On Fri, Oct 22, 2021 at 12:24 PM Giles Orr via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
On Thu, 21 Oct 2021 at 16:40, o1bigtenor via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
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> On Thu, Oct 21, 2021 at 2:41 PM D. Hugh Redelmeier via talk <talk@gtalug.org> wrote:
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>> | From: Evan Leibovitch via talk <talk@gtalug.org>
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> 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