I bought an Ergodox EZ a few years ago. While I enjoyed it at first, I realized that I was avoiding certain workflows because it lacked arrow and function keys, forcing you to rely on different layers.
I like split keyboards, and I also like thumb clusters, but I’d really prefer something with dedicated arrow and function keys.
Update for future googlers:
I ended up buying the Kinesis Freestyle 2 with the extra wrist rests. It’s not mechanical but I couldn’t justify the extra cost for both an ergonomic and mechanical keyboard.
update for future googlers:
I ended up buying the Kinesis Freestyle 2 with the extra wrist rests. It’s not mechanical but I couldn’t justify the extra cost for both an ergonomic and mechanical keyboard.
Microsoft’s Sculpt was a staple that fit this bill until they stopped producing them a few years back, but another company is now producing it (I think the OG manufacturer for Microsoft). I bought one recently to replace an aging Microsoft board and it looks, feels, and functions exactly the same. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5YNL62D…
As absolutely shitty as Microsoft is, they can do some hardware well.
Yes. I have one, and I love it. It’s a Periboard-535DL.
Can I ask what’s wrong with having the arrow keys in a different layer on esdf and/or ijkl?
Believe it or not, MSFT made one of those back in the 90s. Terrible keys, but it may be what you wanted.
Edit: they apparently still do: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/surface-ergonomic-keyboard/90pnc9ljwpx9?activetab=pivot%3Aoverviewtab
I owned one of those back in 2009. I liked it, though I can’t go back to rubber dome keys.
Agreed
Kinesis freestyle has f1-f12. But no fancy firmware with layers and stuff.
It also has a Fn key that gives you an extra “layer”, or half of one, I believe.
I think Kinesis also offers a higher-end model that has some programmable features, but I went with the regular Freestyle.
I have a mac one for work. But I also use it for my pc. Where the heck is the printscreen button. I probably need the higher end one I guess.
Huh. My Windows one has one, but I always use WindowsKey+Shift+S these days
Yeah, macs don’t have a printscreen normally. And I can’t find an equivalent. I use greenshot. The win shift s launchs the snipping tool. It’s also an uncomfortable short cut.
I mean, I can give greenshot a different hot key. So I’m really just whining. LolMacs definitely have a way to take screenshots/snips. I know they do, because before Windows had the snipping tool, this was one thing I was jealous about Mac’s having! Haha
Oh yeah, they do. But a mac keyboard on a pc… thats the hiccup. Cause mac doesn’t use printscreen.
Since you’re talking Ergodox, do you still want column-staggered? For row staggered you probably need the Dygma Raise if you want a thumb cluster.
This might also be useful: https://yal-tools.github.io/ergo-keyboards/
every one i’ve ever seen has both those things
I dunno if you’d consider it ergonomic but I use a Mistel MD770 and it meets your requirements. It’s essentially like a Keychron K2 cut in half.
