So I switched to a low-profile angled keyboard basically identical to this: https://www.amazon.com.au/Perixx-PERIBOARD-805-Wireless-Ergonomic-Bluetooth/dp/B08KJ8JW9Q/ref=asc_df_B08KJ8JW9Q/?tag=googleshopmob-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=463603004336&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15645889703857693714&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9071296&hvtargid=pla-1017854421494&psc=1

It’s been quite a few years now, and my RSI type issues have reduced a lot in that time, but I’m not sure it’s really cutting it anymore. Starting to get wrist pains again. So I think it’s time to up my keyboard game, but things get expensive going to the next level and the choices are kind of overwhelming. So I’m just hoping for some recommendations really.

I’m a programmer so that’s an important factor, I don’t want some weird key layout that’s good for typing English but rubbish for programming. But I also don’t really want to spend loads of time fully customising it. But I’m happy to learn a new layout if research or whatever supports it being better.

Well anyway, any thoughts welcome!

  • Moghul@lemmy.world
    2·
    9 months ago

    I’m a full time software developer. I built and laid out my own Sofle V2 and it’s been great. Everything for programming is on the top layer except for the brackets, which are on a second layer. I only have one problem with it, and it’s that I couldn’t fit all the dedicated arrow keys on it, and I’m missing the up arrow which is on a tiptap format with the right shift key. I’m currently waiting for the Elkhorn keyboard to happen, or if I get tired of waiting I’ll probably order a dactyl or something that has one extra key on the right hand.

    • YellowAfterlife@lemmy.world
      1·
      9 months ago

      I’m guessing that you have -_ key in top-right, =+ where [{ would normally be, and three of the arrows on the thumb row? I toyed with having 4 arrows on the thumb row for a bit and currently checking on having a navigation toggle layer that only swaps the letter keys on the right half.

      If you are comfortable with building your own, there’s a good number of keyboards in this form factor - I made a list recently. There are similar-shaped keyboards with a slightly different key distribution like Egg58 or Cantaloupe, keyboards with slightly more keys like Redox and other ErgoDox derivatives, keyboards with asymmetrical clusters on the right like Breeze or ErgoNICE, 4x7 keyboards like Ergoinu, Interphase, or Kapl, and even a 4x8 Drift…

      • Moghul@lemmy.world
        2·
        9 months ago

        I have as much of ansi international as I can fit on the keyboard, and then I have a separate layer where -=_+[]{} are ‘under’ 90opl;./ respectively. I have left, down, and right arrows south of m,. and the up arrow on a tapdance thing, merged with right shift.

        I’m perfectly happy with building my own keyboard, and I’ll check out your list too. I’m basically looking for a sofle with one or two extra keys on each thumb row. I want the numbers at the top.