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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: MaxSC on Fri, 11 November 2011, 12:13:36

Title: Want to get my mom an ergonomic mechanical keyboard for her birthday, do they exist?
Post by: MaxSC on Fri, 11 November 2011, 12:13:36

Hey guys, new to the forums, but I was wondering if you could help me find a mechanical keyboard with an ergonomic layout similar to the Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 keyboard.

I've looked at TrulyErgonomic.com but unfortunately their boards have an altered layout which I don't think my mom will appreciate/want to get used to.

I don't have a preference of key switches, but brown would be my first choice.

Honestly from doing a bunch of googling already I am not optimistic about these keyboards' availability in the US, but thought it was worth a shot.

Let me know,

Cheers!

Title: Want to get my mom an ergonomic mechanical keyboard for her birthday, do they exist?
Post by: ZeroGraVT on Fri, 11 November 2011, 12:30:38

There really isn't any mechanical keyboard similar to a ms4000 unless you make your own.  Lots of guys here use the kinesis as their ergo board.  It may look weird at first but it's actually very easy to use.  The standard has brown switches but you can also order one with red switches.

Title: Want to get my mom an ergonomic mechanical keyboard for her birthday, do they exist?
Post by: pitashen on Fri, 11 November 2011, 13:21:16

Kensis

Title: Want to get my mom an ergonomic mechanical keyboard for her birthday, do they exist?
Post by: MaxSC on Fri, 11 November 2011, 15:52:20

Yea that's what I was afraid of.

Anyway, thanks for the help!

Title: Want to get my mom an ergonomic mechanical keyboard for her birthday, do they exist?
Post by: jpc on Fri, 11 November 2011, 16:21:44

Northgate Omnikey Evolution maybe?

I'd urge anyone who is interested in ergo boards to spend a couple of days with a Kinesis. If there's pain involved, do it ASAP.

Title: Want to get my mom an ergonomic mechanical keyboard for her birthday, do they exist?
Post by: sordna on Fri, 11 November 2011, 18:57:45

I would recommend a Goldtouch. It's not mechanical, but by being adjustable it's more ergonomic than the MS 4k, and, at least the specimen I got has wonderfully smooth switches which activate at just 40g of pressure. They also don't bind at all, the keys on MS keyboards sometimes bind if you don't push them in the center.

Title: Want to get my mom an ergonomic mechanical keyboard for her birthday, do they exist?
Post by: MKB on Sat, 12 November 2011, 00:28:35

Kenisis makes many ergo boards and some are ans some are not mechanical.  Best to call and ask.

Title: Want to get my mom an ergonomic mechanical keyboard for her birthday, do they exist?
Post by: sordna on Sat, 12 November 2011, 01:03:58

Good point about Kinesis, their Freestyle keyboard is another good choice, it's an excellent rubber dome. The only mechanical keyboard by Kinesis is the one I'm typing on right now, the Advantage, but I wouldn't recommend it to the OP's mom based on what he said about alternate layouts. You can see what it looks like in my sig pic :-)

Title: Want to get my mom an ergonomic mechanical keyboard for her birthday, do they exist?
Post by: Pretendo on Sat, 12 November 2011, 02:25:15

Buy her an M5;  It can be any shape you want!  Only several thousand dollars.