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Split Keyboard for Professionals

ultimatehackingkeyboard.com

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Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#191

Post by kyuudou »

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…

The Kinesis Freestyle2 is great for me. The adjustability and feel work for my needs. Being able to prop up each side for a standing desk is very useful.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#192

Post by philipkiely »

I come to keyboards from a slightly different background. I am missing a couple of fingers, on my left hand two fingers and one thumb can reach keys, on my right hand three fingers and a thumb can. I never learned "home-row" typing or any other fixed method, but I can comfortably touch type above 60 words per minute. This is a point of pride for me.

I resisted the idea of split keyboards for quite a while because my right hand, with its greater dexterity, was responsible for more than half of my typing efforts. However, I got one last year (Kinesis gaming, tented, wrist rests, MX Blues). It actually helped me retrain my typing to be more evenly distributed between my two hands.

Later, when I was transcribing interviews for my book, I was typing for hours at 40-50 words per minute. I started out doing this on my laptop, but I got substantial hand pain from doing so. I started only transcribing in my dorm room, where I had access to the split keyboard, and it fixed everything. One day I typed more than 9,000 words without pain.

In summary, the benefits of ergonomic/split keyboards are real.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#193

Post by nickcw »

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.)

I've been using Microsoft Natural keyboards for 20 years now.

I used to suffer terribly with RSI from years of typing on crappy keyboards, with bad posture and not enough breaks.

The Microsoft Natural keyboard has been good to me - I haven't had RSI twinges for 10 years or so now!

I'm typing this on a Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro which Wikipedia says was introduced in June 1999 - round about the time I got it. I wish it wasn't white as it really shows the dirt, but the media buttons are the best!

I've got two and I switched to the backup recently as my main one got really dirty and I haven't had time to clean it.

The MS Natural 4000 is very good too - I had one of those at work for over 10 years. I did wear the legends off but hey - who needs to see what key you are pressing anyway! Just don't press F-lock by accident as you'll be wondering for ages why your function keys aren't working.

I like the front stand of the 4000 to put the keyboard up a bit at the front. It is very good for encouraging good posture.

(The other thing I did to help with RSI is switch hands with the mouse. It took quite a long time to get used to using the mouse with the left hand but it really made a difference as my right wrist was worse than my left wrist. I'm now ambidextrous with the mouse - the only thing I can't do is draw with the mouse with my left hand!)

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#194

Post by ecopoesis »

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 hated that I couldn't find a good, split, long travel (mechanical) keyboard so I built my own. It was a fun, if expensive, learning experience. I use it every day (right now even) so it's worth it.

https://miker.org/building-a-better-keyboard/

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#195

Post by eyeball »

kabdib wrote: post #121
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…

The Kinesis Gaming keyboard is my current go-to deck. The key layout is sane (nobody tried to nerf the "useless" ESC key), there are well-done macro and remapping features for light customization, and the LED lighting is actually something I appreciate for once (it's pretty). Microsoft lost me in the 2000s with terrible key feel. I remember bouncing over to the company store for an Ergo 4000 and being incredibly disa…

Upper left key. Remap it to escape. So mod gives you the tilde / tick mark.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#196

Post by tych0 »

justaguyhere wrote: post #21
piercebot wrote: post #14

I love my keyboard.io Model 01. I think a refresh is coming later this year (Model 100?). Worth the price IMO.

How long did it take for you to adjust to the layout?

Different keyboard.io model 01 owner here, maybe two-four weeks. It's a great keyboard and I've been very happy with it.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#197

Post by rgoulter »

ledauphin wrote: post #129
StavrosK wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know, I never learned proper touch typing, but I went from 100 WPM to 80 when I learned to touch type on the ortho keyboard. You're right that there's less movement, but I find it a bit less... convenient.

i'm definitely not as fast as i used to be (somewhere around 120 wpm as a non-touch-typist) after 2 years of typing on an ortholinear keyboard, but I don't really mind. I'm much more comfortable and my fingers don't hurt as much.

I went from ~110 pb, 100 average (on common word typing tests) on row-staggered QWERTY with an untrained hunt-and-peck to ~105 pb, 100 average (on common word typing tests) with Dvorak layout on an ortholinear keyboard.

I'd already spent the time to learn Dvorak layout on row-staggered keyboards. Having had that training, picking up an ortho was straightforward. (Although my average wpm on typing tests after picking up the board would've been ~90).

I suspect if all your fingers 'know' is where the keys are (rather than following discipline of 'column per finger'), then adjusting to ortholinear would be harder.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#198

Post by api_or_ipa »

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…

The big difference between the Ergo/Moonlander and UHK is ortho vs staggered layout. Ortho (rather, "ortholinear") is an increasing common layout where the keys are arranged in straight rows and columns. The jury is out on whether it's useful, but legions of OLKB fans swear by it. Also, UKB hasn't shipped yet, where the Ergodox has been out for years, and there's excellent support for flashing using QMK. The Moonlander just landed (heh) a few months ago, I haven't heard too much about it, except that finding custom keycaps for the thumb console is going to be hard/impossible. I guess that's the biggest hindrance of all these ergonomic keyboards: it's really hard to find custom keycaps.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#199

Post by mcpeepants »

TacticalTable wrote: post #173
simias wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Kailh has their Choc switches which are low profile. Not quite chicklet but fills the same role for the most part. Low-pro lovers seem to like them quite a bit.
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