If you bought a new keyboard today, what layout do you want?

[bhtooefr]

Just something I'm curious about. Don't really care about exact details of the layout (ANSI vs. ISO vs. JIS or anything like that), just what general type of layout people are interested in.

You get one choice, but can change it until the poll closes. Poll's open for 2 weeks.

Definitions of the various types:

Enhanced: 101-key ANSI and closely derived layouts (ISO, JIS, Windows keys, differently shaped Enter keys, etc.), such as the 101-key Model Ms, and most keyboards available today
Extended Enhanced: Layouts derived from Enhanced layouts, but with additional sections for additional function keys beyond 12 (such as terminal keyboards), media keys (not ones that share the same keys as existing function keys, but rather dedicated media keys), or macro keys (such as many gaming keyboards, especially rubber dome)
Tenkeyless: Layouts derived from Enhanced layouts, but without a numeric keypad
Extended tenkeyless: Layouts derived from extended Enhanced layouts, but without a numeric keypad (not very many of these exist, but pretend they do - the 104-key IBM terminal keyboards come to mind)
Navigationless, with tenkey: What it says on the tin - layouts that don't have dedicated navigation keys, yet do have a numeric keypad. IBM XT and AT layouts count, as does the CM Storm QuickFire TK
~70% layout: A condensed tenkeyless layout, typically with function keys, and with dedicated navigation keys compressed into the main area (laptop keyboard layouts tend to be in this category)
~60% layout: An extremely condensed tenkeyless layout, without function keys, and usually without dedicated navigation keys (if present, they're combined into the main keyboard area)
Fixed conventional split ergonomic: A non-adjustable ergonomic layout derived from the Enhanced or extended Enhanced layouts, may be tenkeyless (but not usually). Think Microsoft Natural.
Adjustable split ergonomic: An adjustable ergonomic layout, regardless of layout (as long as it's something vaguely conventional), or how many axes it's adjustable in. Think Model M15, Goldtouch, Apple Adjustable.
Radical ergonomic: Anything that is a radically different ergonomic layout - bowl shaped layouts (some Kinesis boards, Maltron), weird layouts like Datahand, foot-keyboards, chording boards, half-keyboards, etc. are examples. If you use this, please clarify your vote.
Other: Anything I left out.

If you need clarification as far as whether a layout falls into one category or another, please post.

[Muirium]

Radical ergo, because that's what I don't already got. As for its design: split, certainly, and non-flat. A Datahand-like design with Topre keyswitches, programmable controller, and Bluetooth? It would be wild!

[davkol]

derp

[vatin]

Radical ergonomic. And I just got an ergodox, because efficiency is the game.

[Muirium]

However, my next purchase will be something like GH75. I wish there was a compact mechanical non-staggered keyboard—basically mechanical TypeMatrix 2030, but it doesn't exist AFAIK.

When something doesn't exist, it is time to make one. Got a layout in mind?

[Halvar]

I'd really like to try an ErgoDox-like split keyboard, but not at the current price point that doesn't seem to be worth it to me when considering all the work that's still needed to build it.

After all, its technically just a Cherry MX keyboard, only with a different design. I really hope Dox finds some way to have this made a mass-produced product so prices come down to an acceptable level.

[abhibeckert]

I just bought a tenkeyless yestereday, but we are talking hyperthetical purchases so I voted for 70%.

Size is a priority because I want other input devices and coffee/notepad to be as close as possible. When I used a laptop I would operate the trackpad with my thumb while my fingers were still on the home row. Handy for software with poor keyboard shortcuts.

I also prefer wireless (although I don't own any wireless keyboards) since I'm moving the keybaord multiple times a day and the cable gets in the way.

My favourite keyboard design is apple's bluetooth keyboard. It's a 70% but close to a 60% in size by using half sized keys for everything a 60% would remove altogether. And it doesn't have any stupid empty space between different key areas. WTF are people thinking putting all that empty space between numbers and function keys, or arrow keys and the rest of the keyboard? Why would you want keys to be further away and slower/less ergonomic to press?

I also like the implementation of the fn key — it's on the lower left so your other hand is free to hit the (many) keys made available. For example a full numeric keypad.

Being bluetooth also makes it compatible with a smartphone or tablet... this would be a more realistic use case if there was some kind of switch to toggle between two different bluetooth pairing profiles.

Of course, I will never buy one. It has scissor switches. But I love the layout.

[Muirium]

Indeed, I love that board. It's one of the few keyboards I can forgive for using scissor switches: it's just far too damn thin and light for anything else.

But I gotta tell you, the Bluetooth pairing part sucks. It really needs multi-host support behind those function keys. Instead I've got to dance a merry sleep-wake dance to transfer it between computers. And the worst bit: a hard limit at four hosts it can remember at any time. FOUR!? Pair with a fifth, lose the first. FFS ahoy!

Yet just lifting it… that bastard Jony Ive! I can't help but love the little thing.

[bhtooefr]

Mind you, some space makes it easier to locate keys.

[input]

Really like my ISO full size layout

[Muirium]

Space has its place. Even if just a little.

I know the layout through ten years experience with its PowerBook predecessor. But initial learning was frustrating. And half height arrow keys? Hmm. I like them but totally understand many people's grr. Half height is really just for media keys.

[gropingmantis]

60% but not the standard cut down 60% layout (most of which make no sense).

However this may change to ergonomic when my ErgoDox arrives, judging by the replies in this thread at least.

[Hypersphere]

I agree about the ~60- 70% layout of the Apple BT KB (or the keyboard on the current Macbook Air). The layout is ideal for me. The main typing keys are standard size, spacing, and stagger. It retains function and arrow keys, but these are half-height.The Fn key is intelligently and ergonomically placed. PageUp, PageDn, Home, and End are intuitively linked to the arrow keys in the Fn layer.

After trying a keyboard w/o arrow keys, I realized how much I use them everyday. So, although I appreciate the aesthetics and interesting design of true 60% boards, they would not serve me well for everyday work. On the other hand (as it were), I use function keys relatively infrequently and might be able to have these relegated to the Fn layer. Trying to get arrow keys to fit in a ~60% board is a nearly intractable problem; it seems that half-height arrow keys is a good solution. Accordingly, it would be good if Cherry would design a half-height switch and if matching custom keycaps would become available.

[meroving]

60%, but as people before have noted, a 60% layout gets rid of a few relatively common keys, so its' usability depends heavily on a reasonable and intuitive Fn-layer layout. Then again, I fear that "reasonable and intuitive" is different from person to person, so a 60% keyboard REALLY needs a programmable Fn-layer.

I'd love to get rid of the arrow keys, if they were on Fn+HJKL - Vim style

[czarek]

Standard or tenkeyless.
Most ergo layouts are only usable for writing texts in English, and rather useless while coding (Vim), writing in languages that rely on pressing Alt for national characters, not to even mention gaming.

[Icarium]

I disagree. You sometimes have to remap stuff but I use neo2 for everything and it works fine.

[czarek]

I disagree. You sometimes have to remap stuff but I use neo2 for everything and it works fine.

Yes but do you use it on an ergo keyboard or a pretty standard one where you have Control, Shift, Alt and Win/Cmd keys on both sides? That's what bothers me in ergo layouts.

[Icarium]

I'm using it on a Kinesis Advantage. Of course you should have all modifiers on both sides if at all possible.

[ماء]

I want adjustable split Radical ergonomic

[czarek]

I'm using it on a Kinesis Advantage. Of course you should have all modifiers on both sides if at all possible.

Wow now you impress me. I'd love to use KA but I couldn't stand the ESC key being rubber (I could possibly ignore F-keys), and I lack creativity on how I'd remap it to have all the keys I need within an easy reach. Could you please share your layout somehow?

[Ostrich]

I'm rooting for the upcoming gh75, I hope it will be affordable in a German layout...

[kps]

Wow now you impress me. I'd love to use KA but I couldn't stand the ESC key being rubber (I could possibly ignore F-keys)

As you're a vi user, you could do as I do: swap ESC with (forward) Delete. This produces a nice symmetry between Enter (end lines & commands) and ESC (end input).

You'd also probably want to swap the up/down arrows to align them with J and K.

I personally also move backquote to the Caps Lock location for symmetry with apostrophe, and use the backquote and international/Insert locations for Alt and AltGr.

In my "new keyboard" layout work-in-progress (split Kinesis + Round4 spherical caps) I am adding AltGr ("Symbol") keys below Shift and will use the spare locations for Compose and something TBD.

[Edit: read your previous post for context.]

[Findecanor]

Nobody but me who would buy an Adjustable Split Ergonomic?
It is like a tenkeyless, but further apart is better for the shoulders. I wouldn't have to readjust to a layout that I'm not used to.

[davkol]

derp

[Sloth_mc]

Definitely a Topre 104ub. It's the only "mainstream" switch I haven't tried.