Least Ergonomic Keyboard

[microsoft windows]

What would you say is the worst-feeling keyboard to type on? I'd probably pin the prize on Apple's clear-and-white keyboard they sold a few years ago:


These were the worst keyboards I ever used in the past 20 years. They had awful sticky rubber dome switches, and the key-tops were so close together that I'd often hit two keys at once. And there was absolutely nothing adjustable about these keyboards either--not even any adjustable feet!

So what would you say is the least ergonomic keyboard?

[pyro]

I keep repeating myself, but...

HHKB Lite / Lite 2


Those keys hate you.

[SonOfSonOfSpock]

I second that Apple Keyboard. My keyboard broke a couple years ago and I tried to use that keyboard since I had it as a backup. I was going from the chiclet Aluminum Apple Keyboard they are selling now back to that. My main gripe was that the keys were so hard to press. I went out on my lunch break to buy a new keyboard.

[ComradeSniper]

I'd take an Apple keyboard any day over one of these:

[AKmalamute]

Those keys hate you.

You misspelled love, bro.

though I have a few 84-ish key kbds that, yeah, are hard to type on. No images handy I've burned them already.

With great fervor.

[Signature]

This keyboard...

[microsoft windows]

I'd take an Apple keyboard any day over one of these:

Show Image

Those are pretty bad, but that apple keyboard is still worse.

[microsoft windows]

This keyboard...

Now there's a bad one!

[metalliqaz]

Easily the waterproof Panasonic tough book.  Even if you can touch type, you have to use one finger at a time to smash the keys to get them to actuate. 

[davkol]

Apple Aluminium Keyboard International: short throw and metal plate make my fingers hurt, and their extremely narrow ISO Enter is hard to hit on the home row (and I'm not a fan of small left Shift either).

Any sticky/scratchy/mushy rubber dome (well, it doesn't have to be RD, black ALPS aren't any better) that sometimes misses keystrokes, but I guess keyboards that are basically broken (even by design) shouldn't be considered at all, since they aren't meant for typing. Logitech Wave and MS Natural Multimedia Keyboard, which are both supposed to be somewhat ergonomic, would be high on my list otherwise.

Finally, anything with the "standard" staggered layout is horrible. I mean, seriously—that staggering doesn't make any sense.

[uzoc]

I second that... What a waste of good keyboard design (except the key feel!).

I keep repeating myself, but...

HHKB Lite / Lite 2

Show Image

Those keys hate you.

[microsoft windows]

And plus it doesn't have a Windows key.

[rowdy]

And plus it doesn't have a Windows key.

Yes it has.

[unicomp_uc]

This keyboard...

dear god that's horrible

[microsoft windows]

And plus it doesn't have a Windows key.

Yes it has.

No it does not.

[Zeal]

THIS:


No tactility, flat surface and no incline. Almost as bad as trying to touch type on a tablet.

[rowdy]

And plus it doesn't have a Windows key.

Yes it has.

No it does not.

Has so.  They are not labelled "Windows", but it is the keys with the diamonds on them.  Same a HHKB Pro 2.

[epiphany]

I saw this keyboard on a case yesterday during a trip to Office Depot. It's similar to the squishy waterproof keyboard posted earlier, but the keys are smaller. Horrible rubber keys that squish in with no feedback. Awful.



Granted, you could probably put any number of tablet keyboards or netbook keyboards on this list. I used to have a Dell Mini 9. I basically had to hit the spacebar with my index fingers because the keyboard was small and I'd end up hitting the trackpad with my thumb instead.

[microsoft windows]

Yuck. That thing looks awful!

[vun]

What would you say is the worst-feeling keyboard to type on? I'd probably pin the prize on Apple's clear-and-white keyboard they sold a few years ago:

Show Image

These were the worst keyboards I ever used in the past 20 years. They had awful sticky rubber dome switches, and the key-tops were so close together that I'd often hit two keys at once. And there was absolutely nothing adjustable about these keyboards either--not even any adjustable feet!

So what would you say is the least ergonomic keyboard?

We used to have those at school, still the worst typing experience I have ever had. I mean the MS Ergo 4k feels like crap, but at least the shape is comfortable. That Apple board is just all-round ****.

[Pacifist]

THIS:

Show Image

No tactility, flat surface and no incline. Almost as bad as trying to touch type on a tablet.

I prefer no incline. Having the incline puts stress on your wrists

[tufty]

Gh0d, those white Apple boards were, indeed, truly horrible, mainly due to the atrocious switches (the keycaps I could live with).  I stuck with mine for under a week before ordering a Tactile Pro from Matias.  I don't think they count as the absolute worst boards I've ever used, though.  Pretty much every laptop keyboard ever, for example (although an honorable mention goes to Apple's powerbook G3 "Wallstreet" series, which was actually pretty good to type on) is worse, and the MS Ergo board, although physically more comfortable than a "stock" staggered board, I found infuriating due to its awful switches.  Not keen on the Apple aluminium keyboards either, and that's what every laptop seems to be aping these days.

[iri]

I second that... What a waste of good keyboard design (except the key feel!).

that's hhkb lite. the usual rubber dome board.

[BakerMan1971]

How about this http://www.vintage-computer.com/images/atari400.jpg

or: http://www.wearmouth.demon.co.uk/kb.jpg

[bueller]

Most uncomfortable keyboard that's fairly common would be the apple chiclet boards they ship with all their machines these days. Was forced to use one at work for a year and it gave me the worst pains in my forearm.

[Oobly]

How about this http://www.vintage-computer.com/images/atari400.jpg

or: http://www.wearmouth.demon.co.uk/kb.jpg

That Atari keyboard... shudder... My fingers hurt just looking at it.

[AKmalamute]

That Atari keyboard... shudder... My fingers hurt just looking at it.

It's like about a 12x spacebar, though, right? At least you won't have to work too hard to find it.

[Zeal]

That Atari keyboard... shudder... My fingers hurt just looking at it.

It's like about a 12x spacebar, though, right? At least you won't have to work too hard to find it.

"Technically" it's a 9x spacebar

But..ugh those plastic flat keyboards found on so many old school children's toys. The amount of force required to activate a key was horrible. -shudders-

[BakerMan1971]

Hey Zeal, toys? those were our MACHINES!

[Benoît B. Mandelbrot]

How about this http://www.vintage-computer.com/images/atari400.jpg

or: http://www.wearmouth.demon.co.uk/kb.jpg

The Atari 400 is the worst I have personally used.  I spent a many weekends keying in games printed in computer magazines when I was a kid.

THIS:

Show Image

No tactility, flat surface and no incline. Almost as bad as trying to touch type on a tablet.

I prefer no incline. Having the incline puts stress on your wrists

I like to use adjust able keyboard trays where I can have the keyboard decline by about 2 degrees.

[SamirD]

THIS:

Show Image

No tactility, flat surface and no incline. Almost as bad as trying to touch type on a tablet.

I was actually looking for something like this to replace the keyboard on my tablet since there's no ps2-bluetooth adapter out there. :(

Worst for me?  Commodore 64.  Luckily, that was before I could touch-type or I would have had rsi by age 10.

[pepijndevos]

My brother owns that rubber watter proof thing. I can attest it's terrible.