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Split Keyboard for Professionals

ultimatehackingkeyboard.com

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Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#171

Post by tharne »

codazoda wrote: post #82
tharne wrote: post #77

I started using a dactyl manuform about two months ago and now I can't imagine typo on anything else. I'm already planning on order a second one for the office, assuming we ever return to it.

These keyboards look interesting but how does "space" work on it and how long did it take you to learn the non-qwerty parts of the layout (like space, hyphen, brackets, and tilde)?

As others have pointed out, it's fully programmable so you can have whatever layout you want.

That being said, it took me about 3-4 weeks to get used to the keyboard to the point where I wasn't frustrated all the time and about 2 months to get back to my regular typing speed. One big benefit - I was developing carpal tunnel and about 6 weeks after switching to the dactyl, all pain was gone.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#172

Post by zabil »

I use a MacBook pro and I really want to use a split keyboard for better ergonomics. I tried a few, however I feel that I need lift my arm to use a trackpad (external or the one on the mac) or a mouse, whereas on the mac I don't have to lift by hand I can just move my wrist.

The trackpad has a lot of nice features missing in a mouse. I use a lot of keyboard shortcuts but I still need to reach for the pad.

Does any body have a workaround for this?

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#173

Post by TacticalTable »

simias wrote: post #156
Symbiote wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Contrary viewpoint: I actually really enjoy Apple's chiclet keyswitches, and I think my dream keyboard is a wireless chiclet Ergodox.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#174

Post by wegs »

simias wrote: post #147
wegs wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My goalposts are "a keyboard which works for me." That's where they were, and that's where they will be. If I give up a few things I like about my existing keyboard to get what you like about your keyboard, that's a bad deal. I think that's true for most people. The type of mechanical keys on my keyboards really reduce the amount of strain on my wrist relative to membrane keyboards. It's not just a matter of taste. T…

I think it's you use of "horrible" that bothered me. I can understand being disappointed that a split keyboard doesn't have a trackpoint, but in no way does that make it "horrible" IMO.

Well, it's horrible for me.

I was responding to: "I am puzzled why there aren't more split keyboards on the market, they are such a good idea."

I would argue, for all the reasons I gave, most are horrible for most people. That's the context. You have to read in context. That doesn't mean they won't work for you. Most people want $5 keyboards. That's followed by a long tail of oddball keyboards, of which ergo are one breed.

Most of the keyboards I use would be horrible for most people too. But they work for me.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#175

Post by jberryman »

smoyer wrote: post #95

I've got two ErgoDox Infinity keyboards that I believe are about as ergonomic as you can get until you're willing to have only one key per finger. I'm in the process of forming the mold for a chording keyboard (and hacking platform). My intention is to create separate left and right hand molds based on a spherical-section that match the shape of a relaxed hand (think of watching an accomplished pianist). I'm going to…

I'd be really interested in hearing about how that goes

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#176

Post by acupofnope »

zabil wrote: post #172

I use a MacBook pro and I really want to use a split keyboard for better ergonomics. I tried a few, however I feel that I need lift my arm to use a trackpad (external or the one on the mac) or a mouse, whereas on the mac I don't have to lift by hand I can just move my wrist. The trackpad has a lot of nice features missing in a mouse. I use a lot of keyboard shortcuts but I still need to reach for the pad. Does any bo…

I use a split keyboard/trackball combination. The trackball sits right in the middle of the split. For me this is close enough experience to using the laptop/trackpad combination. On top of that, I'm using qmk firmware on my keyboard and I have a layer dedicated to mouse movements/actions. I find myself use that or the trackball like 50/50.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#177

Post by fwip »

acupofnope wrote: post #176
zabil wrote: post #172

I use a MacBook pro and I really want to use a split keyboard for better ergonomics. I tried a few, however I feel that I need lift my arm to use a trackpad (external or the one on the mac) or a mouse, whereas on the mac I don't have to lift by hand I can just move my wrist. The trackpad has a lot of nice features missing in a mouse. I use a lot of keyboard shortcuts but I still need to reach for the pad. Does any bo…

I use a split keyboard/trackball combination. The trackball sits right in the middle of the split. For me this is close enough experience to using the laptop/trackpad combination. On top of that, I'm using qmk firmware on my keyboard and I have a layer dedicated to mouse movements/actions. I find myself use that or the trackball like 50/50.

I'd love to see a shipping keyboard with a proper-size trackball in the thumb-wing.

I had half-baked plans to integrate the trackpad from a Steam controller into a custom build, but I got lost in the planning stages a while back.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#178

Post by emmanueloga_ »

another +1 for the kinesis gaming keyboard [1]. I use it without the hand rests that are too bulky for my taste.

One thing I noticed with split keyboards which is kinda funny... sometimes I suddenly start typing gibberish and the reason is, I seem to naturally get used to a certain distance between the split parts, but If I move one of the splits for some reason then one of the keyboard splits appear shifted. It seems for me I used the left split as reference, and so I need to adjust the right split from time to time. In theory I should use "F" and "J" for reference.. I guess I never learned to do that.

Edit: I do use a sticker over my caps lock on the left split [2] to make it easier to find it without looking. I wonder if that's the reason the left hand is always more "calibrated" than the right one? :-)

1: https://gaming.kinesis-ergo.com/edge/

2: https://www.amazon.com/Loc-Dots-Keyboard-Location-Dots-Clear...

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#179

Post by dividuum »

zabil wrote: post #172

I use a MacBook pro and I really want to use a split keyboard for better ergonomics. I tried a few, however I feel that I need lift my arm to use a trackpad (external or the one on the mac) or a mouse, whereas on the mac I don't have to lift by hand I can just move my wrist. The trackpad has a lot of nice features missing in a mouse. I use a lot of keyboard shortcuts but I still need to reach for the pad. Does any bo…

I also wonder why there's so few experimental keyboards with any kind of built-in mouse. Realistically you need one and I feel like switching one hand between the keyboard and mouse should be optimized as well. At the moment I'm using a 65% keyboard and a Logitech track ball next to it. I'm mostly happy, but I also feel it could be improved. The ThinkPad TrackPoint keyboard is probably the best solution I've found so far. In prehistoric times I've tried the TouchStream but that just didn't click for me.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#180

Post by boterock »

Kaze404 wrote: post #165
boterock wrote: post #158

If you're looking for keyboards, you may also be interested in keyboard layouts. I've been using Colemak for 5 years now, and I recommend everyone to try it out. https://colemak.com/

I tried learning Colemak at least 3 times now. What is your recommended approach? Grinding online exercises didn't really seem to do much for me.

If you're using Windows, you can download the portable version that shows a small overlay in the screen. MacOS comes with a builtin keyboard viewer.

I don't think grinding is a good approach, you need to learn it and make it part of your life, just like going through a dictionary won't teach you a language.

Just keep in mind it will always be hard at first, and you won't see the benefits until you have more or less the same fluency as you had with qwerty.

People sometimes think that it will make you faster, and it _can_ make you faster, but the real reward is being just as fast, but enjoying much more using the keyboard.

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