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If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

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Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#211

Post by leipert »

lleolin wrote: post #172

I've wanted a left-side number pad for a long time. I've contended that (for right-handed people) having a number pad on the right is poor ergonomics. If I centered such a keyboard in front of me, then the number pad would be in the way of my mouse. So I end up offsetting the keyboard several inches to the left, which causes me to have to position my arms awkwardly in order to reach the letters. I ended up using keyb…

I don’t have too much trouble with this just yet. But the next keyboard will be without a num block, but I will add a https://www.ipv6buddy.com/ to the right of my mouse for all my hex and up address needs. (Not affiliated, just a fan)

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#212

Post by StavrosK »

fortran77 wrote: post #159
ganonm wrote: post #49

Around 2 years ago now, I took the plunge and bought myself an Ergodox EZ split island keyboard. Quite franky, it is the biggest quantum leap in the ergonomic experience of interacting with a computer I have seen since learning Vim. It is comfortable, effortless and fast. If you spend any significant time interacting with computers it is a complete no brainer to invest in optimising the IO channel between your brain…

I agree. My life has turned around completely because of three things: 1. Ergodox EZ Split Island Keyboard 2. Dvorak keyboard layout 3. Taking a Rust programming job Now I look forward to Mondays.

I'd really like my next job to be a Rust job as well, even though I'm a backend web developer. It really seems like a joy to develop in.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#214

Post by Zak »

JoshTriplett wrote: post #126
spectramax wrote: post #35

Am I the only one who doesn't quite fancy mechanical keys? For me, Mechanical keyboards cause fatigue as the key travel, regardless of which flavor of the key type, is too much. I prefer using Apple's new magic keyboar with numpad. It has a 1mm or so travel and feels fantastic.

> Am I the only one who doesn't quite fancy mechanical keys? No, it's not just you. I prefer short-throw laptop keys, which require less distance and less pressure. I use a USB version of the ThinkPad keyboard at my desk. (And I personally prefer the older version that includes a trackpad.)

I used one of those for a long time, and after breaking it, I went to a cheap mechanical keyboard. I prefer the longer travel, tactile bump midway through the travel, and key activation at the midpoint with the mechanical keyboard, but I miss the trackpoint.

I'm considering the Tex Shinobi mechanical trackpoint keyboard.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#215

Post by Aeolun »

peterburkimsher wrote: post #177
bloopernova wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Precisely, although I don't think it's spoiling yourself. You use some things a whole lot that it makes sense to spend comparatively more on them than you would on "normal" items: * Bed * Office chair * Keyboard and mouse * Monitors * Footwear * Cooking basics like a couple of knives and a pan or two. Perhaps this can explain it better than I will ever be able: https://wiki.lspace.org/mediawiki/Sam_Vimes_Theory_of_Ec…

Your list of "Bed, Office chair, Keyboard and mouse, Monitors, Cooking basics like ... a pan or two." (all except footwear) aligns very well with my list of "things that don't fit on a plane". Unfortunately my life isn't stable enough to invest in something that I can't carry with me when I have to move. It's luxuries like these that I've often had to go without entirely (having a chair and desk is so nice compared t…

They do, however, fit in a shipping container. By the time you paid for all of these things, shipping them is a lot cheaper than buying them all again.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#216

Post by Aeolun »

gambiting wrote: post #107
stevehawk wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

complaining about $300 for a great keyboard is like complaining about a pricey bed. You use it for how many hours of the day if you're a programmer/engineer? Maybe it's worth spoiling yourself.

It's the same as spending $10k on a mattress - it's just dumb. Yes you spend a lot of time in it, but after a certain point you're spending money to feed someone's marketing, not paying for any tangible benefit.

That might be true for $2000 keyboards, but not for $300 ones.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#217

Post by eyeball »

cyphar wrote: post #80
ganonm wrote: post #49

Around 2 years ago now, I took the plunge and bought myself an Ergodox EZ split island keyboard. Quite franky, it is the biggest quantum leap in the ergonomic experience of interacting with a computer I have seen since learning Vim. It is comfortable, effortless and fast. If you spend any significant time interacting with computers it is a complete no brainer to invest in optimising the IO channel between your brain…

I'll be honest, I bought an Ergodox EZ a year or so ago and have consistently struggled to get comfortable using it. I have set up quite a few useful macros for programs I use daily like tmux as well as making it more vim-friendly (after many interations) and yet I still find it a serious chore to get past the fact that the keys feel un-naturally placed. Eventually I just give up and switch back to my laptop keyboard…

Thumb keys are too akward to reach for my hand size.

I like the ultimate hacking keyboard better.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#218

Post by jtreminio »

7thaccount wrote: post #51
Symbiote wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's also a fairly new subreddit, /r/ErgoMechKeyboards/, which only has ergonomic keyboards (simply split ones, or more usually with staggered columns rather than rows, and often a 3D shape). Fewer fancy, expensive keycap sets, and more works-in-progress with wires sticking out. https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/

Can any of these be bought? I love mechanical keyboards, but I can only use an ergonomical keyboard

I've been using a Kinesis Freestyle Pro for over a year. The wristpad they sell is pretty bad, so I attached the wristpad from my Matias Ergo Pro (the keyboard kept breaking).

It's fantastic and highly recommend it.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#219

Post by eyeball »

souterrain wrote: post #187
ithkuil wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also struggled with the otholinear layout and ended up switching to a http://www.mistelkeyboard.com/md650l-barocco/

I was looking for something close to this design, particularly with low profile switches. Thanks.

https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#220

Post by nine_k »

ganonm wrote: post #49

Around 2 years ago now, I took the plunge and bought myself an Ergodox EZ split island keyboard. Quite franky, it is the biggest quantum leap in the ergonomic experience of interacting with a computer I have seen since learning Vim. It is comfortable, effortless and fast. If you spend any significant time interacting with computers it is a complete no brainer to invest in optimising the IO channel between your brain…

Ergodox looks damn enticing.

But I'm not planning to switch because it will make me unlearn all the traditional keyboards for me. In particular, I will have trouble touch-typing on a laptop keyboard after that, and there are zero options for an Ergodox-like layout on a commercially available laptop. So, no way to work on a train or a plane.

I wish some laptop maker were so brave as to offer a split and angled keyboard as an option on a laptop with decent internals, though.

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