Kinesis Contoured Keyboard is the best keyboard ever. I've been using one for about five years now, and have finally come across others who use them. If it weren't for the Kinesis, I'd have had to stop programming years ago due to chronic tendonitis. These things rock.
The Advantage USB contoured keyboard sets a new standard for ergonomic keyboards. The Advantage line incorporates the same advanced ergonomic design as our other contoured keyboards and delivers additional features not found on other USB keyboards.
Amen -- http://cwinters.com/SiteSearch/?keywords=kinesis
I thought about getting one of those, but I use vi and that escape key is way too small and too close to the function keys. Plus, I don't know if I could get used to using my thumb to do backspace.
I've been using one for about 2 years now and I LOVE it. It's the only way to go to stave off RSI.
Do they have clicky keys? I have to have clicky keys.
The keys don't click like the old IBM keyboards, but they do make a sound when you type. It's very quiet but noticable -- you *know* when you've hit a key -- and IIRC you can turn the sound off if you like. The action on the keys is quite good -- one of the ideas of the key bowl is that you don't have to move your fingers much to type properly and IME this extends to the force you use to type.
The relationship of hacker to keyboard can be very idiosynchratic though: what works wonders for me might not work at all for you. I hate MS Natural Keyboards but they can be the bees knees for you. Experiment around, but give yourself enough time to get used to something before moving on.
Dave, any key may be remapped. So I've remapped escape to be where right-alt is (in the middle cluster). Using thumbs takes some getting used to, but once you do you'll wonder why someone didn't figure this out sooner! It's so comfortable, and spreads the typing load out nicely.
My Kinesis arrived yesterday based on Bob's recommendation and I must say that I'm very happy with it thus far. I've made a few key remappings (I'm a heavy vi and emacs user) so that the 'ctrl' and 'alt' keys are positioned such that I can hit them with minimal movement of my hands (moved them to end/pgdown respectively). I find this configuration even better than the shipped config.
Thanks for the recommendation Bob you old fart :)
Here is the keyboard I definitely recommand to anyone: http://www.fingerworks.com/touchstream_products.html
Much more better than yours :-)
Wow, more Kinesis users? I didn't realize there were that many more of us out there! I couldn't agree with you more about the Kinesis keyboards, I've been using mine for a little over three years now, and I can't imagine going back to a traditional keyboard for daily use. It's bad enough suffering through shortish sessions of using my laptop keyboard...
waaaaaaaaay off subject, but not entirely.
so i've been a fan of the "ergonomic" concept in keyboards. i've been tempted by frogpad... and have been daunted by the cost of most keyboards over 30 dollars.
i'm wondering ... however, if anyone had run across a keyboard wherein there was a split construction, and the spacebar was split as well... not as the MS naturals (which has the one spacebar).
my hair-brained idea is to modify and otherwise fabricate the keyboard so that there are 2 separate boards... which could be fixed to adjustable mounts... able to be rotated and so forth.
of all the heapy-cheapy keyboards... i've not found a candidate.
but i figured maybe you've seen something i haven't.
this page is glorious and clean. did you have to pay for this ver of MT?
Kinesis keyboards are extremely reliable, yes the prices is a little bit up but you get what you pay for (simple as that). I like www.ergokey.com
very nice website & it was easy to shop at there website.
They r rubbish and they r expensive and I haven't used one but I wouldn't want to anyway because they are crap.
There is a big space at the middle.. A perfect place for a track ball or directional touch pad