5 ms·

I use an ergodox (https://www.ergodox.io/ https://www.ergodox.io/) with Cherry MX Clears at work, and one with Cherry MX Greens at home. The ergodox is a split

by zck 10y ago

I use an ergodox (https://www.ergodox.io/ https://www.ergodox.io/) with Cherry MX Clears at work, and one with Cherry MX Greens at home. The ergodox is a split-hand^1 columnar^2 layout, with a thumb cluster. I like the thumb cluster because normally your thumbs are wasted. Also, as a bonus, I got to build it myself! This is not required, but I had fun doing it. [1] Each hand has a separate piece of the keyboard, and these pieces can be moved independently of each other. [2] A "traditional" QWERTY keyboard has horizontal rows of keys, and these rows are not aligned. An Ergodox has vertical columns of keys, and these rows are not aligned.

btschaegg 10y ago
I've been thinking of ordering an Ergodox keyboard for a while, but the altered layout scared me off so far. Would you say you took up fast on the moved keys? Does the columnar layout provide some advantage? Right now, I'm excitedly looking forward to the UHK. It really promises some quite unique takes on the concept of a keyboard.
- zck 10y ago
  I didn't find switching too bad, but I also set up my own layout for the non-alphabetic keys. So I don't find it hard to remember where most of the special characters are, because I just thought "where is the first place I'd look for them", and put them there. Then, when I have to figure it out, my first guess is usually correct. The only ones I mess up are - and =, which are the two innermost bottom keys of the "letter" clusters. But it's a small issue; I'm sure I could practice for a bit and make it easier. > Does the columnar layout provide some advantage? To me, I like the fact that if a keyboard was designed without paying attention to historical accident, there's no way you'd make it a row-based keyboard, but would instead make a columnar keyboard, or perhaps slightly staggered. To me, the thumb clusters are a big reason to switch. But then, I'm a big shortcut fan -- I use Emacs a lot. But then, I also didn't have that difficult a time switching from QWERTY to Colemak, so perhaps my brain easily changes this kind of thing.
  - btschaegg 10y ago
    Thanks for the explanation :)
    - zck 10y ago
      Sure! You might want to see if you can find someone to try out the keyboard before you buy it. If you're in the NYC area, I can be found at some events. My email's in my profile. (Open offer to HN members).

by zck 10y ago

btschaegg 10y ago

I've been thinking of ordering an Ergodox keyboard for a while, but the altered layout scared me off so far. Would you say you took up fast on the moved keys? Does the columnar layout provide some advantage? Right now, I'm excitedly looking forward to the UHK. It really promises some quite unique takes on the concept of a keyboard.

zck 10y ago
I didn't find switching too bad, but I also set up my own layout for the non-alphabetic keys. So I don't find it hard to remember where most of the special characters are, because I just thought "where is the first place I'd look for them", and put them there. Then, when I have to figure it out, my first guess is usually correct. The only ones I mess up are - and =, which are the two innermost bottom keys of the "letter" clusters. But it's a small issue; I'm sure I could practice for a bit and make it easier. > Does the columnar layout provide some advantage? To me, I like the fact that if a keyboard was designed without paying attention to historical accident, there's no way you'd make it a row-based keyboard, but would instead make a columnar keyboard, or perhaps slightly staggered. To me, the thumb clusters are a big reason to switch. But then, I'm a big shortcut fan -- I use Emacs a lot. But then, I also didn't have that difficult a time switching from QWERTY to Colemak, so perhaps my brain easily changes this kind of thing.
- btschaegg 10y ago
  Thanks for the explanation :)
  - zck 10y ago
    Sure! You might want to see if you can find someone to try out the keyboard before you buy it. If you're in the NYC area, I can be found at some events. My email's in my profile. (Open offer to HN members).