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geekhack Community => Ergonomics => Topic started by: erw on Thu, 22 December 2011, 14:04:03

Title: Netbook keyboard as ergo keyboard?
Post by: erw on Thu, 22 December 2011, 14:04:03

Netbooks keyboards are around 90% of full size, and when that fact is mentioned on the intertubes, it is typically accompanied by implicit assumptions that this size is bad.

But I noticed something... My fingers don't hurt when I type on my netbook (Eee 1005P). And they do on most other keyboards except my Kinesis Advantage.
Sure, I have to cramp my hands together (especially considering I use a Kinesis) and the keyboard rattles unpleasantly. But my fingers don't hurt!

Has anyone else experienced this?

Are there any less-than-full-size-key keyboards available that are not embedded into netbooks? (and still big enough to touch type on)

Title: Netbook keyboard as ergo keyboard?
Post by: Lanx on Thu, 22 December 2011, 14:22:28

i have a kinesis as a daily driver, i cannot use the netbook when i travel (as a main computer for the day) for more than 1hr b4 i tear up.

Title: Netbook keyboard as ergo keyboard?
Post by: treigle on Mon, 26 December 2011, 01:57:25

The Cherry ML-4100 keyboard (mechanical, short travel switches) has about 90% key pitch (desktop keyboard generally have 19mm from center to center of keys). It feels decent to type on too, and is available in both PS/2 and USB.

I've also seen a few rubber dome boards with compact keys, a *few* of which are half-decent.....  The old IBM M4 (rubber dome) was supposedly alright, though I never tried one. There's always the uTron board from Japan ($$$).

I think all the compact key boards are flat unfortunately. I prefer fullsize keys with different row profiles.....

Title: Netbook keyboard as ergo keyboard?
Post by: Findecanor on Mon, 26 December 2011, 14:14:34

Quote from: treigle;477817

The Cherry ML-4100 keyboard ... It feels decent to type on too ...

Well, that's a matter of opinion ...

The $500 µTron keyboard has smaller keys as well.

Title: Netbook keyboard as ergo keyboard?
Post by: sordna on Mon, 26 December 2011, 14:59:24

I have 2 netbooks around the house, one is an Acer with horrible keys which make my hands hurt, the other is a Samsung which is a joy to type on. So the switches make a huge difference, more so than size IMO.

Title: Netbook keyboard as ergo keyboard?
Post by: treigle on Mon, 26 December 2011, 15:01:43

Quote from: Findecanor;477995

Well, that's a matter of opinion ...

True.. I only typed on one for about 20 minutes once. I didn't seem bad for a flat compact keyboard, and several members here (including iMav) seemed like them OK.

Title: Netbook keyboard as ergo keyboard?
Post by: dorkvader on Tue, 27 December 2011, 01:02:52

I really like the domes on my fujitsu keyboard, some scissor keyboards can be really pretty good to type on.

Glad you like it!

Title: Netbook keyboard as ergo keyboard?
Post by: boli on Tue, 27 December 2011, 03:14:34

I dunno about netbook keyboards, but I for one really liked typing on the Apple Aluminum keyboards before I switched to a Kinesis Advantage (apparently I'm not the only one (http://techreport.com/articles.x/17687)). It's full size, with crisp/precise feeling scissor switch keys (http://barbarism.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/aluminumkeyboard_dvorak.jpg), which have a very short travel (short travel is an acquired taste, I didn't like it at first but grew to like it a lot). I'd love testing what a keyboard in Kinesis shape with keys like that would feel like - I imagine it'd be even more effortless than the Kinesis with red Cherry switches.

Here's a picture of the ISO (AKA international English) version (http://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/1066344-14311/Apple%20Aluminium%20ISO%20International%20English.jpg).