I tried a split keyboard once . . .

• best position and board for typing - getting old
  • I use a pillow that I prop against either my desk or my - me
  • I also transcribe with my keyboard in my lap and....sm - oldtimer
  • Getting Old? So am I - babe
  • Get a keyboard tray for under your desk to keep it low. - Top of monitor should be even with eyeball level.
    • ... to prevent neck strain. Lift it up on something if it's - too low. NM
  • Getting old. - GoGranny
    • I tried a split keyboard once . . . - Ouch!
    • I disagree. To each his own. I have rheumatoid arthritis and....sm - oldtimer
      • Yes to each his own. sm - Anon
        • I demonstrated to my rheumatologist how I transcribe and...sm - oldtimer
  • sore back - mandiemt
    • Sore back - CB
    • Not that expensive - Patti
      • I found one for $5 on ebay-sm - mls
        • I have the MS 6000 wireless laser keyboard...sm - Jus' another MT
        • I use the microsoft wave keyboard - tnmt
          • Yes, that one looks exactly like mine - tnmt

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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.

Go to www.datavisionergonomics.com.  They have several different styles of keyboards.  I personally have one just like the Maxim keyboard, which is just like the keyboard has been chopped in half right down the center.  I've used mine for ten years and it's getting old and needs to be replaced.  When I bought mine ten years ago, it was over $400.00.  You can buy one now for under $$150.00.  Here's how it works:

I sit in my chair with my arms at my sides, and each half of the keyboard is directly in front of each arm.  I can put my schedules, an 8.5 x 11 in. paper, in-between the two halves of the keyboard!  That's how far apart the two halves are, and there is no strain on my wrists, shoulders, arms, or neck.  When I try to use my husband's keyboard now, a regular keyboard, I can't even type my name! 

It'll take you 1-2 days to get used to this style of keyboard, but take my word for it, you will love it and never want to go back to the traditional keyboards or even the so-called "split" ones that are still all in one unit, but have the right and left hands a little farther away from each other. 

Another thing, I (like you) use my left thumb space bar as the back space.  My right thumb, as usual, hits the forward space.  I never have to use my right pinky to go way up and hit the original back space key.  Hmm...maybe Maxim will give me a free keyboard if I refer enough MTs to them.    Let me know if you have any other questions.  Have a fun day!

I recently began using an ergonomic split keyboard. I hated the first ergo boards that came out (where your hands were almost facing each other when you typed.  However, these new split keyboards are so comfortable to use and I completely adapted to it after two days...EXCEPT for the '6' key. They put the '6' on the left side of the keyboard instead of the right. This means I would have to retrain myself to type it with the left index finger rather than the right one.  This would be no easier than moving the 'r' key over to the right side of the keyboard and trying to retrain my brain to hit it with the right hand.  It also is difficult to  feel or see the error when it pertains to a number. 

If anyone has any advice or information as to where I could find a split keyboard with the 1-2-3-4-5 on the left and 6-7-8-9-0 on the right, I would owe you big time!  

Does anyone use this keyboard?  I just got one thinking it would help my hands from hurting, but I am having a bit of a hard time adjusting to the keyboard.  Did anyone else have this problem?  If so, did you catch on, or did you have to return it?  I went from the plain keyboard to this, but It has  slowed me down tremendously.  I wonder if I should get an ergonomic keyboard without the split?  Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Thanks!

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.

I start about an hour after I wake up, which can be any time in the middle of the night, and put in about 2-3 hours. I usually go back to sleep between 7 and 6:30 a.m. I get up again when my body tells me to, and then I'm back to work between 11 a.m. and noon. I'll work until 4 and 5 p.m.

A "regular day" (two 15-minute breaks and an hour for lunch) is way too hard on me. Been doing the split for years.

Employee;  afternoon and late night/early morning split shift.

At least that's what I think I read below in one of the posts.

The economy of our country is in the toilet right now.  Very few things are secure.  Times are tough and fixing to get tougher.  If there is any way you can slow down, get your bearings, get into a halfway secure position --- your mental health will be better.

You need your mental health in order to be there for your kids.

Have you considered moving the "molehill" instead of the "mountain"?

If the BF has already been approached about the split, what is his position on HIM MOVING out and not you and the kids?  That would be lots less destructive for them.

Also, I wouldn't count on any PT transcription job anywhere right now.  Trust me on this.  This job type is so fluid right now - it's a circus.

I wouldn't move from square one until I got the FT at the hospital.  DON'T MOVE UNTIL YOU FIGURE OUT IF YOU CAN GET THAT JOB.  Then get into it, see what you have to work with.

Secondly, I would not leave myself dependent on the BF for anything but money, and then the courts can get it for you if he decides he doesn't like this, gets a new honey, or gets a "wild hair" and decides to leave the country.

Don't depend on him for babysitting, don't "be nice" and try to share the babysitting.  DON'T DO IT.  Get yourself positioned so you are calling all your shots. 

I know MT looks good on paper when they are selling you an idea of working from home and STAYING WITH YOUR KIDS, but it doesn't work.  The mom ends up the zombie and life becomes like the twilight zone.  I know.  I tried it.  You need to get at the hospital, get daycare, get your childsupport coming in, .........and then think about moving or even buying.  In fact, if you wait, the housing prices are expected to fall even more.  There was an article in our paper about it again yesterday.  Hold off.  If you rent, if the plumbing goes, if the A/C or heater goes......the landlord is responsible.

I don't know if this will give you some things to consider but I hope so.  I raised my kids by myself (of course it was different times but the men were the same, ugh!) and at some times I didn't seem them for having to work so many hours.  I wish now I had just gotten me a State worker job, 8-5, insurance, retirement, gotten a little house even if I had gotten on a program where it was federally assisted, and gone that route.  We could have been together as a family, I wouldn't be doing this horrible life I have now with trying to still work at 60 years old with no place to live.

Think about the future - it's right around the corner.  The kids will be gone and trust me, they won't look back even if they love you lots.  They will be BUSY and you will be an afterthought.  All things in moderation.

First thing - DON'T MOVE, let him move. 

Second thing - WAIT FOR THE FT JOB.

Third thing - Be getting that child support coming in.

I wish you the best. 

p.s. Even if you decide you just have to move and rent even a 2-BEDROOM...it can certainly be done.  My ggg grandparents raised 13 kids in a 2 bedroom old farm house.  Kids slept all over the place!    You and the older kid could share if it's a girl/or if a boy, let him share a bedroom with one of the little ones, and you put the other little one in your room and make a game of it - they will all pitch in and later you all will have "war stories" to talk about when everbody is grown up. 

are on separate schedules (though I have some flexibility) and we find we have to plan private time.  I'm a night person, he's a morning person - just doesn't work very well.  If you worked Sunday through Thursday schedule you'd have a chance to have some time to sleep on Friday and you could still have a weekend and not be dragging your butt.   If kids are all in school you could sleep during the day and working nights might not be so bad.  There will be a period of adjustment and there will have to be some compromise about when you sleep and when DH takes care of the kids, but you do what you have to do. 

My daughter will be 2 in April...Maybe you can try something like this... I am working 5 a.m. - 8 a.m. and again at 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.