It takes about a week to learn to type on it, as the columnar layout is very different, and I had to learn to retype some characters (like x, c, and v). It's easy to switch back and forth between typical keyboards and the kinesis, so nothing's lost in the learning.
Getting my fingers onto the home row of a regular keyboard layout is incredibly uncomfortable now. Such a tiny oddly shaped space.
I would recommend the Cherry MX Brown switches: they require less effort to push down than other switches, but still offer some tactile feedback when they're activated. If you're comfortable relying on muscle memory instead of tactile feedback, then the red switches will be a real joy to use. Blues are nice, but in your typical office situation they are almost universally reviled.
One advantage of going for reds - there are a number of game peripheral manufacturers which offer keyboards based on the Cherry MX Red.
Drop the extra cash and order a key sampler set e.g. http://www.amazon.com/Max-Keyboard-Keycap-Cherry-Sampler/dp/...
Assemble and set the sampler next to your current keyboard. Play around with it for a while. It makes a great stress-ball-like "thinking" activity! Swap the keys around, so you get a semi-blind test.
Research the switch activation points and feel them when you use that switch type. F.ex. Browns activate halfway down, but you won't know that using unconnected keys.
Figure out which switch feels the best to you. Research keyboards that provide that switch type as an option.
Purchase, making sure to get the correct SKU. Websites and resellers can be terrible about listing an SKU for one color of switch, then using the flavor text that specifies another color.
The only bad thing about having a mechanical keyboard for me is being on the road and not having it with me. ;)
For those wanting real-time guidance, point your IRC client to the FreeNode network (irc.freenode.net) or go to their webchat here:
...and pop in to the #geekhack channel.
These expert sites and chat rooms can be a great help because there are a lot of potentially important details about key switches, layouts, firmware variations, key cap styles / materials and other characteristics that you may want more information prior to making a purchase.
I have grievous RSI issues. They mostly evaporated by going to chicklet boards. Your fingers go through a very minor range of motion with them. Notice how some of the replies caution you to not press the keys the whole way? Same thing.
Now any kind of full key keyboard feels sludgey and requiring of an inordinate amount of work.
I am less accurate (and thus less fast) on a chicklet board because of the reduced tactile feedback of where I am on the keys, but it is so worth it to be able to type all day and not be crippled at the end of it. I'm a very good touch typist and don't 'enjoy' the chicklet experience, but it really makes a huge difference in the ergonomics. YMMV.
I don't have experience with other mechanical keyboards, so i would appreciate if someone can compare it to other mechanical keyboards.
Of course, the fact that its on-board ARM processor can be hacked to run Snake on the backlight LEDs has no impact on my choice (see http://spritesmods.com/?art=rapidisnake). It's fun to contemplate the complexity of something as "simple" as a keyboard when things like these become possible.
Many years ago a classic Model M [1] landed on my desk and was great for a few weeks until I found it broken and used as a doorstop. Hmm.. No-one saw anything.
Spent the next few years on whatever run-of-the-mill logitech/microsoft keyboard came by way. Then I discovered Das Keyboard [2] which was great! It was fully worn in after many heavy metal code sessions (headphones on, mid-day in a room full of colleagues). Maybe I'm a bit overly aggressive with my typing, as soon after I had reluctantly switched to using Das Keyboard "Silent" Model. Another great keyboard, but still not soo silent.
To tell the same story twice - it just didn't work out. My daily typer at the office is now the Matias Quiet Pro [3]. It gets the job done at a reasonable decibel level - or so I think. Moral of the story (if there were any) - respect those who work around you. Any keyboard will do the trick. I should also be more gentle with this thing.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard [2] http://www.daskeyboard.com/products/ [3] http://matias.ca/quietpro/pc/
[1] http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/cherry-mx-rubber-o-ri...
To be honest, I don't notice much of a difference in strain between the two and would even suggest that simply having two types may be beneficial. I do enjoy using my mechanical keyboard more. It certainly feels faster and you get a bit of a high when really pounding out lines of code, just because of the sound, but I don't know that its fast enough to warrant the price difference.
So in my limited experience, just making sure you're load-balancing the stress you put on your hands every day makes a big difference. Not sure if this will hold true for a mechanical keyboard vs a regular keyboard, as it may not be enough of a difference. But it might.
I have a Das Keyboard (unlabeled, unfortunately) at home and a Logitech G710+ at work. The Logitech is technically a gaming keyboard or something, so it has a weird set of six mappable function keys on the left edge, which threw me off for a while, and I also found the CapsLock key far too easy to hit, so I just took the keycap off. The Das Keyboard is pretty vanilla, although I do wish I had gotten the one with labeled keycaps, but Amazon was out of stock at the time.
Overall, I prefer mechanical keyboards, but I think that is primarily because the build quality on them is just higher than your typical trash. The mechanical switches are much less mushy than the rubber dome style, although they can collect dust and hair more than more sealed-in types. The biggest thing is that the keyboard doesn't have some bizarre layout, and just adheres to the bog-standard IBM PC keyboard pattern, so that I can switch between keyboards without cursing at the keys that aren't where I expect them to be.
To me, a mechanical keyboard has been brilliant. I bought a Razer Blackwidow a few years ago, and haven't looked back. It's much easier to type quickly on than a non-mechanical, because every sensation of it is so defined and fast. As a programmer, that means the connection between my brain and my computer feels more natural.
However, I know programmers that can't stand the increased sound and don't need or want the speed.
If you can afford to buy a keyboard on a whim, I would say "try it and see". The only way to know if it is for you is by trying one for a while and weighing the benefits against the negatives. Even if you don't particularly like it over a regular rubber dome or ergonomic keyboard, at least you'll have a premium keyboard that will last you a long time and will be better constructed than most.
That said. I am not an RSI expert, and can only say anecdotally what I have personally come to like.
I know at least a couple of developers who swear by the Kenisis Advantage - http://www.amazon.com/Kinesis-KB500USB-BLK-Advantage-Contour.... It's a bit pricey, but is apparently a true ergonomic option.
For a straight up nice mechanical with o-rings already installed, the Code Keyboard from WASD is a nice option - see http://codekeyboards.com/.
Not thrilled with the trackpoint, the sensitivity is too low for a modern hi-res display. If I turn the OS-level mouse speed way up, the trackpoint works OK but the other mouse moves way too fast. I'd love one of the modern-built clicky keyboards with the built-in trackpoint, but I can't find them. Thinking about getting a gaming mouse that can have its DPI turned way down.
Or I could learn vim or emacs and forget about the mouse entirely...
As for the keyboards themselves, I own 3 with different kinds of switches (it's kind of a sickness). One cool thing about many mechanical keyboards is that you can replace the keys, and there are a ton of different options to choose from.
I would recommend Cherry MX Brown as a good starting point (since they are non-clicky, and not too stiff). With that said, they are common enough that you should be able to find some to play with before you buy.
I stick with the basic non-mechanical cheap-o keyboards with what I call the "classic" layout- no weird shapes, no playing around with the "Insert", "PageDn", "PageUp", etc locations. This way, when I move to another keyboard or go to help one of the vast majority of people who use a "classic" keyboard, I'm not clumsily typing like it's my first day using a computer.
My family had an IBM PS/1 with a Model M variant that was clacky as hell and honestly the feel wasn't something I'd want in a keyboard. I do recall really liking the feel of the Apple Extended keyboard.
I've tried the Kinesis Advantage a year ago. But it took a long time to adjust, especially the arrow keys and numeric keypad. And after I adjusted, I had trouble using my home computer keyboard.
Perhaps the best recommendation I can give is simple: I'd never go back if I could avoid going back.
They can also be very pricey. I would ask around your colleagues to see if anyone has one you can borrow for a little bit.
That said, if you can afford the expense I personally think it is silly to skimp a little bit of money on your main input device for your main career (assuming) tool. My order of importance of spending on machines is SSD, Keyboard, RAM, Display, everything else.
I was experiencing finger and wrist pain from typing and switched to a mechanical keyboard, which seems to have stopped the pain. Note that I also went to a tenkeyless layout in order to prevent a lot of motion when I move my right hand to use the mouse.
You'll want to do some research into switches, as not all mechanical keyboards are alike. The most popular variants are probably Cherry MX blues and browns. I prefer the clicky feel of the blues, but they are really loud.
Not so fast; your story sounds just like mine, but in reverse. I used a MS Natural keyboard for a couple of years, and over that time I developed significant wrist pain. I tried a lot of things to alleviate the pain, but in the end I had a conversation with someone who suggested buying a narrower keyboard and keeping my mouse very close to the edge (thus avoiding stretching my wrist too far for mouse use).
I ended up buying a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard with Cherry Browns[0] and losing the wrist pain. [0] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007VDKLLM/ref=oh_aui_searc...
The MSNE 4000 is the result of Microsoft's dogfooding more than a consumer facing product development cycle and it shows. If the marketing folks were running the show it would have wireless, an asymmetric layout, and a Google with Bing key.
http://www.reddit.com/r/keyboards
e.g. Keypress force.
Red (45 centiNewtons, 60 cN) Brown (45 cN, 60cN, tactile) Blue (50 cN, 65 cN, click/tactile) Black (60 cN, 80 cN) Clear (65 cN, ?) Green (80 cN, 105 cN, tactile)
Most people seem to like Blue and Brown. Blue sounds clicky.
http://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalkeyboards
There is science in there also.
With rubberdome or ergonomic keyboards I always had problems with finger strain. The tactile feel of the keyboard allows you to use both short and long actions on the keys so that you don't get that strain.
However, they make a lot of noise and now I can't use it at work. ;(
http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/an-introduc...
I've used one for years and it definitely feels faster and more comfortable, but I honestly can't tell how much of that is due to the placebo effect.
If you look up 'sculpt for business' ($60) you can get it without a gross mouse bundled in.
Our favorite is Poker II.
==Mouse== First, your mouse is your worst enemy. The buttons on your mouse are crappy and way too stiff. The constant small motion of clicking, clicking, clicking from the exact same position just sets you up for a fast increase in pain when you go back to your keyboard. I've tried mousing left and right handed to spread the pain. You can hook up two mice at the same time with no change to functionality and you get used to using your other hand fairly quickly. Still not much good though! I've tried trackballs, sideways ergonomic mice, and everything else you can think of. They all suffer from the crappy stiff minimal travel buttons. The thing that works best for me is a touchpad ... and learning to use a light tap! My favorite stand alone is the Logitech Wireless T650 (http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/touchpad-t650). Tracks well, handles very light taps, and is nice and big for a touchpad. Next is the Adesso Smart Cat 410 (http://www.adesso.com/products/product-detail-97.html). It's wired and not as big, but it has edges and I like the ability to bump up along the right edge and scroll with one finger rather than the Logitech two finger scroll. It gets the scroll right a bit more consistently. Either of these touchpad allow me to use a keyboard longer.
==Keyboards and Switches== The Cherry switches are ALL too stiff. The reds and browns are best with the reds having an activation force of 45 cN. The browns are smoother but have a 55 cN activation force. And none of them bottom out nicely for me. You can use little o-rings to help a bit. The best way to try all the Cherry switches is with this little device here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N6DXTW4. But I couldn't come up with any keyboard/configuration that really helped me. I've got a good dozen high end mechanical keyboards sitting in a closet. And I found little difference between brands, keyboard layouts, "ergonomic keyboards", etc.
Topre makes what might be a good solution in that they make keyboards with variable key weights depending on key positions. Their boards are about $250 but I've not tried one as their home keys still seem too great a force for me at this point.
For me, my go to keyboard is the Adesso SlimTouch 4400 series (http://www.adesso.com/products/product-detail-82.html). It comes in both USB and wireless versions. The keys are cheapish membrane switches and are still too stiff, but the travel and bottoming out are very good. Unfortunately, it's a bit hit or miss as any particular keyboard might be stiffer than one in another batch. Not sure why though. It also has a built in reasonable quality touchpad for your right hand. There are some new Adessos that I've not tried but look interesting. For example http://www.adesso.com/products/product-detail-149.html. I probably should give it a go.
The best keyboard I've tried is the Razor Deathstalker Ultimate (http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-keyboards-keypads/razer-deat...). The key travel and bottoming out are excellent. The activation force is still too high though. However, this is a silly expensive keyboard because of the built in touchpad/display which, for all the hype and engineering effort they put into it, is a crap touchpad. The sheer number of times a tap isn't turned into a touch or turned into a double tap makes this thing a joke. All the time and effort razer must have spent making the little display do everything imaginable EXCEPT making it work as a touchpad. WTF razer!
Finally, it's worth it to look in to Dragon for voice to text. It's worthless for programming but can help take joint burden away for long text only things. Speaking of which ... I'll stop here.
Mechanical keyboards are more enjoyable to type on for one so that's something to consider on it's own. In terms of your pinky getting sore after long usage it might be less likely to occur with a mechanical keyboard because most mechanical keyboard switches don't require you to press as hard to register a keystroke compared to a non-mechanical/rubber-dome keyboard like the one you have.
Most mechanical keyboards today use Cherry MX switches, there are a variety of different Cherry MX switches to choose from. Some are louder than others and have a different tactile feedback. A good reference to get an idea of what I mean can be found at this link here: http://www.mechanicalkeyboards.com/mechanical_switches.php
It's a bit difficult to know which Cherry MX switch is right for you right away, you can narrow it down to some degree beforehand but it's difficult to have much certainty of which you'll like best until you try them. You can visit your local computer store (Frys, or if you're in Canada than Canada Computers) and try some out there. Otherwise you can order a switch tester: http://www.cmstore.eu/cm-storm/keyboards/mechanical-key-swit... and decide from there, Coolermaster will also give you a discount on your mechanical keyboard if you buy one of their mechanical keyboards from them after purchasing one.
One of the most popular, entry-level, mechanical keyboards is the Coolermaster Quick Fire Rapid and the Quick Fire XT. It's a safe purchase and good value.
There are a bunch of other factors to consider with mechanical keyboards as well than would take forever to get into here. Some of those factors would be keyboard layout, the standard layout is what you'll see on the Quick Fire Rapid/XT (i.e the backspace/shift/enter keys are the standard sizing/spacing).
Another consideration is what type of keycaps you want on your keyboard. You can buy aftermarket keycpas for premium that are usually better than the ones that come with you keyboard, and with mechanical keyboards you can easily replace your keycaps. This is where keyboard layout, as mentioned earlier, is important because if you want to replace the keycaps at some point it will be difficult to find a full set of them for a keyboard with a non-standard keyboard layout.
In terms of ergonomic mechanical keyboards some exist but they aren't that prevalent. I would recommend getting a keyboard with a standard layout and progressing from there if necessary.
If you want to learn more check out the Wiki on reddit for the mechanicalkeyboard sub: http://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/wiki/index
and if you have any questions you can ask them there are well, there is a thread stickied at the top for people to ask questions.
As another user mentionned deskthority and geekhack are good resources also, although they have more of an established community and although helpful are less eager to walk newcomers through the buyer process. They would prefer to answer more specific questions with regards to mechanical keyboards, as opposed to the 'what keyboard should I buy if I should even get one in the first place' type of questions.