geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: sec908 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 20:28:30
-
Hi!, I'm searching a keyboard for development (coding) but very ergonomic.
I think that a keyboard of 104/105 keys is little ergonomic but a without numpad should to be better. For example Filco 87 keys.
My problem is that i'm searching:
- ergonomic (small but confortable while I write)
- spanish layout
- usb (because this keyboard is for a mac)
Now work with g84-4100 and not is good for this. Too i try with a g80-3000 and is very big (not confortable in space but is confortable in the size of the keys).
Anyone help me?
I'm thinking in:
- Unicomp SpaceSaver keyboard (but i don't know the size)
- Majestouch Tenkeyless Tactile Touch "Otaku" (but this is in blank! is little ergonomic, not?)
Thx!
-
- Unicomp SpaceSaver keyboard (but i don't know the size)
- Majestouch Tenkeyless Tactile Touch "Otaku" (but this is in blank! is little ergonomic, not?)
Here's the spacesaver:
(http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/pckeyboards_2078_23838)
It's a smaller version of a full 104 key board, but it's not exactly compact. While I don't own a Unicomp SpaceSaver, from what it looks like, it appears to have a slightly larger footprint than my Majestouch Tactile Touch (Cherry MX Brown Switches). While these boards are 104 key boards, they're smaller than the G80-3000, but they're not that much smaller in the width dimension.
As for the Majestouch boards, they're not all Otaku's. You can get them with lettering too.
You picked two very different kinds of keyboards and if you're going to be coding in the presence of others, I don't know if you'd want to go with a SpaceSaver, which is a buckling spring board that's a lot louder than the Majestouch boards. The key resistance is also a lot greater on those boards so whether it's "ergonomic" or not depends on what you find most comfortable in a keyboard.
I'm a coder and personally I like Cherry MX Brown switches the most. They're very low in key resistance force and for the amount of typing I do during the day, the lighter touch is very helpful in keeping my hands healthy.
Most of the Cherry fans here like the Cherry Blues more though and they have Filco versions of the 87 key board in both the Cherry Blue and Cherry Browns.
-
If you are looking for the dimensions of various keyboards, look no further than my signature.
The endurapro is a good sized smaller than the traditional model M or g80-3000. It's not as small as the filco 87 of course.
-
The Filco 104's are actually about 1/2" shorter than the Endurapros.
-
Try the Apple space-saver:
(http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~kazzysvg/newfiles/keyboard4design/usbkeyboard1.jpg)
-
My mom said "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
I have NOTHING to say about that Apple Pro keyboard.
-
I'd go for the Unicomp Spacesaver too. Unless you want to go looking for obscure Cherry keyboards, they're probably going to be the only place you can get a Spanish layout mechanical keyboard.
You could also try finding an old Spanish Model M... I think they were part number 1391405. There were also ones made for South America and American Latinos which had different part numbers, and occasionally show up on eBay.
-
For a bit extra ergonomy out of a standard keyboard (I've done it on Model M and Unicomp boards), try an ergonomic mod maybe?! In Windows, I usually do these by registry remapping which means that whether you use QWERTY, Dvorak, Colemak or another layout it'll work smoothly together with it (unless you're remapping the layout by registry - which I don't recommend personally):
(http://folk.uio.no/obech/Images/Colemak/Cmk-BoardFigs/CmkIBM-ISO90d-Wide_FengShuiFinger.png)
Takes a minimal amount of getting used to - mostly the split number row and the moved /? key - but I think it feels nice. (In the image, it's shown with the Colemak layout but as mentioned that's optional.)
And yes - that coloring scheme is indeed Feng Shui inspired. I don't believe in that energy flow mumbo-jumbo but it's a kinda cute system and certainly colorful.
Another great leap for ergonomy I do is to use the CapsLock key as an Extend key: The keys under my right-hand fingertips then become arrow keys, PgUp/PgDn, Home/End, Backspace/Del - while the number keys become F# keys and the left-hand keys become other useful things like Browser Back/Forward etc. Saves you mouse use and throwing your hands around, pretty much like the Happy Hacking Fn mappings do (but I find my own version more to my liking of course).
-
Thx all for your help. I finally I choose the Cherry G80-3000 (spanish layout) because:
- Filco otaku (ver expensive, blank keys, no spanish layout)
- Unicomp EnduraPro (very big, horrible sound, horrible colors, expensive)
- HHK (no spanish layout, blank keys, very very expensive)
- RealForce (no spanish layout, blank keys, very very expensive)
- IBM Model M (without windows keys [basic for my mac, i use much command key], horrible sound)
The cherry g80-3000 great sound, spanish layout, not expensive, with windows keys and confortable for coding for me, the only downside is that it is big and don't have the brown switches (only black swithes in spain G80-3000LPCES-2). I will try change my height (in the chair) and move my table for to make a ergonomic desktop with the cherry (avoid problems like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis,...)
Thx for your help!
-
If you are looking for the dimensions of various keyboards, look no further than my signature.
The endurapro is a good sized smaller than the traditional model M or g80-3000. It's not as small as the filco 87 of course.
Your signature is so good!
-
Did anyone point out that Black Cherries are not nice to type on?
-
Did anyone point out that Black Cherries are not nice to type on?
Glue, you need to add this to your signature so he notices.
-
how bad are the blacks????? is it that they are heavy?
-
how bad are the blacks????? is it that they are heavy?
Nothing, the blacks rules but i prefer the brown switches. Now i'm typing from the g80-3000 but i've the problem for my forearms because this not rest good.
-
the g80-3000 you have has browns?
-
the g80-3000 you have has browns?
Not, blacks.
-
(http://geekhack.org/image.php?u=3145)
Drats, I though at first this was a joseki play through. That's life.