this post was submitted on 28 Sep 2023
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ErgoMechKeyboards

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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

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¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid

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So I switched to a low-profile angled keyboard basically identical to this: https://www.amazon.com.au/Perixx-PERIBOARD-805-Wireless-Ergonomic-Bluetooth/dp/B08KJ8JW9Q/ref=asc_df_B08KJ8JW9Q/?tag=googleshopmob-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463603004336&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15645889703857693714&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9071296&hvtargid=pla-1017854421494&psc=1

It's been quite a few years now, and my RSI type issues have reduced a lot in that time, but I'm not sure it's really cutting it anymore. Starting to get wrist pains again. So I think it's time to up my keyboard game, but things get expensive going to the next level and the choices are kind of overwhelming. So I'm just hoping for some recommendations really.

I'm a programmer so that's an important factor, I don't want some weird key layout that's good for typing English but rubbish for programming. But I also don't really want to spend loads of time fully customising it. But I'm happy to learn a new layout if research or whatever supports it being better.

Well anyway, any thoughts welcome!

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I used colemak-h for programming and it was great, with some custom mapping. Qwerty is a problem IMO. Took me 2-3 months to be proficient and comfortable. I had bad RSI and it went away entirely, for good. I also use a couple different mice.

I had a moonlander and going to an ortho linear + split + colemak was a lot of change. I'll probably repeat this exercise one day but aim for cheaper (DIY) and more progressively ergo builds that fit MX switches.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I love using a split keyboard with Colemak. But I also wish I could totally get rid of my mouse.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Corne with trackpoint from holikeebs?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

It could be done if programs were designed around it.

I remember now that was an issue.. it's harder to get home'd in on a split and the mouse would also de-home me all the time. I think my next keyboard will be a split, but I'd like to build a case for it so both sides can be in a fixed position relative to each other.

My ideal keyboard would include one or two of those little thinkpad bumps, like a low profile joystick I can operate on the keyboard that nestled somewhere on the home row near my index finger. Or maybe I can put a mouse under the desk and use my foot.