this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2023
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ErgoMechKeyboards

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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

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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!?)

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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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I'd love to have one of these but they're not made anymore. Anyone still making / selling them?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

broom (of ferris sweep) did a promicro "tribute". Dunno if they ever actually released it, but it's up on github: https://github.com/davidphilipbarr/testing-boards/tree/main/gogo-corne

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I know this is old but stumbled upon this earlier which appears to be like a gergoplex with a trackpoint as an option:  

https://holykeebs.com/products/span

here's the github: https://github.com/idank/spankbd

 

Not sure if you're up to go get the PCB printed yourself and interested in similar options:

This one has longer vertical thumb keys: https://github.com/erkannt/neuro36

Really far away thumbs: https://github.com/sboysel/giraffe36

 

One that seemed to have the thumbs farther was draculad, farther than microdox:  

https://github.com/MangoIV/dracuLad/

Seen a few places selling kits.

https://www.littlekeyboards.com/products/draculad-pcb-kit

https://customkbd.com/products/draculad-pcb

https://keycapsss.com/keyboard-parts/pcbs/166/draculad-split-keyboard-pcb

https://keebd.com/en-us/products/draculad-keyboard-kit

 

There are a fair amount of handwired ones, prototypes, higher key count boards or 2 key thumbs as options for farther away thumb clusters as well. You could also try to get more than 3 thumb keys and not use the ones too close to your thumb.

Might be worth looking through if you haven't already:

https://mechdb.net/keyboards?split=true

https://golem.hu/boards/

Honestly could swear I had seen more, but when I checked 3w6, waterfowl, or several others it was just really long thumb clusters. Not actually lower down on the board away from the alphas sadly.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Hi, please see the rules around BST. I'm aware though that the alternative listed is still /r/mechmarket on reddit which you may not wish to use. I would suggest asking in relevant community discords like the low-profile keyboards discord or regional ones for where you live as many of these have trading channels.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This was a poor post on my part. I was looking for a vendor that might still be selling these (not for a private trade like mechmarket). Was also curious about alternatives to the Gergoplex since it's not longer in production AFAIK. The thumb cluster on it is really unique, so while I know there are similar sizes boards out there I was really looking specifically for this board.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Ah, then disregard. Poorly worded as you say, but okay.

Anyway other than the open source promicro-based homage that broom made (as linked by @[email protected]). Germ is no longer around in the community/Internet so it's not being made or sold anymore, indeed. It was a closed design so the only hope would be for a clone or something similar.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

is still /r/mechmarket on reddit which you may not wish to use
I would suggest asking in relevant community discords

  • using Discord (with its blatant disregard for privacy) is just as problematic (if not more so) as going back to Reddit
  • OP’s request could just as easily be interpreted as asking for vendor recommendation
    • if so, maybe an addendum to the B/S/T rule to indicate people asking need to clarify wording?