thinking, testing, navigating code, etc, than I do punching keys. There are a lot of professions where keyboard interaction is critical but I don't think software development is one of them.
navigating code
This keyboard looks awesome. Another mechanical keyboard that is very interesting is this new split-design one: http://ergodox.org
Why are we continuing to use staggered layouts on keyboards? It is clearly inefficient, and not difficult to switch to a matrix (ie. grid based) layout, since all of the keys are close to where they were before. Second question - in this day and age of easy connectors, why are numpads attached to the side of keyboards? What do left handed people do? Or people who don't use the numpad? Why not have the numpad detachab…
It's beyond me why the "Z with little finger" technique is so widespread. It's universally taught, yet you're obviously bending your fingers in an uncomfortable and unnatural direction when you go to press the bottom row.
No one's complaining about the staggered layout of the right-hand keys, because it matches how your fingers bend. Staggering is great when it matches the natural angle of your fingers on the keyboard.