deskthority

So what's out there in the Ergonomic Alps world? I'm curious. Now that I'm an Alps man.

You should find at least a few if you browse through webwits pics.

Most of the ergonomic keyboards from the early 90ties (the ergonomic wave) which used mechanical switches, used Alps.

There are a number of them here:
http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8 ... -t336.html

webwit wrote:Most of the ergonomic keyboards from the early 90ties (the ergonomic wave) which used mechanical switches, used Alps.

There are a number of them here:
http://deskthority.net/photos-videos-f8 ... -t336.html

Awesome. Where did you get all those Alps ergonomic keyboards? Ebay is giving me nothing.

Ebay mostly, when I still used it.

prdlm2009 wrote:Ebay is giving me nothing.

The thing about ebay is that you have to browse all of it all the time.

Sounds about right - some of my best finds were found during a search for 'keyboard' and just working through the whole lot.

hoggy wrote:Sounds about right - some of my best finds were found during a search for 'keyboard' and just working through the whole lot.

That's pretty much what I do, I even browse a few categories without searching for anything.

I'm probably too specific in my Ebay searches then. When I search for "alps ergonomic" nothing turns up.

Good thing I have an iphone and wifi at work. Good way to kill some time.

Here's a specific list of the Alps ergo keyboards in my possession.

Kinesis Evolution (Split with complicated white Alps, double shot keys, chair mountable - there are also other versions such as desk mountable)
Northgate Omnikey Evolution (Complicated white Alps, double shot keys, high quality, built like a tank)
PerfecTouch 101 Ergo 2000 (Fake green Alps, split, no double shot keys, also marketed under different brands, cheap construction).
Reveal KB-7061 (Complicated white Alps, double shot keys, also marketed under different brands, cheap construction)
Pace Model VG-101 (Complicated white Alps, double shot keys)
Apple Adjustable Keyboard (nasty Alps low profile switches, no double shot keys)

I think the 90s were the golden years for ergonomic keyboards... Sadly, few companies have the guts to risk marketing a high end ergonomic keyboard.

I agree with Webwit on the Northgate, it's incredibly well built.

RSI and ergonomics where first massively explored in the early nineties, which led to all those ergo keyboards, but they all found out that it is no sustainable business like any non-standard keyboard (e.g. Dvorak) - some people may buy one despite it's not standard, but don't return as a buyer when they get a new computer with a new, clean keyboard, etc. Only exceptions are the cowardly Microsoft and other curvy keyboards, and a few small surviving ergo companies like Kinesis and Maltron. Something like the Truly Ergonomic or Ergodox will also never leave the realm of freaks into mainstream.

webwit wrote: Something like the Truly Ergonomic or Ergodox will also never leave the realm of freaks into mainstream.

It amazes how unreceptive people are to the idea of a different keyboard (or anything different for that matter). Even normal looking ones. I found a Logitech Wave at the thrift store for $1 and I've been trying to give it away to friends or family or co-workers. For free. It's a decent rubber dome. And these are people that are typing everyday that have developed hand or wrist issues because of their daily work. Hello! What is causing your wrist/hand pain? The thing you use every damn day!

Anyways, yea, ergonomic Alps boards. Thanks for the tips.

I like the base of the Pace looks like it allows quite a bit of individual tuning. Is it stable, though?

Yeah, it has the right amount of friction. You need to put in some force to tune it to your favorite level, but when you rest your hands on it or type on it, it doesn't move.

Speaking of the Truly Ergonomic, it caught my interest a few years ago, but everyone thought it a hoax!

Is it's current status anything above that?

They actually released in the end but never delivered better firmware or something like that. But it became a real product.

They toned down the marketing eventually. I got really fed up with the bs that was being posted in forums.