I'm a graphic designer, talk me into/out of an Ergodox.

[onishima]

Need some opinions from people with Ergodox.

I'm a graphic designer and web designer by day and spend a lot of time with gaming at home. Two things I've realized I need to comfortably and efficiently control what I'm doing is to have a full 104 keys, with the arrow keys and numpad being just as useful for work and gaming. Would I do okay with an Ergodox using layers or should I expect to need to supplement with a separate 10 key?

Also with the layers, are you able to with one hand switch to a numpad layer and use it?

Also I'm a huge fan of keyboard shortcuts in Adobe suite programs. Does this prove challenging with the layout?

Lastly, I'm having trouble finding any used but I'm very handy with a soldering iron. I've also already got a lot of the components and keycaps. Should I hold off for a used or buy the parts?

[Findecanor]

I find that an embedded 10-key makes more sense on an ErgoDox than on a regular keyboard.
A layer-change affects both hands, so if you want the other side to not change then you would make those keys "transparent" on the numpad layer.

Note that the ErgoDox doesn't have F-keys, and that there are no regular places for the Ctrl and Alt keys on the bottom row.

[tp4tissue]

The ergodox is extremely complicated..  It's not noob friendly....

While it's extremely deep in terms of functions and layers...  the entry of which is a completely new level of control methodology..

Tough call..


You have to really understand the Ergodox before getting one..  That is to say.. You have to Really USE a regular keyboard... and see past the normal.

if all you do is click click.. ctrl c.. ctrl v..    Then the Egdx will not greatly improve your life.

[onishima]

Note that the ErgoDox doesn't have F-keys, and that there are no regular places for the Ctrl and Alt keys on the bottom row.

Am I correct in assuming though that something like using an F-Key would be Switch layers > Press desired F Key > Switch back?

Can you set a layer to a toggle, like 'while this key is held, these keys do this, until the key is released'?

[Lastpilot]

Oooooooh~ A fellow designer + web developer! Welcome to Geekhack.

All I can say to answer your question is that Fn layers are not that comfortable for me when I experienced it on a Poker X I owned for a while.

I use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premier and I can safely say that it is difficult with a layered Fn layout, to the point of feeling like you have to relearn all your shortcuts. I can only comfortably design with full-size or TKL.

[tp4tissue]

Note that the ErgoDox doesn't have F-keys, and that there are no regular places for the Ctrl and Alt keys on the bottom row.

Am I correct in assuming though that something like using an F-Key would be Switch layers > Press desired F Key > Switch back?

Can you set a layer to a toggle, like 'while this key is held, these keys do this, until the key is released'?

yes

[TheSoulhunter]

Get it, it's... sorta nice!

...sorry, I'm not a good salesman :/

[onishima]

Note that the ErgoDox doesn't have F-keys, and that there are no regular places for the Ctrl and Alt keys on the bottom row.

Am I correct in assuming though that something like using an F-Key would be Switch layers > Press desired F Key > Switch back?

Can you set a layer to a toggle, like 'while this key is held, these keys do this, until the key is released'?

yes

this sounds like it might be ideal - thanks for the help

anyone know of sites to order cases from other than mechanicalkeyboards.com? i don't hate theirs per se but i'd like some options anyway.

[Jagriff]

I absolutely recommend the ErgoDox. It is very comfortable and customizable.

There are a few used boards in the classifieds section (including my first ErgoDox). Check them out if you are hesitant to build your own.

[jacobolus]

The ergodox is a great community project, and it’s awesome to get people building their own keyboards, but to be honest I find the thumb section really annoying, and I gave up on it after several weeks of use. It has however inspired me to figure out how to make my own custom keyboard with a new layout.

It has several advantages over a standard keyboard:
(1) It can be split, with the two sides independently rotated and tented
(2) It has a column-based rather than row-based stagger, which, once you spend a couple weeks learning it, makes it easier to reach keys
(3) It has at least 2 usable thumb keys for each hand (the other 4 thumb keys are stupidly placed, but at least don’t do harm)
(4) It has fully programmable firmware, so you can set it up to work any way you like

It also has some disadvantages:
(1) It’s not the most portable – it takes 2 pieces, and you might want some kind of palm rest and/or support for tenting, so you can’t carry it around as easily as e.g. a 60% board
(2) It takes at least a couple weeks to get fully up to speed with the new layout

* * *

With respect to Photoshop or similar apps, specifically: you can very easily set up an arbitrary mapping of key presses to output, so you can make a special "photohop" mode where all your common shortcuts are on very easy 1 or 2 key shortcuts of your choosing, and you can do it in firmware on the keyboard, so you don't have to change the global settings within photoshop on every computer you use, or make a standard keyboard stop behaving the way it always does.

As long as you’re willing to put the time in to figure out what you want the keyboard shortcut setup to look like, a fully programmable keyboard like the ergodox is a dream for pro apps like Photoshop (or CAD software, or music/video software, or complex computer games, or whatever).

Likewise, to answer your other question: you don’t at all need a separate numpad. Just program the numpad into the right side of the ergodox, on a layer, and you’ll be all set.

* * *

There are a few upcoming keyboards that you might also want to consider. The http://www.keyboard.io people are making a keyboard that I think is going to be really great (though I’m not sure how soon it will ship). Matias’s ErgoPro http://matias.ca/ergopro/pc/ is a bit closer to a standard keyboard layout, and less programmable, but should be pretty nice (and does at least have a split spacebar with one half usable as backspace).

[onishima]

I absolutely recommend the ErgoDox. It is very comfortable and customizable.

There are a few used boards in the classifieds section (including my first ErgoDox). Check them out if you are hesitant to build your own.

Oh man how did I miss that listing? Even with Reds like I wanted! Not more than a half hour ago I pulled the trigger on all my parts from DigiKey and Mechanicalkeyboards.com

Oh well, I do enjoy a bit of soldering!

The ergodox is a great community project, and it’s awesome to get people building their own keyboards, but to be honest I find the thumb section really annoying, and I gave up on it after several weeks of use. It has however inspired me to figure out how to make my own custom keyboard with a new layout.

It has several advantages over a standard keyboard:
(1) It can be split, with the two sides independently rotated and tented
(2) It has a column-based rather than row-based stagger, which, once you spend a couple weeks learning it, makes it easier to reach keys
(3) It has at least 2 usable thumb keys for each hand (the other 4 thumb keys are stupidly placed, but at least don’t do harm)
(4) It has fully programmable firmware, so you can set it up to work any way you like

It also has some disadvantages:
(1) It’s not the most portable – it takes 2 pieces, and you might want some kind of palm rest and/or support for tenting, so you can’t carry it around as easily as e.g. a 60% board
(2) It takes at least a couple weeks to get fully up to speed with the new layout

* * *

With respect to Photoshop or similar apps, specifically: you can very easily set up an arbitrary mapping of key presses to output, so you can make a special "photohop" mode where all your common shortcuts are on very easy 1 or 2 key shortcuts of your choosing, and you can do it in firmware on the keyboard, so you don't have to change the global settings within photoshop on every computer you use, or make a standard keyboard stop behaving the way it always does.

As long as you’re willing to put the time in to figure out what you want the keyboard shortcut setup to look like, a fully programmable keyboard like the ergodox is a dream for pro apps like Photoshop (or CAD software, or music/video software, or complex computer games, or whatever).

Likewise, to answer your other question: you don’t at all need a separate numpad. Just program the numpad into the right side of the ergodox, on a layer, and you’ll be all set.

* * *

There are a few upcoming keyboards that you might also want to consider. The http://www.keyboard.io people are making a keyboard that I think is going to be really great (though I’m not sure how soon it will ship). Matias’s ErgoPro http://matias.ca/ergopro/pc/ is a bit closer to a standard keyboard layout, and less programmable, but should be pretty nice (and does at least have a split spacebar with one half usable as backspace).

Thanks for the in-depth reply — this is exactly the info I needed. Can't wait to start building!