Re: Staggered or not ???

I can say that I've used both, and the columnar layout is more
comfortable for me. This would really be your ultimate test--try it.

I believe both the TypeMatrix and the Kinesis Contour (I've only used
the former) require less finger movement than a staggered keyboard.

I'm sure the original staggering was due to the levers on mechanical
keyboards and never came out of any ergonomics decision. Also, I find
the idea that staggering lets you reach multiple letters--implying
that columnar does not--to be laughable. I reach multiple letters on a
columnar layout, too!

-Chuck


On 3/14/07, Yatin Sethi <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi guys,
>
> I have always been reading on the staggered and columnar layouts but haven't
> got any better clarity.
> There are discussions to support both the viewpoints. Few quotes:
>
> In favor of Staggered layout:
> "The stagger is important in that you can reach multiple letters with the
> same finger. Moving those letters directly under a finger reduces
> efficiency."
>
> If the staggering of keys are supposed to have some benefit to your finger
> movements, why is it then that the whole keyboard is staggered the same way?
> Doesn't it stand to reason that one side should be staggered the other way?
> After all, we don't have two right hands...
>
> Against Staggered layout:
> "Today's keyboards descend in a straight line from yesterday's mechanical
> typewriters. The reason the keys are staggered is because it gives the
> typewriter engineers more space to place their levers. It too was
> specifically designed to avoid the collision of the levers."
>
> "The staggered key arrangement is a bad thing because it forces your fingers
> to do a lot of diagonal reaching. When you strike the key down your finger
> is thus in a particularly vulnerable position and at a mechanical
> disadvantage resulting in more strain than is necessary."
>
> My only confusion that still prevails:
> Which one is better: staggered or non-staggered  .. and WHY ??
>
> We do see many new keyboards coming up with non-staggered layouts
> (Typematrix 2030) and many other which are still following the staggered
> layout. Any suggestions guys ??
>
>
> Regards'
>
> Yatin.
>
>
> --
> Yatin Sethi
> www.yatinsethi.com
>
>
>
>
> On 3/14/07, Chuck Esterbrook <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >   Pretty cool stuff, but too bad the Apple keyboards are still staggered
> > instead of columnar...
> >
>
>
>
> On 3/13/07, nkmcalli <[email protected] <nkmcalli%40yahoo.com>> wrote:
> > > Some follow-up about dvorak laptops. Check out these pix on Flickr.
> > > It's step by step photos of a person moving the keys on their Apple
> > > MacBook.
> > >
> > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/69631394@N00/tags/keyboard/
> > >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
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