The Ergodox keyboard is the main reason to type again.

 I've been a government employee for more than 6 months.  When I recently got there I took my old safetype keyboard to work.  It's a testament that I care for my main tools, which are my hands.  Sadly, it was only a matter of time for that keyboard to expire, be it the bad frequency pushed by competitors, the fact that it's an historic piece from 2008.  I can't really say for sure, but that thing lost a whole column and I'm too lazy and uninterested to open it up and fix it, may it rest in peace.  At the time, I reverted to my Melody96 compatible keyboard, it's almost full size, Kailh white clicky switches and very stylish keycaps, GMK carbon by Tombery.  The feedback on those keys is worth it yet it's not ergonomic whatsoever.  A Level 2 at best.  My direct boss,  we'll call her Alice, I convinced her to get a mechanical keyboard, she did.  I guess the easiest investment to do is get something that'll protect your work tools, in this case, hands.

  I guess you could say I love orange and bees, and honey.

That keyboard is cool and all, but my hand pain is inevitable.  I searched through the tubes, the first thing that popped up was an Ergodox EZ, that thing to my knowledge is a cheap knockoff, the brains on it are limited, no macros, just a couple of layers, it's the poor man's ergodox.  That company is going in another direction anyway, trying to sell something called a moonlander.  I think it's fine that they got some idea of what ergonomic should be, but I'm interested in quality, if I really wanted something cheap, I'd go to Ali Express, and that's where I found a listing for an Ergodone.  It's basically a knockoff  infinty ergodox motherboard.  Still, I didn't read much into it, it could be the infinity ergodox motherboard without the useful screens.  I was willing to buy it, solder my switches and carry on.  But, the Kono store saved me.  I googled further and came upon an Ergodox hotdox Proof that evoluttion only exists in technology, this version has an Alpaca, I can take the switches off and replace them with something else, 4 layers, macros, it's the real deal. I am happily typing away with this thing.  No fuss no hazzle, maybe a few mistakes.

 

Just look at that beauty, I can fit a huge mug right in between my input device.  This is meant to be a quick start guide if you wish to get one yourself, I do believe they are still available. https://apos.audio/products/ergodox-76-hot-dox-v2-mechanical-keyboard

My last recommendation is to take a look at the very elegant and prestigious Kinesis Advantage, even I benefited from its existence.  The keys on the thumb cluster are better than the default config for the ergodox, why would anyone want to do space and backspace all in the left hand?  Hell, even backspace was doubled on another key, no no no.  Ergodox guys, just copy from Kinesis, there's no shame in that.

The Kinesis advantage is more expensive, it has no led screens and it's looks even funkier, unfortunately for them, there is very little customization options, and very little street cred, if there is such a thing for this type of gizmos and shit.

 Here's a pic.

 

That small apparatus on the bottom, I need one like that, who has a 3D printer?