Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards
Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)
i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²
¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid
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Do you have a programmable keyboard right now? If so you can put a 36 key keymap on it and try it out, or at least certain elements of one.
A big difference between a 5-col vs 6-col is that 5 will require homerow mods or some riff thereof. If you can put homerow mods on your current keyboard, even without changing anything else, and use them for a week or two to see if they agree with you, then you’ll know for sure whether the 5 col is the right choice. That’s what I did, then made a Fifi
Yeah I think I am more comfortable with the idea of homerow mods than I am with having mods stuck put beyond my pinky. If I end up combining common clusters of keypresses (like ctrl-c and ctrl-v) as well as my Vim leader stuff in an easy-to-access layer then the homerow mods will only really be for edge cases.
I'm on a 5col Corne. Love it. But my daily driver computing device is an iPad, and sometimes a MacBook, and I don't game on either. I have four layers, and I don't use function keys. I've got a bit of duplication between a couple of layers that I could probably refine, but it works for me. Having three keys for layers also works well for me.
Not all Corne kits offer the snap-off outer column these days, so be aware if you head down that road.
I got a lily58 as my first split and I regret the lack of pinky stagger. So my personal recommendation is to look for something with a decent pinky stagger if that's something that interests you.
https://compare.splitkb.com/ This link can also help with determining which keyboard would be good for you. It doesn't have everything but it can get you going in the right direction.
I'm getting a chocofi soon to replace my lily but I have no idea how I'll like it for now.
As for the extra column I would do what the other commenter suggested and try to customize a layout down to either size to see what you like/are comfortable with. Worst case you go safe and do a 6 column and later ignore the extra keys.
Hope you end up with something you like:)
I have the Piantor 36 key and the case fits snugly. I got it as my first split ergo and it's good, although ofc I have nothing to compare it to.
Thanks for letting me know. Although that makes my decision harder :)
I've been using a Corne for a while now, and I find it very comfortable and efficient to use.
If you don't mind soldering and assembling your own kits, you could try a Corne kit. Most Corne PCBs seem to have a 6th col you can snap off. So you could try get a kit with one of those, try the 6 col, and if you don't need that extra column, simply snap it off and re-flash the board for a 5col Corne.
Thanks for all of the amazing advice! I have decided to go five column with two modifier keys. The suggestions about getting six columns and not programming the sixth were good in theory but I know what I'm like - I would end up using them. Same with the third modifier key that would end up making me twist my thumb too far inward. It's too tempting - all those lovely layers.
So Ferris Sweep it is. No fancy-shmancy stuff just USB and blank keycaps, and I'll see how I get on. I'm excited to see what I can do with combining layers with Vim keybindings. I may even learn Colemak-DH.
Good luck with your build. Hope you share it here once it's complete! I would definitely recommend looking into alt layouts and colemak Dh is a good choice
Personally I think you can always have more keys and just not use them/only have them as "emergency" keys. I'm personally on a 5col corne layout, I love it.
I'm a big fan of the Kyria/Hillside layout, personally. I prefer having an outer pinky column personally, but that's down to preference and individual anatomy. Some boards do allow you to break off the extra column, so there's no reason you couldn't try 6-column first and then break off the column later.
You also don't necessarily nead to get a case right away or at all, lots of folks use split keyboards as bare PCBs. You can use thin adhesive foam to cover the bottom of the board and trim it to fit, if you need to use it on a bare desk and don't want to scratch anything. If it's a soldered build, you also don't need a plate. (Hotswap, a plate is pretty beneficial)