Re: COLEMAK layout?

Chuck Esterbrook wrote:
>
> Typing R is easy, but maybe it wouldn't be if I wasn't on a modern keyboard.
>
> I consider modern keyboards to be the TypeMatrix, Kinesis and Maltron.
> There may be others. I can't include the MS Natural--the last time I
> used it there were some reach issues, although I don't know the
> current status.
>   

When I was in so much pain from wrist issues and shopping around for an 
ergo keyboard that would help me I tried the MS Natural for a week or 2 
and it totally messed me up.  I was in way worse shape after than I was 
before MS Natural :P  I'm a woman and have very small hands - the reach 
issues on the MS Natural were unreal, I had to rotate my wrist for all 
pinkie finger keys and my right wrist was in terrible shape from the 
reach needed for the delete key.

The best thing the Kinesis did with key placement was put delete, crtl, 
alt, under the thumbs!  (after the whole contoured cup-shape to begin 
with, of course!)

Just my 2 cents - small hands?  Stay away from the MS Natural and 
similar keyboards!

em


> I'm not completely dissing Colemak. It looks like a fine effort to
> ease the use of "standard" keyboards before the arrival of "modern"
> ones. But now that modern ones are available, I don't see much point.
>
> -Chuck
>