Best keyboard for programmers (HIGH emphasis on ergonomics)

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BiffWellington
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14 Mar 2015, 5:36 pm

I'm not asking anyone to do research, but simply share their experience (especially if they're a programmer) if they have ventured out to try any exotic keyboards, specifically oriented for ergonomics, and have used it for years, being extremely satisfied with it.



cberg
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14 Mar 2015, 5:49 pm

I typed this on a Logitech K350 'Wave' and I use a Dell XPS chiclet low profile Logitech at work (which isn't programming for now). For Linux and occasional web development efforts I like netbook keyboards which are 85-90% scale and unfortunately some of which lack a tilde key to the left of 1/! - honorable mention to my Logitech K400r remote one for its' built in trackpad and similarity to the speedy little netbook units.

If I had more funds to throw at stuff like this I'd get Art Lebedev gear in a heartbeat. LINK


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mr_bigmouth_502
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17 Mar 2015, 9:23 am

I've noticed that tenkeyless mechanical keyboards are a huge fad on 4chan's /g/ board. From what I can tell, the tenkeyless layout is more ergonomic since it allows you to center the keyboard more with your body. I'd almost consider getting one since I like the idea of that, as well as the possible desk space savings, except that I'm extremely accustomed to having a numeric keypad, and I find keyboards lacking them to be annoying to use.

One thing I've seen people with TKL keyboards do, is that they'll get an accessory keypad and put it on the left-hand side. It seems like it defeats the purpose of having a narrower keyboard, as it would take up the same amount of desk space, but thinking about it now, it would still allow the letter keys to be more centered for more ergonomic typing. I think using a numeric keypad on the left side would be awkward to get used to, but it would be doable.

I wonder if anyone makes cheaper rubber-dome TKL keyboards, because I'd like to try one out just to get a feel for the layout, but I don't feel like forking out for a mechanical one.



ruveyn
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17 Mar 2015, 9:33 pm

BiffWellington wrote:
I'm not asking anyone to do research, but simply share their experience (especially if they're a programmer) if they have ventured out to try any exotic keyboards, specifically oriented for ergonomics, and have used it for years, being extremely satisfied with it.


The Dvorak Keyboard is the most efficient keyboard but the QERTY owns the niche.

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mr_bigmouth_502
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18 Mar 2015, 2:25 am

I've gotten used to touch typing on QWERTY more or less; sometimes I still have to look at the keys to get a handle on things, but for the most part I can touch type fairly well. I don't know how well I would adjust to DVORAK, as QWERTY is already ingrained in my muscle memory.



RhodyStruggle
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23 Mar 2015, 9:26 pm

I'd love to get a Kinesis Advantage keyboard, but they're expensive.

https://www.kinesis-ergo.com/shop/advan ... or-pc-mac/


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cberg
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23 Mar 2015, 10:32 pm

I think the TKL layout is a large part of the reason I prefer Netbooks & the Logitech k400/Mediaboard series. Having a nerdpad is nice for wragling big data sets but I find it distracting for basically all other numerical things I have to deal with; it takes my hands away from not only the whole QWERTY but all the keystrokes I've memorized and anything I might have macro'd as well. I use the numpad WAY more on my 17.3 laptop than my desktops.

BTW I remembered where some netbook layouts moved the tilde - it's by the spacebars! To think I even highlighted it... >.<


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"Standing on a well-chilled cinder, we see the fading of the suns, and try to recall the vanished brilliance of the origin of the worlds."
-Georges Lemaitre
"I fly through hyperspace, in my green computer interface"
-Gem Tos :mrgreen: