Ergonomic Bluetooth Keyboard - Options?

[Bramimond]

Country is Germany. What are my options for ergonomic keyboards that have bluetooth support? My current driver is the Natural 4000, which is awesome, though the clicks are really loud, which is annoying. (People keep writing about "satisfying clicks", which I never understood. I'd prefer my input periphals to not make any noise at all.) If there's a solution that can be purchased to turn any keyboard into a bluetooth keyboard, that would work, too. But I'm not interested in tinkering.

 

I want it for couch computing. The Natural 4000 is also awesome in that regard, but the cable gets in the way.

 

 

Read further only if you care for the boring 'why bluetooth'.

 

The reason I want to avoid an usb dongle is that my hub is already full. Now if you know of a passive usb hub with, like, 20 ports - I'm in, since then I could more easily extend my collection of connected input periphals, which currently stands at three trackballs, one touchpad, a vertical mouse, two keyboards (yes, I want a third keyboard) and three gamepads. No, I'm not open to the idea of an active hub, since there's no power where the hub is placed, which is about a 5m usb extension cable away from the PC.

[Spakes]

I'd say "Look for Logitech stuff", but it's applicable only if you have around 200 Euros to spend...

Better option would be going to MediaMarkt, Saturn or any other place that has keyboards in showroom for testing (or ask for some, most probably they'll give one for you) and choose here.

Also, Amazon and Idealo can help find some options (just to get to know what to look for).

[Bramimond]

I already tried retailers, but they don't carry ergonomic keyboards. They don't even have the Natural 4000 in stock anymore.

 

The only thing I found on amazon was the Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard. I don't like the position of the FN key, however.

[Bramimond]

On 9/6/2019 at 10:36 PM, Spakes said:

I'd say "Look for Logitech stuff", but it's applicable only if you have around 200 Euros to spend...

Money isn't that much of an issue, but I haven't found any ergonomic keyboards from Logitech..

[nox_]

https://kinesis-ergo.com/shop/freestyle2-blue-pc/

23 minutes ago, Bramimond said:

Money isn't that much of an issue, but I haven't found any ergonomic keyboards from Logitech..

Have you looked into split ergonomic keyboards? Like Ergodox or kinesis? Or you might go something custom like : https://imgur.com/a/t4JT4i0

Or this https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=99203.0 if money is really not an issue. Below a photo of TGR Alice, so you could figure if it's something you might like.

Oh, sorry, it must be bluetooth. Sorry about that, you might turn them into bluetooth, but tinkering would be involved..

@Dissitesuxba11s Any other options that you might know of, that suit op needs?

Oh, this is bluetooth : https://kinesis-ergo.com/shop/freestyle2-blue-pc/

Edited September 10, 2019 by noxdeouroboros

[Dissitesuxba11s]

2 hours ago, noxdeouroboros said:

-snip-

The Alice is such a beautiful board! Unfortunately, OP doesn't seem to have a mechanical keyboard requirement and I think this is an immediate need, so group buys are out of the question.

 

OP, are you okay with wireless USB instead of Bluetooth? Maybe plug the receiver on the front of your computer?

If you are maybe take a look at the Logitech MK550, or the Microsoft Sculpt. Adesso also has a few wireless options that vary from just a wireless ergo keyboard like this one, to one that has a built in track ball.

[Bramimond]

My computer doesn't have front USB. Because of the look I chose it will be difficult to find something fitting to build in, too. If there were bigger passive USB hubs I wouldn't need to insist on Bluetooth. But the way it stands, I need an ergonomic, Bluetooth, qwertz keyboard. Though, maybe I'll just have to compromise somehow on the Bluetooth part. I can think of some solutions that involve tinkering, which I would prefer to avoid, but oh well.

 

I have no opinion on mechanical or not. I don't dislike the rubber stuff from the Natural 4000, but I dislike the loud noise it makes. If I didn't know better I'd insist on inaudible keystrokes, too. But no one really bothers making them. Even laptop keyboards are kind of loud.

 

freestyle2-blue-pc/ - Not ergonomic enough, it's just a normal keyboard split in two.

MK550 - Not ergonomic enough

Sculpt - I kind of like and kind of don't like it. The way things are cramped beyond the enter key is unfortunate.

Adesso WKB - Looks unremarkable, but solid. Can't find it on amazon.de, though

Adesso WKB-3500 - Looks cool (I especially like the trackball), but can't find it on amazon.de, either. Anywhere else I can buy a qwertz version of this?

[Dissitesuxba11s]

1 hour ago, Bramimond said:

Adesso WKB-3500 - Looks cool (I especially like the trackball), but can't find it on amazon.de, either. Anywhere else I can buy a qwertz version of this?

Are you okay with Newegg? Found one here.

 

Sorry, not really familiar with my European online markets.

[Bramimond]

2 hours ago, Dissitesuxba11s said:

Are you okay with Newegg? Found one here.

That's still a qwerty layout, isn't it? I need qwertz.

..also, it does look kind of cheap up close, but it isn't cheap at all. If only the Natural 4000 was available wireless..

[Spakes]

https://hackaday.com/2016/09/04/convert-any-usb-keyboard-to-bluetooth/

http://handheldsci.com/kb/

https://hackaday.com/2016/09/04/convert-any-usb-keyboard-to-bluetooth/

Just an idea, either DIY it or get something like this from AliExpress/eBay/GearBest/TaoBao...