I've never paid too much mind to the instrument I'm using to produce my work. I've geeked out over computers, word processing software, monitors, cloud storage, and just about everything else in the workflow of a writer except for the keyboard.
I have an Apple laptop with chiclet-style keys and a wireless HP keyboard that is much the same. I used those to bang out my first novel and never thought twice about there being something better suited to the task.
Well I'm now tumbling down the rabbit hole of keyboard styles and technologies, looking for the ideal typing tool. I suppose it makes sense, as I have obsessed over finding the perfect pen in the past. From what I've seen online, mechanical keyboards are the most satisfying keyboards around. There are different types of switches in mechanical keyboards designated by color (green, blue, black, brown, red, clear). Blue switches are supposedly preferred by typists for their enhanced auditory feedback (read, they are LOUD). I've tried out a Cooler Master keyboard with blue switches and it sounds as though I'm on a typewriter from the 1930s. Pretty distracting and if others are around, they will attempt to murder you.
So I am curious if my fellow writers have found themselves pining for the perfect keyboard. If so, did you ever find the tool that was just right? What was it? What did you like about it?
p.s. I like my current setup. I don't think a new keyboard is going to enable me to write the next bestseller, but when you spend the majority of your life in front of a keyboard even just a small improvement in efficiency, ergonomics, response can make a difference. This is, without a doubt, a first world problem.
I only use Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboards. This is a link showing the 4000 I have now.
For me it is important because I tend to get either a few hundred words a month or a few hundred thousand, so when inspiration hits so to speak I need to do everything I can to let it come.
Dwayne, I have seen a lot of love for that style of keyboard. Unfortunately, my typing techique it far too atrocious to take advatage of such a design.
It might be vice versa; you need something like it to learn a typing style that isn't atrocious.
The real devil may be in other details. Have you thought about taking a typing course? I did it in high school as an extra subject (even though everyone told me it was for too unglamorous and unacademic) and it was the best darn thing I ever learned in that place. You can learn to type pretty effectively in just a week or two. It's not nearly as hard as it may seem. Once you've got it down, the words fly out. Switching keyboards makes scant difference after that; you get used to them all pretty quick.
I would recommend learning to touch type properly and completely. No keyboard in the world can replace that skill for a writer.
I have been a programmer for more than a few years now, and I was cruising down the road to some really gnarly RSD pain, and then I just sat my ass down and learned to type, and the problems have mostly deserted me.
I also really cut the fat from my vim config, which saved millions of keystrokes - my advice for writers is to really work on your autocomplete settings and autocorrect - save your hands! Also, use a mouse as little as possible,
That is a reasonable and thought out statement I totally agree with. Who are you, and why are you posting on Jeff's account?
Muhuhuhwahwa-schwa! Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Typing with more than two fingers sounds a little too intense for me.
My father told me when I was little that I had better learn to type because I was going to be a secretary some day. I used Mavis Beacon to learn to type. Worked awesome and they are like video games so it's sort of fun too, in a way. Typing 150wpm makes all the difference when trying to take down your thoughts or transcribe your work. Without it i'd never be able to type out all my recorded stuff.
I've always wanted to try out recording and then using some transcribing software to get it into text. Think how much typing that would save!
I've tried everything but Dragon and got junk; anyone had any luck with it?
If you like the sleeker, laptop type of design, check this guy out.
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/k750-keyboard
I can type 80-90+ wpm with that thing, easily keeping up with what I'm thinking, vs 70 if I'm really lucky on a big clunky keyboard.
It takes me so long to craft each phrase in my head as I go that typing speed/comfort has always been a non-factor in productivity. I want to be creative faster.
