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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

#351

Post by co_dh »

Symbiote wrote: post #328
co_dh wrote: post #275

https://m.intl.taobao.com/detail/detail.html?id=535590071686... This(pro) is what I am using now. Cheaper than ergodox ez but more beautiful. You may need compile QMK yourself because it is flipped as compare to EZ

I'm not sure why this is downvoted, except perhaps because you linked to the mobile site. Here's the normal site: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=535590071686 (site is in Chinese. This is an open-source design, so there's no problem that a Chinese manufacturer is producing it.)

Thank you.

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

#352

Post by BiteCode_dev »

Symbiote wrote: post #325
BiteCode_dev wrote: post #112

My problem with such keyboard is that it assumes: - you will mostly work on the same place (or you accept the burden of traveling with your keyboard and be "that guy" when you set it up. Personally for the same hurdle, I prefer a secondary screen on the go) - you will mostly work on the same machine (or you have multiple keyboards, one for each machine, and if you are in a data center or tech support, you move with y…

I think you're overstating the difficulties here. The overwhelming majority of people use the same one or two computers (one at work, one at home), and don't mind using a laptop keyboard when travelling to a meeting or visiting a client. Anyway, since you're in Europe, don't you have a mixture of keyboards amongst your colleagues anyway? I certainly do -- I've noticed US, UK, Danish, French, Swedish, German and Russi…

Every case is different, that's my point. The keyboard match a very specific profile: geeky user typing a lot, with few occasions to be forced to switch.

For me, as a trainer, I'm constantly on other's people machine. Thanks god they are all the same layout.

As a freelancer dev I also can't be less productive for 3 months.

As someone that travels a lot, I don't want to package a keyboard in my bag back. Planes make you pay extra for to check luggages in now a day. Beside for the space, I'd rather have a portable secondary screen: the gain of productivity is way higher.

Again, not saying you should not buy the keyboard. It may be a very good choice for you. Just speaking of the other side of the coin.

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

#353

Post by StavrosK »

jdc0589 wrote: post #350
StavrosK wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds pretty simple, thanks!

PCBs used to only be $20 or $30 with the tiny surface mount stuff soldered on already. totally worth it if you an get them.

It's pretty perplexing, I'm seeing just the PCB go for $50, when you can get that PCB fabbed for $10 from the design. It appears like everyone just marks stuff up at every step, an ergodox-ez costs $300 but around $100 if you assemble it yourself.

I guess it's a niche item.

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

#354

Post by steverb »

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…

That was one of the things I liked about the MS Sculpt Keyboard, the numpad is its own separate device. You can put it wherever you want it.

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

#355

Post by cellis »

Siecje wrote: post #343
cellis wrote: post #132

10 months in with my Ultimate Hacker Keyboard, and I can confidently say that it brings me more joy than any other electronic device I have, with maybe the exception of my MBP. Before I had mild RSI here and there, but with the UHK I have zero pain, ever. But it did take a lot of learning. I spent about 3 months feeling like an idiot ( hitting keys that weren't there, forgetting which macro I'd mapped, typing an arro…

I wish the UHK had a few more keys. I wish there was an Esc key.

I remapped Caps Lock with Karabiner to be ESC. Works fantastic.

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

#356

Post by clarry »

rumanator wrote: post #349
clarry wrote: post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep. I've used a Kinesis Advantage Pro for some 10-15 years. I used Microsoft Natural Ergonomic for a year or two but it's not comparable. One can easily spend more in coffee over a few months than it costs to buy one of these somewhat better keyboards.

The kinesis keyboard costs more than some low-end laptops. It's hard to sell the idea that it's ok for a keyboard to cost more than a regular everyday work computer, even if it's price is expressed in coffee cups.

On the other hand, it will outlast many mass-produced low-end laptops made of the cheapest of components.

Mine is still going strong after more than a decade.

Also, these 300 eur laptops are not something I'd consider for everyday work. Way underspecced for a lot of stuff, and generally miserable to work with or carry around.

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

#357

Post by tomc1985 »

rickyc091 wrote: post #345
BigJ1211 wrote: post #291

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought so too untill I started having RSI/CTS issues. I've since switched to a 'fancy expensive ergo keyboard'. And it fantastic, I'm about as fast as I was on a traditional qwerty, but with less errors. However most importantly I have far less RSI/CTS complaints when typing on my redox than I do with a non-split (even ergo non-splits). My arms are in a far more natural position and so is my wrist thanks to the te…

Jumping in to chime in on this. I developed issues a few months ago, then swapped over to the ergodox, and my daily pains stopped. If you can't afford the ergodox, I also found the Microsoft Sculpt worked wonder. I picked up a used one on eBay and it's been great.

I use a Sculpt as my work keyboard and, while fantastic, have you had any issues with the range of the wireless transmitter? I feel like it doesnt go beyond a couple of inches unless it's plugged into a powered USB hub -- even then it still occasionally drops keypresses

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

#358

Post by detaro »

twic wrote: post #158
detaro wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tbh, cheap(er) keyboards don't necessarily are unreliable and fall under that theory. I'm mildy interested in buying a fancy keyboard, but the Logitech I bought in highschool refuses to die...

Your keyboard, like the AK-47 rifle and the UN26 bottom bracket, is an interesting exception to the Vimes theory. Cheap, unsophisticated, but virtually indestructible. I'm not sure if there's a common mechanism by which things like that come to be. Possibly that they are designed for customers who are buying in bulk for use by other people (cubicle drones, PBI, buyers of assembled bikes), and who have a vested intere…

Something I hadn't quite considered: a 2000-something Logitech is cheap by todays standards, but back then Logitech was covered the range from affordable to high-end (Gaming keyboards with screens for maybe ~$100-130?), probably didn't make much really cheap ones, and likely didn't want to skimp to much on the cheaper models and ruin their reputation for the expensive ones. They weren't cheap enough for the effect to "trigger".

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

#359

Post by npo9 »

2rsf wrote: post #341
npo9 wrote: post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends. Mechanical keyboards last for about a decade, probably more. During which time I’ll be at my main computer and typing about 20,000hours. So using a mechanical keyboard less than a penny an hour. So yeah, if something makes my time a little more comfortable I’d consider it worth that cost.

that doesn't answer the original question of > Are mechanical keyboards that much "better"

It tries to quantify how much better a mechanical keyboard needs to be before it is worth it, which is not much.

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

#360

Post by blaser-waffle »

bloopernova wrote: post #93
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.

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…

The conventional wisdom on reddit is essentially the same things you listed, sans pots and pans:

"spend money on things that go between you and the ground" aka tires, beds, chairs, footwear, cushions, etc.

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