Help finding an ergonomic mechanical keyboard with a little flurry...
December 16, 2015 8:51 AM Subscribe
I've decided that a mechanical keyboard would be much better for me, but I also prefer the "split" ergonomic-designed keyboards. I need advice and suggestions, please. A very slight flurry inside...
So I've been given funds to purchase the keyboard I want at work (I do a lot of data entry and transcription of dictation), so while money is not an object, I'd like to keep it in the less than 400USD range.
The snowflake: I need a "Pause" button (the one up there with Prnt Screen and Screen Break) for an outdated appointment scheduling program. I'd prefer not to have it as button + other button push (as most laptops do).
I'm leaning toward a mechanical keyboard, since I'm tough on keyboards and also like the way they "feel" for me. I also highly prefer the ergonomic split keyboards (like this, but without the front plate weirdo thing).
I've seen this keyboard through googling, but I'm not sure about how rammed together it is in the name of space.
I know there are specific mechanical keyboard manufacturers out there (for gaming, particularly?), but I'm not sure those will fit my needs.
Any help or pointers from fellow ergonomic keyboard mashers?
So I've been given funds to purchase the keyboard I want at work (I do a lot of data entry and transcription of dictation), so while money is not an object, I'd like to keep it in the less than 400USD range.
The snowflake: I need a "Pause" button (the one up there with Prnt Screen and Screen Break) for an outdated appointment scheduling program. I'd prefer not to have it as button + other button push (as most laptops do).
I'm leaning toward a mechanical keyboard, since I'm tough on keyboards and also like the way they "feel" for me. I also highly prefer the ergonomic split keyboards (like this, but without the front plate weirdo thing).
I've seen this keyboard through googling, but I'm not sure about how rammed together it is in the name of space.
I know there are specific mechanical keyboard manufacturers out there (for gaming, particularly?), but I'm not sure those will fit my needs.
Any help or pointers from fellow ergonomic keyboard mashers?
Response by poster: To weigh in briefly, I like the look of the one Jacob G suggested above, but would probably go insane with just that cord holding the two pieces together. I'd much prefer a single-piece construction...
posted by kuanes at 9:42 AM on December 16, 2015
posted by kuanes at 9:42 AM on December 16, 2015
Best answer: There is actually a clip that can hold the pieces together at the top. You can detach the clip if you want more separation. The bottom edged are still detached though and can move, thereby increasing or decreasing the gap... Totally took some getting used to.
posted by Jacob G at 9:46 AM on December 16, 2015
posted by Jacob G at 9:46 AM on December 16, 2015
I am currently using a Microsoft Sculpt and it's pretty good. It doesn't have old-school Cherry / Alps / buckling spring-type mechanical switches, but scissor switches which are still leagues ahead of cheap membrane boards. More like a laptop switch feel. Plus it is tenkeyless.
I was previously using a Northgate Omnikey Evolution which uses Alps switches and has less monkeying around with layout (standard size keys, standard paging clusters). However, it's not tented and has positive tilt, both of which I find non-ergonomic. And also takes up a ton of room, and weighs a ton. They are antiques though.
If I was in the market again, I'd go with a Kinesis Advantage. They have a solid rep. Or maybe a Matias Ergo, both from long standing companies.
Keyboard.io is still in funding/development, but it's a keyboard made by keyboard people. Might be worth looking into later.
Keep in mind that you can probably remap your pause button if it's not directly included on the board. Maybe with Autohotkey?
Shoot me a message if you want any more detail on anything.
posted by meowzilla at 9:56 AM on December 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
I was previously using a Northgate Omnikey Evolution which uses Alps switches and has less monkeying around with layout (standard size keys, standard paging clusters). However, it's not tented and has positive tilt, both of which I find non-ergonomic. And also takes up a ton of room, and weighs a ton. They are antiques though.
If I was in the market again, I'd go with a Kinesis Advantage. They have a solid rep. Or maybe a Matias Ergo, both from long standing companies.
Keyboard.io is still in funding/development, but it's a keyboard made by keyboard people. Might be worth looking into later.
Keep in mind that you can probably remap your pause button if it's not directly included on the board. Maybe with Autohotkey?
Shoot me a message if you want any more detail on anything.
posted by meowzilla at 9:56 AM on December 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
I've been using a Goldtouch Keyovation for about 12 years now. It's been great!
I had no idea what the "pause" button was, but lo and behold, there it is (on my keyboard anyway, right above the secondary backspace key). Looking at the link I posted, it is still in the same place.
The two pieces are connected with a ball joint, with a VERY sturdy locking clamp that allows you to have a LOT of freedom in how the two halves relate to each other.
posted by gregvr at 10:04 AM on December 16, 2015
I had no idea what the "pause" button was, but lo and behold, there it is (on my keyboard anyway, right above the secondary backspace key). Looking at the link I posted, it is still in the same place.
The two pieces are connected with a ball joint, with a VERY sturdy locking clamp that allows you to have a LOT of freedom in how the two halves relate to each other.
posted by gregvr at 10:04 AM on December 16, 2015
I will n-th the Kinesis Advantage, which I've been using for over 15 years.
posted by oddphantom at 10:13 AM on December 16, 2015
posted by oddphantom at 10:13 AM on December 16, 2015
Best answer: I second everything odinsdream said about the Truly Ergonomic keyboard.
It doesn't ship with a Pause key, but if you have access to a Windows machine, you can use a utility program from the manufacturer to remap the keys any way you want and flash the settings into the keyboard's firmware. (If that sounds scary, don't worry; the procedure is quite easy.) There's a redundant Del key in the upper right that would be a good candidate to use as the Pause key.
If you decide to go that route, get the model 227 rather than the 229; it has two fewer keys, but it's worth it to get double-width Alt keys.
If you want to check out how the different keyboard switches feel, visit a Best Buy and check out the gaming keyboards, because they use the same switches as pretty much all mechanical keyboards. IIRC the Razer Chroma uses the same "clicky" blue switches offered on the TE and other mechanical keyboards like the Kinesis Advantage, and the others use green switches that, to me, feel identical to the brown switches typically offered as a quieter alternative. If you want to be absolutely sure what you're looking at, pry off a key cap when no one is looking as look at the color of the switch underneath; it's not difficult and it won't damage the keyboard.
posted by shponglespore at 3:53 PM on December 16, 2015
It doesn't ship with a Pause key, but if you have access to a Windows machine, you can use a utility program from the manufacturer to remap the keys any way you want and flash the settings into the keyboard's firmware. (If that sounds scary, don't worry; the procedure is quite easy.) There's a redundant Del key in the upper right that would be a good candidate to use as the Pause key.
If you decide to go that route, get the model 227 rather than the 229; it has two fewer keys, but it's worth it to get double-width Alt keys.
If you want to check out how the different keyboard switches feel, visit a Best Buy and check out the gaming keyboards, because they use the same switches as pretty much all mechanical keyboards. IIRC the Razer Chroma uses the same "clicky" blue switches offered on the TE and other mechanical keyboards like the Kinesis Advantage, and the others use green switches that, to me, feel identical to the brown switches typically offered as a quieter alternative. If you want to be absolutely sure what you're looking at, pry off a key cap when no one is looking as look at the color of the switch underneath; it's not difficult and it won't damage the keyboard.
posted by shponglespore at 3:53 PM on December 16, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
I was using a mechanical prior and, while I really liked the feel of the keys, I found hand and wrist pain increased over time as a result, I presume, of the increased pressure needed to depress the keys. Switching to the kinesis fixed that issue right away.
posted by Jacob G at 9:12 AM on December 16, 2015 [1 favorite]