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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Creizai on Wed, 25 February 2015, 09:35:16

Title: HHKB -> ErgoSomething?
Post by: Creizai on Wed, 25 February 2015, 09:35:16
This question mainly goes out to my HHKB lovers ONLY.  I went with a Black HHKB as my first "mech" keyboard about 5 years ago from scissor switches. I mainly only gamed and enjoyed the feeling of type on topre.  I enjoyed it for about 2 years but then caught the cherry mx bug of modding and wanting to try all the switches.  I always came back to the topre because that was my preference.  I do however like my KUL-87 plate mounted cherry mx reds.   I always miss and can't wait to get back to my hhkb though.  However I never really typed for long periods of time.  I've been slowly moving towards typing more papers and starting my programming classes.  At the moment I'm perfectly fine with the little amount of time I spend typing but I'm starting to feel some pain in my wrists as I do longer and longer sessions.  My wrist arching inwards seems to be giving me a pinching sensation. Normally I just straight and try and fix my poster, a wrist rest really helps a ton for me.  The question I want to ask is once I start getting into 8 hour coding work days with the smaller hhkb going to start running into problems? I've seen the ergo pro and the ergodox and I'm sort of interested in them but I plan on waiting till I'm actually working long days typing before I commit to any new purchase.  Truthfully if I could just cut the HHKB in half and give a little distance it would be perfection to me.

Ok catch-up summary is done
My questions are
Any HHKB Owners who code 9-5 full time without any wrist pains?
If I were to go with a Matrix split would a HHKB fanatic miss his cotton candy keys?
Title: Re: HHKB -> ErgoSomething?
Post by: ideus on Wed, 25 February 2015, 09:56:33
Why the discrimination brother? :))


Just joking, your question is very specific and well articulated. I just hope you get some feedback, that help to alleviate your pain, literally, yet still typing in your preferred board.
Title: Re: HHKB -> ErgoSomething?
Post by: Oobly on Wed, 25 February 2015, 10:13:28
Technique is more important than equipment. Raise your hands when typing, keep your wrists straight in both directions and make sure your desk / chair heights are correct. Read more / post in the Ergonomics subforum.
Title: Re: HHKB -> ErgoSomething?
Post by: steve.v on Wed, 25 February 2015, 14:20:35
Quote from: Creizai on Wed, 25 February 2015, 09:35:16
This question mainly goes out to my HHKB lovers ONLY.  I went with a Black HHKB as my first "mech" keyboard about 5 years ago from scissor switches. I mainly only gamed and enjoyed the feeling of type on topre.  I enjoyed it for about 2 years but then caught the cherry mx bug of modding and wanting to try all the switches.  I always came back to the topre because that was my preference.  I do however like my KUL-87 plate mounted cherry mx reds.   I always miss and can't wait to get back to my hhkb though.  However I never really typed for long periods of time.  I've been slowly moving towards typing more papers and starting my programming classes.  At the moment I'm perfectly fine with the little amount of time I spend typing but I'm starting to feel some pain in my wrists as I do longer and longer sessions.  My wrist arching inwards seems to be giving me a pinching sensation. Normally I just straight and try and fix my poster, a wrist rest really helps a ton for me.  The question I want to ask is once I start getting into 8 hour coding work days with the smaller hhkb going to start running into problems? I've seen the ergo pro and the ergodox and I'm sort of interested in them but I plan on waiting till I'm actually working long days typing before I commit to any new purchase.  Truthfully if I could just cut the HHKB in half and give a little distance it would be perfection to me.

Ok catch-up summary is done
My questions are
Any HHKB Owners who code 9-5 full time without any wrist pains?
If I were to go with a Matrix split would a HHKB fanatic miss his cotton candy keys?

Which hand are you experiencing pain in? Revise and review how you are typing. I own a HHKB and I can't imagine myself reaching the backspace key on every error; therefore I mapped my backspace to tab. Hover your wrists when typing and possibly consider a new keyboard layout if you're hardcore; colemak, dvorak. One year with Colemak and I'm never going back; I too had pain on my wrists before switching; much of it was due to typing speed competitions.

As a developer, I spend 60 plus percent thinking/revising/formulating/writing and the rest on coding; it's not what you think.
Title: Re: HHKB -> ErgoSomething?
Post by: Defect on Wed, 25 February 2015, 14:57:32
Just get another one.

Now you have one for each hand.


(I don't know of any split/ergo Topre boards)
Title: Re: HHKB -> ErgoSomething?
Post by: SpikeBolt on Wed, 25 February 2015, 16:37:24
You mention that you use a wrist rest, that could be an hidden issue. Make sure you aren't resting your wrist WHILE TYPING. That's terribad. Use the wrist rest to rest your wrist while not typing or avoid it all together.
Title: Re: HHKB -> ErgoSomething?
Post by: jwaz on Wed, 25 February 2015, 16:43:08
Quote from: Defect on Wed, 25 February 2015, 14:57:32
>(I don't know of any split/ergo Topre boards)

The μTRON
(http://i.imgur.com/X6Pe8Fb.jpg)
photo cred: webwit
http://xahlee.info/kbd/uTRON_keyboard.html (http://xahlee.info/kbd/uTRON_keyboard.html)
Title: Re: HHKB -> ErgoSomething?
Post by: tp4tissue on Wed, 25 February 2015, 16:53:22
Quote from: jwaz on Wed, 25 February 2015, 16:43:08
Quote from: Defect on Wed, 25 February 2015, 14:57:32
>(I don't know of any split/ergo Topre boards)

The μTRON
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/X6Pe8Fb.jpg)

photo cred: webwit
http://xahlee.info/kbd/uTRON_keyboard.html (http://xahlee.info/kbd/uTRON_keyboard.html)

Yup...

The Utron is the ONLY Topre board worth getting..

Everything else is really no better than standard rubber dome keyboards..
Title: Re: HHKB -> ErgoSomething?
Post by: davkol on Thu, 26 February 2015, 13:15:59
If you touch type using any but the "hands all over the place" technique, there's no way around the non-split layout, except a "wide" mod (i.e., right-hand alpha keys shifted one column to the right)... it helps the right pinkie as well.
Title: Re: HHKB -> ErgoSomething?
Post by: derezzed on Thu, 26 February 2015, 23:23:33
Quote from: jwaz on Wed, 25 February 2015, 16:43:08
Quote from: Defect on Wed, 25 February 2015, 14:57:32
>(I don't know of any split/ergo Topre boards)

The μTRON
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/X6Pe8Fb.jpg)

photo cred: webwit
http://xahlee.info/kbd/uTRON_keyboard.html (http://xahlee.info/kbd/uTRON_keyboard.html)

I have 3 questions:

1.  Why is this keyboard so expensive?

2.  Why is HHKB such a popular topic on GeekHack when this clearly superior Topre exists?

3.  Does question 1 answer question 2?

I've seen a handful of references to the microtron before but I didn't realize it was that keyboard.  It just replaced the Realforce 91u as the only Topre keyboard that makes me drool.
Title: Re: HHKB -> ErgoSomething?
Post by: exitfire401 on Thu, 26 February 2015, 23:37:32
Quote from: derezzed on Thu, 26 February 2015, 23:23:33
Quote from: jwaz on Wed, 25 February 2015, 16:43:08
Quote from: Defect on Wed, 25 February 2015, 14:57:32
>(I don't know of any split/ergo Topre boards)

The μTRON
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/X6Pe8Fb.jpg)

photo cred: webwit
http://xahlee.info/kbd/uTRON_keyboard.html (http://xahlee.info/kbd/uTRON_keyboard.html)

I have 3 questions:

1.  Why is this keyboard so expensive?

2.  Why is HHKB such a popular topic on GeekHack when this clearly superior Topre exists?

3.  Does question 1 answer question 2?

I've seen a handful of references to the microtron before but I didn't realize it was that keyboard.  It just replaced the Realforce 91u as the only Topre keyboard that makes me drool.

Refer to question 3. If I could have one on my desk and modded to 55g, I'd sell all of my boards other than my kingsaver.