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Comment by dieselgate | Hacker News Reader

I received a Kinesis keyboard in the mail today - maybe not what OP had in mind but my hand issues were to the point of contemplating leaving computer work. Not sure how much it’ll change with the new keyboard - but my response is ergonomics.

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Try reading Sarno. Sounds nuts but it works.

Can you elaborate, what is Sarno?

https://aaroniba.net/how-i-cured-my-rsi-pain

My Kinesis Freestyle 2 Keyboard was life changing, my hand issues are non existent now.

I have an Advantage Pro. 100% this is one of the things I’d spend money on again.

I’ve had it for 10 years now. I’ve been looking at the 360 lately, but just because Im curious. The one I have still works great.

also get a vertical mouse, best $30 buck you'll ever spend

interesting, had considered it but hadn't heard much pros about it. does it work well with mac? use a magic mouse at the moment

Anker Vertical Ergonomic mouse, try it

I revert back to my Magic Mouse because I love the touch gestures, but most can be recreated with vertical mouse. I use the Logitech one, it's nice, but the 1 or 2 finger gestures on the Magic Mouse are too nice and can't be replicated on any other mouse, I always revert back to it. I actually rotate the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad and Logitech mx vertical, usually last a few weeks or a month before switching to another.

You hit the nail on the head with gestures. I’m keen to try a vertical mouse but it hasn’t been a pain point for me thus far.

I have a trackpad on the left and a trackball on the right. I’m right handed, so I use the mouse for most, but when I need a gesture, the trackpad is there.

Has been working great for years.

Trackball > vertical for me. I got a Kensington expert. The ball is almost as big as a billiards ball

I also am a trackball user.

Trackman wheel > m570 > Kensington expert.

I’ve tried vertical ones, but it’s just not the same.

Feel similarly about my Moonlander!

Try using a better keyboard layout, like Dvorak or Workman.

I've been using dvorak for over 20 years and never had pain.

You have a fair point, guess people just feel really strongly about Kinesis? i like how the Kinesis keyboard can toggle between QWERTY and Dvorak on the click of a button. I’m not opposed to a different layout but have a feeling that dev/vim keystrokes wouldn’t change a whole lot. Command/control/tab/backspace for example

I don’t think my hand pain is rsi nor is a common one. The pinky tendons on my palms are enflamed and developed a hard lump. Recently saw a doctor and they didn’t have an easy diagnosis and said to only worry about it if I am inhibited - so figured a new keyboard was a small price to pay for hand health. And there’s a 60 day return policy.

Which one did you choose?

advantage 2 quiet refurb. i'm happy so far and already know it's not getting returned

Any reason you didn't choose the 360 model?

The tough part with Kinesis is not being able to demo the products in person. Ironically I live in seattle which is where they are located but their sales team didn’t really help me out in this regard.

Price was one factor but I actually decided For a USB model since I switch between work stations somewhat often and pairing Bluetooth between different computers can sometimes be a pain. just figured the advantage2 was “the simplest thing that works”.

Edit: The appealing thing to me about the 360 is the vertical/tent adjustments it seems to have.

But having a single unit is nice as well

I have an Advantage 2 (an older model - not quiet and with 2MB v-drive) but it's damaged. I was not able to repair it unfortunately. I was super happy with it. I've ordered the 360 model (also without bluetooth) now and will receive it on Monday. The reason why I chose the 360 is usb-c, - otherwise I would have ordered the advantage 2 (quiet) as well as it seems easier to have one piece of hardware. Also I actually would have like to have a dedicated function key row - especially a dedicated escape key. Let's see.

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