Most budget friendly ergo split?

[u/ThiceBeno]

Hi everyone! I'm a fairly new finder of this sub, but it seems to have been found at an ironic time. Im a software developer and we had a guy start at work that uses a split keyboard, that started my interest, so I was already looking at them.

I've been using PCs regularly for over 20 years since I was 11, and wouldn't you know it my bad habits and awkward typing/mouse angles caught up to my wrists, Merry Christmas right haha... With my recent diagnosis I decided I should seriously look at getting an ergo split to help and maybe a track ball? Problem is most of these options are way out of my price range especially the prebuilt ones and I don't even have the tools to do the DIY ones even if they are cheaper.

So I'm looking for some help. I'd love some suggestions and thought people have on ergo keyboards and mice (if mice are allowed to talk about in this sub?). Anything I can learn to help the pain in my wrists.

Also looking for what's the best option for budget friendly ergo split to help with wrist problems? This time of year is rough anyway with three kids birthday and wife's birthday all within a month of Christmas. Ideally I'd love to be around $100 but seems that is near impossible. Is there any options in that range, or something near by I could save up for (though not ideal for how my wrists are feeling), or does anyone have a decent old one laying around they'd like to part with.

Thanks a ton, you guys seems like a really cool community looking forward to hanging around!

[u/DanL4]

Maybe look at second hand boards? In my opinion the cheapino isn't a good option for a first board. It's got 36 keys, which is fine for many, but not for all. I suggest a 6 column board (cheapino has 5). Home row mods aren't for everyone and they're more or less required for 5 column boards. Take a look at myriocu as an example of what you're getting into with 36 keys.

Good luck!

[u/theTechRun → u/DanL4]

I use the Cheapino (my first split) without home row mods (I hate them). I went the Seniply route with one shot modifiers (secondary) on the extend layer... and added my own spin on it with thumb keys modifiers (primary) as well.

I think this was easy as a first board because I had to memorize less keys on the base layer and I don't ever have to move my hands from the home row position.

[u/DanL4 → u/theTechRun]

Looks interesting, and I definitely would recommend this over home row mods for someone taking their first steps with a minimalist board. I know some, like yourself, dive in directly to a 36 key board and manage to make it work. I needed to begin with 6 columns, and to this day (six years later) can't say for sure if it was a step forward or backwards :-)

[u/theTechRun → u/DanL4]

Nice. Always a step forward if you're coming from a full board 👍

[u/DanL4 → u/theTechRun]

Didn't phrase it clear enough. The move from 6 to 5 is the one I'm unsure of