Ergonomic Keyboard
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@pete-s Interesting that DAS is so anti ergo when they benefit from a faction of the market looking for Cherry MX switch'ed boards. Which, off course, are, and have been, DAS's bread, butter, and jam.
So we have all these feelings being summarized. Blah, bleah. Feeling Madame? I know not feelings. Have you any data? If what you have works great for you then that is great for you. That does not mean that your singular experience extends to the universal.
As mentioned above, everything is connected to everything else. So after your done making excuses and have your workspace set up at least half way decently, worked on minimizing PEBKAC related, then these non commodity keyboards have their utilities.
I have used, but do not use as daily driver, tented Goldtouch keyboards. Prevention? Meh! This is for somebody who's gone a bit past that and lookin' to mitigate to some extent. And therein I've had favorable reports from carpel tunnel sufferers.
Myself, am a skinny guy so straight keyboard works for me. Ten keyless and Otaku, if you please. The switch is the distinguishing factor. Of course, becoming aware of and adapting your key strokes themselves to mechanical switches requires self awareness. And some practice. Practice to unlearn the "bottoming out" that is fact of life for a rubber dome switch to fire. Which of course leads to "pounding" the keyboard. At least by some. Be especially aware during times of stress.
So switch comparatives like to cite activation forces. And maybe switch travel as well if you are lucky. Ergo marketeers will push those low activation key switch as big 'feature'. And maybe they are for some.
But for me.. it is more about "arrival shock". And a with a good MX switch and some practice you can pretty much all but eliminate this one since the switch provides tactile feedback on activation and does not require bottoming out to fire. Seems to be the sweet spot for me and my particular issues.
Edit: Fortunately, the engineering of rubber dome switches themselves provides a cushion for arrival shock. But rubber dome switches are "mushy" comparatively. Also, if you switch to an MX based board do be wary of bottoming out cuz that rubber cushion is now absent.
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@gotwf said in Ergonomic Keyboard:
Feeling Madame? I know not feelings. Have you any data?
https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2014/01/09/242633.htm
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@gotwf said in Ergonomic Keyboard:
The switch is the distinguishing factor.
I don't believe there is any data that supports that assumption.
Having used keyboards since way before any of the current trends in keyboards existed and before the mouse was commonly used, I can't say I've noticed more or less problems regardless of switch technology used. I do notice a difference in speed though.
That said, whatever works works. So if it works for you then it's all good.
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@pete-s said in Ergonomic Keyboard:
I don't believe there is any data that supports that assumption.
Plenty. It is called empirical evidence collected by me over decades of keyboarding. This is not rocket science. Get a keyboard. Type on it for a few months. Get a different one. Compare and contrast. Wash, rinse repeat. If you're going to spend anywhere near as many hours per day behind a computer as I over the years, it behooves one to make an investment in their workstation. And I am not talking about the latest and greatest Ryzen's. But you've got to do this consciously. Try to find the sweet spot in the switch. What were the designers thinking? For me, the arrival shock of bottoming out seems to aggravate my Dupuytrens. Using Cherry MX mechanical switches helps me be more aware of my keyboarding technique and that greater awareness seems to translate into the real world as greater periods between surgeries.
Your mileage may vary. I was responding to a specific query from the OP. Then the rest of y'all macho types decided to dog pile on. But trouble is that yer' wrong. And right. Because the key is not whether something is branded as ergo or not but rather underlying causes. And if some gizmo like a better chair, monitor riser, foot riser, vertical mouse, mech keyboard provides even perceived benefits by the users? Hmm...who's to say whether that is effective or not, eh? Geeze, Louise! IT geeks make this huge investment in "professional development" every day just trying to keep minimally abreast. Make some investment in your physical well being and set up a decent office space. It's not that hard. Nor costly.
Be all that as it may.... I would posit that the biggest win for a mech keyboard is the typing experience itself. They just feel nicer. And I make lots less errors. In no small part, no doubt, because I am used to that sweet activation spot on these cherry browns. Scissor switches common on laptops are okay. Better than rubber domes. But still need to bottom out to activate. Cherry MX, Buckling Spring, Scissor, Rubber Dome, Topre Hybrid. Use whatever feels best. Who cares if the rig is $20 or $200? It does not matter over the decade you'll be using it. Write it off in three.
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@gotwf said in Ergonomic Keyboard:
I would posit that the biggest win for a mech keyboard is the typing experience itself. They just feel nicer.
Meh, this is my fav:
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I just got an Ergodox with cherry browns and I love it. It's split, so I don't feel like I'm rounding my shoulders anymore to type. It's really comfortable and very customizable. I'd def buy it again.
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@stacksofplates said in Ergonomic Keyboard:
I just got an Ergodox with cherry browns and I love it. It's split, so I don't feel like I'm rounding my shoulders anymore to type. It's really comfortable and very customizable. I'd def buy it again.
I ordered it from ZSA since they put it together and everything.
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@stacksofplates said in Ergonomic Keyboard:
@stacksofplates said in Ergonomic Keyboard:
I just got an Ergodox with cherry browns and I love it. It's split, so I don't feel like I'm rounding my shoulders anymore to type. It's really comfortable and very customizable. I'd def buy it again.
I ordered it from ZSA since they put it together and everything.
Wait, do you actually wear it around your neck?
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@scottalanmiller said in Ergonomic Keyboard:
@stacksofplates said in Ergonomic Keyboard:
@stacksofplates said in Ergonomic Keyboard:
I just got an Ergodox with cherry browns and I love it. It's split, so I don't feel like I'm rounding my shoulders anymore to type. It's really comfortable and very customizable. I'd def buy it again.
I ordered it from ZSA since they put it together and everything.
Wait, do you actually wear it around your neck?
Only once.
Misread, thought you said "did you".
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So idk about other ergonomic keyboards, but this one def is very comfortable and the adjustable legs and wrist rests make it really adjustable to your liking.
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@stacksofplates Ah yes, Ergodox. Massdrop? Getting stuff off pinkies and onto thumbs is a big win. Alas, I don't have such a rig myself. Fairly pricey, iirc, no?
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As someone with long term neck and shoulder problems, I've used these for years:
https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Natural-Ergonomic-Keyboard-4000/dp/B000A6PPOK
I can't type on a normal "straight" keyboard for any length of time without discomfort nowadays; these have been a good compromise between price and comfort, and with slightly better keys than the newer slimline versions.
Unfortunately, it would appear that they have been discontinued - so grab one while you can!
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@gotwf said in Ergonomic Keyboard:
@stacksofplates Ah yes, Ergodox. Massdrop? Getting stuff off pinkies and onto thumbs is a big win. Alas, I don't have such a rig myself. Fairly pricey, iirc, no?
Yeah with the rests, lift kit, and lights it was around $350. I got it from ZSA soi didn't have to assumble it. They built it and sent it.
