Topic awaiting preservation: Kinesis Keyboard

Anyone ever use a Kinesis keyboard? (good linking for slime ) Recently I've been experiencing wrist pain while working at my computer. I'd like to nip that in the bud before I have a serious problem. I've heard that these keyboards make a huge difference. Anyone have any experience with them? Pretty interesting design.

Excellent link =)

I've never used those keyboards. It would drive me crazy to not be able to use either of my hands for either sides of the keyboard. I don't do this in normal typing, but sometimes my other hand is doing sometihng else (writing, using the mouse, turning a page in a textbook) and I want to type a few characters. I need the feeling of alignment.

One of my cousins had one a long time ago, and I only used it the once, but I honestly didn't care much for it... But then my typing skills leave a lot to be desired ... Relatively fast, and few errors, but ugly, haha.

As for being more comfortable/less strenuous on your wrists, I thought it was pretty nice... As long as you have "ideal" typing skills...

[edit: What was I just saying about few errors when typing?

[This message has been edited by Lord_Fukutoku (edited 04-15-2003).]

I had the same problem a couple of years ago, like a slight pain in my wrists and arms all day long... bought a microsoft natural keyboard, stopped the pain.
9 Months ago I started working, on a regular keyboard. 4 months later I had the pain again... took me a while to figure out what it was, then I bought another microsoft keyboard, for work. The pain very nearly went away... except for my right arm, sometimes. Turns out, it only happens when I use the mouse to much. I've been using a trackball at home for years (since '96, I believe), and don't use the mouse much at work, so its endurable.

so long,
Tyberius Prime

Ps: I thought about buying an evolution once, but the one I'd have wanted was way too expensive. You should also check out their refurbished keyboards, they are likly to be good as new, and a lot cheaper. Alas, there're no refurbished evolutions.

PPs: I also switched to Dvorak keyboard layout after the first pain started. That might have helped as well.

I stopped using the mouse almost completely. And when I use, I grab it as if it were evil, very afraid of it, because it gives me shocks in my hands (and I use both hands to use it). Yes, I'm in a bad shape with my hands, both. No more drag and drop. No more click click. No more games, no more fun, no more photoshop.
But, the keyboard I still can use, typing slowly and also receiving some shocks in the fingers, now and then, then I stop to resume later or grab two sticks and use them to type, one key at a time. And I was able to type so quickly... A real PITA.

they look pro. enough, but the design gives me the unhappy mood like ...I just don't like the design.

Hahaha! What great phraseology. I'm so going to start using it.

"This hot dog gives me the unhappy mood."

'I'm having an unhappy-mood day'

Yep. It's a keeper!

I'd agree with Slime.

I type about 96wpm and the keyboards are nice to use, but ultimately they're not as versatile since by now I've learned to type a lot with one hand while using the mouse and while moving your hands away from the keyboard and back a standard keyboard is much easier to "home" in on.

As far as ergonomics, they're pretty comfortable if a bit awkward to get used to at first. One of the worst things about them is that you can't type at an angle, such as when you're standing up or when the keyboard isn't exactly in front of you. When you move around your desk as much as I do, it's nice to be able to type easily from a variety of positions. Then again, I have a tendency to put my feet on a table, sit back, and type with the keyboard on my lap. It's the ultimate in comfort and no wrist strain either.

What it boils down to is what you want. If it's pure ergonomics, then go for the Kinesis keyboard since I hear they do minimize wrist strain. Just remember that you have to be sitting in the correct position to take advantage of this. Although, if you're a hunt-and-peck typist I wouldn't recommend it since you've just added an extra factor in looking for the right key.