Asymmetric hardware layouts...

[Icarium]

I don't see any reasons for the asymmetries in current hardware layouts. It's a constant complain ANSI users have about ISO. I also don't even see why the right hand has one pinky column more than the left hand.

So let's gather some opinion. Should the layout be symmetric or do you think you are so righthanded (or left) that it really makes sense?

Would you only make it asymmetric because you're used to it?

[Ekaros]

Ansi isn't symetric either. The right sift is same distance from home position than left on ISO, not on ANSI... Larger keys in some locations are better, like ISO enter and two key sized backspace, in some smaller ones work better like small left shift.

[Icarium]

Well, I agree that ANSI isn't symmetric either and I also agree that not all keys have to be the same size but I don't see why that should make the board asymmetric.

I think I left out the general assumption that the software layout isn't supposed to be one of the common shitty ones either. I admit that if you are going to put backspace in the top right corner it might not be such a bad idea to make it huge so you can touch type it anyway.

[Kurk]

Symmetry helps. However, getting rid of the stupid staggering of ordinary keyboard layouts would really make a difference.

[CeeSA]

hmm, not easy to say for me. But I tend more to symmetric. I would love a enter key to be one more key to the middle. I always remap caps lock to enter and enjoy it.
In common layouts the right pinky has a lot of more actions than the left. That's unreasonable.

[Icarium]

Kurrk: Symmetric staggering is such an important point I kind of want to create a separate poll for it.

CeeSA: So what are you arguments for asymmetric? You said it was hard to decide.

[CeeSA]

"not so easy" - I said

I voted for symmetric.
If symmetric layout put the caps lock key one more to left, to be symmetric with the right side, than I am more for asymmetric.
Nowadays asymmetric is unreasonable. But this is only one part of having a perfect layout.

[7bit]

7BIT-layout is the future!

Real symmetry, 1/2 staggering and only 3 different key sizes (1, 1.5 and 2 units)!

[realex]

i tend to have my right hand at a slightly "more inward" angle than the left, thus i have worse flexibility reaching right bottom mods. thats why my preferred layout is ansi with the following remaps:

enter on backslash
backslash on capslock
rshift on enter

sounds crippled, i know...