This page is a review of the “Truly Ergonomic Computer keyboard” (TECK).
This one is from http://www.trulyergonomic.com/. It comes with a palm rest that can be detached.
This is a superb keyboard. It has the best layout design, fixing all the traditional PC keyboard's problems. Here's a summary of advantages:
For detail about traditional PC keyboard problems, see: Keyboard Hardware Design Flaws.
One extra point for this keyboard is that it kept the {F1, F2, …} keys, and in 3 separate groups. Many other exotic ergonomic keyboard got this wrong. ⁖ the Microsoft Ergonomic 4000 had F keys as 2 continuous groups, so you have F1 to F5 adjacent, and F6 to F12 adjacent. If you want to press any of F9 or F10, now it's harder by touch. The Kinesis made it worse by replacing them with tiny rubber buttons. 〔☛ Computer Keyboard: Increase Productivity Using Function Keys〕
This keyboard is also quality build. It uses “Cherry MX Brown” mechanical key-switch for the best tactile feel. 〔☛ Key Switch Mechanisms Guide〕
The keyboard has 6-key rollover. 〔☛ Keyboard Ghosting ＆ N-key Rollover〕
Note that sizes from photos can be deceiving. TECK is very compact, because it doesn't have the number pad. (TECK has a Num Lock key that turns the right hand side keys into a number pad. Similarly for the Kinesis)
The design of this one seems one of the best. It fixes all the conventional PC keyboard flaws, yet remains in one simple elegant piece. It isn't so huge as the Microsoft Ergonomic 4000, which is also cheaply built for the mass market. TECK also isn't so radical as the Kinesis Contoured Keyboard. The Kinesis will take a while to get used to, and is a bit inconvenient for casual use because of the bowl shaped key surface.
I've been using this keyboard since January 2013. It's 4 months now. Very happy with it. I'm a heavy emacs users. I've done major emacs keybinding remap for it. See: Emacs Keybinding, Keyboard, Articles Index.
It takes about one month to adopt the matrix-style none-jagged keys. The first 2 weeks is particularly painful, especially for the left-hand. Pressing 3 results 2, because i had a habit to move more to the left. Similarly, pressing b results in pressing Delete in the center, because my finger want to move more to the right. Though, for right-hand, there isn't much problem. (am using QWERTY notation here to indicate key position, but i'm actually using Dvorak Keyboard Layout)
It takes about 2 months to get fluent. Changing muscle memory is very frustrating, so you'll have to be patient.
also, note that on TECK, the ⇧ Shift is at normal PC's Caps Lock position. Let's look at this diagram:
q w e r ♥ a s d f ♦ z x c v
The key position ♥ is actually the easier-to-type position. That's why they put the ⇧ Shift there. However, for programers, we need to use Ctrl often as well, even more frequent than ⇧ Shift for emacs users. So, you might put Ctrl at the ♥ location, and ⇧ Shift is on ♦. This way, Shift is at the same position as standard PC keyboard, and one less problem when typing on someone else's keyboard. (for ErgoEmacs Keybinding users, you might put Alt at the ♥ position.)
you can go to their site to get a firmware that swaps the ⇧ Shift and Ctrl.
note that TECK has 2 Space keys. Some people use right-hand for space, some use left. Some people actually use both (that's me).
but, being a efficiency nerd, i decided having 2 Space keys is a waste. I want just one Space, so that the other key can be used for some other purpose. I used to use mostly my left hand for space, but now i use right.
On the back of the TECK, there's a dip-switch that lets you change the left space key to ▤ Menu key. Normally, the ▤ Menu key is useless, so what use is that? The trick is then to use some other tool to change the Menu key to either Alt or something else.
for me, the ▤ Menu key is actually the most useful. I use it as the first key for a key sequence, to invoke emacs's hundreds of commands. See: The Roadmap to Completely Replace Emacs's Key System, Part 2.
I've heard from 2 online acquaintances that they have key repeating issue. That is, some key will repeat 2 or 3 times. After discussion and searching the web, this seems to be a common problem of mechanical keyboards, called key-bouncing, and it may need some time to “break-in”.
If you have key-repeat problem, i recommend that you try hitting the key a lot for 2 weeks. If still problem, return it.
Some intro on tools you might find useful.
beware of sponsored reviews.
〔Truly Ergonomic Keyboard By Nicholas Rinard Keene's Little Bit. @ nicholas.rinard.us…〕
TECK key-repeat problem. http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=27077.0, http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=25055.0
Reddit discsusion. TECK vs Kinesis, for emacs users. http://www.reddit.com/r/emacs/comments/1edfmr/video_review_of_the_truly_ergonomic_keyboard/
Truly Ergonomic Computer Keyboard Review: One Month with the TECK By Jarred Walton. @ www.anandtech.com…
from my friend “To1ne”, TECK photo. http://www.flickr.com/photos/to1ne/8554429334/
key remap, firmware http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38943.60
Christopher Done. Discussion. TECK vs others. g+
Ibrahim Awwal. Discussion. g+
Discussion. TECK owners, emacs use. g+
discussion. TECK owner, emacs use. g+
See: Ergonomic Keyboards Gallery