# Learning curve on an Ergonomic keyboard **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2000, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458 "2000-10-18T21:10:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/1 "2000-10-18T21:10:13Z")
Seriously, how long is this going to take? I feel so disjointed, and I am ready to beg to have my standard 104 key back! Aieeeee! It seems that I didn’t necessarily use the right fingers on the keys, especially the B. I found this out by hearing the smack of my right index finger agains blank plastic when trying to hit it. Fun fun fun! ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/2 "2000-10-18T21:20:19Z")
I took to it like a drunk takes to everclear. Then again, I’m a touch typist, my fingers go on the right keys, and the ergo keyboard just felt “right” to me from the beginning. Now, I can’t go back to the old style to save my life - MUCH happier with the ergo. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/3 "2000-10-18T22:15:37Z")
Oh God I love mine. My typing speed LEPT up once I started using it. –Tim ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/4 "2000-10-18T23:00:58Z")
I love mine too. As soon as I got it, I was magically transformed into a touch-typist–really! I had always used the “right fingers” to type with, but I never could really type without looking at the keys. As soon as I got used to the ergo keyboard though (it took about a week) I could type without looking at the keys! Wow! And my speed and accuracy is much better. Now, I can touch-type on a regular keyboard too. YMMV of course, but stick with it–it’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2000, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/5 "2000-10-18T23:20:36Z")
Took me about an hour to get used to it. If anything I type faster now. The only complain I have is that the Backspace and the pipe keys are a little too far away from my right pinkie. Otherwise it is great. I use an ergonomic keyboard at work and a standard keyboard at home so I am maintainly keyboard bilingualness. The hard part is that I have gotten used to my track-wheel on the mouse at work but don’t have one at home. It seems to crude to actually use scroll bars when at home. ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/6 "2000-10-19T01:36:35Z")
The keyboard in general? Almost no time. Except for the B key. Apparently I’d been using the wrong hand to type B with all of this time and hadn’t realized it. My sister couldn’t even imagine why it was easier for me to type B with my right hand, but oh well. Anyway, I had the whole thing down in less than a week, and I just love it! I couldn’t go back. And obfusciatrist, I think you should get a scroll bar mouse at home. I hate going without, and I don’t think that you should have to. ---
**Author:** ![ignoscop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/94ad74/32.png) [@ignoscop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ignoscop)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/7 "2000-10-19T01:45:11Z")
It took me one week to the day. I was chugging along at top speed and thought Hey, it’s been one week to the day. My sales slip expires today, should I return it? No, I’m doing fine. That’s the last I thought of it. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/8 "2000-10-19T02:12:02Z")
lolagranola: yeah, but then I would have to go to CompUSA where they managed to combine the lack of selection at CompUSA with the horrible customer service at Computer City. I could go to a boutique shop but I never seem to have the energy to go find one. Of course, it now occurs to me that I am online, I should just go buy one and have it shipped to me. ---
**Author:** ![Tzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzel)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/9 "2000-10-19T07:40:38Z")
Count me among those of you that hit the B key with the right finger. It just seems most natural. Maybe it’s a right handed thing. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2000, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/10 "2000-10-19T20:14:42Z")
I’m a self-taught typist and I don’t type for a living. I tried one of these for a few months, but eventually, I quit trying to guess where the keys had moved to, took that spaceship off of my desk and got a keyboard I could use. ---
**Author:** ![zuma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9c0ed/32.png) [@zuma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuma)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/11 "2000-10-20T11:54:39Z")
hee. i made the transition 2 years ago. i remember it vividly. the first 2 weeks were absolute hell. but i’d never go back. just put up with it for a couple weeks, and you’ll be converted. no more carpal-tunnel (sore wrists). the ergometric keyboard will, in a few weeks time, be the best thing that ever happened to you! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/12 "2000-10-20T13:19:10Z")
Well, things are definitely improving! I’ve narrowed down my mistake quotient considerably, but that damn B key! Aaaaugh! ---
**Author:** ![JamesCarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@JamesCarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesCarroll)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/13 "2000-10-20T16:53:40Z")
I was never a very strong typist; still aren’t despite the best efforts of Mavis Beacon. I have gotten used to it and I find that if nothing else I am a more “correct” typer. The flaw that the ergo immediately exposed was my crossing over for the “t” and “y” keys. And while I did stub a few fingers at first, I at least my hands on the right side of the keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2000, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-curve-on-an-ergonomic-keyboard/37458/14 "2000-10-20T17:19:04Z")
I am becoming a better blind typist since we got the ergo board here… I have never taken a lesson and was typing at 45 wpm… I might have to retest myself as I thik I have mproved my speed quite a bit. This really helps when I user the standard board at work…