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Split Keyboard for Professionals

ultimatehackingkeyboard.com

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Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#101

Post by cwxm »

jjkaczor wrote: post #79

Myself, I have been using a Kinesis RGB Edge with the "lift-kit" for about a month. Have never been a perfect, trained touch-typist - so there has been a learning curve, but it is worth it. My wrists feel so much better, and I am almost back to full speed. (Previously, I would just use laptop KB's). The only complaints... Not from me, but when I am on web meetings, I have to be on mute, because everyone finds the KB…

One suggestion I can give you is to get a dynamic microphone. It won't pick up quite loud keyboards behind/below it (if it does, it'll sound like really soft switches).

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#102

Post by Symbiote »

anotherevan wrote: post #70
anotherevan wrote: post #68

I'm a long time MS Natural 4000 user. That said, I think the X-Bows Knight keyboard looks interesting. Thumb keys for enter, ctrl and shift. Still has function keys which a lot of these other keyboards don't (and some of us still use). https://x-bows.com/products/x-bows-knight-ergonomic-mechanic...

I've also gotten very use to the media and additional silver buttons along the top of the MS Natural 4000, which I've set as short-cuts for various things. I almost need a separate little keypad that I can program before I give up the 4000.

> I almost need a separate little keypad that I can program before I give up the 4000.

Search "Macropad", versions exist from 2×3 keys right up to about half a normal keyboard.

There are a few shown here: http://xahlee.info/kbd/programable_keypads.html

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#104

Post by stronglikedan »

MrPowers wrote: post #3

I use a Kinesis Advantage and it's great (not quite split, but close). I'll look into getting an actual split keyboard that's more portable. The Kinesis is massive and terrible for travel. You can easily switch between Kinesis key placement and regular keyboards. It's like training your brain to be multilingual. Try Emacs keybindings on a keyboard that has modifier keys easily accessible for your right and left thumb…

I use the Microsoft Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 [0] for portability. It lays over my laptop keyboard without changing the profile significantly, and it fits into any bag virtually unnoticeably. It's honestly one of my favorite non-mechanical keyboards. The trouble is finding one at a reasonable price, which is why I limit its use to while on laptop-only.

[0] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NP8XJ0

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#105

Post by simon1573 »

Ndymium wrote: post #61
sasaf5 wrote: post #37

I wish it had a longer interconnecting wire. One issue with normal keyboards is that it forces your shoulders to round forwards. I currently use two normal keyboards side by side, which allows me to type with my chest open.

If you happen to have a 4P4C crimping tool around, it's very easy to make a longer cable, which is what I did. If you don't, then at least I found it pretty difficult to find a 4P4C crossover cable in Finland. But it should be findable online.

I was under the impression that UHK uses a common "phone cable", at least common here in the north?

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#106

Post by sleepybrett »

philote wrote: post #85
buzzy_hacker wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it’s more individualistic. I switched to ortho (Kinesis Advantage), and it only took a couple days to get back to my prior typing speed.

Agreed, it didn't take long for me to learn to use the Advantage. But before that I had tried it a few times and got frustrated that I wasn't immediately able to use it. I'm glad I finally took the time though, because I love this keyboard.

I think the advantage is way easier to use and way more comfortable than any of it's 'flat clones'. I've been on one advantage or another for about 20 years. I picked up a used ergodox awhile back because they look kinda cool and I wanted to try out a split. Resold it only a couple of weeks later because it's 'just worse' than an advantage. You hands need to be huge (and mine are) and it still feels like you are reaching all the time. The thumb cluster is way less comfortable.

Since I printed/wired myself a dactyl. Great little kb.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#107

Post by 1-more »

simias wrote: post #35
wegs wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most are horrible. One of the reasons is overlap. Your hands do occasionally hit keys on the other side. You want a pair of 2/3 keyboards, rather than 1/2 keyboards. You /especially/ want a lot of the "special" keys on both sides. Another is key action. You want proper mechanical keys. A third is mounting. That's a problem which hasn't really been figured out. The middle hinge or fixed setup is definitely sub-ideal.…

>One of the reasons is overlap. Your hands do occasionally hit keys on the other side. When I switched to a split keyboard I did have this problem at first (with the B and 6 keys in particular on a QWERTY layout) but it took me a week to relearn that. In particular if you use an ortholinear layout on each side there's really no reason to go fishing for keys with the wrong hand. This in turn means that you can add new…

>Split keyboards are $$$.

Hell you can get a kit for a Let's Split for probably under $125 if you hit used markets for the switches and caps. The kit for everything but switches and caps is $54.99 [1]

1. https://mehkee.com/collections/featured-home-page/products/l...

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#108

Post by dustincoates »

I've had a UHK for a couple of years now, and I'm really enjoying it. The things I enjoy the most are the mouse layer (controlling the cursor through the keyboard), and the fact that macros and other changes to the keyboard layout are saved directly to the keyboard, so that they go with me no matter the computer.

The only thing I don't like is the long wait for the modules. It's been about 3.5 years since I ordered and the ETA keep shifting. (They were supposed to ship in July, and then September. We haven't gotten the monthly update yet, but I'm doubtful they'll ship them all out this week.) With that said, they're doing something new, so I try to be mindful of the delay, and others won't have to wait for the keyboard, at least.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#109

Post by 1-more »

andykx wrote: post #10
oskardenandre wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe because for most use cases the classic keyboard is enough, and the fact that it's the norm. With that said, I cannot go back to a non-split keyboard. When I use them I feel so cramped. Split design for life!

I like that it allows me to open my chest a bit. I keep the two halves pretty far apart. It's genuinely made a difference in terms of shoulder and back pain.

So true! Arms can be neutral on my arm rests, trackpad in between the two halves.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#110

Post by sleepybrett »

chaorace wrote: post #78
StavrosK wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm, really? What did they open your brain to? I didn't see any benefit, it's just harder.

Can't speak for OP, but I've found that staggered layouts are rather non-standardized when it comes to the severity of the slant. As a consequence, my muscle memory is all over the place when touch typing, especially for the third row (ZXCVBN). Ortholinears, of course, are all exactly the same, which lets me type with more confidence. I don't type any faster, but I do suffer fewer typos for words that require multipl…

Yeah there, in my experience, keyboards can come with generally two different layouts for the bottom alpha row, it's a slight move, only about half a unit (where a unit is the width of one key), but it's significant.
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