affordable non-staggered keyboard
 

Does anyone know of a non-staggered keyboard that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to purchase? I'm not looking for anything real fancy, like the Kinesis Advantage, just a basic keyboard but with non-staggered keys. Aside from that I really don't care about features, layout, key labels (I touch type, so the damn thing could be in Chinese for all I care), or anything else. I just can't justify spending $100+ dollars (or anything near that) on a keyboard when my staggered keyboard cost $6.99 retail.

I got one $10 used LOL.

I don't think I've ever paid for my keyboards.
Honestly I can't justify new keyboards with Window's invasion of now recessed and rounded bubbles on the super key.

Do keyboards even break?

It still seems so silly that a particular OS should have it's logo on all keyboards (even those that have no Windows-specific features). I also saw keyboard with the Ubuntu logo, but still, they don't have any ubuntu-specific features. Why not just call it what it is (the Super key) and be done with it?

I also jokingly made up the theory that they are recessed now intentionally so you will have a hard time putting a sticker over it :).

What are non-staggered keys? Do you mean non-staggered in plan view, side-elevation view or front/back-elevation view? Can you post a link to a picture of a non-staggered keyboard?

He means that the keys should be in a square grid, not offset rows.

Thanks MTK358 :) I ain't nivver seen one o' they! I thought he might mean a flat keyboard, laptop-style. What are the advantages of such a keyboard?

Easier on the hands. I screwed up my hands in college from playing too much guitar, and now I have to take it easy. The staggered keyboards make you reach in weird angles when switching between rows, and it starts to hurt my hands after not too long.

For an idea of what on looks like:

http://humblehacker.com/Keyboard/

I would think that a square grid like that would make you reach in even weirder angles... :confused:

Also, is that laid out in Dvorak?

To mee it seems like it would be more comfortable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvorak_Simplified_Keyboard

I actually tried Dvorak twice, and the letter layout did seem much more comfortable, but the problem was that I was deprived of programming (because I couldn't type) and the symbols used in programs seemed to be in awkward positions.

This is an interesting thread to me. A while back, I posted this thread: https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...light=keyboard

On topic of this thread we're reading here: I've never seen one of those 'non-staggered' keyboards before, and I find that odd, since I've searched and researched keyboards *many* times over the last few years.

It does look easier maybe to use than a 'normal' keyboard. I'd like to try one too. Looks like it will REALLY take some getting used to, but might be worth the effort.

Also, on the subject of Dvorak: I have a wireless keyboard around here that I converted to Dvorak layout and spent some time learning to type on it. I did find it more intuitive, and easier on the hands, than the querty layout. I'm not a 'native' touch-typist; I don't quite 'hunt+peck' but I don't touch-type properly either (wish I would force myself to get it once and for all); but the Dvorak kbd I found is easier to use BOTH touch-typing properly as well as using the 'several-fingers' method.

@ lumak -- "Do keyboards ever break?" -- Not sure. Under normal/heavy/long-term usage, I've never has one "physically break" so it did not work, nor have I had one "electronically fail" so it did not work; I have however had one (my first one that originally came with this PC) in which the keycaps eventually had (A) no letters left visible on them; (B) the most-used keycaps appeared 'melted' for lack of a better word- as though the plastic was suffering from long-term heat or solar radiation damage; and (C) the keys all were becoming harder and harder to press because (I guess) the slidy-holes (??) that the key-stems slide up/down in were for some reason binding with the key-stems themselves, so it took a lot of effort to type on it. It still "worked" despite all the above, but was not super-usable. I got rid of it.

I've never paid for a keyboard either (since that first one that came with my first PC) -- since then, they just seem to accumulate on their own :)

Off-topic -- what I'd really like, is a Dvorak dual-alphabet (Cyrillic+Latin) keyboard, but in Canada they are basically non-existent, and to mail-order one costs much more than I'm willing to fork out.

Cheers,
Sasha

At least you can get used to the letter positions fairly quickly; I'm so used to QWERTY that it would take me forever to get used to that layout! :p

Question: would it be physically damaging if I tried to re-arrange the keycaps on my keyboard to Dvorak layout, so I could practice? All I'd need to do then is switch the layout in the keyboard settings...

EDIT: The keyboard's not one of those "ergonomic" keyboards, i.e. all the letters (and most of the symbol keys) are the same shape/size, so maybe it's plausible...?

!!! that looks like it would make typing slower then a boa constrictor !!!

@smeezekitty

I also have a hard time believing that it could even be tolerable to type on that thing.

@MrCode

On most keyboards it's OK to pop off the keys. In fact, occasionally I pry off all the keys on my keyboard with a flat-head screwdriver and wash them in a sink full of soapy water. I haven't come across a keyboard whose keys won't come off harmlessly, but I heard that it could damage certain keyboards.

Also, on most keyboards the key caps are contoured depending on where they are, and repositioning them can make the keyboard look and feel really bumpy and awkward. I once repositioned the keys to Dvorak on my current keyboard, and it's keys are all the same shape. The only problem was that the "F" and "J" keys had little tabs on them that wouldn't let them fit onto other sockets, so I sanded them off. Later I reconfigured it back to QWERTY, though. If I try Dvorak again some time, I would rather try do it without looking at the keyboard.

And one more thing about Dvorak -- the key combos that are designed to make sense on QWERTY are totally off in Dvorak, esp. Ctrl+X, C, and V.

And lastly, I always wanted to have something like this if it would be possible in Linux since I heard of it, esp. both in X and CLI: http://touchcursor.sourceforge.net/. I would really like it if someone could help me figure that out.

Nope. Just the opposite. Try putting your fingers in home row and reach your left-hand second finger down to the "c" key. In "proper" typing technique, this should be done without raising the other fingers. It borders on painful when done repetitively. Now try reaching for the "x" key with your third finger. Finally, trying reaching straight down with the same fingers, one at a time. Quite a bit more comfortable, isn't?

This along with the qwerty key layout were intentional designed in the 1880s (I think) to slow a typist down, as typing too fast on early type writers would cause problems.

And, yes, that is a Dvorak. Much easier on the hands also. Also, much more intuitive and easier to learn. As a qwerty touch-typist, after only about a week of 15-minute practice days I'm already becoming comfortable with it.

It is at first. I am learning C++, and the switch is a little weird for me right now. However, as with touch-typing, once you force yourself to do it for about a week or two, you forget that it was ever awkward.

Now, that's different! I'm surprised you've never encountered non-staggered keyboards, though. They seem to be all over the place. Here are a couple others that caught my eye, if you're interested:

http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/
http://typematrix.com/

I've seen nothing but rave reviews for that Kinesis, as weird as it looks. However, I just can't help but think that with the $300 price tag, I could just build my own custom keyboard and have exactly what I wanted.

Somebody else mentioned the contours, but sometimes the keys also happen to be slanted ever so slightly in one direction or another, because of the staggered design, making rearranging awkward.