This is admittedly a lazy post where I show that I haven’t done much research.

Whenever I start searching around online, I find tons of smaller companies selling ergo keyboards or parts for keyboards, but they are always very pricey and don’t match the layout I want. I quickly give up since it can take long to search store-by-store online.

The keyboard of my dreams has:

  1. All (104) the keys. This means arrow keys and as numpad. I like the layout of my current keyboard (below). I guess this is called a “full keyboard”?
  2. Mechanical and with plenty of clackedy clack in the keys.
  3. Corded with USB (I still miss PS/2 :))
  4. Is curved, similar to this one.
  5. Has the “Y” key on the left side of the gap! This is my biggest sticking point. I have realized that I type the “Y” key with my left hand 99% of the time and I don’t want to change.
  6. I am also willing to investigate split design keyboards if the “Y” is on the left and a numpad can exist separately which I could put to the right of my mouse. But still I’d prefer that to be attached.
  7. I don’t care about RGB or lights or much else. Take it or leave it.

For reference, this is my current keyboard and I actually quite love it. I just wish it was curved.

  • TechnoCat
    4•3 days ago

    Some of the splits like the zsa moonlander could handle your ‘y’ requirement, but wouldn’t match the rest. With layers you can do a lot of what you’re asking for though.

    • @spacemanspiffyOPEnglish
      1•3 days ago

      Thank you. I’m not exactly interested in layers either but I will check this brand out.

      • 𝕽𝖚𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖍
        4•3 days ago

        Do. The ErgoDox (also from ZSA) comes pretty close, and I’d programmable with their web app. All you need to do is reprogram it to swap the “Y” key, and pop off the key caps and swap those.

        Or, do you mean keys in the same order, but only the “Y” key is moved to the other half? Like, next to the “T”? If so, you’re in luck, in a way, because the ErgoDox(en) come with an extra column of keys on the inside; you could program the big key next to the “T” to be “Y”. Then do whatever you want with the spare “Y” key. I think ZSA sends you a couple of extra key caps with the keyboard, so if you really wanted to, you could swap the “Y” out with a blank.

        You can choose your switches when you order, IIRC. Mine was no buckling spring, but it clicked just fine.