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Recommentations about every aspect of keyboards?
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this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2023
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ErgoMechKeyboards
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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards
Rules
Keep it ergo
Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)
i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²
¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid
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Some useful links
- EMK wiki
- Split keyboard compare tool
- Compare keycap profiles Looking for another set of keycaps - check this site to compare the different keycap profiles https://www.keycaps.info/
- Keymap database A database with all kinds of keymap layouts - some of them fits ergo keyboards - get inspired https://keymapdb.com/
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This is all good advice but I would say if you're willing (and interested) to try a "40s" like board, the corne (at least in 6 column version) is fairly accessible and is very popular so looking for ideas about how to make your keymap won't be difficult. And also boardsource now has a fully assembled version of the corne (no soldering).
That is to say, cerement described a very reasonable progression, but if you don't mind feeling like you don't know how to type for a bit you can jump into anything that is interesting to you, and many folks agree that smaller boards are more comfortable to type on.
I must say It's daunting to reduce the amount of keys that much, since I'm used to full-size. Then again, I use the numpad mostly to control foobar2000 (music), which should be easily balanced with a thumb-activated additional layer in a board such as the corne. I can't seem to find the fully assembled version of the corne, but the unicorne is assemblable without soldering. Would you recommend low-profile switches? I have absolutely no experience typing on those so I'd be interested to know what the difference feels like.
Also, the Moonlander has people saying the tenting is uncomfortable, and to go with the ergodox ez instead... I'm just unsure because there is so many to choose from, but most of them are so expensive that I'd have to buy one and stick with it for years to come.
Every single one of my coworkers who had an ergodox ez now has a moonlander and they are unanimously happy with the upgrade. Tenting is at least an option with the moonlander.
I have the falba redox which is very similar to both layouts and is by far the best tenting on any keyboard I own. Might be a third option if you're seriously considering the other two.
Link since formatting isn't working: https://falba.tech/product/redox-full-assembly-services-of-keyboard-pcb-arduino-electronics-and-cable-etc/
Another thing: I use Blender. Is it possible / feasible to reduce key count that much when blender has this huge amount of keyboard shortcuts? I think if I were to buy an ergo keyboard, I'd gravitate towards the moonlander for this reason.
Oh man, you just reminded me I have a glove80 in a box untouched somewhere. Does Lemmy have the equivalent of a mech marketplace? I should sell it lmao.
My two cents:
Choc (low profile) switches are awesome for portable keyboards, but if you lean tactile, it's going to be hard to find a satisfying switch. Khail sunsets are the closest I've come to my cherished Zealio V2s. I'd recommend looking around for a sample pack.
Two more cents:
I switched from a lily to a pinky3 a year or two ago and thought the same thing about reducing keys. It was a slight adjustment at first but I absolutely love it now. Typing on a 4 row keyboard is slightly annoying to me at this point. Why should I have to move my fingers so far just to type a single number? I found that having a number layer across the top row and a right side num pad connecting to where the 7 - 8 - 9 is on that row has been wonderful.
The unicorne is what I was thinking of, fully assembled in terms of the PCB (other than switches) which is less common for these boards. I've personally started to like low profile switches a lot, the reduced travel works really well for ergonomic layouts reducing finger movement. I will say they are not as refined as some of the recent mx style switches in terms of feel and sound, but ones like the sunset tactile switches are very good. Keycaps being the other limiting factor, chocs use different keycaps and there are not a lot of excellent options at the moment, but there are enough decent options that they're usable.