New member looking for keyboard

[User]

Hi,

I've heard a lot about mechanical keyboards and I've decided to try them out. My co-worker was already using one so I borrowed a sampler set. I liked the clear switches (though brow and both greys were fine as well) and since he happened to use a WSAD keyboard with them he had offered to lend me one for a day.

Now the problem is that while I liked the feeling of the keys I have noticed that something is 'wrong' with my wrist - I suspect that I bent it in wrong direction. Either horizontally (previously I used bent keyboard) or vertically (I noticed that I used table as wrist wrest which was fine with membrane keyboard but caused problems with mechanical one which was higher). I've been thinking about TEK or Kinesis Advantage but while I'm ready to spend a bit on my tool of trade I don't want to throw such money unnecessary - and the more I read the more confused I am.

About myself - I'm programmer buy I'm not very proficient user of keyboard currently (2-3 finger typing). I'm using Emacs and XMonad so access to modifier keys tend to be important. Keyboard with macros would be an additional bonus (for some reasons my KVM switch requires 5 keys to change workstation by keyboard). While I'd be using this primary this keyboard I'd still switch to laptop.

[inanis]

inb4 TP says ErgoDox

Welcome, and have you checked out an Ergodox yet?

[User]

inb4 TP says ErgoDox

Welcome, and have you checked out an Ergodox yet?

Yes, they are interesting but I could not find any place to buy one (and I don't have 3D printer or skills to make one from scratch).

[inanis]

You should be able to get the parts from https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/. You'd have to be up for building it yourself, which is easier than it sounds, or paying someone to assemble it for you. There are a bunch of people around here who could help you with that if you ask nicely.  There is also the Ergodox EZ which is a Erogdox you can buy pre-built. Kits, and assembly has also been offered on https://www.massdrop.com. They aren't up there now, but if you create an account you can see what they have to offer.

There is a board on Ergonomics here, you will probably find some other good suggestions in there. I myself don't do split keyboards so I'm no expert. There are many choices though.

[retrochick]

inb4 TP says ErgoDox

Welcome, and have you checked out an Ergodox yet?

Yes, they are interesting but I could not find any place to buy one (and I don't have 3D printer or skills to make one from scratch).

Keep an eye out in the classifieds section - sometimes an Ergodox shows up for sale.

[User]

You should be able to get the parts from https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/. You'd have to be up for building it yourself, which is easier than it sounds, or paying someone to assemble it for you. There are a bunch of people around here who could help you with that if you ask nicely.  There is also the Ergodox EZ which is a Erogdox you can buy pre-built. Kits, and assembly has also been offered on https://www.massdrop.com. They aren't up there now, but if you create an account you can see what they have to offer.

There is a board on Ergonomics here, you will probably find some other good suggestions in there. I myself don't do split keyboards so I'm no expert. There are many choices though.

Thanks. I'll think about it but I don't have any place I could solder. Ergodox EZ seems nice, thou AFAIK with Kickstarter I don't have any protection it will be actually delivered.

Re Ergonomic board - should I repost the topic there (I'm not sure what's the etiquette here)?

[kurplop]

While I'm a big fan of ergonomic boards, I wonder of your immediate problem can be solved with a wrist rest since the height change is the major difference between the boards.

[User]

While I'm a big fan of ergonomic boards, I wonder of your immediate problem can be solved with a wrist rest since the height change is the major difference between the boards.

I guess. That said I don't have immediate problem (the keyboard I borrowed was for one day only and normal keyboard is fine).

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Apparently you're note supposed to rest your wrists on anything, but try to keep them straight, while actually typing.

The so-called "wrist rest" is designed for you to rest your wrists between bouts of typing.

Perhaps a few small adjustments to your workspace ergonomics might provide a surprisingly amount of improvement.