Trouble Adjusting to New Keyboard

[Mr.Thompson]

I used an ortho ergo keyboard for some years and then 10 years ago I ordered a Kinesis Freestyle as I wanted a split keyboard. I failed to notice it's not ortho at all. I never liked it much.

Last week I finally replaced it with an ErgoDash, but after 4 days, it's still quite hard for me to use.

My right hand is a bit sore I and I think it's from having to use the thumb cluster key for Enter so much.

Aside from that, the mechanical switches are very good. What I don't like is the arrow keys are not in the standard + shaped cluster that I am used to. I could get used to that.

But I also miss the Fn keys. I use F3 all the time for "search again" and I also use Alt-F4 to close a window.

I also miss End and Home keys. I have them via the Fn key but I am used to using Shift-End and Shift-Home to select text and delete it fast. Now those are a three-key "chord" and that's far less comfortable.

I can get used to the new key locations I think but these missing keys bothers me.

Also I thought it would be more comfortable "out of the box" but thus far it's quite difficult to adjust. 

[Faceman76]

Are you sure there isn't a layer for the F Row?

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[Mr.Thompson]

I wasn't clear. Of course there is a layer, but Fn-3 isn't as convenient as just F3. But that's doable. Alt-F4 is now Alt-Fn-4 which is like playing a "chord" on a piano. It's not so easy to do.

I saw here https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=73685.0 an idea to make a Ergodox copy with an Fn row. Great idea if you ask me, but I am not aware anyone has actually done it.

[Faceman76]

You can either add a macro pad or look at larger format orthos:  https://keeb.io/products/bfo-9000-keyboard-customizable-full-size-split-ortholinear

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[Mr.Thompson]

Very interesting. Although I need a pre-built keyboard, meaning finished, as DIY is not for me. I found now the "The Zergotech Freedom Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard" :

https://ucarecdn.com/e75492bf-9243-468a-aaec-915b9e89c2b6/-/format/auto/-/preview/3000x3000/-/quality/lighter/

but it doesn't even have dedicated arrow keys at all. I use Shift-Arrow all the time so select text so with that keyboard that would also be a three-key chord.

Meantime, I am finding that I must change my approach to typing. Mostly, I must slow down for the time being to learn this new keyboard. It's just a steeper learning curve than I expected.

[Polymer]

I used an ortho ergo keyboard for some years and then 10 years ago I ordered a Kinesis Freestyle as I wanted a split keyboard. I failed to notice it's not ortho at all. I never liked it much.

Last week I finally replaced it with an ErgoDash, but after 4 days, it's still quite hard for me to use.

My right hand is a bit sore I and I think it's from having to use the thumb cluster key for Enter so much.

Aside from that, the mechanical switches are very good. What I don't like is the arrow keys are not in the standard + shaped cluster that I am used to. I could get used to that.

But I also miss the Fn keys. I use F3 all the time for "search again" and I also use Alt-F4 to close a window.

I also miss End and Home keys. I have them via the Fn key but I am used to using Shift-End and Shift-Home to select text and delete it fast. Now those are a three-key "chord" and that's far less comfortable.

I can get used to the new key locations I think but these missing keys bothers me.

Also I thought it would be more comfortable "out of the box" but thus far it's quite difficult to adjust. 

It has been 4 days...it was never going to be a fast transition..it never is....

You'll eventually get used to the changes or you'll realize some of the things you want to use aren't suited to that type of keyboard...but seriously, give it at least a month...

[Mr.Thompson]

It has been 4 days...it was never going to be a fast transition..it never is....

You'll eventually get used to the changes or you'll realize some of the things you want to use aren't suited to that type of keyboard...but seriously, give it at least a month...

Yes, I am already getting better with this. And I see you're right, some of my old tricks may not work well, but it seems there are new tricks that are not possible on the old keyboard.

So we will see if this old dog can indeed learn some new tricks or not.