Mike Masnick: (also for a little while I was really tempted to try out one of these DK6s where the keys are connected magnetically and you can just move them around... but there are a lot of limitations that make it not very practical).

I don't have a Dygma keyboard, though I've heard really fantastic things about them, but I really, really appreciate their transparency on things like this. Creating a video like this is not something I've seen many other companies do. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhEG...

www.youtube.com

That's a cool concept. Unfortunately for me my brain doesn't work well with split keyboards :-)

Oh I basically only do split keyboards now.

I have been using ergo keyboards forever, including types that have a V between the left and right sets of keys. I feel like I need to try a full split keyboard but it’s hard to know what to pick.

Do you want to try a full Ortho (keys in columns rather than staggered)? Or just a regular keyboard that's split?

Probably keys in columns, but I’m not sure. I have a wrist problem and am always seeking better hand positions.

Are you okay with tinkering or do you want something ready to go out of the box? Also, are you okay if it costs more than any keyboard should ever cost?

Tinkering is fine, as long as I don’t have to switch from PhD program in computer science to engineering in order to do it. I don’t mind cost for better ergonomics. I prefer not to pay more just because something is cool or latest, if that makes sense.

Okay. I'm away from my computer but can send some suggestions when I'm back...

I guess one more question. Do you want a pretty full keyboard, or are you so dedicated to ergonomics, that you're interested in a tiny keyboard where all non-key buttons are based on learning multi-key combos (that's a step too far for me, but there are a lot more options there).

I am not sure I have a huge preference, but I like the dedicated function keys on my Linux desktop that I can bind to whatever and context dependent. And I like all the function keys on my MacBook. So I would say I prefer more function keys over remembering more keyboard shortcuts.

Cool. So... a few to look at: dygma.com/products/dyg... Has a great reputation for building really solid keyboards that users love, and also for great customer support. But pricey, especially if you add in tenting/wireless.

Dygma Defydygma.com The most advanced wireless ergonomic keyboard in the market with split design, integrated tenting, RGBW LEDs and premium aluminum body.

The Moonlander from ZSA is my daily driver. www.zsa.io/moonlander I love it, and might make sense for you give what you've talked about. I think it's not quite as nice as the Defy, but also not quite as expensive.

ZSA Moonlander: Next-gen Ergonomicswww.zsa.io An open-source keyboard for serious developers, creative professionals, and people who care deeply about their craft.

If you like that but want something more portable (though with slightly fewer keys) everyone I know who got the Voyager from ZSA loves it: www.zsa.io/voyager Same company as Moonlander, but smaller.

The Voyager: A powerful, low-profile, split ergonomic keyboardwww.zsa.io A lean, mean, split typing machine. The Voyager is everything you’d want in a serious ergonomic keyboard, and nothing more. The essentials, refined.

The @keyboard.io Model 100 is just beautiful. shop.keyboard.io/products/mod... And they hang out here on Bluesky. It's a bit too big for me, but it's pretty slick.

The Model 100shop.keyboard.io Designed from the ground up to work the way your hands do, the Model 100 features 64 hot-swappable mechanical keyswitches, RGB LEDs under each custom-sculpted keycap, and open source firmware, all hou...

If you want to go with something a little different... well, a lot of ergo purists insist that a curved key well is even better, and the ones who do sing the praises of the Glove 80. I've never used one, but it sure looks cool. www.moergo.com/collections/...

Glove80 Ergonomic Keyboard Revision 2 with Travel Casewww.moergo.com Glove80 Split Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard with Concave Key Well Revision 2 Choice of charcoal grey or white keyboard color Choice of 4 switch types 80 RGB LEDs, one under each key White labelle...

And if you want more keys on a side pad, there's the Breeze (I have one, but for some reason could never get it to quite work right, but we can chalk that up to user error) keeb.io/products/aft...

Afternoon Labs Breeze Keyboard Kitkeeb.io We want you to treat yourself. You need an afternoon sipping a cool drink with a gentle breeze on your face! Keebio has made additions to the Breeze to make it an even more lovely piece for your hands...

Finally, I have this one as my "travel" board because it's so tiny, but you have to get keycaps/switches separately (but no soldering, with the Breeze you have to do some soldering, I believe). www.ergokbd.com/products/if-...

IF-ERGOLITE Wireless(2.4g) Hotswap Split Mechanical Keyboard | Low Profile | Pre-soldered | Acrylic | VIAL Programmable | ERGODOX ERGODONE IF-ERGOwww.ergokbd.com 1.Only 2.4g wireless is supported . -Exclusive support for 3-channel switching (requires 3 receivers,like Bluetooth). Comes with one 2.4g receiver-There are no cables between the split keyboards, but ...

There are a few others, but if you're looking for a split ergo... that's probably the list I'd explore. And, one note: it took me 1.5 hours (split as half an hour a night for 3 straight nights) to learn to touch type on the first columnar board I got, because you have to retrain your brain a bit.

It's not a huge learning curve, but it just takes a bit of practice to get used to a board that is slightly different in terms of spacing. But once I did those 3 days of training I got to be just as fast, and now I can switch seamlessly between different kinds of boards.

Oh, and one more thing: most of those boards have thumb clusters. They are amazing once you learn to use them well, and enable you to do some very cool things, rather than wasting both thumbs on one giant space bar.

(also for a little while I was really tempted to try out one of these DK6s where the keys are connected magnetically and you can just move them around... but there are a lot of limitations that make it not very practical).

I’m not a Keyboard Guy, mainly because I’m afraid that it’s addictive like Afrin or Chapstick or heroin. I feel fortunate that I feel comfortable using what I’m sure is probably a garbage keyboard from a PC I bought in 2011. But I also hear a siren song, “Just tryyyy one”

You may enjoy this highly premium board with a similar layout. The group buy is over, but they will for sure have extras when it is shipped after it gets produced. cannonkeys.com/products/alt...

Altair & Altair-X by ai03cannonkeys.com Altair and Altair-X by ai03. After half a decade of development and over two years of use as a daily driver, Altair and Altair-X represent ai03’s current benchmark in keyboard design for productivity ...

Oh yeah, if you want to go deep into the group buy space there are so so so many to look at.

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