My kingdom for a split keyboard with a traditional layout. I have no interest in chording, layers, or having fewer keys. No numpad if you must cut something. I just want to spread my arms without any additional novelty. No shortage of “vertical” desk space, give me that F-row
I’m very happy with my Matias Ergo Pro. No numpad, and reduced size F-row, but otherwise normal layout plus a few programmable macro keys on the side. https://matias.store/collections/ergo
This looks awesome. There's also the R Go Split, drops the curvature but you gain in portability: https://www.r-go-tools.co.uk/r-go-split-break-version-2/
If you're a Mac user, I have a Keychron that fits this description, the Q11. It's basically a split mechanical MacBook keyboard.
Almost. I own a Mistel MD770 which does a very similar arrangement. I strongly dislike the non standard home/end/pgup/pgdown positioning.
Had you asked me how often I use those keys, I would have said hardly ever. Now that I have to suffer that layout, I have realized they are crucial for my typing/usage patterns.
That bugged me about the Q11 at first too, for the same reason. I remapped the keys (which is easy to do) so I had Home/End above backspace, and then the three keys on the right are Del/PgUp/PgDn, and it was pretty easy to get used to without really changing my typing habits. The default layout is truly weird though. I can't imagine using insert more than end.
I like these: https://eu.perixx.com/products/periboard-535
The F-lock nonsense isn't too awful, you get all of the keys, the layout is pretty standard, you can buy ANSI layout ones in the UK, and there's a full set of meta keys that are usefully symmetrical enough. Also: connects to PC with a wire. No batteries required. (The wonders of modern technology!)
Haven't tried the brown switches.
The red switches are quite light touch with a nice positive action. Very nice to type on for text, where my fingers can get into a good rhythm, but it's a bit too easy to hit the wrong key if I'm going for an arbitrary keyboard shortcut.
The blue switches go click, which feels great to type on, and I've found it does help a bit with the problem of hitting the wrong key (something about the more obvious multimodal feedback gets my subconscious on the job I suppose) - but I never quite got on with the slightly heavier key action.
I used to use the MS Ergo 4000, and I've found this a good replacement. The keyboard layout is very similar, as is the reverse tilt angle, and the palm rest is fine, even if it's IMO inferior to the MS 4000. (But: the MS 4000's reverse tilt stand, a single piece of solid plastic, is significantly more solid than the Perixx's little fold out things. Worth bearing in mind if you're in the habit of resting your elbows on the palm rest when in thought.)
I bought a stockpile of Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard for Business (LXM-00001) when they were still available, after Microsoft announced discontinuing their peripherals. I hope they’ll last me for a long time. I don’t know if the curved geometry still counts as a traditional layout for you, though. Incase, who acquired Microsoft’s peripherals IP, has re-released them, but apparently can’t keep up with the orders: https://www.incase.com/products/ergonomic-keyboard
Check out the Feker Alice series of keyboards. The Alice 98 has a full set of function keys & numpad. High quality build, too, I've been very happy with it. The one & only thing I don't like about it is it's missing the Home and End keys, but I can live without them.
https://fekertech.com/products/feker-alice98-qmk-via
It has some good aspects, but it doesn’t go upwards in the middle (so that you can tilt your hands outwards), can’t be tilted backwards, and has no palm rest. Regarding the key layout, I’m addicted to the 3x2 navigation block unfortunately, as well as to the context menu key, and have no use for a Fn modifier key. I appreciate wide modifier keys; a single-width Ctrl key like on the right side or the Alt key on the left side won’t do. And I’d really prefer having Alt on both sides. Lastly, I don’t want the arrow keys to be lower than normal (if anything, I’d rather have them a little higher up).
No the single slab of keyboard is not quite what I want. Being able to fully separate my arms feels so much better than scrunching my shoulders all day.
Kinesis freestyle is basically this, they seem to have discontinued the "Pro" mechanical version in favor of an RGB l337 gam3r one but maybe you can just leave that off