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Show HN: Split Keyboards Gallery

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Re: Show HN: Split Keyboards Gallery

#101

Post by bbojan »

Cu3PO42 wrote: post #96
mholm wrote: post #9

Anybody have the moonlander and enjoy it? I currently have an ergodox infinity, and want something I can swap to Kailh Choc White switches. The layout and programming seems perfect for me, though I'm disappointing that it's still wired.

I very much enjoy my Moonlander. This is my first split keyboard so I have limited reference points, but the layout still seems quite sensible overall. There's a few things I wish were slightly different, though: The lowermost of the three thumb keys and the red keys are a bit of a stretch to reach and I already have rather large hands. The two keys on the bottom row closest to the center are quite comfortable to rea…

I have the same issue with the ErgodoxEZ (I have small hands) - most of the thumb keys are too far, so I use the lowest index finger keys in their place.

I'm looking into Kyria as an alternative.

Re: Show HN: Split Keyboards Gallery

#102

Post by noir_lord »

stevekemp wrote: post #87
sequoia wrote: post #81

I am up past my bedtime typing on hacker news just to mega-disagree about the goldtouch keyboard, of which I own multiple and have used exclusively for over 10 years to manage serious RSI which has left me debilitated at times and will probably never resolve fully. The goldtouch is a fantastic ergonomic keyboard. I’m sure others are just as good or better and didn’t object to the authors criticisms until s/he suggest…

I had the same feeling; I've been using the Microsoft Ergonomic keyboards for what feels like the past 10-15 years now: http://xahlee.info/kbd/microsoft_ergonomic_keyboard.html Every time I change job I bring my own with me, or persuade the company to buy me one. I did experiment with an actually-split keyboard back in the late 90s; two pieces joined by a short cable, but it was really difficult to use and so I gave…

I did the same at every job for the last decade - either work buys an Ergo 4000 or I buy an Ergo 4000 and clear it with IT (honestly that was one place, I did it out of courtesy, I just took the new sealed in box to where IT sat and asked "ok if I use this?" and they said sure).

These days I'm WFH forever and can use whatever the hell I want (work issues a stipend for hardware).

The Ergo 4000 is such a large part of my computing experience that I have a stockpile of new in box units as a hedge against their eventual discontinuation.

I've yet to have one die though, I wear the letters off fairly quickly but otherwise they are tough little beasts and easy enough to take apart and clean.

Re: Show HN: Split Keyboards Gallery

#103

Post by AzzieElbab »

mholm wrote: post #9

Anybody have the moonlander and enjoy it? I currently have an ergodox infinity, and want something I can swap to Kailh Choc White switches. The layout and programming seems perfect for me, though I'm disappointing that it's still wired.

I have a dying kinesics freestyle and the moonlander. The moonlander has been laying idle since I got it because I can’t find the time to learn it. Any advice on how to get started quick? I am switching between a Linux laptop and a macbook

Re: Show HN: Split Keyboards Gallery

#104

Post by leg100 »

srcreigh wrote: post #27

Cool site. I didn't notice this much selection last year. I just ended buying a Kinesis Advantage 2. I'm very happy with the advantage 2. I'm curious about boards with smaller keys, more compact layout, or extra keys in the same space. The advantage 2 gives you easy access to the arrow keys with no loss of access to other keys. Eliminates the whole efficient arrow usage problem, or gives you more keys for commands if…

I really persevered with a kinesis but the thumb keys were awkward regardless of the posture of my hands and wrists.

I really liked the arrow key placement though. They are badly placed on mainstream keyboards for touch typists.

Re: Show HN: Split Keyboards Gallery

#105

Post by opan »

salted-fry wrote: post #15

I like the idea of a split keyboard, but I've never been able to go down that road because I sometimes hit keys with the "wrong" finger - most notably, I need to be able to hit B with my right hand because it's down-left in roguelikes (i.e. Nethack). What I'd love to see is a "106% keyboard", where a couple columns are duplicated on both the left/right side. Does anybody make such a keyboard?

You can unlearn the habit with time. Also, I've played roguelikes (such as CDDA) using dvorak and no numpad. Even with the movement keys spread out, it's not bad. Helps that they're turn-based games. I remap all the keys in Minetest and Xonotic.

Re: Show HN: Split Keyboards Gallery

#106

Post by Agingcoder »

blhack wrote: post #39

How on earth do people actually type on some of these? I have a keyboardio model 01(this: https://shop.keyboard.io/collections/model-01-keycaps/produc... ) And even this feels like I'm having to function dive into weird chords of keys to get some of the functionality that I want (arrow keys, mostly). Are people just not actually writing code with these ultra minimalist things?

Agreed! I tried all kinds of keyboards, and intensely dislike all these smaller ones, which I find absolutely unusable for anything more complex than typing email. Some people quite visibly disagree with me

I eventually settled on a kinesis ergo edge, which I really like.

Re: Show HN: Split Keyboards Gallery

#107

Post by ZeroGravitas »

sequoia wrote: post #81

I am up past my bedtime typing on hacker news just to mega-disagree about the goldtouch keyboard, of which I own multiple and have used exclusively for over 10 years to manage serious RSI which has left me debilitated at times and will probably never resolve fully. The goldtouch is a fantastic ergonomic keyboard. I’m sure others are just as good or better and didn’t object to the authors criticisms until s/he suggest…

I think the Kenesis Freestyle (all variants) does tent? It's just an optional add-on, not part of the base kit.

And I assumed having the mass-market ones grouped was mostly intended to let you filter the other ones out (assuming you're trying to buy one, and not just read about wacky historical curiousities). At least how I used it when recently exploring this market (in the end I decided to stick with my Kinesis Advantage, though I did buy some new keys and o-rings to reduce noise slightly)

edit: after looking for the Goldtouch review, I now understand what you mean. It's grouped under the the list of standard options that he has reviews for, not called out on it's own. But if it is basically just an inferior version of anothere near identical product, then I guess that's fair enough.

Re: Show HN: Split Keyboards Gallery

#108

Post by opan »

throw14082020 wrote: post #7
eimrine wrote: post #2

So sad all of those are qwerty.

I believe its recommended (on Colemak guide) to avoid moving keycaps. You will move the F and J key bumps and find it harder to localize your hand to the keyboard. It also prevents your brain from cheating (reading the keys) instead of training muscle memory.

Agreed about the bumps, but with mechanical keyboards it's easy to change keycaps. You can get blank caps with a bump or "deep dish", and also many of the high end sets have a "homing kit" addon that throws in U, D, T, and N homing keys. This covers dvorak, colemak, and workman layouts.

Here's a set with a homing kit. https://novelkeys.xyz/products/kam-superuser-gb?variant=3789... https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/3099/8088/products/homing_...

It has even more keycaps than usual!

Re: Show HN: Split Keyboards Gallery

#109

Post by chewxy »

jrockway wrote: post #70
jrockway wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I switched to a Moonlander from an Ergodox and am liking it. I ended up not liking their built-in tenting mechanism, so 3D printed my own shims that screw to the back, allowing me to tent the keyboard but also tilt the "wings" upwards. Very comfortable! One thing I thought I hated about the Ergodox was how inaccessible the small keys on the thumb cluster were, and I thought I would like 3 big keys better. It turns ou…

I forgot that I use Twitter sometimes and have pictures of another Moonlander experiment: mounting it to my chair! https://twitter.com/petersergeant/status/1356057651931537408 I did eventually get parts for both sides. One of the flexible arm clamp tripod mount thingies was not stiff enough to hold the keyboard up, but the other one was great. Since they were both the same part from the same order... it's kind of a c…

I tried mounting my Ergodox EZ to my chair like you (almost exactly too: 3D printed mount + gorillapod). I found the TRRS cable between the halves to be very very annoying to get in and out of the chair. How did you solve that problem? I once tripped and broke the mount (PLA is brittle) when I went to answer my intercom.

Re: Show HN: Split Keyboards Gallery

#110

Post by chewxy »

xudongz wrote: post #55
xbeta wrote: post #31

I have been looking for a keyboard, but fails to find one. - ergonomics - wireless (bluetooth or a tiny USB dongle is OK) - mechanical keys - mac cmd-key - below $200 USD I am not sure why it is so difficult to find one like that :-(

I recently developed a high end wireless ErgoDox keyboard [1] though I'm working on a more affordable version that will be announced in March/April. It will be around $200 with all the components (some minor assembly required). If you would like to be notified, please subscribe to my mailing list [2] for "ErgoDox Wireless Lite". If you are interested in details, you can also reach me via email (see profile). [1] http…

Do you also offer assembly services? As someone who recently been unable to work on electronic components (small parts, easily swallowable, in a small apartment = danger), I'd highly appreciate it
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