PC Keyboards

[Lemurion]

I'm another for the MS Natural, even on a Mac.

Also, stay far away from the Apple Bluetooth keyboards. I know that not everyone likes the ergonomic keyboards, but there's nothing good about a keyboard that cannot be set up so that you can type without bending your wrists.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

I'm another for the MS Natural, even on a Mac.

Also, stay far away from the Apple Bluetooth keyboards. I know that not everyone likes the ergonomic keyboards, but there's nothing good about a keyboard that cannot be set up so that you can type without bending your wrists.

I have a Logitech, (well, actually, a LOT of them). I run through a PC keyboard every six months due to key wear. (Our biz volume is ~9K emails/month). I've replaced the letters with the stick-ons, which last about two months, then I have to peel them and replace those. The problem with this method is that I lose my "home" touch on the j and the f keys. I started with the stick-on letters when Logitech switched up the design of the one I was using, and I wasn't thrilled with the replacement keyboard, but still...I could use 2 new ones ASAP. I am not married to wireless versus wired, other than I like to not use up ports I don't have to. I already have a zillion devices and monitors, etc., around here needing places to go/charge/live.

If anyone has a fabulous, reasonably ergonomic keyboard that has DURABLE keys, with non-disappearing letters, I'd love to know it. Also, I'm a "pounder" (learned on a manual typewriter back in the day), so I'm a NOISY typist, which makes everyone around me suffer.

I'm up for anything that means I don't have to replace the keyboard/keys every six months. I looked at the MX-Cherry and forget why I ruled it out--it was straight, wasn't it?

Hitch

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by ApK

I still have one. I resisted switching for many years. The noise, and my need for Windows keys eventually won out. My kids play with it now.

For the missing Windows keys I use AutoHotkey in Windows to remap the functionality (and MUCH MORE) to other chorded combinations, such as <CA><R> for Run.

In Linux, I just choose another pre-defined set of mappings. :-)

[BeccaPrice]

What do you use the windows key for? I don't think I've ever used it.

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

What do you use the windows key for? I don't think I've ever used it.

Windows+L is the default for locking your desktop. I used to need that one a lot at one job I had.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

Windows+L is the default for locking your desktop. I used to need that one a lot at one job I had.

Many people lock their screen with <Ctrl><Alt><Del>, followed by <enter>

I have <CTRL><ALT><L> mapped to <WINKEY><L> since I have an old Model M with no windows key.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

What do you use the windows key for? I don't think I've ever used it.

I'm going to assume that you run Windows... all of the following are initiated by holding the windows key, then pressing the key I list below.

Windows XP and later:

Alone, no other key: Open start menu
Pause Key: System properties dialog
D: Show the desktop or return to your previous programs if pressed again
R: Open the Run dialog
E: Open Windows explorer at the top level
L: Lock the screen


Windows 7 (possibly Vista) and later:

Left: Put window on left half of monitor
Right: Put window on right half of monitor
Down: Minimize window
Up: Maximize window
Tab: Aero 3D window flip (like alt-tab, but 3D)
M: minimize all
shift+m: restore all
F: Search for a file/folder
ctrl+f: search for computers on network
T: Cycle through programs on taskbar
#: (a number key) switch to the program in that ordinal position on taskbar (useful with pinned programs that are always at the same position)
shift+#: (a number key) launch a new copy of a program at that ordinal position on taskbar
ctrl+#: Cycle through instances of program at that position on the taskbar
alt+#: jumplist


...on and on and on... I'm tired of typing, so I did a quick search and found:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...oard-shortcuts

[BeccaPrice]

Thanks for the list!

I work at home (mostly) and so have never had to lock my computer.

I've always used alt+tab to cycle through active programs that may be behind each other. Dunno that I'll ever have use for any of the others, but it's always nice to know.

[Ankh]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I'm up for anything that means I don't have to replace the keyboard/keys every six months. I looked at the MX-Cherry and forget why I ruled it out--it was straight, wasn't it?

I have not seen a curved keyboard built with MX switches. Everything is possible, of course, but I think that the resulting design would be sufficiently complex and expensive to be practical.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I settled on the Goldtouch GTU-0088 V2 Adjustable Comfort Keyboard. The Kinesis was just too radical a redesign for me, and I really couldn't justify $260 for a keyboard. We'll see how it all works out.

Ouch - oh, THAT Kinesis. Yes that one was too radical (and big) for my tastes also. I hope that wasn't the only one you looked at. The Freestyle that I linked to is like a more flexible version of the Goldtouch.

[BeccaPrice]

I looked at the Freestyle, too, - is that the one where the two halves of the keyboard are connected with a cable at the top? that seemed too inherently fragile a design for my tastes. Although, come to think of it, the hinge at the top of the one I did order is a potential break point as well.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I looked at the Freestyle, too, - is that the one where the two halves of the keyboard are connected with a cable at the top? that seemed too inherently fragile a design for my tastes. Although, come to think of it, the hinge at the top of the one I did order is a potential break point as well.

The Freestyle has a funny little plastic tether that can optionally tie the top corners together - so there's never any tension on the cable joining the halves. None of the photos on their website show it, but if you download the brochure (even the one for the Mac) you will see it. This tether looks flimsy but so far (touch wood) mine has been fine.

What I liked about the Freestyle was that in each configuration the weight sits squarely on actual feet. Whereas the Goldtouch relies on that central ball pivot as part of its structure, and on the model I tried in a shop here that pivot seemed to creak when I was typing (but maybe that was just because it was an overused demo model). I never got to try the Freestyle before I bought (not in shops anywhere near me), but I do very much like the feel of the keys.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Ankh

I have not seen a curved keyboard built with MX switches. Everything is possible, of course, but I think that the resulting design would be sufficiently complex and expensive to be practical.

Yeah, no...

I didn't mean a curved/ergo keyboard with MX, particularly. I'm just pretty desperate for a keyboard that can co-exist with The Pounder. ;-)

Hitch

[BeccaPrice]

I live in a very small town, and couldn't see the keyboards to actually try them. I've had to go by reviews and recommendations, and ordered it from Amazon. If it has bad balance, it'll go back to Amazon, and I'll order the Freestyle.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I live in a very small town, and couldn't see the keyboards to actually try them. I've had to go by reviews and recommendations, and ordered it from Amazon. If it has bad balance, it'll go back to Amazon, and I'll order the Freestyle.

Ergonomic keyboards can be difficult to get your hands on. I don't live in a town - but Canberra is only about an hour away, and they have a shop that specialises in ergonomic office equipment where I got to put my hands on a few different items, including the Goldtouch and that other one I mentioned earlier with little motors inside that kept the configuration changing slowly (I don't remember the brand). They also had a couple of interest mouses and alternatives. I would have had to travel to Sydney (3hrs) to get my hands on a Kinesis Freestyle and they wanted over $200 for it - with petrol and time considerations I decided I was better off ordering from the U.S. and seeing what I got (much like you are doing now).

Good luck with with the Goldtouch, I hope it works out for you.