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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: nuudul on Sat, 10 July 2021, 10:25:52
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so im finally buying a mechanical keyboard but i cant decide if i should go for an ergonomic/ortholinear keyboard or an topre board. To choose one, i have to ask some questions.
1) Are ergonomics really that important?
2) is the mx platform that bad? I mean... MX linears arent the smoothest (compared to optical/Hall-Effect switches) and MX tactiles are usually not that tactile.
3) Are ergo/ortho boards better for touch typing?
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1) It depends on you.
2) No, but it heavily depends on particular switch model.
3) Yes, but you have to get used to it.
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I'm a die-hard topre guy.
A variable weighted cup rubber board may be the way to go.
How well do you think you can adjust to a different layout?
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I'm not sure there are any ergonomic Topre keyboards.
So it really comes down to whether you want an ergo layout or a conventional layout.
If conventional, you can still choose Topre or MX. Or Hall Effect. Or Alps. Or buckling springs.
If you go ergo, you'll be much more limited, pretty much MX (although there are many, many MX-compatible switches to choose from).
If you've tried an ergo keyboard before and got on really well with it, that would seem to be a reason to stick with the layout.
If you're planning on swapping switches and/or keycaps around a bit, a more conventional MX-based layout would be easier, although support for ergo/ortholinear keysets are improving.
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1) Are ergonomics really that important?
100% dependent on the individual. Nobody can say for you.
2) is the mx platform that bad? I mean... MX linears arent the smoothest (compared to optical/Hall-Effect switches) and MX tactiles are usually not that tactile.
I don't think it's terrible, but personally find other switch styles more satisfying.
3) Are ergo/ortho boards better for touch typing?
Not that I have ever noticed (I have an ergo board using a staggered ortho layout).
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so im finally buying a mechanical keyboard but i cant decide if i should go for an ergonomic/ortholinear keyboard or an topre board. To choose one, i have to ask some questions.
1) Are ergonomics really that important?
2) is the mx platform that bad? I mean... MX linears arent the smoothest (compared to optical/Hall-Effect switches) and MX tactiles are usually not that tactile.
3) Are ergo/ortho boards better for touch typing?
1. Depends on you...for some people ergo can really help...for others it doesn't make a difference.
2. No...MX is the standard right now. You might prefer other switches and that's ok too. There are tons of options with MX, tons of reasons to go MX, and tons of reasons not to go MX. You shouldn't care what anyone else prefers...
3. Of course...They're designed with the assumption you actually use "proper" form or relatively proper form....
There is an ergo Topre but it is incredibly hard to find and expensive.
Personally I'd go Topre...because I like Topre for typing which matches what I'd use an ergo board for...