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Split Keyboard for Professionals

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Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#151

Post by jdhawk »

ISL wrote: post #24
dkdk8283 wrote: post #15

I used the microsoft natural keyboard for years and now the kinesis freestyle. I don’t know why split keyboards aren’t more popular. Proper ergonomics are important or your career could be interrupted due to RSI.

I started out using Microsoft Natural keyboards in the 90s. Ergonomic pain using straight keyboards at work brought me back to them in the 2010s. The Sculpt (wireless) is really wonderful. Favorite keyboard ever for me. (<-- that sentence, and this one, typed on a Sculpt. Thank you, unknown engineers.)

unless you use the function keys, which are a different size, height and click actuation.

horrid.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#152

Post by simias »

bovinegambler wrote: post #130
bamazizi wrote: post #115

I've had Ergodox EZ for 5+ months, and not loving it at all! It's unnatural and uncomfortable. Tried changing switches a few times, armrest changed, angels and keyboard layout adjusted many times and it's not any better. I feel I have to force myself to keep trying to use it because of the cost! I'm not sure if it's worth it at all, none of the parts are that expensive but I guess novelty cost money. I bought it beca…

I'm not going to accuse reviewers of dishonesty but I very much agree about the discomfort. I've tried all sorts of placements and tilts and layouts but it's always awkward. I'm guessing that the discrepancy may be people with different sized hands. I find it such an awkward reach from the home position to hit anything on the middle columns or outside the two large bars in the thumb cluster. Also the 'wing' wrist res…

The Ergodox's thumb cluster is pretty widely considered suboptimal, I personally manage to use all three bottom keys but the other three are pretty unusable with the thumb (I tend to use them for media keys that I rarely use with the index and middle fingers). Hand size definitely matters, the Ergodox is pretty crap for people with smaller hands in particular.

Now I'm lucky enough to have large enough hands to use it comfortably and I really enjoy the experience.

I also don't use the wristrests at all, but that's true for any keyboard, not just the EZ. I just don't like them.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#153

Post by whoisburbansky »

stavros wrote: post #132
ashtonkem wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Disagree whole heartedly. The benefits of ortho is minor compared to the split, but it’s still there. And if you’re already willing to buy an expensive split mechanical keyboard, what’s the drawback?

The drawback is that you'll spend months learning to type again, and you won't be nearly as fast as you were. That's what happened for me, at least.

Counter anecdote; I switched to split ortho a couple weeks ago and it didn't take much more than a week of consistently using only the new keyboard to get back up to normal speeds. The ortho seems to have made it much easier for me to touch type, as a result of which I now make fewer errors and generally barely ever consciously think about the actual action of typing.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#154

Post by coldpie »

Benjamin_Dobell wrote: post #141
craigkilgo wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is my exact thought. I love it, but I'm about to retire my second one. It's almost worth just paying the price for a new one every couple of years though. I have two of the older Microsoft Natural keyboards from decades ago that I periodically switch to and they will probably last another 20 years.

I've got two MS Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000s in my cupboard. I'm currently on a Sculpt, but much preferred the 4000s. Unfortunately I uncovered their weakness - humidity. I work from home with evaporative cooling over summer. The first unit lasted a few years, but died on a humid summer day. Next one only lasted 12 months, again dying on a humid summer day. First unit is irrecoverably dead. The second would come…

Yes, the MS Naturals absolutely dissolve when exposed to water. I've destroyed at least a half-dozen over my lifetime by spilling small amounts of water on them. Only takes one drop to destroy some keys. Just after I finished high school, in the mid-2000s, I stocked up and bought four of them. Two of them have been wrecked since then, but the other two are still going strong. Still haven't seen a keyboard that I want to replace them with, but at some point, these will give up the ghost and I'll have to find something new to try.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#155

Post by simias »

haywirez wrote: post #58

I've been looking for a "blank" mechanical keyboard with cherry mx silent red switches — is it possible to add those to the options?

The Ergodox EZ can come with Red switches (both silent or not). It's also got hotswappable switches which is pretty cool IMO, you can change your switches whenever you want without having to desolder or even unscrew anything.

I can really recommend this keyboard if you find the Ergodox layout comfortable, they're very well built.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#156

Post by simias »

Symbiote wrote: post #148
gotoliao wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That makes me wonder why Logitech is not mass producing one already!

Logitech used to make a split keyboard -- it was the first split keyboard I owned. It had normal keys rather than the low-profile ones I dislike. This year, they introduced a low-profile split keyboard [1], but wanting a normal-profile one is what led me to assemble a DIY kit myself. [1] $130: https://www.logitech.com/en-us/products/keyboards/k860-split...

Uh. I blame Apple for making flat profile keyboards trendy on the desktop. I really dislike them as well and they're all over the place now.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#157

Post by [deleted] »

kbenth wrote: post #137
valarauko wrote: post #122

Can somebody compare the UHK to the Ergodox-Ez/Moonlander? I've just started a new job and hope to use the initial downtime to adapt to an ergonomic keyboard. Since I understand it'll be a major adjustment, I've been considering alternative layouts as well. I've never learnt touch typing, so why not start from scratch on a better system? I'm leaning Colmak mod DH for the Moonlander, but I'd appreciate any insights on…

Colemak (any mod) + Ergodox/Moonlander - The user is not only serious about ergonomics, but has the will to put in the effort required to learn better tools of the trade. UHK/Kenesis non-advantage series - The user is not serious about ergonomics and lacks any drive to use better tools. Status quo is the driving factor in choice.

[deleted]

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#159

Post by ianhowson »

bradly wrote: post #149
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…

> when I am on web meetings, I have to be on mute, because everyone finds the KB noise too loud when I am typing Have you looked into swapping out the switches? It looks like they aren't hot-swappable, but de-soldering switches isn't too difficult and there are a ton of amazing silent switches out right now. Check out Zealios for a great silent tactile switch.

I modded my Kinesis Edge with Holtite sockets to get hotswap capability.

I use Zilents on my daily driver. They're pretty quiet as far as mech switches go, but still a lot noisier than a standard laptop keyboard. No complaints so far.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#160

Post by chrisBob »

jjkaczor wrote: post #98
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. That has been my biggest re-learning curve - but with only the 6/7 numeric keys (which, apparently I use often) - the one thing that I would have loved with the Kinesis RGB Edge, would have been a dedicated number pad on the right-side. >Another is key action. You want proper mechanical keys. Kinesis RGB Edge allows you to choose…

Kinesis Freestyle Pro has Cherry mx brown or silent red and shaves a little money compared to the RGB version
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