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Split vs Reg. Keyboard?

KevC

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Oct 21, 2001
Messages
6,365
Who here uses a split keyboard? I've been using this Microsoft Natural Elite for 5 years now. However, for the past 8 months I've been using my laptop's smaller "regular" keyboard.

Now my Esc key, my f-keys, and now my 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 keys don't work and I'm getting really annoyed with this keyboard. I'm a poor student so even the little 30bux I'd spend getting another Elite would hurt me.

I'm seriously considering getting a 15 dollar logitech keyboard or even a 5 dollar noname keyboard.

Hm... I wont be writing that many essays anymore, (2nd year college - science ) but chatting on MSN/ICQ/AIM/etc and writing emails are a huge part of my computing experience ....
 
I use to use the split keyboard all the time, and really enjoyed it. But to many of my friends complained that they hated the Split keyboard when would would do some lan gaming. I have gotten use to the Logitech wireless boards. Love them, so you might want to consider that. Plus they have tons of shortcuts that come in real handy...
 
If you're used to the split stay with it.....

I've got a MS natural from back when they first came out (when the arrows were an inverted T instead of the diamond) and I won't switch to anything else.

I use a regular keyboard at work and it's not nearly as comfortable for long term use.

Personally, I think gaming on the ergonomic keyboards is easier. your hand has a better area to rest on, and you're fingers are not cramped into position on the keys.

It's a personal feel thing though.

BTW, I use a laptop about 30% of the time and as nice as it is to type on while commuting or sitting in a comfy chair, I don't know that you would want to make
that your main keyboard. Give your fingers some room to breathe....

good luck
-Jeff

ps. try eBay for a cheap replacement keyboard if you're tight on cash...
 
I was considering that.... do the shortcut keys really come in handy? It doesn't seem like I'd use them. And there's really no point for wireless, rofl... There's no space here anyway....
 
I use Split here at home, thinking about taking my other corded split into work so i can use it there too :D

I just find splits easier to type on, been using them since my days with a pentium 90mhz
 
I still use a regular keyboard since I find that split ones actually hurt my wrists, though they're not supposed too. I'm probably stupid when I use them.

Also, I type much faster on a regular style keyboard, since my typing's not 100% correct (like using wrong fingers to press shift and such), and the split keyboard, I find, is not conducive to me typing fast without me overcoming the learning curve.
 
I have a MS natural multimedia, shortcut keys and all. I game with it all the time. No worries. :)
 
is split keyboards those ergonomic ones?... like as if its split in the middle and both sides are turned sideways to face the hands positions naturally?

if so, id say buy a cheap straight keyboard if you can deal with that... or maybe cut down some of that beer money and save it up?, lol... shift money around if you can...

i use a straight keyboard... in comparison to a split one, i wouldnt say a straight one is worse than a split one but i would say that a split one is BETTER than a straight one.... why the word play?, because i m ok with a straight keyboard and i can type well on it but i also love the feel of a split one... if you think a straight one is "worse" then a split one, that means you like the feeling of split ones but hate and cant stand the regular ones

i dont really know how that comparison was relevant but just go with the cheapest solution that you can live with

good luck
 
Yeah, I got one of those MS natural keyboards years ago, and I recently broke mine (accident, it didn't break down by itself). I can't find any place around the Greater Boston area that sells normal MS Natural Keyboards. I don't want any of that extra shortcut keys crap, it just adds to the price.

However, Logitech has that new diNovo keyboard. It's not split but it's very cool looking, super thin (thickness of natural keyboards are my only complaint) and has a feature I've been wanting forever; a seperate keypad (I like using my left hand for the keypad, especially for gaming). Unfortunately it's $200 and packaged with the MX900 (I already have my Logitech pointing device of choice). I wish they sold the keyboard/keypad seperately....

But I digress... stick to natural keyboards. Do you really want other people's greasy, dirty paws on your keyboard anyway? I'd consider it a bonus if people avoided my computer because of my keyboard.
 
I've been using a Natural keyboard for about seven years now and can't stand to use a "regular" keyboard for more than an hour at a time or my hands start hurting a lot. I've done a lot of data entry at work and so the pain shows up quick when doing that. I had to buy a new Natural keyboard for home use and took my old one to work to use.

It's actually funny how many comments I get on the keyboard from people when they see it. Then again, I get just as many comments about why I have the keyboard on my lap instead of on the desk or the keyboard tray.

I'd say get another Natural keyboard Elite if you can find one. I think newegg still has them but I think you have to buy something else with it to get a keyboard.

And to hell with people that bitch about using your keyboard. It's your system and your keyboard. If they don't like it, they can go out and get their own. It's not your job to make it so everyone likes your computer. You only have to make it so that you like it.
 
SmokeRngs said:
And to hell with people that bitch about using your keyboard. It's your system and your keyboard. If they don't like it, they can go out and get their own. It's not your job to make it so everyone likes your computer. You only have to make it so that you like it.

Amen to that.

Natural is the way to go. The regular keyboard shape is not conducive to the positioning of our hands. Or at least my hands. :D
 
SmokeRngs said:
And to hell with people that bitch about using your keyboard. It's your system and your keyboard. If they don't like it, they can go out and get their own. It's not your job to make it so everyone likes your computer. You only have to make it so that you like it.
Yeah, I don't get why you'd care what other people think.

The only regular keyboard I use with any regularity is the one on my laptop.
 
I use a regular and have not only gotten used to it but enjoy it more than a split keyboard. but it is really a personal prefereance (<- spelled really really wrong).
 
I used a Natural for years, but ended up switching back to an Apple Pro. the lesser amount of real estate it consumes is great.
 
Xeese said:
I used a Natural for years, but ended up switching back to an Apple Pro. the lesser amount of real estate it consumes is great.
Blech. I've disliked the response on all their recent keyboards.
 
Response on the Apple or the Natural? I noticed MS kept changing the angle on their natural keyboards. Not anything visible, but the feel of the different models varied quite a bit.
 
SmokeRngs said:
And to hell with people that bitch about using your keyboard. It's your system and your keyboard. If they don't like it, they can go out and get their own. It's not your job to make it so everyone likes your computer. You only have to make it so that you like it.
YEA!!

if you cant find a cheap one, maybe get one on ebay?
 
xphantg0d said:
I use a regular and have not only gotten used to it but enjoy it more than a split keyboard. but it is really a personal prefereance (<- spelled really really wrong).
you could have taken the time you spent to type "spelled really really wrong" to just take out that extra "a" in that word

fyi, its p-r-e-f-e-r-e-n-c-e

:D
 
I loved my MS natural Elite, but not as much as I hate wires. Since I couldn’t part with my MX700 mouse, I got the Logitech MX Duo (reg. keyboard) instead of the wireless combo Microsoft has with a split keyboard. If only Logitech would get it’s act together (or split, as the case may be). Although I’ve gotten used to the regular keyboard, I’ll always prefer the split. If you don’t care about wires, just check out ebay and whatnot - like people have said - for cheapo MS naturals. If all else fails, buy the $5 one and save up.

I’ve found that keyboards do matter for science, by the way. I’m a physics major and I need to crank out 40+ page lab reports.
 
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