Ergonomic vs. good typing keyboards

Just was wondering if any people have experience with keyboards such as MS Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 (Desktop 7000) and good typing keyboards such as the Das Keyboard. Do you find that the ergonomic split/inverted slant style helps (really works?) or are you more comfortable with a well built normal style keyboard?

 

I have't really usd an ergonomic keyboard - but the ones in that direction that I came across shortly - shudder.

It will possibly also depend from person to person.

Figure out if you can handle/like it - or it you are looking for genral experience you'd need a poll.

 

I'm interested in hearing people's opinions about why they liked or disliked their keyboard. I live 10 months of the year on an island for school and couldn't bring my desktop down. I have the MS set above and didn't have any issues with the keyboard over the course of a year (a year back) and have only used the Das Keyboard for an hour, so couldn't really get a good comparison. I was thinking of switching over to Dvorak (tried it before but haven't practiced enough due to using Qwerty on my laptop) and want to get a good keyboard in the near future. But at the same time, if ergonomic keyboards can show notable health benefits, I'll just stick with the MS keyboard.

 

I can't stand those ergonomic keyboards with the keys at different angles. There's nothing bad for you about regular straight keyboards, they can just be more of a problem for people with high risk for carpal tunnel. I would get a Das keyboard if I could afford one.

 

Can't really so any positive thing about an ergonomic keyboard. They are ugly and it's harder to type with them. Just stick with normal keyboard buddy. No need to complicate things.

 

They have ergo keyboards at my work, and lots of people like them (at least once they adjust to them), but personally, I'm strongly lefthanded, and make probably 60%-80% of my keypresses with my left hand (skrew homekey-based "proper" typing ), so the ergo keyboards skrew me up pretty bad. I had them give me a normal straight keyboard so I could type reasonably. If you use your keyboard primarily for typing (not gaming etc) and are a homekey based "proper" typer, ergo is a good idea, but if you have a non standard typing pattern or use your keyboard for things like gaming (where you use hotkeys in patterns that break the standard layout), you are probably better off with a traditional keyboard.

As to high grade keyboards, I have no direct experience, but people seem to like them. I'd get one if I hadn't switched pretty much 100% to using my lappy kb.

 

I am currently using the MS ergonomic keyboard 4000 at home. Previously I had been using a cheap MS wireless keyboard, but I was getting pain down my left wrist towards my fourth finger. Subsequent to getting the keyboard the pain has stopped. As per the previous comments, it's not for everyone, but if it works for you then the price is definitely worth it.

BTW, it's not all that difficult to relearn to type on it. A day and I was feeling right at home on it.

 

I've been using a Microsoft Natural Keyboard 1.0 with my desktop for the last 13 years and I had a Microsoft Natural Keyboard 4000 at a previous job. I don't know about notable health benefits, but I like the angled palm rest and the greater spacing between my hands, which to me is the greatest benefit because I feel much better being able to spread out at my desk instead of typing with my elbows close to the sides of my torso.

 

I don't really game, so I'll probably just stick with the natural keyboard since I find it fairly comfy (also has a soft wrist rest when not typing). I'll take the wrist comfort over increased tactile feel and saving me a decent amount of money.