A One-Handed Writer’s Search for the Perfect Mechanical Keyboard #Keyboards @wirecutter
Britt H. Young on Wirecutter writes about searching for a perfect keyboard for a one handed writer.
For me, an external keyboard is better than the built-in keyboard on my laptop, since I can place it closer to my typing hand and limit overextending my shoulder on one side to reach the keys. And a compact keyboard with a smaller footprint makes it easier for my hand to zip from one side to the other. Still, I was worried the Wirecutter picks wouldn’t suit me. Not only did I want to finally customize the keys with my preferred layout—not all keyboards can have the QWERTY layout rearranged into Dvorak—I also sought to find relatively “fast” keys that could keep up with me and still provide pleasing tactile responses reminiscent of a typewriter
Of the combinations I tried, I ended up loving the Tab 75, with a black-and-white set of matte DSA keycaps. Since the switches on my version weren’t quite what I wanted—and would require soldering to put different ones in—I had to tinker with other boards to find what I like. If you’re worried about being indecisive, you may want a keyboard with hot-swappable switches that can be pulled out and installed without the need to solder. Instead of the more well-known Cherry blue switches, I settled on Kailh white switches that provided the click I craved without breaking the sound barrier. Anyone with unique layout needs can rearrange DSA-profile caps with ease, but they will need to start with a keyboard case that can accommodate the keycaps and switches they like. I’ll be combining DSA caps with Kailh white switches on a board that looks similar to the Tab75: a Tofu65.
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