Ask HN: Is split keyboard worth the effort?
I'm not a proper touch typist, so apart from using the wrong fingers for wrong keys, I've adapted weird typing technique like pressing CapsLock(Fn)+Shift with only the pinky finger. I'm not the fastest typist, or the most accurate. But having said that, I was able to get stuff done, without dreading using the computer.
Fast forward to about one month ago, I've got my self a split keyboard - the corne with 42 keys. And I must say - it's awesome. I can touch type properly due to the ortholinear layout, and I feel like it's way more comfortable.
But, I dread using the computer. I type super slow, and while its slowly improving, I still code very slow. I also switched to Colemak, which slows me even more, but this allows me to easily switch to Qwerty keyboards like my Macbook.
And so I started to question my decision. I enjoy using the split keyboard very much, but the psychological toll of being unproductive - affects me a lot. I write a lot for living - code and blogs, so any slowdown in that area affects my progress. I do plan to take a break from work while focusing more on my side projects and blogging, but I still wonder whether I should pursue the goal of mastering the split keyboard. While many people claim to have benefits, none of them actually backed by science, and in anyway I'll have to, once in a while, switch to regular keyboards (such as when using a laptop), so I wonder if it's not just another weird hobby.
What do you think?
42 comments
[ 5.0 ms ] story [ 89.7 ms ] threadIn short, no physical pain, but not a fan. It's too slow.
I was looking at the Keychron Q11 (https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q11-qmk-custom-me...) but its double the price of the cheap Ali one...
With me, a keyboard is a tool. If that tool helps me get things done, then it's my tool.
I know a few with a split keyboard, they can't use an ordinary keyboard anymore because of joint problems. So, it makes sense to have a split keyboard. There are other things to consider, too. Like the height of the chair and the table. Otherwise, a split keyboard do not have any advantage over an ordinary keyboard, when your sitting position is wrong.
So, it's a tool. Some appreciate the usage of a split keyboard, because of health issues. Beside that, you won't type faster or better code with a split keyboard :)
Is this your actual goal, or the means to some end? Do you need the ergonomics of split keyboard to deal with wrist pain, or do you just like the particular 42 key keyboard that you have?
There's not much special about typing on a split keyboard, I suspect your typing performance issues are mostly due to its miniature size and an unfamiliar keyboard layout.
So my end goal is optimization and workflow improvement. The problem is that those things are subjective. People type just fine on membrane keyboards, I can't touch them anymore.
In my case, before the split keyboard I had severe pain in my wrists, and after the switch, it’s gone. There is an adjustment period, but the benefits are definitely worth the annoyance.
In my experience: while learning Dvorak, I found it difficult to type with QWERTY.
However, now that I'm used to split and ortholinear keyboards, I can type at the same speeds with either.
My suggestion to everyone trying new keyboards is the same: ignore the layouts of other people, make something that feels natural to you. Which key does it feel more natural to press for curly braces? Just put the damn thing where you want it to be. It’s much easier to change the keyboard to match your preferences than having to learn a new layout.
Better typing position for hands, and the most underrated bonus - you can put ANYTHING between two halves.
Pen and paper + notes for solving harder problems? no problem
coffee mug and/or plate with breakfast? no problem.
Cellphone? also not a problem.
Honestly for pure programming don't focus on typing speed, as bulk of the work happens in the mind.
It's worth being nuanced here.
I think nobody is spending hours typing out code without interruption. So, roughly (and imprecisely), if you spend 90% of your time thinking/reading, and 10% typing; then having half the typing speed would only make you 10% slower overall.
That said, even if we say that typing is a low-intensity part of programming, then it's still good to reduce the time you spend typing things out. (Though, surely there's a point of diminishing returns).
First one is obviously to throw it out.
The other is to grind through with it, paying careful attention to the “right way” of doing things, and never deviating from it. The painful period might not be that much longer, or it might be.
Up to you, to be totally honest.
I was user of MS Ergo keyboards ages ago, and such keyboard with qmk and ortho keys would be also great.
Anecdote: I bought preonic keyboard (small 5x12 rectangle) and struggle to use it, because I'm used to angled position of my split and it feels much.more natural for me now. Even given the fact that I don't have any issues with typical Thinkpad keyboard
Fromy experience it took about 2 months to adjust from Ms sculpt to zsa moonlander, and I didn't even changed layouts but stayed on qwerty. And yes, I had 2 keyboards attached for the adjustment period and was picking up old one if I needed to chat or type code/she'll commands
its a good enough at opening my shoulders when i work and i don't have the super-steep learning curve that ortho would add.
I went from a traditional keyboard, and switched layout.
Then on a typematrix, and it was annoying until it became second nature.
Then a x-bows, that I see as a nice evolution of the typematrix or Microsoft ergo. The change felt easier to adjust to.
Now using a full split keyboard, and it’s nice, having to only relearn some habits that use the thumb more now.
Back in the days, I tried an ergodox, but from it felt too big a change at the time. Now it feels just fine thanks to a gradual change.
Most people just don’t remember having to learn to type when young, nor that it was slow.
I think it’s worth it, and should be a default.
During the transition period, I recommend maybe dictation for example to handle short and fast messages with colleagues, and just some patience: rewiring your brain takes time.
My first non-standard keyboard was the Kinesis Advantage. When I first got it (to mitigate RSI), I went through a similar phase as you.
My solution was to stop everything else, get Mavis Bacon (any typing tutor really) and develop muscle memory. 1 week later, my productivity levels were manageable and I used the keyboard for regular work stuff. I continued Mavis Bacon for 2 more weeks. At the end of the 3rd week, I felt more productive than before. It's been 8 years now and I haven't turned back.
The switching to regular keyboards part might be a real issue if you are, like me, a creature of habit. I avoid it as much as possible.
Definitely on the hobby side, rather than objectively better :) However, what made a massive difference for me was the tenting. Perhaps this is something that may help?
It took me about four months to really get used to it, and even longer to type without looking at it (about six months).
I think I could have become proficient at it sooner, but I used a "cheat sheet" (printed my layout for reference) and got used to looking at the reference while typing, which is a habit that took a while to kick. Otherwise, most of the time was spent actually learning how to touch type, because on a regular keyboard I'd never bothered to learn it, and instead typed however I'd picked it up over the years. Besides, when you're using an ergonomic keyboard you should focus on optimizing the layout / shortcuts to your advantage. That usually takes a couple of months, between writing the necessary desktop utilities for usage / modifying your text editor and then using the same to figure out which configuration works the best for you. If it really gels well with you it becomes muscle memory pretty quick.
I went for Mistel Barocco. Its basically a normal layout but split down the middle.
Took almost zero time to get used to, as its basically a normal keyboard. The benefits of things like orthogonal layout seem questionable to me, but the split layout gives me an overall much more comfortable position at a desk.
Most people don’t want to have to relearn how to type in order to get more comfort. And switching to a linear layout and especially if you’re switching to Dvorak or Colemak you’ll be doing a lot of relearning.
I wish there were more options in the staggered split space though. Thankfully the mistel barocco is solid, but it is one of only a few options.
I ended up buying an ErgoDox EZ, set it up with the Dvorak keyboard layout. The first six months SUCKED. I was slow, and there were times I would have to switch back to QWERTY to handle urgent issues. But 5 years on, I’m a very fast typer again and I love the Dvorak layout.
I’ve since picked up some other keyboards (including the Planck EZ) which are sometimes harder to get into, but I wouldn’t change learning to type the way I did.
It can be done. It does suck in the beginning. You’ll get it with practice.
PS I do recommend switching your phone layout to Colemak, and using things like TypingClub or KeyBR to practice. Best of luck!
My best choice i think would be a better version of the Natural Ergonomics Microsoft Elite Keyboard. This thing with half height mechanical keys, qmk firmware, without the numpad and a split space key would be awesome. Maybe i am building one, thinking about it know
I would consider any keyboard with a large spacebar less than ideal, though.
I like my thumbs to be able to reach 2-3 keys each. That way, as well as space, my thumbs can be used for tab, escape, backspace, and return. -- I find that having these keys accessible to the thumbs (& not having to move my hands or reach with my pinky fingers) to hit these keys such an obvious win for efficiency.
Using home-row mods is another technique that allows for reducing reliance on the pinky fingers. By putting Alt, Gui, Ctrl, Shift underneath asdf (and ;lkj), these keys are accessible without having to move my hands.
As others said, maybe you're overestimating the amount of progress that you can make in a short time.
I'd estimate that a higher proportion of 'people who are enthusiastic about these small keyboards' are programmers (& thus need to be able to access all sorts of symbols) compared to the general computing population.
I tried the "split ergonomic" keyboards starting back in the 90s ... hated them (still do)
I also remember the "chording" "BAT keyboard" [0] - which always seemed incredibly gimmicky
I've never been a touch typist
Learned to "type" via the '2-3 finger, hunt-and-peck' method ... an especially prevalent method (observationally) amongst my generation (late Gen-X, early Gen-Y - who had no typists in the family)
Yet today (30+ years on from "learned to type"), I'm a 60+ wpm typist (several fingers, quasi-site-type)
Observationally ... I see most people who "learned to type to program" as more-or-less of the hunt-and-peck [extended] family
There are days I wish I'd learn to "type properly"
Then I realize "it doesn't bloddy matter" ... and go about my day :)
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[0] https://www.infogrip.com/bat-keyboard.html
A few years later I switched to a split keyboard which helped even more, especially with correct typing posture. I now use an ErgoDox EZ keyboard, with my own custom dvorak based layout, and am very happy over all. I can switch back to qwerty when necessary, but it takes a good 5 minutes for it to click in my head and then I can touch type, though not as fast because I am rusty at it.
My experience is that at first it was very frustrating. I went from ~80WPM on my macbook keyboard to ~20WPM on the ergodox. After a couple of weeks I was able to write text at a comfortable speed again, but any special character was painfully slow, as I had to consciously think where each character was, and often look it up on my layout. After about 3 months I was back up to 80WPM.
What took a long time as well, was configuring my layout to fit my programming needs, it took me about 6 months to come up with a layout that had everything I needed (you can see it here if you're curious[1]). My recommendation is to do it incrementally, trying with something general at first, then with use seeing what feels right and doesn't.
In the end it was a really good idea, a lot of back pain I had has gone away, and after long typing session I have way less pain in my wrists and hands.
[1]: https://configure.zsa.io/ergodox-ez/layouts/BOLz0/ybXMx/0
After switching to a split keyboard (Dygma Raise), I can't live without it! Typing on a traditional keyboard really really sucks now, my hands never hurt before switching to a split keyboard, but now they do hurt if I spent the whole day typing on a laptop keyboard. I also absolutely love the "layer" thing and the thumb buttons, so I don't have to move my hands out of position to type things like arrow keys and home/end/pageup. 10/10 would recommend split keyboards to everyone.