I NEVER type on a regular keyboard and neither does my son.

have used MS ergo since I quit typing on a typewriter.

• Do ergonomic keyboards work? - sfm
  • Ergonomic Keyboards Rock!! - Ellen S.
  • I NEVER type on a regular keyboard and neither does my son. - MSMT
  • i love mine - sm
  • Make sure chair is at right height so you dont have to angle - arms up or down. Should be perpendicular to your b
  • My ergonomically correct solution! - cs
    • ergo keyboards - sfm
      • Goldtouch is brand name. see msg. - cs
      • I get my ergo keyboards off Ebay. - nm
  • I've been using an erg for a few years. - MT in MT
  • You might try SoftFlex gloves. - Me
  • My comfort keyboard does. I type in the neutral, "handshake" - position. nm
    • is that microsoft? - sfm
      • No, it isn't. Google comfort keyboards. - nm

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I am really considering presenting the idea that we measure productivity on minutes transcribed instead of lines.  I don't know if management will go for it, but it seems like the best scenario considering all the trouble we've had.

Thanks again!

The TypeMatrix keyboard is split down the middle, one split, with backspace keys (two of them) in the middle.  It is a vertically aligned keyboard, so if you can imagine each hand has its own keys and therefore its own backspace key.  You can see it at www.typematrix.com

I cannot recommend this keyboard enough (no, I don’t work for them)...I have had it for several years and it is amazing...I have reduced the pain and stress in my hands and wrists by 95%....I love it! 

That key printing never wear down because the letters are part of the key itself.  They just don't make them that way anymore because it is too expensive to make.  Some of the mechanical keyboards like Cherry have what they double shot key imprinting and the letters are part of the key itself and don't wear off. That IBM keyboard is very noisy from the type of keyswitch it has so you may not like that.  Logitech and Belkin make some membrane switch keyboards that are supposed to have longer lasting key imprints.  I have a logitech that has the longer lasting key imprints and it is pretty good.  You have to look on the specs to find out if has the longer lasting key printing.

I have experimented so much with keyboards and have done a lot of research.  Way too much info.  

Okay, any lefties use this keyboard? How long did it take to get used to? I use my left thumb for the space bar and I notice on a diagram of the keys that I would always be hitting the backspace key.

I'm really interested in getting a better keyboard. I destroyed my left hand and wrist the other week when I fell because I'm becoming a real klutz.

I bought the Soft Flex gloves, but they only help a little bit. My production is down because of it and it's driving me crazy. I can only type an hour without stopping and then have to rest the hand for some time.

I did buy a Microsoft 2000 keyboard but have yet to recieve it. Is this a good one?

Do you use a keyboard tray with it or just set it on the desk? Do you think a kayboard tray would be the least expensive item right now that would help with a straight keyboard?

Any info you can provide to help me in making any decision would be greatfully appreciated.

'Scuse me for being old school, but I've only ever used a straight keyboard.

9.25% -- Bought some clothing yesterday and the subtotal was $159.97. The tax was $14.80. Total bill:  $174.77.

They get us in other ways.

For longtime comfort which is best - split keyboard mounted on chair arms or split keyboard to be used on the desk?

Also, why the preference over split keyboards that come totally apart versus split keyboards that are permanently connected at the top?

I want to revamp my office and there are so many different options.

We as MTSOs absolutely have to start the pay lower and I'll tell you why.  Hiring and training is expensive.  We are paying editors by the hour to proof new hires 100% so we actually lose money on every report a new hire does.   3 out of 5 people we hire lie about their experience and are not qualified to do the work so it requires extensive editing and in a lot of cases, total retyping.   Over half of the people hired do not do their required lines or hours per day, some are scheduled to start and just do not even show, do not contact us or anything.  I get emails from people saying they are losing their home, their children, etc., and are desperate for work and then do 100 lines a day.  It is not cheap to advertise, it is not cheap to pay man hours to test and train. So we start lower, and in the 20% of the time we get somebody who 1) does have the required experience, 2) really does want to work and does the required hours or lines, and 3) proofs their own work so it's not a total wreck when we get it, THEN we give raises, and good ones.  

You want to know where all the 10-12 cpl pay per line went?   Get out your map and look at India, Phillippines, and Pakistan.   On the 11 facilities we have, the highest paying to us is 13 cpl.  Try renting an office, keeping the equipment updated, paying employees, etc., on that amount of money.  If we try and get a raise, they talk about other companies who have already contacted them and how they can outsource and pay only 8 cpl total.   I understand now why companies are outsourcing.  We can't find qualified workers or those who even want to work so it's easier for companies to outsource and pay to have the work proofed before being sent on to the facilities.  We do not outsource at all, but we have hired so far 19 people for FOUR positions and only 2 remain.  That's how bad it is for us.

The company I work for pays 11 cents a line...so they are out there! They also do not outsource and they need good transcriptionists....contact me if you want a good company to work for.

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the same work type, but depending on the workload I may get all different work types, and lots of dictators I've never had before, but that isn't the norm.   My company has very high standards and I think they realize in order to retain the good MTs they have to make them productive and they try to do that as much as they can by keeping them on one account. 

I've had accounts in the past where it was rare that I got the same dictator more than a couple of times and they were all very difficult ESL dictators, which makes it harder to learn them.