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The CODE Keyboard

codinghorror.com

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Re: The CODE Keyboard

#151

Post by gavinpc »

fhd2 wrote: post #81
stormbrew wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there actually any evidence ergonomic keyboards reduce risk of RSI? Last time I looked into it it seemed like marketing fluff with no actual studies that backed it up.

RSI is a complex thing. Some people have pain that is fixed by uniquely shaped keyboards, others need to just switch ctrl and capslock, get rid of the numpad or whatever. I don't think there is such a thing as a keyboard that cures any kind of RSI. But I do think something super flexible like the Kinesis Freestyle comes close.

I love emacs, but I can definitely see how rms got RSI.

Like Jeff, I was not content with any of the available keyboards. I have two Kinesis Freestyles (the old one and the new one), and they are both great. But the halves only separate by 20", which is not enough to mount them on armrests.

So, I cut the separator cord one night, only to find that it contained twenty fine, individually shielded wires. At length, I reconnected them with an extension piece (three CAT-5 cables), first with breadboard (proof of concept), and eventually with soldering, heatshrink wrap, etc. I am NOT a hardware guy, and this took forever. But it was worth it.

Freestyle nitpicks: (1) The hardwired keys along the left (C-x, C-C, C-v, etc) are pointless and easy to hit by accident, yet hard to find on purpose. (2) "B" should be on both sides. (3) It would be nice if the two spacebars were distinguishable. I'd map one of them to Ctrl.

Mapping caps lock to ctrl is invaluable. (Except when you're on someone else's machine and you're constantly WRITING IN CAPS.)

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#152

Post by mynameisvlad »

Sukotto wrote: post #51
frewsxcv wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If only they were cheaper :/

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.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#153

Post by Pyrodogg »

alexgartrell wrote: post #44

Anyone have any thoughts on the difference between this 87 key keyboard and the leopold tenkeyless? I've been using an ancient wired 87 key apple keyboard that I love but I'm intrigued. http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,tenkeyles...

I have two Leopold 87s w/ Cherry Browns, at work and home. I love them. They also have a solid build quality and with the Cherry Browns, they still have a slight 'clack' but not to loud. Never once had a complaint from a coworker. Never experienced the Cherry Clear switches.

I don't see backlighting as a necessary feature. I almost never have to look at my keyboard. If I do there's generally enough ambient light, even if the lights are off, my monitor throws enough around.

I run Windows so media key's are more than easily compensated for by AutoHotKey. Instead of Fn+Key you can make whatever shortcut you want. Obvously a different equation for other OSs.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#154

Post by Aldo_MX »

The perfect keyboard for me is the Logitech Wireless Solar K750, but it has 2 big flaws:

a) It discharges in around 3 days of heavy coding, and requires real sunlight, I had to leave the keyboard at the garden when the battery exhausted, and there are no alternate ways to charge it (the least I expected was a detachable USB cord).

b) Hardcoded limit of 40 pairings and no indication of that limit unless it won't pair anymore, I used to have two "Unifying receivers", one at home, one at the office, so I exhausted that limit relatively fast... It was frustrating and disappointing when I reached that limit...

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#155

Post by mbell »

X-Istence wrote: post #97

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.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#156

Post by numo16 »

laureny wrote: post #146

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…

Switching to colemak has helped to alleviate a lot of the wrist pains I was having for a while. http://colemak.com/

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#157

Post by r-s »

jra101 wrote: post #6

I was hoping for a mechanical keyboard laid out like the Microsoft Natural Keyboard. This one looks just like every other mechanical keyboard.

I would buy that. I have very large hands and this keyboard is the most comfortable one I have ever used by far. I have a good mechanical keyboard which caused me nothing but pain.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#158

Post by davexunit »

baby wrote: post #144

I got really excited at first reading this, someone agreeing with me that keyboards nowadays were not evolving. And yes good mechanical keyboards matter, but that's not what we should improve them on. A good keyboard should have : usb 3.0 ports, mic/headphones entries, wheel to control the sound etc...

No. A keyboard should have keys for typing and nothing more. Do one thing and do it well.

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#159

Post by mixmastamyk »

kepano wrote: post #140
X-Istence wrote: post #97

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 had the same experience. After hearing friends rave about mechanical keyboards I ordered a custom one from WASD. Great build quality though custom engravings are less sharp than I expected. It's a lot of fun to click clack away on, but within 2-3 weeks I developed serious wrist pains that I had never experienced before. My typing wasn't any faster, the noise was distracting (even with "quieter" Cherry Brown switche…

Did you use a "wrist rest" up front?

Re: The CODE Keyboard

#160

Post by thristian »

madsushi wrote: post #96
codinghorror wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can choose Dvorak, Colemak, QWERTY via dipswitches on the back. As well as Mac (Alt/Command), disable Windows Key, switch Caps Lock with Ctrl, etc. It comes with a key puller, so you can easily swap the keys with whatever keycaps you like. WASD sells tons of different keycaps. I love ergonomic keyboards too but for a mass market item we wanted to follow the classic standards everyone knows first and foremost. Per…

Do note that you will need new keycaps to use Dvorak or Colemak. Each row of keys in a WASD keyboard has a slightly different height/slope, so you can't move the keys around between rows (without having all of your keys being different heights, that is). You'd have to order new keycaps with the correct letters AND the right height/slopes.

...or learn to touch-type, which anybody motivated enough to switch to Dvorak or Colemak is probably doing anyway.
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