weird keyboards

[DiTBho]

it's a bigkeys LX made by Keytools. It looks cool but also weird.

See the position of CTRL, it's very far from other keys, and note that "{", "}", "[", "]" are missing, as well as other keys.

I think you can't use this keyboard to write C code. But who knows? I might be wrong.
I'm tempted to buy one and try if I can write something somehow 

[Ian.M]

 You'd have to use trigraphs. 
GCC hint: -trigraphs -Wno-trigraphs 

[SiliconWizard]

http://typematrix.com/2030/features.php

Those have been around for a long time now and apparently they still sell, so must not be too bad. Never tried one though.

[golden_labels]

See the size of the keys to get some idea about their purpose. Each of them has a square inch keycap. They are not meant for your everyday use and good luck typing anything efficiently on that keyboard! The goal is different: industries where one works in gloves, workers routinely type things without re-adjusting their strength and similar.

But I know people, who use keyboards with limited keys number, like Chicory. The key, no pun intended, is having multiple levels in the layout.

[DiTBho]

Those have been around for a long time now and apparently they still sell, so must not be too bad. Never tried one though.

WOW, the typematrix-2030/Dvorak Key one looks super-interesting because it claims 50% less finger motion, which is always a good thing!

120 euro with a case + S/H + ... umn, not exactly cheap, but not expensive 

[DiTBho]

The goal is different: industries where one works in gloves, workers routinely type things without re-adjusting their strength and similar.

Yup, I wondered what is the purpose, and I am still a bit perplex because Cherry makes some QWERTY keyboards with normal sized keys used in the medical field.

My dentist's one is covered with a thin layer of latex, and he types on the keyboard with surgical gloves (the green ones), while his assistance types with medical gloves (the blue ones).

They both type

• numbers, two numbers(1) to check the teeth already operated in your mouth
• letters, up to 40 characters per field (with automatic search, like on smartphones) to search for medicines or notes on your tolerance on certain medicines
• arrow, esc, space, and enter

I grabbed his vocabulary and learned how his tooth numbering, so I can directly ask specific questions in less time.

But I know people, who use keyboards with limited keys number, like Chicory. The key, no pun intended, is having multiple levels in the layout.

I don't understand how people use 40% keyboards like Chicory 

There is a "meta" key but no label telling which key can be use to enter "{": how can you enter it ?

[james_s]

I've seen keyboards like that before, they're meant for disabled people that have poor vision and/or poor coordination that makes it difficult for them to use a standard keyboard.

[tycz]

Those have been around for a long time now and apparently they still sell, so must not be too bad. Never tried one though.

WOW, the typematrix-2030/Dvorak Key one looks super-interesting because it claims 50% less finger motion, which is always a good thing!

120 euro with a case + S/H + ... umn, not exactly cheap, but not expensive 

I have this keyboard and like it a lot. It's very comfortable to type on, reasonably small, and isn't missing any important keys. I'm on my second one now. The first lasted four years of daily use before some keys became a bit unreliable.

[SiliconWizard]

Those have been around for a long time now and apparently they still sell, so must not be too bad. Never tried one though.

WOW, the typematrix-2030/Dvorak Key one looks super-interesting because it claims 50% less finger motion, which is always a good thing!

120 euro with a case + S/H + ... umn, not exactly cheap, but not expensive 

Yes, those keyboards are in the "ergonomic" category. Have never tried a matrix type of keyboard like this - while std keyboards are usually staggered - but it's not the only vendor making that kind of key arrangement, and apparently that's much more comfortable. The size itself of the keyboards is made to minimize hands/fingers movement.

But no, they are definitely not made for specific industries. The fact they have Dvorak and Bépo versions apart from Qwerty (and no other arrangement except via rubber covers) shows that they definitely target people looking for ergonomic solutions.

I was willing to try, but the main showstopper to me is that it proably requires some significant training to be used efficiently, and then you'll become crap on a standard keyboard, which are just everywhere. So my issue is, I don't want to get back to being a complete beginner with keyboards as if I was a child if I'm exposed to a normal one... (That point may be mitigated by regularly practising on both kinds, but I dunno if it's worth it.)

[golden_labels]

There is a "meta" key but no label telling which key can be use to enter "{": how can you enter it ?

With 4 levels you have 112 characters. Basic English alphabet and Arabic numersals take 62, so you have 50 keys to assing to whatever you need. Then there are compose sequences for less commonly used or longer stuff.

[DiTBho]

I was willing to try, but the main showstopper to me is

when Ania wants to try something, there is nothing stopping her, I showed the link on Whatsup, after only 5 minutes she wrote me back "bought it! Will arrive for September" 

[DiTBho]

Found some on Amazon ... Wow, easy buy this way, but they only have qwerty

[tszaboo]

These and the 40% keyboards are called otholinear keyboards. There is a big DIY-er cmmunity making these, and small manufacturers make high end boards with improved cherry switches. The idea is that you place your 8 fingers on the middle row, and your hands don't have to travel while typing. Supposed to reduce carpal tunnel.
I also have no idea how to use one effectively.

[DiTBho]

Supposed to reduce carpal tunnel.
I also have no idea how to use one effectively.

Another big plus, they are flat, so you don't have to twist your wrist 

[SiliconWizard]

You don't need those to have a "flat" keyboard. Many mechanical keyboards can lay almost flat and they are much more comfortable to type on this way. Just please don't use the back "feet"' that tilt the back of keyboard upwards, it's a terribly idiotic idea that was just mimicking mechanical typewriters. Back then people were used to that and probably needed this tilt not to feel too awkward, but nowadays it makes absolutely no sense ergonomically and I bet none of us has any significant experience with a typewriter enough to have influenced their typing habits anyway. Just my 2 cents.

[Rockwells]

My favorite, and I feel most productive keyboard is my OmniKey/102 keyboard, made in 1989. I actually own several of these so if one dies I’ll have a replacement, I’m on my second in those 28 years.