geekhack Community > Keyboards
TKL or less layout for arthritis battered fingertips
letsfixitinpost:
I've been searching the forums for some posts on this, but I have a more in depth question. I have RA, my hands aren't damaged but they are always in some short pain. I work as a video editor all day, then I game sometimes too, so it can be tough. I've been trying to replace my k70 for a few months. I just cant decide on what to do. For a long time I got fixated on the idea of silver switches, but then I tried Topre and it felt like a new world. I tried the 55g which is a bit heavy, but I've read that dropping down to the 35 has been a sweet spot for a lot of people. My question is where can I find a 35g Topre board? I really like the realforce 87u, it seems perfect, but only seems to exist in a variable or 55g. Im also looking at the happy hacking which is slightly too small, but has a usb pass through. Any suggestions? I hate to say this, but money isn't an option. i work every day on my keyboard so whatever it takes to improve the situation at home, and on this chiclet apple nightmare at work.
I hope I'm doing this right. I have social anxiety issues because of all my arthritis problems so when I post online I get worried Im going to get flamed.
Tactile:
In 35 gram it's much easier to find clones than genuine Topre. Something like this.
suicidal_orange:
Welcome to GH :)
No flames here but we are mostly young and I for one am not familiar with RA - can you explain what causes the pain and what you don't like about the chiclet board? Also what switches are in your K70 so we have a rerference?
To me Topre still has the jarring bottom out (after the key has registered you can't help but keep pressing until you hit the case below, can only be 'worse' with 35g) and it requires more movement than a chiclet board, neither of which sound like good things for damaged hands. Of course if you like it and it doesn't hurt it may be the switch for you...
letsfixitinpost:
I'm actually only in my 30s, but basically for me it's a swelling issue. So I get swelling in my extremities like fingertips, hands, and feet. I also HAD wrist problems which a vertical mouse, and better posture have eased. Not to mention modern medicine.
So the Keyboard at home is an MX-Red. I got it a long time ago on a price error at best buy, and didn't even know different switches existed. I honestly though Cherry MX Red was the brand and they just made that.
For my issue with that board is sometimes it feels like im traveling a bit too far. I think the bottoming out hitting hard is what bothers me the most to be honest. Maybe if it was more spongey or something I don't know. I honestly never hated old dome keyboards, and sometimes I go back to them. I'm a very fast typer but I never got used to the actuation of the red. My instincts are always to clank and not just push part way until it registers.
I hope that makes sense. Thanks for replying.
letsfixitinpost:
--- Quote from: Tactile on Thu, 18 January 2018, 10:44:23 ---In 35 gram it's much easier to find clones than genuine Topre. Something like this.
--- End quote ---
I was thinking maybe looking into something like this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Plum-plum-108-rgb-35-45-realforce-capacitor-keyboard/32737960095.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.2.49abbc40Sokv7G&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10152_10151_10065_10344_10130_10068_10324_10547_10342_10325_10546_10343_10340_10548_10341_10545_10084_10083_10615_10307_10313_10059_10314_10534_100031_10604_10103_10142,searchweb201603_25,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=57039a45-3c68-441f-923f-c9164739f06c-0&algo_pvid=57039a45-3c68-441f-923f-c9164739f06c&transAbTest=ae803_5&priceBeautifyAB=1
I like that the caps can be changed later. But right now just trying to decide the right switch.
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