A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Carpal Tunnel & ergo keyboards - HurtingMT

Posted: Nov 12, 2011

I was wondering if anyone has tried either the Kinesis contoured, Kinesis Freestyle, Goldtouch, or SafeType keyboards.

I am using a Microsoft ergo split keyboard now, but I am having more and more pain and numb/weird feelings in my arms and hands. It's getting to the point where I am having a lot of difficulty typing. I definitely need to invest in a more high-end ergo keyboard, but they are quite expensive and I am not sure which one would be best. Just looking for any experiences and pros/cons with these various ergo boards. Thanks so much!

I love my Comfort Keyboard, Completely split and each - side is verticle. On its base it looks SM

[ In Reply To ..]
Like a raised drawbridge. Plus space between 2 halves can be widened to shoulder width. I type in the "shake hands" neutral position. Very easy to get used to. Heck, a good MT shouldnt have to look at her keyboard, anyway. Another good thing, keys are progamable. I have left side of space bar programed as backspace and F1 programmed as a comma. Right hand on mouse, backspace with left thumb and insert those commas with my left ring finger. Very fast. Have tried the Goldtouch, too. Its okay but with a bit of a tummy in front, I like that I can separate the 2 halves of the Comfort keyboard to shoulder width. I got mine on Ebay years ago. Love it.

Comfort - vertical? - HurtingMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Cool, I didn't know about the Comfort. From what you describe it sounds like you have yours completely vertical on each side. I was looking at the website and I couldn't figure out if it goes completely vertical. They show it in a "tent" formation, but no pictures of it straight up and down. Is yours vertical?

Yes, mine is a few degress shy of completely vertical. But it is - completely adjustable, to whatever SM

[ In Reply To ..]
degree of straight up and down you prefer. And in the shoulder width space between the 2 sides, is where I have my notebook that I use to keep track of jobs. And the number pad is very easy to use.

I have used the Kinesis Freestyle for about the last 3-4 - Kiki

[ In Reply To ..]
years, and now I can never go back to typing on anything else. I think it's the "feel" of the keys that does it for me; there is very little pressure required to strike each key. When I use my old keyboard, which was a microsoft "ergo" my hands/wrists instantly start hurting.

Soft touch - HurtingMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Yeah, the touch of the keys is important to me as well. This Microsoft board feels like I have to put a lot of effort into each keystroke. I want something that is VERY easy to press.

keyboard - Fatigued Fingers

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I have a Microsoft Ergo and I'm wondering if that might not be the cause of the problem I'm having with my hands. I may have to shell out a little more money next time I buy one.

Kinesis Freestyle - Another Kinesis fan

[ In Reply To ..]
I've been using a Kinesis Freestyle (with the accessories that let me tilt each half outward at a bit of an angle), and I LOVE it. So much, in fact, that I bought a spare so I wouldn't have to use a regular keyboard for a day or two if anything ever went wrong with the first one (though nothing has, in several years now).

Kinesis is an absolute JOY to deal with, too! I can't say enough good about them.

Can Kinesis go completely vertical? nm - HurtingMT

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

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