[MrPowers]

I've loved learning how to use ortho keyboards. They open your brain to new text editing possibilities. Just like how learning Spanish teaches you about English and learning new programming languages teaches you about what's possible with code. They improved my typing accuracy and got rid of my right pinky pain too. I agree that they're not for everyone.

[StavrosK]

Hmm, really? What did they open your brain to? I didn't see any benefit, it's just harder.

[chaorace]

Can't speak for OP, but I've found that staggered layouts are rather non-standardized when it comes to the severity of the slant. As a consequence, my muscle memory is all over the place when touch typing, especially for the third row (ZXCVBN).

Ortholinears, of course, are all exactly the same, which lets me type with more confidence. I don't type any faster, but I do suffer fewer typos for words that require multiple row switches.

[sleepybrett]

Yeah there, in my experience, keyboards can come with generally two different layouts for the bottom alpha row, it's a slight move, only about half a unit (where a unit is the width of one key), but it's significant.

[MrPowers]

Emacs keybindings like Control-x Control-c don't work for me on regular keyboards. They work just fine for me on ortho keyboards with an easily accessible control key for my right thumb.

Ortho keyboards got me in the habit on using modifier keys on the opposite side of the keyboard from the shortcut key. On a regular keyboard, I'll type Command + c with my left thumb / left index finger with an unergonmic movement. On an ortho keyboard, I use my right thumb + left middle finger for the same motion.

For Vim, I started using Control + c to escape with ortho keyboards, which keeps me on the home row.

None of these are huge productivity gains. But a fun way to shock your brain and to stay sharp.