I am looking for a keyboard that could be good for programming. I have seen strange looking keyboards where the keys are separated for each hand and I have seen more traditional keyboards and legendary ones like the model M.
As far as programming is concerned writing is user preference. I'd recommend going out and finding something that is most comfortable to you. You could go to a local computer shop like best buy or something and find a style you like to type on. I myself write on a CM Storm Stealth but I also have friends that write with an Apple Wireless Keyboard.
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when it comes down to it: a good quality keyboard. i love typing/programming on my cm storm blue & brown
keyboards, however i also like to code on my thinkpad. they are two very different types of keyboards.
but the thing they have in common is quality.
while i get why people code on MAC's bc of the shell; i do not like typing on those laptops. let alone the trackpads are horrible. when you are comparing them to a thinkpad.
but like the guy above me said. OTHER's like it.
i use the CM storm stealth with browns on my 2nd PC. be careful when buying minimalist keyboards, they take a while to get used to. picking a great IDE helps too.
Comes down to preference. I don't think you will find a keyboard built for programmers. I use a Corsair K70 with brown switches. Unlike @Ctrl_Null I actually liked typing on the Apple keyboards and using the touchpad. I also have a Lenovo Ideapad Y500 which is close to the current Thinkpad's and I think its a nice laptop keyboard as well. I have also used stock Lenovo and Dell keyboards along with the odd Logitech one. They all come down to preference. Oddly enough I find myself making more mistakes with the K70 and I am more accurate on the laptops. I don't have any data to back that up though.
i think i type better on my laptop due to better wrist posture vs @ my desk
DAS Keyboards has some pretty good boards, but then again, it's all down to preference. Choosing a keyboard with a switch type that feels best to you is a good first measure for a life-changing(?) programming and typing experience.
Kinesis Advantage keyboards are pretty good. Great ergonomics, and it makes hot keys for programming and system admin much more convenient. It's not all that great for gaming.
The only downside is it takes a week to get used to the layout. Afterwards typing on regular keyboards feels odd with how much fingers have to move for keystrokes.
Products
http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/category/UltraClassic
or
I actually really like chiclet style keyboards. I tend to type much faster on them and tend to be more accurate than mechanical. I've been typing my whole life and I'm over 100 wpm, so if that makes a difference, I'm not sure... but mechanical usually gives me accuracy problems.
typeracer.com I can get up to 140-160wpm with a chiclet style keyboard. (it's rare but I've done it)
With a mechanical, it's 120 max. The speed disparity is mostly due to my inaccuracies on the keyboard, especially when I'm hitting special characters, because of the raised aspect of the keys from the backplate on the keyboard... there's too much distance and moving parts for me to stay consistently fast and accurate.
Late reply but I've been looking into this a lot recently.
A lot of people at my work use the Kinesis advantage. I use the Das Keyboard Professional 2 at home and the happy hacking keyboard at work which are both great. I recently ordered the Realforce 87U 55g, I'll update the thread once I have it.
Honestly I hate this question. this is like asking, what is the best mouse for a gamer?
There's one thing I'd recommend you,
Buy this, it's a Cherry MX sampler. it has the most popular and known switches. one key switch for the following,
* Brown
* Green
* Blue
* Red
* Clear
Find a Cherry MX switch you like and then invest onto a keyboard that has the switch you like, there is no perfect keyboard for a programmer, everyone is different and has different tastes.
In the split boards you would be talking about the likes of the ErgoDox
It would take time to learn, it would be different. In time maybe it would help, I have no idea, not my style but cool all the same.
that does not look comfortable...
I use a CODE keyboard, mainly because it's a nice cherry mech keyboard with white LEDs, seemingly good build quality and a few dip switches on the back allowing you to input dvorak/colemak natively to the PC.
If you don't need a colemak/dvorak switch, you could just get one of coolermasters plain black/white cherry mech keyboards and save yourself a few pennies.
Whatever you get, make sure you feel comfortable typing on it!
Actually the trick with it is that once you get used to it, you will only move your fingers and not your arms... However if I don't flail my arms like I'm under attack of a mosquito swarm, it's like I never typed...
To answer the question, I have seen some keyboard reviews and there is a lot more to a keyboard than the switches and the stupid gimmicks... The shape of the caps, the sound, the feel of the touch, everything matters.
I love my Bloody B120, but I hate it for typing, because I catch myself pressing multiple buttons more often than I would like to...
And someone needs to say this, it might as well be me... Fuck noisy keyboards. If you type a lot the click of the keyboard will drive you crazy...
Something I find. For proper hand spacing for longer typing session, I prefer using to keyboard. you could try it, you might end up liking it.
Just find a place that have keyboards with deferent variety of switches, and get a fell for them, and later you can play around with combination of key-cabs.
My keyboards of choice would be: Ducky Premier dk9008p & WASD Code both with brown switches and ducky PTB key-cabs.
Good luck on your adventure.
Sorry for the necro, but it's on topic.
I am looking for a new keyboard for programming at work.
I've been searching around for a good shallow-throw keyboard. I haven't found much since buying an apple keyboard is out of the question. haha.
Topre switches? I want something like a laptop keyboard but not membrane.
I type in dvorak but I also don't look at the keyboard so qwerty layout is fine..
CODE keyboards have hardware toggles for typing in Colemak/QWERTY/Dvorak. I use one for my main machine for typing in Colemak.
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I don't really need it though since software switching works just fine.
What matters more to me is having laptop-style keys and a number pad.
CODE keyboards only offer cherry MX.