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Microsoft Sculpt Wired Conversion Mod

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Re: Microsoft Sculpt Wired Conversion Mod

#71

Post by 600frogs »

distances wrote: post #70
600frogs wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for the info, I'll probably continue to deliberate and delay choosing a keyboard for about 3-5 years until my sculpt gives up the ghost and forces my hand. What are you using now, out of curiosity?

Still the Sculpt. And new ones are still sold, so it won't force your hand yet :) I would next try some wired model, using wireless has only downsides in my setup. I've been checking some split mechanical models like the Kinesis Freestyle but not sure if I can go back to the long key travel of the mechanical models. Someone in this comment section posted a link to a list of more esoteric keyboards, I'll have to go th…

Agreed on the key travel, I know most keyboard enthusiasts refuse to use anything other than mechanical, but I've been through that and come out the other side preferring chiclet - it's just more gentle on the fingers, and imo more aesthetically pleasing.

For what it's worth, I've been through the DIY ergo board phase as well - I made a Corne (or Helidox as it was known then). It was a fun project, but the build quality just wasn't there which ruined it for me. The sculpt is still the closest I've got to my ideal board - good build quality (minus the F keys), relatively good ergonomics, and wireless. I was hoping the Microsoft surface ergonomic would solve the F key and dongle issue, but may have to rethink my plan.

Re: Microsoft Sculpt Wired Conversion Mod

#72

Post by 600frogs »

w4rh4wk5 wrote: post #22

Great work. Something I'd definitely want would I still be using the Sculpt. Like others have mentioned here, the Sculpt suffers from other issues apart from being wireless: My biggest issue is the small, poorly constructed F-keys. Switching to regular sized keys on the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic shows how bad they actually are. Anyway, is there a way we could get Microsoft to build a Sculpt v2 which fixes the short…

Would you recommend upgrading from the Sculpt to the Surface Ergonomic? I'm also not a fan of the poor F keys, and want to scrap the dongle as well. Any reason not to pull the trigger on the Surface Ergonomic keyboard?

Re: Microsoft Sculpt Wired Conversion Mod

#73

Post by tomduncalf »

600frogs wrote: post #72
w4rh4wk5 wrote: post #22

Great work. Something I'd definitely want would I still be using the Sculpt. Like others have mentioned here, the Sculpt suffers from other issues apart from being wireless: My biggest issue is the small, poorly constructed F-keys. Switching to regular sized keys on the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic shows how bad they actually are. Anyway, is there a way we could get Microsoft to build a Sculpt v2 which fixes the short…

Would you recommend upgrading from the Sculpt to the Surface Ergonomic? I'm also not a fan of the poor F keys, and want to scrap the dongle as well. Any reason not to pull the trigger on the Surface Ergonomic keyboard?

The main reason I decided against the Surface Ergonomic and got another Sculpt is the fixed numpad on the Surface - I used my old Apple wired keyboard for a little bit while my old Sculpt was broken and realised that I actually find having the Magic Trackpad next to the Sculpt with no numpad very ergonomic, and having to move my right hand further to reach the trackpad is a bit annoying. Maybe a non issue for you.

Re: Microsoft Sculpt Wired Conversion Mod

#74

Post by 600frogs »

tomduncalf wrote: post #73
600frogs wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you recommend upgrading from the Sculpt to the Surface Ergonomic? I'm also not a fan of the poor F keys, and want to scrap the dongle as well. Any reason not to pull the trigger on the Surface Ergonomic keyboard?

The main reason I decided against the Surface Ergonomic and got another Sculpt is the fixed numpad on the Surface - I used my old Apple wired keyboard for a little bit while my old Sculpt was broken and realised that I actually find having the Magic Trackpad next to the Sculpt with no numpad very ergonomic, and having to move my right hand further to reach the trackpad is a bit annoying. Maybe a non issue for you.

I find I'm significantly slower with a trackpad so I'm still using a mouse, but one thing I have been considering is grabbing a trackpad and putting it to the left of the keyboard (as a right-hander) and using it for general scrolling and pointing, then using a mouse on the right for when more accurate mousing is required.

That'd mostly solve the mouse being too far away issue if I were to use the Microsoft Surface Ergo. Do you have any issues with the trackpad that you haven't had with a mouse in the past?

My other option would be just to give up and get an apple keyboard. When you were using it, did you miss the keyboard being split - any RSI or comfort issues?

Re: Microsoft Sculpt Wired Conversion Mod

#75

Post by tomduncalf »

600frogs wrote: post #74
tomduncalf wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The main reason I decided against the Surface Ergonomic and got another Sculpt is the fixed numpad on the Surface - I used my old Apple wired keyboard for a little bit while my old Sculpt was broken and realised that I actually find having the Magic Trackpad next to the Sculpt with no numpad very ergonomic, and having to move my right hand further to reach the trackpad is a bit annoying. Maybe a non issue for you.

I find I'm significantly slower with a trackpad so I'm still using a mouse, but one thing I have been considering is grabbing a trackpad and putting it to the left of the keyboard (as a right-hander) and using it for general scrolling and pointing, then using a mouse on the right for when more accurate mousing is required. That'd mostly solve the mouse being too far away issue if I were to use the Microsoft Surface E…

>My other option would be just to give up and get an apple keyboard. When you were using it, did you miss the keyboard being split - any RSI or comfort issues?

Yep, I started using an ergonomic keyboard because I was having RSI issues with a regular layout so try to avoid using one for any great length of time these days!

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