RSI-basher?

[Dick Davies]

* Ceri Davies <ceri at submonkey.net> [0806 00:06]:
> On Tue, Aug 10, 2004 at 04:22:44PM +0100, Paul Robinson wrote:
> > Hi all,
> > 
> > My hands/wrists are starting to give out. I'm spending 10+ hours a day at a
> > screen having done so now for maybe 15 years, and no matter how many breaks
> > I take, the ergonomic setup of my desk, whatever, I'm starting to feel the
> > onset of RSI creeping in.
> > 
> > So, I want to see what keyboards you guys are using. Is the painful switch 
> > to Dvorak worth it? Have you found a particularly decent keyboard that is 
> > incredibly comfortable?
> > 
> > I'm currently seriously considering:
> > 
> > http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5113536463&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
> > 
> > but $300 is a lot to blow on a keyboard. Even if it does have an emacs mode. 
> > Anybody used these and reccomend them, or condemn them?

These are absolutely brilliant. I would be typing this with my nose if it weren't for mine,
as it is I am still doing development work and sysadmin with only the odd ibuprofen to keep
me healthy.

Some of the best features are:

* universal support - no drivers needed, every OS I've used it with (*BSD, Linux, win*, mac os*)
sees it as a USB hub with mouse and keyboard attached.
* flash updates using a piece of Java - you also get a GUI then to configure all the perks
* it will 'talk' to you if you press all the corners for 2 seconds by spitting a (C commented)
  status string to stdout, then you press a key to change config so you don't even need to exit vi^W the other editor.
* mousing (and arrow keys) on the keyboard stops all that pain when you reach for the mouse
* it can switch layouts - I think Dvorak, Qwerty and Qwerak are in the latest ROM - *without* needing
  a layout update in the OS : so if you use Dvorak you set that in the keyboard and don't need to configure
  each OS - win2k in particular drives me potty since it has per-app keyboard maps, I avoid all that with
  this.
* zero force makes a big difference, the trick is remembering you don't need to thump it, which I'm finally
  getting the hang of.
* portable (comparing to hiring a secretary to type for you, although not quite as cute)
* sturdy - I've used mine pretty much daily for about 3 years and it's still good, once in a blue moon the
  connector needs a push in but thats no biggy.
* it fits over most laptop keyboards so you can use it anywhere - there's a macintouch version out soon 
  that replaces the standard iBook keyboard
* LOTS of features - when I have a spare 45 mins I try to learn a couple more, this months favourites are 
  crtl, alt,shift and capslocks without having to stretch your pinkies - in general if any keypress
  is uncomfortable, learn the chord  and thats that. The 'open bookmarks in IE' stuff is ok, but it's the
  shift key and ctrl that you use every day...

the only other feature I'd like is changable overlays - they do printable overlays, but paper wears out.
I got the QWERTY version, then switched to Dvorak and it would have been nice to see where an odd character is,
but if you're learning to touch type on it its simpler to download the printable overlays and stick them
on either side of the monitor.
Hunching over a keyboard to type a script will make RSI much worse, and I'm faster typing now than I ever was
before the RSI kicks in.

All in all they are really well made bits of kit, I agree they're a bit pricey but it's the best 300 dollars
you'll ever spend if it means you can keep working. And the 'wow, nice keyboard'/'what the f_ck is that, it looks
like a stealth fighter' geek points are a nice bonus...

any specific questions feel free to mail me.

Dick


-- 
People will accept your ideas much more readily if you tell them that
Benjamin Franklin said it first.
Rasputin :: Jack of All Trades - Master of Nuns
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