I would recommend the Kinesis Advantage. It doesn’t use cherry switches IIRC, but they’re similar.
this post was submitted on 06 Jul 2023
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The Advantage 2 looks pretty good; bit pricey though I expected as much. Thank you!
I took a gamble on the Moonlander by zsa. It's expensive but a really nice keyboard and instantly helped wrist aches and pains from long days developing.
There are alternatives that are cheaper, and even DIY ones which are cool too - but if you want a prebuilt split ergo I highly recommend it.
Took me roughly 1-2 days heavy use to get used to it and I've never looked back - I'm a huge fan of the ortholinear (technically columnar on moonlander) layout, it really does make natural sense imo with less finger movements laterally at awkward angles.
Happy to answer any Qs
I second this. I've had a Moonlander since 2020, and the company has been really great too. I had the hinge on my thumb cluster crack after about 2 years, so I emailed asking if I could buy a replacement top plate. They replaced the whole left side free of charge, no questions asked, out of warranty. Even paid for return shipping.
Does it sit on the edge of your desk or are your arms also resting on the table?
Any chance you've tried it with a standing desk?
More at the edge of the desk like a normal keyboard. The wrist rests included are nice and work okay, but you can also remove them too by pushing and twisting.
Yeah I've got a sit stand desk and it the setup works absolutely fine :) no moving things around or anything like that when I stand.
Also the moonlander arms on the inside allow for the keyboard to tent slightly (angle so your hands are more vertical like you're holding a basketball or something like that) - the idea being that you're not flexing muscles in your wrist as much. I actually get on really well with it like this, it's way less wrist strain and super natural to type like this, a really nice bonus.
Awesome, thanks for this! I like that the keys have a more natural layout than something like the Freestyle2.
https://lemmy.world/c/ergomechkeyboards
https://lemmy.ml/c/mechanicalkeyboards
These places might be of help.
Oh wow, did not think there'd be such a specific community already; thanks!
My next keyboard is going to be the moonlander by ergodox.
This is the answer imo if you have the budget. This completely cured my carpal tunnel. Opened up my shoulders, let me get better posture and it's a dream for people who like to tinker with tech
+1 for the moonlander. I adore it, can't go back - this was my first split kb and it's awesome.
I tried using a normal one for a week recently and wrist pains immediately came back after long work days.
Oohhh, the moonlander looks really cool; thanks!
You could checkout keeb.io, I have the Iris and it’s fairly ergonomic, and you can customize the switches you want.
Trying to tent it for even more ergonomic is a little weird, but I think it is doable.
There’s also (not from keeb.io) ergodox keyboards.
Link to the Iris: https://keeb.io/collections/iris-split-ergonomic-keyboard
Ergodox: https://ergodox-ez.com/
Keeb is new to me; Ergodox has been recommended a couple times which is nice to see. Thank you :)
I'm a big fan of my Ultimate Hacking Keyboard, had one since the original crowdfunding campaign. I think 5 or 6 years now.
Very cool design; how well do they stay put on the desk? My last split keyboard would nudge slowly during use and had to be moved back which I found annoying.
I've never had a problem with that, there are some pretty tacky rubber feet on the bottom
Another vote for the UHK for me, got the first one in 2020 and the v2 last year. Absolutely love it, and my wrists do thank me as well.
Slightly different answer, but one of the BEST decisions I ever made in life was learning how to use the Dvorak keyboard layout. It's a massive pain at first but you'll never regret it. Sorted out all my RSI.
Pretty much any layout is better than QWERTY. Dvorak is pretty cool, but I would also encourage people to check out layouts, optimized for ergonomic typing through statistical analysis, like Workman or Colemak.
I've heard of the dvorak layout but yeah, that initial learning curve... :D
Colemak is meant to have most of the benefits of dvorak with a much smaller learning curve.
I have not learned dvorak yet (but may need to due to my EDS/finger subluxations), I highly recommend buying an all blank keyboard or covering the letters. I was slow to learn touch typing but finally took the plunge with a blank keyboard from Das Keyboard, and it was maybe more frustrating in the short term but very fast learning.
I have a feeling you are looking for a fancier ergonomic keyboard but Das Keyboards tenkeyless works well for me.
Cross-post on Mastodon was recommended the Keychron Q8 which looks gorgeous and is more in my preferred price range.
Here is a thread where someone asked this question a month or so back and a lot of people weighed in, myself included.
I am a kinesis advantage 2 enjoyer, myself.
Fantastic; thank you :)
Ayy that was my post. I ended up going with the Moonlander and am trying out the Colemak-DH layout. Definitely not up to speed from my qwerty layout.
I do really enjoy it though and have been tinkering with different strategies like tap-dance and home row mods for modifier keys.
Ben Vallack has been a great resource in determining what's what in the ergo keyboard space.
DIY is cheaper for this. I'm building a Corne board, but you'd probably like a Reviung if you only want one piece. Pair with a (matrix version) layout like Nerps (Google Docs link) for best results.
Not pretty, but Kenesis (sp?) is the winner. Tried many available options through work, stuck with their design for years now.
Thanks; quite a few have recommended this one which is nice to see
This is what works for me. Tried the ergodox ez, and it made my carpal tunnel much worse. Personally, I didn’t want to put in effort on a DIY solution if it performing worse than store bought was a risk. The kinesis advantage 2 is by far the most comfortable keyboard I’ve ever used. Everyone is different however, Ymmv.
If you happen to have wide shoulders get a split keyboard.
I do however my last split keyboard tended to nudge throughout the day and needed moved back which I found annoying. Perhaps I just had a bad experience and is not the norm.
I've been working with a Kinesis Advantage for something like the last 15 years. By for the most comfortable experience I could find for typing code or text. No way I could game on this thing though.
Yeah, I was wondering about that from the key layout; does look like it'd be amazing for typing though.
I use Ferris Sweep. It's an ergo-split with a vertical key stagger, 34 keys, low profile. Open source, you can assemble it wired, or with some nice!nano controllers and batteries - completely wireless.
If you're not into soldering and flashing controllers, you can order it pre-made from crafty persons on the internets.
I started using it because most other keyboards give me wrist pain due to a medical issue I have. 34 keys might be tight for most people, but if you're ok with configuring some layers, you'll be good.
I have had a few different ones from them. Not cheap but was happy. They have a ton of options. At home I have the single keyboard with the contoured key layout.
At work I had a split keyboard with a high vertical angle mount so I could use straight wrists and relaxed elbows. Lot of ergo keyboards require hand rotation and elbows away from your body. It was nice not to have to do that but even more expensive.
Thanks; quite a few have recommended these which is nice to see
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