I really love the idea of not having to switch between keyboard and mouse. I had also been looking into the UHK which has a trackball that can be added, but this seems more ergonomic. I have broad...
I really love the idea of not having to switch between keyboard and mouse. I had also been looking into the UHK which has a trackball that can be added, but this seems more ergonomic. I have broad shoulders so a fully split keyboard is a must. I also like that the keys are fully programmable. I use Emacs style shortcuts in my editor and I love having the ability to switch stuff around.
So in the past I worked in a headless Linux server environment and I got pretty good at Emacs. My current company however is a Microsoft shop so I'm on VS Code (which I actually like) but I'm also...
So in the past I worked in a headless Linux server environment and I got pretty good at Emacs. My current company however is a Microsoft shop so I'm on VS Code (which I actually like) but I'm also doing a lot more mouse work (SharePoint Administration). Some of this stuff can only be done through the GUI. This will be my first mechanical keyboard. I would like to go with clicky keys but I think I would be better off with quiet ones for the sake of my co-workers.
I think you're right about going with the UHK over the mousekey. The extra cost for the mousekey doesn't make sense when I can get a trackball for the UHK.
I'm career adjacent in IT, so I don't have as much need for keyboard efficiency, but I do have a few good quality ergonomics myself, and one of them is even a mech. The keyboard I use right now is...
I'm career adjacent in IT, so I don't have as much need for keyboard efficiency, but I do have a few good quality ergonomics myself, and one of them is even a mech.
The keyboard I use right now is kind of unique: TypeMatrix 2020. It's the one on top, it's no longer made anymore. The keyboard on the bottom, the TypeMatrix 2030, is the one that TypeMatrix makes now.
It's a totally grid layout, not dissimilar from the planck but has a might split. It's light, thin, and quiet. Uses scissor switches, the kind you might find in a laptop, but they're really great. I personally really like scissor switches. It has some quarks, keys are moved around from where you might find them on a standard keyboard which leaves me 'lost' when I have to search for a key I rarely use. The split is what does it for me, but I really like the grid layout as well.
These next two aren't recommendations, but I do like mentioning them.
I also have the Truly Ergonomic, although the one I have is radically different from the current model. Mechanical, used to be Cherry but now they use off brand switches. I would steer clear, though. Unless build quality has improved significantly, I've heard of many people having the same problems I had such as double tapping and ghost key presses. (and mine has Cherry switches) The owner of Truly Ergonomic is also kind of a prick.
I also used to love my Microsoft Ergonomic Elite. It hasn't been in production for year, and I prefer smaller keyboards these days, so I no longer have one. Microsoft now make the Scult which I've taken a passing look at given its chiclet style keys.
I've been using the Microsoft Sculpt keyboards for a couple years and really helps with my old arthritic fingers. I'm also a huge fan of Microsoft's Natural Ergonomic Keyboard as well.
I've been using the Microsoft Sculpt keyboards for a couple years and really helps with my old arthritic fingers. I'm also a huge fan of Microsoft's Natural Ergonomic Keyboard as well.
I have a mechanical 60% keyboard, Anne Pro. It's really nice, but the firmware is closed-source, so I recently bought a custom built Redox keeb. The Redox is infinitely customizable, but with...
I have a mechanical 60% keyboard, Anne Pro. It's really nice, but the firmware is closed-source, so I recently bought a custom built Redox keeb. The Redox is infinitely customizable, but with great power comes great responsibility..: I managed to upload a firmware that exceeds the space available on the arduino controller, so it overwrote the bootloader! I tried re-flashing the bootloader with an ISP, without much success, so now I'm waiting for a replacement arduino I can solder in place of the old one…
As far as typing on these keebs go, the Anne has blue Gateron switches, which make a lot of noise. It makes me feel more productive, but annoys the hell out of anyone else in the same space :P If you're considering a 60% keeb, be aware that some of them have no arrow keys. This is also the case with the Anne Pro, which places two sets of arrow keys under a "layer" key; hold the layer button, and WASD -keys act as arrow keys. This can be very convenient or very annoying, depending on what you're used to.
Another thing to note about the Anne; if you have keys behind a layer, the order in which you press the keys for shortcut commands matters. For example, if I were to perform a [Cmd]+[←], I would first hold down [Cmd], then hold down [Layer], and finally press [←]. If I were to hold down [Layer] first and [Cmd] next, the [Cmd] would not register as a [Cmd], due to layering. This can be confusing at first, but as always, you'll get used to it.
Before I bricked the other Redox half, I did spend a few hours typing on it. My WPM dropped from ~60 to ~20, and the fact that it's keycaps only have weird symbols instead of normal key labels, doesn't really help much :D Still, having learned a few new layouts before, I doubt this will be a problem in the long term... If I manage to get it fixed first!
That looks pretty cool, can I ask where you bought your Reedox? I'm not worried about the arrow keys too much since I use Emacs keybindings for navigation any ways.
That looks pretty cool, can I ask where you bought your Reedox? I'm not worried about the arrow keys too much since I use Emacs keybindings for navigation any ways.
You can buy the parts, kits or preassembled Redoxes at https://falba.tech/ If you want to build it yourself, there are resources for that here https://hackaday.io/project/160610-redox-keyboard
I graduate with my C.S. Degree in December and I have already signed paperwork at the company I'm interning at to become a full time employee in January. I've spent a lot of time looking around...
I graduate with my C.S. Degree in December and I have already signed paperwork at the company I'm interning at to become a full time employee in January. I've spent a lot of time looking around for the perfect keyboard (ergonomic, mechanical keys, split, etc). I recently stumbled across the one in the link and I'm fascinated with it.
What keyboard do you use? Any thoughts on the one in the link?
I think the keymouse is really silly looking. Probably not that bad either way. It's one of the most expensive keyboards I have seen, but from from the most expensive. (Maltron custom makes each...
I think the keymouse is really silly looking. Probably not that bad either way. It's one of the most expensive keyboards I have seen, but from from the most expensive. (Maltron custom makes each one of their keyboards and they're all very expensive too.) I'm skeptical that it would be a good mouse, and I don't like how shifted the keys are on the outside of each half. Overall, though, I do like the key layout.
I've seen people who do this with a Kinesis Advantage and that seems like a possible solution for you. It's less elegant, and maybe you don't like touch pads, but it offers a similar solution with a more proven product (with the advantage of being cheaper as well.)
I really liked the idea of the keymouse at first glance but then I noticed a whole bunch of problems. There are no dedicated number keys (unless you get the trackball version), so you have to type...
I really liked the idea of the keymouse at first glance but then I noticed a whole bunch of problems.
There are no dedicated number keys (unless you get the trackball version), so you have to type in numbers and symbols with an awkwardly-placed modifier key. While the layout for numbers is almost 10key-like, it's slightly different, so you may end up having to look every time.
The body is 3D printed. It looks like they are using an FDM process as well. This worries me because it makes me believe that it won't be very sturdy. It also increases the cost of the product.
It's crazy expensive. This is a more subjective measure, since there are people who are paying top dollar for less ambitious designs. It looks like they're using good quality components, so it's not entirely unwarranted. But for that amount of money, I would personally prefer something that looked much nicer.
Yeah, it's points like these that are making me rethink getting one. I agree they they don't look polished at all. I think I'm gonna go with the ErgoDox EZ instead. Thanks for your thoughts!
Yeah, it's points like these that are making me rethink getting one. I agree they they don't look polished at all. I think I'm gonna go with the ErgoDox EZ instead.
I really love the idea of not having to switch between keyboard and mouse. I had also been looking into the UHK which has a trackball that can be added, but this seems more ergonomic. I have broad shoulders so a fully split keyboard is a must. I also like that the keys are fully programmable. I use Emacs style shortcuts in my editor and I love having the ability to switch stuff around.
So in the past I worked in a headless Linux server environment and I got pretty good at Emacs. My current company however is a Microsoft shop so I'm on VS Code (which I actually like) but I'm also doing a lot more mouse work (SharePoint Administration). Some of this stuff can only be done through the GUI. This will be my first mechanical keyboard. I would like to go with clicky keys but I think I would be better off with quiet ones for the sake of my co-workers.
I think you're right about going with the UHK over the mousekey. The extra cost for the mousekey doesn't make sense when I can get a trackball for the UHK.
I'm career adjacent in IT, so I don't have as much need for keyboard efficiency, but I do have a few good quality ergonomics myself, and one of them is even a mech.
The keyboard I use right now is kind of unique: TypeMatrix 2020. It's the one on top, it's no longer made anymore. The keyboard on the bottom, the TypeMatrix 2030, is the one that TypeMatrix makes now.
It's a totally grid layout, not dissimilar from the planck but has a might split. It's light, thin, and quiet. Uses scissor switches, the kind you might find in a laptop, but they're really great. I personally really like scissor switches. It has some quarks, keys are moved around from where you might find them on a standard keyboard which leaves me 'lost' when I have to search for a key I rarely use. The split is what does it for me, but I really like the grid layout as well.
These next two aren't recommendations, but I do like mentioning them.
I also have the Truly Ergonomic, although the one I have is radically different from the current model. Mechanical, used to be Cherry but now they use off brand switches. I would steer clear, though. Unless build quality has improved significantly, I've heard of many people having the same problems I had such as double tapping and ghost key presses. (and mine has Cherry switches) The owner of Truly Ergonomic is also kind of a prick.
I also used to love my Microsoft Ergonomic Elite. It hasn't been in production for year, and I prefer smaller keyboards these days, so I no longer have one. Microsoft now make the Scult which I've taken a passing look at given its chiclet style keys.
I've been using the Microsoft Sculpt keyboards for a couple years and really helps with my old arthritic fingers. I'm also a huge fan of Microsoft's Natural Ergonomic Keyboard as well.
I have a mechanical 60% keyboard, Anne Pro. It's really nice, but the firmware is closed-source, so I recently bought a custom built Redox keeb. The Redox is infinitely customizable, but with great power comes great responsibility..: I managed to upload a firmware that exceeds the space available on the arduino controller, so it overwrote the bootloader! I tried re-flashing the bootloader with an ISP, without much success, so now I'm waiting for a replacement arduino I can solder in place of the old one…
As far as typing on these keebs go, the Anne has blue Gateron switches, which make a lot of noise. It makes me feel more productive, but annoys the hell out of anyone else in the same space :P If you're considering a 60% keeb, be aware that some of them have no arrow keys. This is also the case with the Anne Pro, which places two sets of arrow keys under a "layer" key; hold the layer button, and WASD -keys act as arrow keys. This can be very convenient or very annoying, depending on what you're used to.
Another thing to note about the Anne; if you have keys behind a layer, the order in which you press the keys for shortcut commands matters. For example, if I were to perform a [Cmd]+[←], I would first hold down [Cmd], then hold down [Layer], and finally press [←]. If I were to hold down [Layer] first and [Cmd] next, the [Cmd] would not register as a [Cmd], due to layering. This can be confusing at first, but as always, you'll get used to it.
Before I bricked the other Redox half, I did spend a few hours typing on it. My WPM dropped from ~60 to ~20, and the fact that it's keycaps only have weird symbols instead of normal key labels, doesn't really help much :D Still, having learned a few new layouts before, I doubt this will be a problem in the long term... If I manage to get it fixed first!
That looks pretty cool, can I ask where you bought your Reedox? I'm not worried about the arrow keys too much since I use Emacs keybindings for navigation any ways.
You can buy the parts, kits or preassembled Redoxes at https://falba.tech/
If you want to build it yourself, there are resources for that here https://hackaday.io/project/160610-redox-keyboard
I graduate with my C.S. Degree in December and I have already signed paperwork at the company I'm interning at to become a full time employee in January. I've spent a lot of time looking around for the perfect keyboard (ergonomic, mechanical keys, split, etc). I recently stumbled across the one in the link and I'm fascinated with it.
What keyboard do you use? Any thoughts on the one in the link?
I think the keymouse is really silly looking. Probably not that bad either way. It's one of the most expensive keyboards I have seen, but from from the most expensive. (Maltron custom makes each one of their keyboards and they're all very expensive too.) I'm skeptical that it would be a good mouse, and I don't like how shifted the keys are on the outside of each half. Overall, though, I do like the key layout.
I've seen people who do this with a Kinesis Advantage and that seems like a possible solution for you. It's less elegant, and maybe you don't like touch pads, but it offers a similar solution with a more proven product (with the advantage of being cheaper as well.)
I really liked the idea of the keymouse at first glance but then I noticed a whole bunch of problems.
There are no dedicated number keys (unless you get the trackball version), so you have to type in numbers and symbols with an awkwardly-placed modifier key. While the layout for numbers is almost 10key-like, it's slightly different, so you may end up having to look every time.
The body is 3D printed. It looks like they are using an FDM process as well. This worries me because it makes me believe that it won't be very sturdy. It also increases the cost of the product.
It's crazy expensive. This is a more subjective measure, since there are people who are paying top dollar for less ambitious designs. It looks like they're using good quality components, so it's not entirely unwarranted. But for that amount of money, I would personally prefer something that looked much nicer.
Yeah, it's points like these that are making me rethink getting one. I agree they they don't look polished at all. I think I'm gonna go with the ErgoDox EZ instead.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I love the rollermouse red and kinesis freestyle 2