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Split Keyboard for Professionals

ultimatehackingkeyboard.com

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Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#321

Post by m463 »

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…

wow, why does only one keyboard have a soft wrist rest?

no wrist rest, or a hard plastic or wood one is leaving a lot of ergonomics, uh, off the table.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#322

Post by pronik »

It's such a shame that the TrackPoint module is once again a "let's lure those freaks" kind of extension -- an essential feature of any modern TrackPoint is the middle mouse button for scrolling. Anyone creating a Trackpoint with only two buttons either hasn't used a TrackPoint at all or hasn't really understood it. Apart from that, a TrackPoint should be located at a different relative position than a trackball or a touchpad to be of any use. So a hard pass on this one for now :(

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#323

Post by api_or_ipa »

bitbckt wrote: post #263
api_or_ipa wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 Moonland…

> UKB hasn't shipped yet Huh? I ordered one on 19 Sept. and had it on my desk in California on 24 Sept.

Today I learned!

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#324

Post by aayjaychan »

valarauko wrote: post #300
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've been leaning towards Colemak mod DH with the Moonlander. I'll be new to touch typing and ortholinear + split, so why not add Colemak to the mix? My concern is vim bindings, which is another thing on my to-list. The vim bindings designed with Qwerty in mind, and I'm unsure how Colemak messes with that.

It works pretty well for the most part, since vim verbs and nouns are kind of like acronyms. 'w' goes to next Word. 'b' goes Back a word, 'i' enables Insert mode, 'd' Deletes something. So as long as you know where the keys are, it's fine.

What doesn't work is the default hjkl navigation. On Colemak these keys are on a rotated L shape around the right index finger, where j (down) is above k (up)...

I remapped them based on their position. h: up, k: down, j: left, l: right. Still not as convenient as hjkl on qwerty, but at least it make sense.

When I'm on Ergodox, I map arrow keys to the bottom row like those on Kinesis Advantage. Since they are close enough I use them instead of hjkl.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#325

Post by bostonvaulter2 »

Symbiote wrote: post #245
bostonvaulter2 wrote: post #243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nice site, but it looks like you're missing the Ergodox EZ

It is currently 9th in the list, although the order is shuffled each time the site is built. (Maybe you did a case-sensitive search, or set some filters? I have it as "ErgoDox EZ".)

Hmm, now I see about 3x more than I did before. Perhaps there was some sort of bug that was preventing some keyboards from showing previously?

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#326

Post by fomine3 »

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 like Topre's switch (actually it's non-contact switch so its feeling is comes from rubber dome) than mechanical but there's no split keyboard available. I wish they or other manufacturers make it.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#327

Post by fomine3 »

jjkaczor wrote: post #98
wegs wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most are horrible. One of the reasons is overlap. Your hands do occasionally hit keys on the other side. You want a pair of 2/3 keyboards, rather than 1/2 keyboards. You /especially/ want a lot of the "special" keys on both sides. Another is key action. You want proper mechanical keys. A third is mounting. That's a problem which hasn't really been figured out. The middle hinge or fixed setup is definitely sub-ideal.…

>One of the reasons is overlap. Your hands do occasionally >hit keys on the other side. That has been my biggest re-learning curve - but with only the 6/7 numeric keys (which, apparently I use often) - the one thing that I would have loved with the Kinesis RGB Edge, would have been a dedicated number pad on the right-side. >Another is key action. You want proper mechanical keys. Kinesis RGB Edge allows you to choose…

Actually Kinesis Freestyle Edge/Pro is relatively cheap in split keyboard world including DIY.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#328

Post by fomine3 »

chrisBob wrote: post #282
JeremyNT wrote: post #273

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Kinesis Freestyle Pro has Cherry mx brown or silent red and shaves a little money compared to the RGB version I actually have both keyboards and they're pretty similar. A trick here though, the RGB aka "gaming" version of the Freestyle includes wrist rests, which are $15 extra in the "Freestyle Pro," so the cost difference isn't as much as it seems. Neither includes the nifty tenting stands. You probably will want…

The wrist rests do make the prices closer. I hadn't noticed that the esc key is moved which is kind of interesting. I actually decided that RGB would attract too much attention for me: One of my office mates is a 5-year-old right now, and I didn't want to distract from online kindergarten class too much.

Esc should be positioned to Edge RGB position but anyway it can be configured by firmware.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#329

Post by fomine3 »

pronik wrote: post #322

It's such a shame that the TrackPoint module is once again a "let's lure those freaks" kind of extension -- an essential feature of any modern TrackPoint is the middle mouse button for scrolling. Anyone creating a Trackpoint with only two buttons either hasn't used a TrackPoint at all or hasn't really understood it. Apart from that, a TrackPoint should be located at a different relative position than a trackball or a…

This is key feature. I should mention that the middle button also must work for middle click if not touching trackpoint.

Re: Split Keyboard for Professionals

#330

Post by fomine3 »

ylbss wrote: post #181

I have used several split keyboards. The matias ergo pro, the ergodox ez and finally the Kinesis gaming k975. Honestly the kinesis so far is hands down the best. Matias was great at the start but the pads are expensive to replace and repairs were difficult. Not only that but the non standard switches meant that as soon as one went I had to buy expensive switches from matias and look at opening up the keyboard myself.…

Kinesis' firmware and its customize app is great but I wish it had SandS mapping feature.
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