Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 09:50:11 +0100 From: Dick Davies <rasputnik@hellooperator.net> To: Ceri Davies <ceri@submonkey.net>, Paul Robinson <paul@iconoplex.co.uk>, chat@freebsd.org Subject: Re: RSI-basher? Message-ID: <20040811085011.GA21373@lb.tenfour> In-Reply-To: <20040810153601.GL87690@submonkey.net> References: <20040810152244.GM12472@iconoplex.co.uk> <20040810153601.GL87690@submonkey.net>
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--82I3+IH0IqGh5yIs Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable * Ceri Davies <ceri@submonkey.net> [0806 00:06]: > On Tue, Aug 10, 2004 at 04:22:44PM +0100, Paul Robinson wrote: > > Hi all, > >=20 > > 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 br= eaks > > I take, the ergonomic setup of my desk, whatever, I'm starting to feel = the > > onset of RSI creeping in. > >=20 > > So, I want to see what keyboards you guys are using. Is the painful swi= tch=20 > > to Dvorak worth it? Have you found a particularly decent keyboard that = is=20 > > incredibly comfortable? > >=20 > > I'm currently seriously considering: > >=20 > > http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=3D1&item=3D511353646= 3&ssPageName=3DSTRK:MEWA:IT > >=20 > > but $300 is a lot to blow on a keyboard. Even if it does have an emacs = mode.=20 > > Anybody used these and reccomend them, or condemn them? These are absolutely brilliant. I would be typing this with my nose if it w= eren't for mine, as it is I am still doing development work and sysadmin with only the odd i= buprofen 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 configur= e all the perks * it will 'talk' to you if you press all the corners for 2 seconds by spitt= ing 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 rea= ch for the mouse * it can switch layouts - I think Dvorak, Qwerty and Qwerak are in the late= st ROM - *without* needing a layout update in the OS : so if you use Dvorak you set that in the keyb= oard and don't need to configure each OS - win2k in particular drives me potty since it has per-app keyboa= rd maps, I avoid all that with this. * zero force makes a big difference, the trick is remembering you don't nee= d to thump it, which I'm finally getting the hang of. * portable (comparing to hiring a secretary to type for you, although not q= uite as cute) * sturdy - I've used mine pretty much daily for about 3 years and it's stil= l 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=20 that replaces the standard iBook keyboard * LOTS of features - when I have a spare 45 mins I try to learn a couple mo= re, this months favourites are=20 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 o= verlays, but paper wears out. I got the QWERTY version, then switched to Dvorak and it would have been ni= ce to see where an odd character is, but if you're learning to touch type on it its simpler to download the prin= table 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 pri= cey but it's the best 300 dollars you'll ever spend if it means you can keep working. And the 'wow, nice keyb= oard'/'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 --=20 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 --82I3+IH0IqGh5yIs Content-Type: application/pgp-signature Content-Disposition: inline -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.2.5 (NetBSD) iD8DBQFBGd3DVFnamZKfe00RAtQEAJ9svdF5sWOxu0sFbJ2roiFA8jvCgQCdHm9f mxkz5yi1upFeDduKcKE43tI= =AGds -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- --82I3+IH0IqGh5yIs--
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