Re: RSI-basher?

On Wed, Aug 11, 2004 at 09:50:11AM +0100, Dick Davies wrote:

> These are absolutely brilliant. I would be typing this with my nose if it=
 weren't for mine,
> as it is I am still doing development work and sysadmin with only the odd=
 ibuprofen to keep
> me healthy.

Yeah, that's the thing. Last night I was in an absolutely foul mood, because
I knew if this got any worse, in effect my career would be over. As I'm
still only 26 (yes, I have been in front of a screen playing/admining/coding
since I was 11 and I can't imagine being able to do anything else for a
living), this is not something I really wanted to occur.

On the mailing list there have been loads of good pieces of advice about=20
ergonomics, individual choices of keyboards and setups, and they're all=20
useful. I intend taking all that advice (even the weird one about the coppe=
r=20
bracelet) simply because until neurological i/o implants are available, I=
=20
don't have any choice.

I also, having realised I can get work to pay for it and having read your=
=20
comments, have decided I'm going to get one of these keyboards. Even if wor=
k=20
refuse for some reason, I'm going to pony up for it out of my own pocket.=
=20
Unless I find something even better. :-)
=20
> * universal support - no drivers needed, every OS I've used it with (*BSD=
, Linux, win*, mac os*)
> sees it as a USB hub with mouse and keyboard attached.

That's nice. Only thing I have to consider is those occasions when I'm=20
plugging into boxes without USB support. Hmmmm.

> * flash updates using a piece of Java - you also get a GUI then to config=
ure all the perks

Java? I'm in BSD world! Getting Java to run on FreeBSD was so hard the last=
=20
time I tried it, I've given up hope. Still, I'm sure I'll find a way. :-)

> * it can switch layouts - I think Dvorak, Qwerty and Qwerak are in the la=
test ROM - *without* needing
>   a layout update in the OS : so if you use Dvorak you set that in the ke=
yboard and don't need to configure
>   each OS - win2k in particular drives me potty since it has per-app keyb=
oard maps, I avoid all that with
>   this.

Yeah, I'm thinking about making the jump to Dvorak, but I can type very=20
quickly with QWERTY and am not sure I want to go through the pain of=20
re-learning the layout. It seems a lot of hassle seeing as I only got=20
touch-typing down pat about 2-3 years ago.

> * it fits over most laptop keyboards so you can use it anywhere - there's=
 a macintouch version out soon=20
>   that replaces the standard iBook keyboard

That's a must for me. If I go Dvorak, I need it to go over my thinkpad. I=
=20
can't believe I'm considering replacing my thinkpad keyboard...

> the only other feature I'd like is changable overlays - they do printable=
 overlays, but paper wears out.
> I got the QWERTY version, then switched to Dvorak and it would have been =
nice to see where an odd character is,
> but if you're learning to touch type on it its simpler to download the pr=
intable overlays and stick them
> on either side of the monitor.

That's the one thing that has put me off so far. If I go one route and then=
=20
want to try or revert another route, it's $300 effectively down the drain.=
=20
At the moment the $/GBP exchange rate is so good for me that this is not=20
actually prohibitively expensive - about 150 GBP - but down the road it=20
might be closer to 225 GBP as it has been in recent years.

> All in all they are really well made bits of kit, I agree they're a bit p=
ricey but it's the best 300 dollars
> you'll ever spend if it means you can keep working. And the 'wow, nice ke=
yboard'/'what the f_ck is that, it looks
> like a stealth fighter' geek points are a nice bonus...

True. I would have preferred them to come in Manchester City Blue rather=20
than Manchester United Red/Burgandy, but then that's probably me=20
over-thinking about the new Premiership season starting this weekend.... :-)
=20
> any specific questions feel free to mail me.

Cheers. I think you've covered everything.

--=20
Paul Robinson
http://www.iconoplex.co.uk/
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