Ergonomic keyboards?

Sedrik · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 8:42 am Post subject: Ergonomic keyboards?

What ever happended to these? did they all die? I as a programmer (still in education) find them absolutley lovley as my recent switch to linux I find myself typing even more than before (Yay!) and was woundering what keyboard is the best ergonomic one with good (would love full) support by gentoo?

The one I have my eyes on right now is Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 (shrugs, what a name ^^). A review http://www.everythingusb.com/microsoft_natural_ergonomic_keyboard_4000.html. This board seems to have alot of extra functions and it would be nice to be able to use them all if one was purchased.

Anyway, is there other recomendations or suggestions? Know support and issues?
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chrismortimore · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 9:41 am Post subject:

I programme on a standard £2.99 keyboard from dabs.com and find it much more comfortable than the ergonomic keyboards I've used in the past. I'm not sure if it is because it's a great keyboard, or because I knew it cost next to nothing though... So I highly recommend it

Sadly, it's unbranded, so can't recommend it further than telling you they exist in the world..

Useful, ain't I?
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Sedrik · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 9:45 am Post subject:

pactoo · Guru Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 553

I do use a MS natural keyboard and I love it, it's already my second. I just wish, all the extra function keys would work (my first try with lineak was a disaster and modifying xmodmap is to hardcore for me).

Sedrik · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:44 am Post subject:

pactoo · Guru Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 553

Unfortunately not. Not unfortunately not, because the 4000 is so much better, I do not know this one, even though it looks pretty cool, rahter unfortunately not as another chance for a xmodmap has gone past...

No, I am using the natural multimedia keyboard: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=019
The very first generation of the natural keyboards still had the best layout, the secong generation sucked, I skiped those one and these are ok again. The need to activate the function keys is a bit annoying, but I am sure, that can be automated (similar to numlock)

Sedrik · Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:17 pm Post subject:

truc · Advocate Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 3199

hi, I'd like to know if you eventually bought this keyboard ( Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 )

I'm also looking for an ergonomic keyboard, and I have to agree this one caught my eyes, it has a lot of extra key, and I like that.

I'm also looking for a quiet keyboard, is this a quiet keyboard? if it's not, does somebody know some quiet keyboard (and also ergonomic if possible) ?

I think I read there was some problems with usb keyboard, and extra keys? Are there still problem? If I use the USB->PS2 adapter, would I still have difficulties to make extra keys working ?

thanks:)

Sedrik · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:54 am Post subject:

I haven't bought it yet, so don't know if it is quiet or not.

There is no real problem with usb keyboards, you will probably have to do the extra buttons configurations by yourself but thats about it.
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truc · Advocate Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 3199

Sedrik · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 9:18 am Post subject:

truc · Advocate Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 3199

clintpatty · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:07 pm Post subject:

Does anyone know about Maltron support?

Houdini · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:14 pm Post subject:

I use a Kinesis Advantage Pro at work, and I think that it qualifies as an ergo keyboard

Don't upgrade to one without being sure. It's expensive ($300) and will take you a while to regain your typing speed. Might be time to switch to Devorak as well

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purplerhino · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 2:46 am Post subject:

the ergo 4000 is very quiet and the downward wrist thing is very comfortable... however i'm not having as much luck with the extra keys as i have had in the past, that's how i found this thread, but you guys were no help with that! :wink:

Dammital · Apprentice Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 189

purplerhino · Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 3:18 am Post subject:

wow that price is outrageous. my ergo 4000 was $40 after rebate

not a big fan of giving microsoft money, but dang it they seem to be the only ones putting any thought into keyboards. logitech, great mouses, so so keyboards.

Sedrik · Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:10 am Post subject:

purplerhino · Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:41 pm Post subject:

thanks, i'll check it out, i haven't put much effort into it yet honestly, but the lesson to learn here is to USE THE WIKI. I always forget that. Wiki good

truc · Advocate Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 3199

hi again:) I decided to buy the "Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000" today, and have to say it's really confortable, I get alkmost used to the 'ergonomic' style in about an hour.

Now, I'm playing with the extra keys..

'launchkeys' 1,2,3,4 and 5 don't send any event, (nothing 'in' xev nor dmesg), same for the favorite button and zoom scroll, but, I'm not using evdev yet. And from the wiki, it looks like I can hope to make theses keys working.

Will try later..

PS: an other good point is that it's not too much noisy, at least far less than my previous keyboard..[/i]
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Sedrik · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:37 am Post subject:

So you can recommend it?

I think I will hold in for a while since I bhought a Nintendo DS earlier this week, much money gone there ^^
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truc · Advocate Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 3199

I'd recommend it!

at this time there is some Multimedia keys that still don't work, I find patches for the to make them working, I tried some of them, but after patching the kernel I can't 'make' it :/

heres are soe of the patches I found :
http://www.mail-archive.com/linux-usb-devel@lists.sourceforge.net/msg45923.html

http://readlist.com/lists/vger.kernel.org/linux-kernel/35/175747.html

http://lwn.net/Articles/194015/

http://lkml.org/lkml/2006/3/1/361

http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/engine?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=16923;list=linux

I will try again later.

Right now I have already more multimedia keys working than I used to ,

working
start
search
mail
prev/next
mute
volume up/down
play/pause
calculator

not working yet
Launch 1,2,3,4,5
favorite
Zoom scroll
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Sedrik · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 9:21 pm Post subject:

ok =)

The most important keys for me are the multimedia keys, I seldom use any others. But I will keep thinking about buying it =)
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purplerhino · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:04 pm Post subject:

geniux · Veteran Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 1400 Location: /home