Keyboards - Split from "Do you touch-type or hunt-and-peck"

It seemed like the conversation was getting a bit off track over there, so I thought I'd open up a different thread to talk specifically about keyboards.

As I mentioned in the other thread, I'm using a TypeMatrix 2020 (Product Overview of the TypeMatrix keyboard) because I like the scissor keys (like a laptop), vertical key alignment, extra keys in the middle, and it does hardware Dvorak.

I don't really see myself getting another keyboard until multi-touch comes back. A college buddy of mine had (and still has) a Touchstream, and typing/gesturing on that was really cool. He did offer to sell it to me, but he wanted Ebay prices for it. You'll see them now and then on Ebay, and they go for crazy amounts of money. If only Apple hadn't bought Fingerworks and decided to sit on the patent...

Anyway, I'd love to hear about some of the other keyboards that are in use, especially the fancy ones.

Is multi-touch the same as chording? I used to like The Microwriter concept, I thought it was a shame it died out, but it seems to live on today in the CyKey.

You mention a small but important idea - vertical key alignment. It's clear why manufacturers feel the need to stick with QWERTY, but why do they still have the rows of keys offset sideways? Typewriters needed it for mechanical reasons, computer keyboards don't. Nor do typists. I'm sure trained typists could adapt easily to aligned keys.

I already have a near-perfect solution for gaming, the Nostromo N52te. The main advantage is that you rest your hand on this controller and 14 programmable keys lie under your 4 fingers in a 5x3 grid (one position has a scroll wheel.) It has other supposedly game-friendly features, but having many keys within easy reach without having to look is the big selling point in my eyes.

Attachment 23785

My ideal input device would be similar to having two N52s side-by-side, one for each hand. Each would have 18 keys for the fingers in a 6x3 pattern, making them all insanely easy to reach from the central 4 home keys. Add in 2 or 3 buttons for each thumb.

I use a conventional ergonomic keyboard. I would have to hunt & peck on a standard until I got used to it again. The TypeMatrix looks very interesting. I imagine I would have to retrain my fingers if I were to switch over to that. Do you find less strain in the fingers and tendons using it ?

I use a 1984 IBM Model M (84-key) keyboard. Fell in love with it on my first PC-AT, and though I've tried various other keyboards over the years (including the 101-key Model M) I prefer the 84-key version for its narrower width and shorter reach to the mouse.

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Originally Posted by Rajagra

Is multi-touch the same as chording? I used to like The Microwriter concept, I thought it was a shame it died out, but it seems to live on today in the CyKey.

You mention a small but important idea - vertical key alignment. It's clear why manufacturers feel the need to stick with QWERTY, but why do they still have the rows of keys offset sideways? Typewriters needed it for mechanical reasons, computer keyboards don't. Nor do typists. I'm sure trained typists could adapt easily to aligned keys.

I already have a near-perfect solution for gaming, the Nostromo N52te. The main advantage is that you rest your hand on this controller and 14 programmable keys lie under your 4 fingers in a 5x3 grid (one position has a scroll wheel.) It has other supposedly game-friendly features, but having many keys within easy reach without having to look is the big selling point in my eyes.


My ideal input device would be similar to having two N52s side-by-side, one for each hand. Each would have 18 keys for the fingers in a 6x3 pattern, making them all insanely easy to reach from the central 4 home keys. Add in 2 or 3 buttons for each thumb.

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Multitouch is different from chording. The Touchstream, which was a multi-touch keyboard, had two functions. One was a zero-force typing mechanism and the other was the ability to "gesture" on it such that you didn't need a mouse and could do lots of shortcuts. It's hard to explain, but you can check it out here TouchStream LP -- Zero-Force USB Keyboard with Integrated Pointing and Gesture Shortcuts.

I also have an N52, but the older version. I love it for gaming but wish it had more buttons.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I use a conventional ergonomic keyboard. I would have to hunt & peck on a standard until I got used to it again. The TypeMatrix looks very interesting. I imagine I would have to retrain my fingers if I were to switch over to that. Do you find less strain in the fingers and tendons using it ?

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It didn't take me long at all to adjust to the layout, and I find I can switch between the TM and a conventional keyboard very easily. I don't notice any difference in strain, but I never noticed any strain anyway. Rewiews say that it is supposed to be excellent for reducing strain and repetitive motion injuries, though.

I just found a page debunking the Dvorak vs QWERTY war:
Typing Errors: The standard typewriter keyboard is Exhibit A in the hottest new case against markets. But the evidence has been cooked. - Reason Magazine
If you skim past some boring stuff there's some strong evidence that the benefits of the Dvorak layout have been (ahem) exaggerated.

I was toying with the idea of trying it. I'll put it on hold.

Im just starting to make the transition fron hunt n peck to touch type after 10 years of playing around on the internet. I do still need to look at the keyboard because I dont have all the letters memorized yet.

Just wanted to write a bit about my previous keyboard, the Logitech G15 (first Gen). It was a really nice looking board, and the blue backlights were a nice touch without being too bright. I loved having the LCD screen to show my system vitals (that was back when I was overclocking pretty hard and wanted to keep an eye on temps, voltages, fan speeds, etc). But not too long after I got it, I also got a second moniter. Since I could keep an eye on all the stats on my second moniter and since I didn't really use the macro keys on the G15, I decided to get something that was a bit nicer to type on. The G15 had a very soft feel (not much feedback), and it also took up a lot of desk space.

http://blog.damienalexandre.fr/publi...ier_2006/1.jpg

I use a Das Keyboard and a Nostromo N52 (orange and black one, few versions old) plus a logitech mx500 on a func 1030 surface.

i liked the old model M keyboards the best, the Das is the closest thing to it i can find. i tried the Bat Chord back in the day, but I hated it.

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Originally Posted by Rajagra

I just found a page debunking the Dvorak vs QWERTY war:
Typing Errors: The standard typewriter keyboard is Exhibit A in the hottest new case against markets. But the evidence has been cooked. - Reason Magazine
If you skim past some boring stuff there's some strong evidence that the benefits of the Dvorak layout have been (ahem) exaggerated.

I was toying with the idea of trying it. I'll put it on hold.

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From what I've read about Dvorak, alot of the appeal is that its alot more comfortable to use, not just accuracy. The most frequently used keys are under your fingers (home keys), so you don't need to move around the keyboard as much. As a matter of fact, I think I remember reading a some forum posts by DVORK users, and I think they said that their typing speed had gone and stayed down from their qwerty use, but they still liked dvorak better. That being said, its too much bother for me to mess around with.