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Comment by moonboots | Hacker News Reader

I'm hoping the split spacebar that Microsoft introduced[1] starts catching on with mechanical keyboard makers. The left side of the spacebar currently wastes valuable real estate. Putting another backspace key would move the most typed key into easy reach instead of forcing the right pinky to leap on every error.

On the topic of keyboard ergonomics, I also believe that all keyboards should be tenkeyless. It's another case of prioritizing an infrequent action (typing on the numpad) over a frequent action (moving the right hand to the mouse). Users who need a numpad can always get a standalone usb unit.

[1] http://reviews.cnet.com/keyboards/microsoft-sculpt-comfort-k...

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Definitely. I'd just be happy if you could get a mechanical keyboard that uses the layout that MS uses for its ergonomic keyboards, with the split keys and the height gently swelling in the center where the split is. (Look at the Natural Keyboard 4000 to see what I'm talking about: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/en-us/p/natural-ergonomic-...)

Once you get used to typing on a keyboard that uses this layout, going back to a standard flat and un-split layout feels slow and painful. I love mechanical switches, but not enough to give up the much better layout of the Natural keyboards to get them.

The action on the Natural 4000 is so stiff that I know several people who experienced severe bouts of RSI within hours to days of getting one.

Check out Kinesis: great layout, and great switches. One or the other just isn't enough for many.

The Natural 4000 is a bit hit or miss. I've had 3; two were excellent, but one is merely acceptable. The action of the keys isn't as smooth, and the space bar initially required a slightly firmer press. The space bar seems to have loosened up over time, though, and I got used to the key feel quicker than I was expecting - but typos ARE much more frequent on that keyboard.

The inconsistency is a shame, because as a keyboard I really rate it. Good shape, comfy palm rests, standard layout, unintrusive media keys, and the stupid (but seemingly inevitable) F-Lock feature starts out disabled.

The action is not quite as nice as the previous Natural Pro model, but it's a lot quieter...

Split spacebars existed long before this model. The Kinesis Freestyle ( http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/freestyle.htm ) had them since at most 2008.

EDIT: I may have misinterpreted you; the split spacebar I'm talking about is split between the two halves of the keyboard and can move completely independently of the other half.

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