We have a Microsoft Natural 400 in the office. I don't like it. it doesn't fit my typing style. Apart from using my left hand for most of my typing, I suspect part of my problem with ergonomic keyboards is a bit of RSI in the first knuckle of my index fingers. I consequently don't use these for typing or on the mouse. I stopped a good 10 years ago (have been typing for at least 30 years). It's a bit strange since I was never a two finger typer. My guess is I used to hit keys harder with those fingers. I remember my C64 keys needing to be hit pretty hard. So my typing style isn't standard.
On the topic of shortcuts, this is the mouse I use: http://www.cyborggaming.com/prod/mmo.htm The extra buttons are quite handy in that regard. And its a comfortable mouse to use. David "If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... checkmate!" -Zapp Brannigan, Futurama On 15 August 2013 13:33, Corneliu I. Tusnea <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi David, > > I'm a big fan of keyboards and I've tested heaps and heaps of them and I > always go back to the ergonomic ones from Microsoft. > I know you don't like them but I think they are very very good and once > you get used you'll never want to go back. > > I'm currently using the Microsoft Natural 400 > http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000 > > I have one at home and one at work and they rock. The split angle is small > enough to allow easy use with one hand in the rare moments that I need to > use a single hand and keep a hand on the mouse. > The older ergonomic ones were having a higher angle making them impossible > to use with one hand. > I also looked at that new Manta Ray and I think I'll buy one. I like that > the keypad is separate and I love the long delete key (my previous keyboard > had that long delete and I enjoyed it. > > To make my life easier I always remap most of VS commands that I > frequently use to use only the left hand with no need to use the right hand. > - Alt+1 - Build Selected Project > - Alt+2 - Find References (Resharper) > - Alt+W - Highlight References > - Alt+Q - Goto Definition > and few more so you can keep a hand on the mouse and one on the keyboard :) > > I think no keyboard shortcut should ever need two hands. > Whoever came up with the Ctrl+Shift+F12 shortcut and Ctrl+Shift+B? > Have you tried to press Ctrl+Shift+B with one hand? My hand hurts just > looking a the keyboard to try to figure out how to press that. > > > > > > > On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 1:08 PM, mike smith <[email protected]> wrote: > >> On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 12:04 PM, David Richards < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> A bit off topic and a bit on topic. I've been in the market for a good >>> developer keyboard for a while but never seem to find anything I like. I >>> was just wondering if others on this list had found a decent keyboard. >>> >>> A few qualifying points: >>> >>> I don't want a number pad or at least I don't want one on the right of >>> the keyboard. Not that I have anything against them, I just want my mouse >>> to be closer. I've tested this using a cheap (and crappy) laptop like >>> keyboard and there is a noticeable difference in comfort. I can just as >>> easily by a separate number pad keyboard to position elsewhere. >>> >>> >> Or not at all. If you touchtype, they are almost unused. Funny I didn't >> realise this, I just picked up my somewhat used KB and held it to reflect >> light. Right. The numeric KB is still matte, the main KB numbers are >> shiny with wear. >> >> >>> I would prefer the cursor keys and the other navigation keys to be in a >>> reasonable location. My "crappy" keyboard as some of these along the >>> bottom. It also sacrificed the right Control key in favour of a Scroll >>> Lock key. Who uses scroll lock any more? >>> >>> >> What does it even do? >> >> >>> I don't like those "ergonomic" keyboards that split the keyboard to be >>> comfortable for two hands. I don't know about the rest of you but I spend >>> at least as much time with one hand on the mouse and the other on the >>> keyboard as I do with both hands on the keyboard. So the ergonomic aspects >>> are actually a hindrance when typing with one hand. >>> >>> >> Disagree. Going back to flat KB's is a major pain now for me. >> >> >>> I don't care about media buttons or any other specific use button. I >>> never user them. They just make the keyboard bigger. 20% of the keys on >>> my current keyboard will never be used. >>> >>> >> Agree, and get rid of the effing flock key and all the media shifts on >> the f keys. >> >> >>> Obviously I want the keys to be comfortable to use 8 hours a day. >>> >>> >> Dude, at least 8. You likely use a KB another 4-8 when you get home. >> >> >>> The recently announce keyboard from microsoft is fairly close to what >>> I'm looking for: >>> >>> >>> http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/08/microsofts-new-ergonomic-keyboard-is-just-plain-weird-looking/ >>> >>> But it's ergonomic style is a bit of a negative. >>> >>> >> Yes, and I'm going to call in at officeworks to buy one on the way home. >> Thank you! >> >> Re ergonomic. Try it for a while, you'll learn to love leaning your >> wrists on something. And likely hate the normal ones. I use one at home >> on the iMac - for such an ergonomic company Apple has awful keyboards and >> mice. >> >> >> >> -- >> Meski >> >> http://courteous.ly/aAOZcv >> >> "Going to Starbucks for coffee is like going to prison for sex. Sure, >> you'll get it, but it's going to be rough" - Adam Hills >> > >
