I stopped using a split keyboard
The author describes their experience switching from a split ergonomic keyboard back to a conventional non-split keyboard, explaining the reasons behind their decision and the trade-offs they observed.
Background
- Split keyboards (e.g., Ergodox, Moonlander, Kinesis Advantage) physically separate the two halves of the keyboard so the hands can remain shoulder-width apart, theoretically reducing wrist strain.
- Enthusiasts often pair them with alternative key layouts (such as Colemak or Dvorak) and layers (using keys like a thumb cluster for Shift/Enter/Backspace) for efficiency.
- The author tried this approach for years but eventually returned to a conventional keyboard (likely a standard row-staggered layout), arguing that the ergonomic and productivity gains were not worth the friction in daily use — e.g., difficulty typing on laptops, hotel keyboards, or colleagues’ machines.
- The post is a reflection on diminishing returns in ergonomic customization, relevant to the programmer/tech-worker community where split keyboards have become a prominent status symbol and topic of debate.