Ergonomic keyboard with shallow learning curve & low profile
February 1, 2022 5:32 AM Subscribe
My hands don't hurt when I type, but I figure I should go ahead and switch to something more ergonomic to keep it that way. I'd like something with a small footprint that won't require a huge adjustment in how I type/hold my hands. (My ideal at this point would be a squished together version of a Logitech Wave and a Logitech MK470.) More details after the jump.
I have been using a Logitech k400r and laptop keyboards most of my working life.
I borrowed someone's Wave and really like the hand positioning. I've tried the Microsoft Sculpt keyboard and had to send it back because it was going to take me too long to adjust to the keys being separated so much. Do you have a keyboard shaped like the Wave, but with a smaller footprint? The Wave doesn't leave room for my mouse on my keyboard tray.
What I need:
Wireless
Quieter keys
What I prefer:
backlit (doesn't have to be fancy gamer colors)
Number pad is helpful but not an absolute dealbreaker
What I don't need (but am not opposed to having):
Mechanical
Cherry MX anything
What I don't want:
Large footprint
Very large price tag (=$200)
I have been using a Logitech k400r and laptop keyboards most of my working life.
I borrowed someone's Wave and really like the hand positioning. I've tried the Microsoft Sculpt keyboard and had to send it back because it was going to take me too long to adjust to the keys being separated so much. Do you have a keyboard shaped like the Wave, but with a smaller footprint? The Wave doesn't leave room for my mouse on my keyboard tray.
What I need:
Wireless
Quieter keys
What I prefer:
backlit (doesn't have to be fancy gamer colors)
Number pad is helpful but not an absolute dealbreaker
What I don't need (but am not opposed to having):
Mechanical
Cherry MX anything
What I don't want:
Large footprint
Very large price tag (=$200)
I know you are not looking for a keyboard with mechanical switches, but the mechanical keyboard community is where you are likely to find something that meets your needs as that is where a great deal of keyboard customization and innovation is going on.
Ergonomics are pretty personal, so I don't have a specific recommendation for you, but I would look for something that is a combination of a, let's say, 87 key or 68 key keyboard (for small footprint) and a split keyboard, in which the two hands of the board can be physically separated and aligned in a way that feels more natural to you. This is a good explanation of the different "sizes" of keyboard in terms of number of keys. Here's a discussion of split keyboards.
posted by gauche at 5:52 AM on February 1, 2022
Ergonomics are pretty personal, so I don't have a specific recommendation for you, but I would look for something that is a combination of a, let's say, 87 key or 68 key keyboard (for small footprint) and a split keyboard, in which the two hands of the board can be physically separated and aligned in a way that feels more natural to you. This is a good explanation of the different "sizes" of keyboard in terms of number of keys. Here's a discussion of split keyboards.
posted by gauche at 5:52 AM on February 1, 2022
How small do they have to be? And do you need a numpad?
I was thinking Mistel Barocco, which is a mechanical "split keyboard" that's conventional... but can be split in half for any hand placement you want. Right now on Amazon they have a variety of models, including this 75% (it has function keys and arrow keys in the corner) but they can go smaller as well.
If you need something that is more adjustable, like you want the middle to be higher than the sides, You need the Kinesis Freestyle Pro with a tenting kit. But this is like 200-250, and this is wired. If you must have wireless, you can go for the FreeStyle 2, which can be had with Bluetooth, but is NOT mechanical. And you'll still need the tenting kit if you want the middle to go up.
There are clones like Cloud Nine or GoldTouch that are cheaper, but Kinesis had been around the longest has a proven design.
posted by kschang at 9:07 AM on February 1, 2022
I was thinking Mistel Barocco, which is a mechanical "split keyboard" that's conventional... but can be split in half for any hand placement you want. Right now on Amazon they have a variety of models, including this 75% (it has function keys and arrow keys in the corner) but they can go smaller as well.
If you need something that is more adjustable, like you want the middle to be higher than the sides, You need the Kinesis Freestyle Pro with a tenting kit. But this is like 200-250, and this is wired. If you must have wireless, you can go for the FreeStyle 2, which can be had with Bluetooth, but is NOT mechanical. And you'll still need the tenting kit if you want the middle to go up.
There are clones like Cloud Nine or GoldTouch that are cheaper, but Kinesis had been around the longest has a proven design.
posted by kschang at 9:07 AM on February 1, 2022
I just switched from the Wave - which I ADORED but it was huge and had become so clacky I was getting comments on zoom - to the K860 and I'm really pleased with it. It has some learning curve, the keys are much lower-profile and the pinky-keys in particular are quite differently spaced, but it's basically silent and I'm just about typing perfectly again after a month.
It is not backlit. I use a little usb light over mine because even though I'm a touch-typer I have to re-orient fairly often, so it's not a dealbreaker though I too wish it was backlit.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:08 AM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
It is not backlit. I use a little usb light over mine because even though I'm a touch-typer I have to re-orient fairly often, so it's not a dealbreaker though I too wish it was backlit.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:08 AM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
>>But I worry that I would be hard on the connecting cable.
The Mistel Barocco comes with a long coiled cable and both ends can be unplugged.
With the Kinesis, you can order the 20 inch cable instead of the default 9 inch cable if you don't think it's long enough.
posted by kschang at 9:16 AM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Mistel Barocco comes with a long coiled cable and both ends can be unplugged.
With the Kinesis, you can order the 20 inch cable instead of the default 9 inch cable if you don't think it's long enough.
posted by kschang at 9:16 AM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
The older model Kineses come up on eBay and Craigslist for the sort of money you're talking. They look excellent, but they, more than most, need you to be a touch typist.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 11:00 PM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 11:00 PM on February 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! I did a deep dive and actually ended up focusing on a more ergonomic mouse for now. I have muscle tightness on the right side of my neck and upper back. If it's from repetitive use of a right handed mouse, this new one would resolve that issue.
posted by crunchy potato at 12:39 PM on February 5, 2022
posted by crunchy potato at 12:39 PM on February 5, 2022
You got more than a few choices if you need alternative pointing devices.
You can simply change the mouse, as you've done. There are more optimized mouse, or even vertical mouse that you hold sort of sideways, so you don't need to bend your wrist.
There are of course, also trackballs and touchpads (like those you use on a laptop) for desktop use.
Or you can go really exotic like head mounted pointer that uses your head movement as a pointing device.
posted by kschang at 3:07 PM on February 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
You can simply change the mouse, as you've done. There are more optimized mouse, or even vertical mouse that you hold sort of sideways, so you don't need to bend your wrist.
There are of course, also trackballs and touchpads (like those you use on a laptop) for desktop use.
Or you can go really exotic like head mounted pointer that uses your head movement as a pointing device.
posted by kschang at 3:07 PM on February 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Track pad included is fine but not necessary. I'm ok with the mouse I have.
I think I would probably do better with smaller keys, vs the old school large kind, because that's what I am used to. But I'm not sure.
I am curious about something like the Cloud 9 - to start positioned as I am used to and slowly adjust the angle. But I worry that I would be hard on the connecting cable.
Also, I use my desk with a treadmill sometimes, which I believe changes the ergonomics somewhat, where ideally the wrist is above the fingers, but I can adjust my work so I am limiting typing when on the treadmill if there's something otherwise fitting my preferences.
posted by crunchy potato at 5:33 AM on February 1, 2022