The function key issue of the kinesis is understandable. It is a shame indeed. I just remap them and momentarily access through modified palm key. If Kinesis function key is an issue how about maltron.
For normal keyboards I am not interested in Fn layers as I would be pressing yet another modifier key with my pinkies, which is where a lot of my hand pain is coming from. The pinky fingers are simply overused on normal keyboards. When writing code I am constantly pressing shift/alt/ctrl/Amiga with my pinky finger. (Amiga key = OS key which some ppl call the Windoze key).
But ok the Kinesis has thumb keys but one gets used as the Enter key right?
Anyway the whole point of the function keys is so I can lower my handpain by pressing a single key (not 2 keys because 2 keys = double the pain). I have my function keys setup with coding macros.
I replied this msg to try to make a justification for getting myself a Kinesis due to the multiple thumb keys but once again I have failed to convince myself.
On another note, the reason for split matrix bowl is to reduce finger,wrist stress and contortion needed to operate normal staggered flat keyboard. Shouldn't that mean less contribution to cts? A clip on youtube could demonstrade this.
I grant u that is an interesting idea. I have not researched that aspect so I neither agree nor disagree. I have never had CTS. I skipped right over that one and went straight to "imminent death".
But I read that the reason for the bowl shape was to have an excuse to not have springs under the function keys. That is true isn't it?
I just want a normal keyboard with normal function keys and normal thumb keys. That super ridiculously nice fellow in the other thread even layed a plate out for me with all 24 of the standard functions keys specified by the ancient PS/2 standard.
I have nothing against split keyboards. I would totally use one as long as it was not sabotaged in some way. I don't need a split keyboard but it would not hurt me to use one.
My complaints against regular keyboards are:
1. Too much impact force. Horribly unhealthy for everybody.
2. No thumb keys.
3. Not enough keys.
4. Weirdo screwball keycap profiles.
5. Customer-hostile mounting plate that makes it very difficult to lube the switches.
6. Some keyboards are rigged to not work with PS/2. Thankfully there are very many keyboards that do not have this problem.
All of those problems can be easily fixed by any healthy keyboard-building kind of person. It just takes a pile of money and some time. I have the money and the time but not the health.
