Joni Korpi4d ago

What I wish I'd known before getting into split keyboards: definitely results in better keyboard ergonomics, but worse pointing device ergonomics.

If your keyboard halves are perfectly aligned with your arms, your pointing device won't be. If you move it in the middle of the halves or to the side, it hurts.

Gotta move one half in a bit to make room for it, which makes you want to ease the other half in too. So both halves end up very close to each other… like in a normal keyboard.

Show threadbouncepaw 🍄3d ago
@jonikorpi do you use a mouse? I think it's not so bad with touchpads and trackballs. I use a touchpad myself with a split keyboard, it's ok. In theory, I can even alternate hands when touchpading, in reality I rarely do...
Show threadJoni Korpi3d ago
@bouncepaw Trackpad right now, and yeah I guess mouse suffers most due to needing more space. I've been trying to keep the trackpad in the middle recently, Macbook style. The alternating is nice, but I keep ending up with wrist pains.
Show threadbouncepaw 🍄
@jonikorpi damn. How flat is your split keyboard? This might be a factor too
Mar 26 at 10:23amWeb
Show threadJoni Korpi3d ago
@bouncepaw There’s definitely a height difference. I can feel the trackpad should be a bit higher, or at least there should be a thin wrist support in front of it.
Show threadbouncepaw 🍄3d ago
@jonikorpi oh wow! Is that a low profile second thumb row!?
Show threadJoni Korpi3d ago

@bouncepaw Heh yeah it's the first version of this. https://dygma.com/pages/dygma-raise-2

I regret getting it because I'm too old to unlearn arrow keys, but otherwise it's pretty good for what it is.

The Best Wireless Split Keyboard - Dygma Raise 2

The Dygma Raise 2 is a mechanical wireless split keyboard that elevates your productivity and boosts your comfort like no other. Raise your game with Dygma. Explore now!

Dygma
Show threadbouncepaw 🍄3d ago

@jonikorpi my setup is like this. A high-profile keyboard. Rather than raising the touchpad, I want a low-profile keyboard. Also not the offset between the right half and the touchpad: it's there so it's easier to reach with the right hand (I'm rightie).

I used to have a keyboard with mixed-profile thumbs (made by yours truly from foamboard), the was awesome

Show threadJoni Korpi3d ago

@bouncepaw I love that it looks like some kind of near-future-scifi lab equipment. :D

Low-profile would be super nice. Oddly rare in the prebuilt mechanical keyboard market, or at in least the part intended for non-tinkerers like me.