Keyboard curves; key positioning

[wfaulk]

I don't know what to call this, so I may have failed to find a previous thread on this exact subject, but does anyone have a survey of the curves of the key layouts of various keyboards?

I know I'm doing a terrible job of explaining what I'm talking about, so maybe some pictures will help.

See how this image of a Matias TactilePro 3 shows that the rows of keys are set at different heights and angles?

I've previously been too lazy to swap out my crappy OEM keyboards at work, until I got this new Dell POS keyboard.  (Not "Point of Sale".)  I kinda like the design of the case — very minimal — but the keys are absolutely flat to each other, despite being normal membrane switches, as opposed to a scissors laptop-like mechanism, and the feet are uselessly short.  It's the most miserable typing experience I've ever had.

I'm going to get a decent keyboard of some nature; I haven't decided on the mechanism yet.  BS is probably too loud for my office, but right now my biggest concern is whether my hands are going to be crippled or not.

[wfaulk]

Thanks, that was helpful.  I don't suppose anyone has a list of what keyboard has what layout, do they?  Probably easier to come to a decision and then ask to make sure it isn't something I'm going to hate.

[Infinite north]

I took this from signature plastics website, it shows basic types.


http://keycapsdirect.com/faq.php

[wfaulk]

Sorry.  I took "most" to mean "more than half", not "nearly all".

[shrap]

Taken to its logical extreme, the keyboard with the most curve is a Kinesis Contoured/Advantage.