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geekhack Community => Ergonomics => Topic started by: cogito_ergo_sum on Fri, 30 October 2015, 13:09:10
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Does anyone use/prefer a keyboard with integrated pointing devices?
Examples:
Adesso
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006H4Y70W/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OUNMFJ65WRFL&coliid=IL7VADUODP3QQ (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006H4Y70W/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OUNMFJ65WRFL&coliid=IL7VADUODP3QQ)
Thinkpad
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F3U4TQS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OUNMFJ65WRFL&coliid=ISLXBXXNUEZIU (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F3U4TQS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OUNMFJ65WRFL&coliid=ISLXBXXNUEZIU)
SIIG
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TP5K402/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OUNMFJ65WRFL&coliid=I3QO83O4XD2S23 (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TP5K402/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3OUNMFJ65WRFL&coliid=I3QO83O4XD2S23)
I frequently position a trackball mouse on my Advantage, but this requires moving my hand slightly up instead of in the same plane.
Any thoughts on such keyboards? Are there any noteworthy designs?
I like the idea of the Thinkpad, since it appears it can emulate MouseKeys. The Adesso has separate scroll/click on the left and trackball on the right, which separates the mousing load between hands.
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I myself finds TEX Yoda a very nice 60% keyboard with trackpoint, and even the mouse buttons are MX switches. I just do not own one because it is hard to get its ISO version :D
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I've used the trackpoint and I can say I definitely like it better than any touchpad. My favorite is still the trackball from the original WinBook.
Those were really nice because they were thumb operated so you just had to drop your right thumb a bit. If they would have inverted the location of the buttons towards the top vs the bottom, you really wouldn't have moved much from home row.
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Does anyone use/prefer a keyboard with integrated pointing devices?
I definitely do. In fact, I could be the poster boy for large trackballs built into the dead center of keyboards.
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Does anyone use/prefer a keyboard with integrated pointing devices?
I definitely do. In fact, I could be the poster boy for large trackballs built into the dead center of keyboards.
What do you think of this design?
https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/KeyTronic-Lifetime-Trackball-TRACKBALL-U1/1578255.aspx
CDW outlet had one for <$35. Not sure if they still do.
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Has anyone used/have opinions on this
http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/EnduraPro (http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/EnduraPro)
vs the Thinkpad trackpoint? It has a keypad, but no left/right click.
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Trackpoint buttons on EnduraPro suck. The trackpoint itself isn't very popular either, but I actually almost prefer it to thinkpad trackpoints, provided the cap is replaced by a classic dome for thinkpads.
Keep in mind, that trackpoints require excessive amounts of force from a single finger, as the cap ages (and gets stiffer), and most 3rd party replacements are outright terrible out of the box.
On a different note, I currently have a Logitech TK820 wireless keyboard/trackpad combo for testing. The surface is smooth, relatively large and sensitive, but still doesn't respond to my skinny cold fingers half of the time… and clicking the whole trackpad (as "popular" these days) is awful. It seems Logitech has learned from that, and K830 already has ordinary physical buttons. I can imagine using it for gestures only (esp. scrolling) though, but it'd require some DE configuration and getting used to. I don't think it's much of an option, if I can just stick to using the keyboard.
All in all, I prefer trackballs, but here's the problem: picking a good trackball and embedding it like kurplop is the only way to do that without compromises. Trackballs embedded by manufacturers are generally awful (from outdated sensors to crap bearings to awful buttons like in Compaq rack keyboards with built-in Logitech trackballs). I tried to simply put various input devices on top of Kinesis Advantage, but gave up, because (1) they were too high, and (2) I wondered what kind of idiot had thought making the middle surface curved (read: not flat) was a good idea.
In the end, I use external trackballs kinda externally and wish there was a way to integrate a rollermouse-like pointing device somewhere.
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Trackpoint buttons on EnduraPro suck. The trackpoint itself isn't very popular either, but I actually almost prefer it to thinkpad trackpoints, provided the cap is replaced by a classic dome for thinkpads.
Keep in mind, that trackpoints require excessive amounts of force from a single finger, as the cap ages (and gets stiffer), and most 3rd party replacements are outright terrible out of the box.
Good to know about the excessive force needed.
My absolute favorite pointing device is the keypad - Mouse Keys. Before IT locked down my computer and took away Mouse Keys, I could use the embedded keypad on the Kinesis and mouse as well . I'd love to find a keyboard with built in functionality like MouseKeys - or some way to program one to behave that way.
I alternate between 4 devices at work depending on what doesn't hurt at the time: a trackpad, trackball, a thumb-trackball (all Logitechs), and the 3M vertical mouse. Sometimes I put one on the left and one on the right, and click with the left and move the pointer with the right. Sometimes, I mount the Logitechs to the top of the Kinesis.
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Has anyone used the following keyboard (specifically the P/N Q9000B) with what appears to be a pointer which might emulate Mouse Keys?
http://www.oitkeypad.com/keyboards.htm (http://www.oitkeypad.com/keyboards.htm)
It's a bit pricey at $215 without numpad or mechanical switches or macros, though. Also, you apparently have to press left and right arrow and a number to access the f-keys.
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at that price , I agree with zorox ..
buy tex yoda keyboard and it is mechanical ..
https://www.facebook.com/TEX-Electronics-Co-Ltd-472792412756463/ (https://www.facebook.com/TEX-Electronics-Co-Ltd-472792412756463/)
Another thing I like the layout of IBM thinkpad too...
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Has anyone used the following keyboard (specifically the P/N Q9000B) with what appears to be a pointer which might emulate Mouse Keys?
http://www.oitkeypad.com/keyboards.htm (http://www.oitkeypad.com/keyboards.htm)
It's a bit pricey at $215 without numpad or mechanical switches or macros, though. Also, you apparently have to press left and right arrow and a number to access the f-keys.
Ooo...love those metal keycaps. That navigation thing is interesting.
at that price , I agree with zorox ..
buy tex yoda keyboard and it is mechanical ..
https://www.facebook.com/TEX-Electronics-Co-Ltd-472792412756463/ (https://www.facebook.com/TEX-Electronics-Co-Ltd-472792412756463/)
Another thing I like the layout of IBM thinkpad too...
That's a pretty nice looking board. I'm surprised it doesn't show up here on gh more often.
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Has anyone used the following keyboard (specifically the P/N Q9000B) with what appears to be a pointer which might emulate Mouse Keys?
http://www.oitkeypad.com/keyboards.htm (http://www.oitkeypad.com/keyboards.htm)
It's a bit pricey at $215 without numpad or mechanical switches or macros, though. Also, you apparently have to press left and right arrow and a number to access the f-keys.
Those rugged kiosk keyboards with 100 g force could easily win the award for the least ergonomic keyboard. And the ball placement is even more ridiculous :)
Reminds me of some metro station or smth.
As for keyboards with integrated pointing devices, why would you do that? I have such a torture device and although it's a fine keyboard, that touchpad is completely useless.Also it's not even positioned in the middle, so basically you touch it while typing which is annoying as hell.
Go split and put whatever you want between the 2 halfs.