[GTALUG] keyboards

[Jason Shaw]

On Fri, Oct 22, 2021 at 12:24 PM Giles Orr via talk <talk at gtalug.org> wrote:

> On Thu, 21 Oct 2021 at 16:40, o1bigtenor via talk <talk at gtalug.org> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Oct 21, 2021 at 2:41 PM D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk <
> talk at gtalug.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> | From: Evan Leibovitch via talk <talk at gtalug.org>
> >>
> <<<snipped>>>
> > Thanking one and all for their input!!!!!!!!!
>
> There appear to be a lot of definitions of what "ergonomic" means when
> it comes to keyboards.  I tend to the most extreme example: I own
> three (working) Kinesis Advantage keyboards.  The Advantage2 can be
> had for $400-$450 Canadian - not cheap.  They come with Cherry brown
> switches, but I have a habit of retrofitting them with Cherry blues -
> which makes them noisier and more expensive.
>
> Everybody is recommending the keyboard(s) they love ...  I have a
> CoolerMaster with Cherry Blues, and several IBM model Ms, and have had
> many other types of "ergonomic" keyboards over the years.  I love the
> feel of the switches in both the CoolerMaster and the model Ms, but I
> find I need the two halves of the keyboard farther apart for comfort.
> I also prefer vertical columns of keys - as opposed to the now totally
> unnecessary leftward slant of key columns on almost all modern
> keyboards.  I've experimented with keyboards a lot to end up where I
> am: the Kinesis Advantage took a month to adjust to, but has been
> worth it ... for me.  It's my daily driver both at home and at work.
> You have to make your own call on these things.
>
> A note about gaming keyboards: gamers seem to tend to prefer low
> activation force, linear keys (Cherry Blacks or Cherry Reds).  Most
> people who type for a living (as opposed to gaming) seem to prefer
> "tactile" keys, which is quite different from the "linear" keys which
> don't have any feedback at all until they bottom out.  I hate linears
> (but again - personal taste).  And then there's the "clicky" thing:
> the noise the IBM model M makes can be enough to clear a small room.
> Some people really really hate that noise.  I get that, but I still
> love the feel of those things.
>
> Further reading (my intro to keyboard layouts and key types):
> https://www.gilesorr.com/blog/computer-keyboards.html
>

Thanks for that Giles.

Keyboards are a very personal choice, and what's right for one user isn't
going to be right for another.

Personally, I use a ThinkPad X1 Carbon quite regularly and have for ~10
years, and love the touchpoint (red nub), so even my external keyboard for
a long time was the ThinkPad TrackPoint kb (
https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/accessories-and-monitors/keyboards-and-mice/keyboards/KBD-BO-TrackPoint-KBD-US-English/p/4Y40X49493).
Over time though, my posture was suffering and my wrists were sore at the
end of a workday. Combined with a personal accident that resulted in some
permanent fingertip damage on my dominant hand, I needed something with
better ergonomics, so I took the plunge on a split style, mechanical
keyboard, and can't imagine going back.  The added benefit of having the
desk area immediately in front of me wide open is great too.

I would like to try an ortholinear split keyboard at some point, but have
no real desire to spend a month or two re-learning to type again.

-jason
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