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Split Keyboard for Professionals

ultimatehackingkeyboard.com

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Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#301

Post by uxamanda »

michaelbuckbee wrote: post #97
ahelwer wrote: post #25

The trackball thumb module is a great idea - being able to mouse without moving my right hand off the keyboard would be ideal (you can buy an actual mouse to use for FPS games if you want that). For anyone who is seeing this and thinking they need to upgrade though, know that you really don't have to spend $300 to get a good-quality ergonomic keyboard. The Goldtouch GTN-0099 can be found in like-new condition for $60…

I have a Magic Trackpad that is in a slightly angled iPhone holder so it "hovers" just in front and slightly over my keyboard. I can get to it without my hands leaving the keyboard (and in general the taps and glides of the trackpad are much better for my RSI).

Do you have a photo of this? Been thinking about a similar idea, but haven’t purchased a Magic Trackpad to try it yet. I am curious how the phone holder is angled.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#303

Post by badlucklottery »

tom_ wrote: post #236
Symbiote wrote: post #84

I'm maintaining a gallery of split mechanical keyboards, including the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard. Hopefully it's helpful for a quick overview of the options that exist. Many of these keyboards are DIY (available as a kit, or sometimes just a PCB and case plan), but some are available assembled. https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/ (There's also https://jhelvy.shinyapps.io/splitkbcompare/ for direct comparis…

What a great site, thanks. Really brings home how strange this corner of the market is. Every split keyboard with nice keyswitches has a different layout from every other, and most of them miss one or more of F keys, symmetrical meta keys, standard navigation cluster layout, volume buttons, and so on. Quite extraordinary, considering how much this type of device relies on muscle memory to work. It's like their design…

>It's like their designers want the device to be less useful, not more!

The main focus of most of these keyboards is ergonomics. Even if it comes at the cost of learnability.

This is also why there's a lot of variation. People are dropping and moving keys to deal with things like hand size and existing RSI.

>I wish people would just copy the MS Natural Ergonomic 4000, but with better keyswitches.

You can probably get someone to 3d print and solder you a one-off keyboard that fits the bill. It's doubtful anyone other than MS will mass produce such a thing though.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#304

Post by animex »

tom_ wrote: post #236
Symbiote wrote: post #84

I'm maintaining a gallery of split mechanical keyboards, including the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard. Hopefully it's helpful for a quick overview of the options that exist. Many of these keyboards are DIY (available as a kit, or sometimes just a PCB and case plan), but some are available assembled. https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/ (There's also https://jhelvy.shinyapps.io/splitkbcompare/ for direct comparis…

What a great site, thanks. Really brings home how strange this corner of the market is. Every split keyboard with nice keyswitches has a different layout from every other, and most of them miss one or more of F keys, symmetrical meta keys, standard navigation cluster layout, volume buttons, and so on. Quite extraordinary, considering how much this type of device relies on muscle memory to work. It's like their design…

I've never used a better keyboard other than durability issues. I usually burn through one every couple years. (I game alot)

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#305

Post by roel_v »

Symbiote wrote: post #293
roel_v wrote: post #284

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used an Ergodox ez for over a year (mayne even 2?) before the uhk came out (ordered them around the same time, uhk was very delayed). Today (so for the last 2 years or so) I use the uhk because it has labels on all keys, ergodox only has the letters and numbers but not symbols which is what you need most. Of course that's because of personalisation but I (although I touch type and have done so for 30+ years) need t…

Depending on where you want the various symbols, you might find a custom set of keycaps that match what you need for the ErgoDox. They will cost a lot more than you expect (low volume manufacturing). This is one example, plus others others in the same subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechGroupBuys/comments/iks5r5/gb_ka... Personally, I bought a set with a few daft symbols, as I can easily remember that the biohaza…

Oh that is a great find, thank you, that one looks like it would work great for my use case!

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#306

Post by dotancohen »

eyeball wrote: post #297
dotancohen wrote: post #255

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you a suggestion how to do this on a Linux box? I'm a heavy VIM user and this sounds like a great idea.

Are you asking about the ultimate hacking keyboard in particular? You would use their agent software: https://github.com/UltimateHackingKeyboard/agent

I currently use a Matias Pro. It has an Esc key, but the truth is I'd like Esc as close as possible. I've experimented with CapsLock as Esc but I prefer CapsLock to swap languages, which I also do often.

Ah, the troubles we go through for the perfect HID!

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#307

Post by Symbiote »

slezyr wrote: post #246
Symbiote wrote: post #84

I'm maintaining a gallery of split mechanical keyboards, including the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard. Hopefully it's helpful for a quick overview of the options that exist. Many of these keyboards are DIY (available as a kit, or sometimes just a PCB and case plan), but some are available assembled. https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/ (There's also https://jhelvy.shinyapps.io/splitkbcompare/ for direct comparis…

ErgoDone - cheap clone of ErgoDox, available on aliexpress.

Thanks -- this one was already there (depending on filters).

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#308

Post by Symbiote »

jerlam wrote: post #277
ZeroGravitas wrote: post #265

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only at pre-order stage but one I learned of recently is: https://trulyergonomic.com/ergonomic-keyboards/

This is actually Truly Ergonomic's second of their keyboard. The fact that their site has wiped any existence of the previous version is not encouraging. Anandtech reviewed it seven years ago: https://www.anandtech.com/show/6682/first-impressions-the-te...

I added both, it's worth including as it's not especially well-known.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#309

Post by Symbiote »

SuperCuber wrote: post #274
Symbiote wrote: post #84

I'm maintaining a gallery of split mechanical keyboards, including the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard. Hopefully it's helpful for a quick overview of the options that exist. Many of these keyboards are DIY (available as a kit, or sometimes just a PCB and case plan), but some are available assembled. https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/ (There's also https://jhelvy.shinyapps.io/splitkbcompare/ for direct comparis…

Looks like the filtering is a bit strange. If I filter mass produced only then ergodox ez is misisng, if I filter source only then ergodox ez is missing, but if I filter both then it appears? I know it's both open source and mass produced but filters should display the keyboard if at least one of them matches...

Thanks.

I've fixed the filter. I'd tried to do it entirely with CSS classes, but I think that was unrealistic.

(I also removed ErgoDox EZ, leaving only ErgoDox. It's the same design, and other keyboards where there are one or more manufacturers making the device to whatever quality aren't split out like this.)

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#310

Post by Symbiote »

castillar76 wrote: post #250
Symbiote wrote: post #84

I'm maintaining a gallery of split mechanical keyboards, including the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard. Hopefully it's helpful for a quick overview of the options that exist. Many of these keyboards are DIY (available as a kit, or sometimes just a PCB and case plan), but some are available assembled. https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/ (There's also https://jhelvy.shinyapps.io/splitkbcompare/ for direct comparis…

That's a great gallery! I would add the Kinesis Freestyle Edge ( https://gaming.kinesis-ergo.com/edge/ ) , which adds mechanical switches and macro keys.

Thanks for the suggestion, I've added it.
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