Ask HN: Recommandation for an Ergonomic Keyboard?

I recommend calm and caution :)

You will quickly end up researching mechanical split keyboard market and start convincing yourself that 500-1000€ is not that expensive (sic!).

I made an adventure into mechanicals, around half a year on research and getting used to it. Configurability is amazing. Quality great. Noise was not a problem.

Ended up going back to some flat (laptop-like) dell keyboard and a vertical mouse instead. Because my hands started to stiffen up, hurt, the typical stuff. Keyboards were too high (with normal keys) and too expensive+weird (with low profile keys). I tried adding dedicated palm rests, changing habits a bit, changing bindings...

In the end I'm considering buying MS' Sculpt ergonomic keyboard again (it's the one that's actually split, low profile, with optional negative tilt. I think it's only sold with a mouse). It has a lot of flaws, but fatigue was not one of them.

What I'm trying to say: you may spend a lot of time, effort and money and still feel miserable. There are amazing builds out there, but don't forget non mechanical options exist.

I spent many years typing on the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard (which is slightly different, with laptop-style keys), but it completely eliminated my typing pain. I can now type comfortably at about 120-140 wpm for hours on end with no discomfort.

Once they discontinued it, InCase picked it back up: https://www.incase.com/collections/productivity-accessories/...

Along with maybe what looks like a replacement for your old one? https://www.incase.com/collections/productivity-accessories/...

There are also copycats (of the Sculpt). Two that I've tried and liked:

HP 960: https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-960-ergonomic-wireless-...

Matias Sculpted Ergonomic Rechargeable Keyboard: https://matias.store/products/fk413d (small Canadian company, but they make an amazingly tiny USB-C dongle compatible with many of their products)

I ended up using the HP more than the others, preferring its keyfeel over the Matias. But both are well-built.

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If you don't want the mass-market stuff, there are also many companies making more hardcore ergo keyboards (two-part splits, vertical orientations, customizable keycaps, more natural/curved arrangements, etc.). But those typically cost multiple hundreds of dollars, rather than the $100-$120 or so for the off-the-shelf kind I listed above. And they just feel a bit too extreme for my tastes...

I've already spent quite some time looking up keyboards.

I think I've narrowed down to the following:

- Glove80

- Microsoft Ergonomic Desktop

- Perixx : PERIDUO-505

- Mobility Lab : Clavier Sans Fil Ergo K30W

- Kinesis MWave (It's QWERTY and I need an AZERTY but I believe I can move the keys around).

Incase has purchased/assumed Microsoft's accessory business and is manufacturing their ergonomic line of keyboards again, if that's your thing.

https://www.incase.com/collections/keyboards

You could either try to repair it (it has probably only worn out switches that can be replaced by soldering new ones) or you could build one yourself (search for "github split keyboard choc v2"). There are many projects like Corne, lily58 and others.

Beware: Deep rabbit hole with hardly any escape... I built myself a non-ergo modded Logitech G515 with mill maxed Lofree Kailh Ghost switches (I eventually change this to Hades in the future), which was a ton of work, but I'm so happy everytime I use it.

If I had to buy one I would also have gone non-ergo with Wobkey Crush 80 or EvoWorks Evo 80.

The corne v4 is pretty popular and having Jlc3dp as a 3D print service all you need is time and patience. I recommend to also look for QMK / VIA Firmware as well as ZMK. They have lists of supported hardware.

I used an MS Ergonomic for 10+ years at the office and a Kinesis Advantage for a similar amount of time at my home office. I'm now entirely home-based, and plan to use the Kinesis Advantage until it's no longer an option.

I'm on my second Kinesis. Something about the function key connection (they're on separate boards internally) made them start failing intermittently after 3-4 years. After the third failure Kinesis had discontinued the replacement parts and I replaced the whole keyboard with a newer revision that has redesigned function keys which are going strong so far.

Kinesis supports key remapping if that's a thing you need.

I believe there are only 2 excellent options. The Kinesis Advantage (360) or the Glove 80. Both are very expensive.

Still a bit more expensive, but most similar with your MS Natural Keyboard, is the Kinesis mWave.

I went down to the path of split, tented, columnar keyboards and bought myself a Glove 80.

Despite expensive, I think the purchase was definitely worth it. I use it every day for 6-8 hours (I have a very keyboard centric workflow) and I have not a single regret.

If the Natural Ergonomic keyboard works for you, why not put in an eBay search and buy a spare or two?

Even one new in box is unlikely to cost more than a current alternative if you are a little patient.

Since you mention "wired" there are boatloads of 4000's on the market all the time. Good luck.

I bought one of the keyboard from https://ergodox-ez.com/ and I hate it.

I stopped using it as I could not get used to it.

I use a wired MS split ergonomic keyboard for daily work and seem happy with it. I use a simple logitech trackball as a pointing device.

I don't have any issues with this keyboard ..

Mine died a few years ago. I replaced it with one from 'perixx' but I kind of hate it. Not enough to get something else, because I have not found a better answer. I am excited to see if someone has a solution for you.