[xjrp]

The bigger problem is not the layout it’s the keyboard itself, if you have rsi switching to an ergodox can improve the situation, if this is not enough something like a dactyl manuform or a kinesis advantage 360 should do the trick. This combined with light switches like tactile (MX brown) or linear (red) will reduce your pain immensely.

[ziml77]

I wonder if anyone has studied the effects of different weights of switches. Personally I've always liked the lighter ones. The heavier ones felt uncomfortable and tiring. But I see people in the mechanical keyboard community praise the heavier switches, so I've always assumed that my hands are just weak.

The worst ones I used were ones that I got because the MK community doesn't consider browns to be able to be in the same class as other tactile switches because the bump is so weak. I ended up getting Zealio V2s, but I had to take them off my board after only a few days of use. The tactile bump is stupidly strong, but once you pass it there's almost no force pushing back. You're basically guaranteed on each press to bottom out with a ton of force. It was jarring and I was very afraid of what kind of damage that would do to my hands long term.

[riversflow]

Well I like heavier switches because they allow me to fully rest my (rather large and strong) fingers on the keys. I'm actually typing this on 78g Zealio V2s, my favorite switch. I definitely don't bottom out the keys with a ton of force, and maybe like half the time don't bottom them out at all. By comparison, I bottom out on the iPad Magic Keyboard every time and with much more force, I would guess because there isn't as much tension pushing back on my fingers and there is less distance between the actuation and the bottom out to slow my fingers down.

[ziml77]

I've had problems with the weight of my fingers actuating the switches when I tried some light linear switches. But for me the Cherry MX Browns have just enough resistance from the bump to avoid that issue without being tiring to my fingers.

[csdvrx]

> I wonder if anyone has studied the effects of different weights of switches. Personally I've always liked the lighter ones. The heavier ones felt uncomfortable and tiring. But I see people in the mechanical keyboard community praise the heavier switches, so I've always assumed that my hands are just weak

I don't know about studies, but I prefer membrane keyboards for this reason: far less strength is required.

[Symbiote]

Since changing to a mechanical keyboard, I've realized the opposite. A traditional membrane keyboard seems like much more effort. (I measured it at some point, by balancing coins on a key until the key activated, but I don't have enough coins to hand to repeat this.)

Laptop-style keys can be lighter -- I think too light -- but there are mechanical keys with similar weighting.

Next time you're in an electronics shop, see if there's a mechanical gaming keyboard on display with "Red" switches. (Note you probably don't need to press the key all they way to the bottom to activate it.) Switches lighter than this are available, but probably wouldn't be on display on a keyboard in a normal shop.

[ziml77]

I love my mechanical keyboards, but membrane boards might still feel better to some even if they do require more force than some mechanical switch options. One specific benefit I can think of is that membrane boards naturally cushion your bottoming out and don't feel as mushy as O-rings or silenced switches can be.

[xjrp]

I’m in the same box, I’ve tried Box Jade, Holy Pandas, MX Brown, Gateron Ink Black, Topre, MX Blues, Tangerine and Gateron Ink red. I also add some test switch zealio, etc…

But my favorite switch and daily driver are the gateron ink reds because they are so light.

[opan]

It is absolutely the layout, but ergonomic keyboards are still great. I built a Pinky4 split keyboard and it didn't solve pain in my right hand caused by Dvorak. After learning Workman (50/50 balanced hand usage unlike any other layout I know of), the pain is gone.

The split helps by moving stuff like modifiers, space, and backspace to thumb keys, it just wasn't "enough" on its own.

[lawn]

The thumb cluster of Ergodox is really shitty for people without large hands though, and the Moonlander isn't much better.

Plenty of alternatives though.