Others have mentioned some of the boards on this list, but YAL should be pretty comprehensive list of boards with dpads
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My first “weird” mechanical keyboard was an early Planck version (I was trying to learn steno and it was a fairly cheap NKRO option). I ended up getting rid of it as I had trouble adapting to the layout and layers. I didn’t end up pursuing steno very far, but it was a good learning experience.
My first ergo split was much more recent with the Ergo travel that I was able to find very cheap on mechmarket. I still had to build it, but it was a good learning experience and forced me to learn more about flashing firmware, soldering, and the details of keyboard construction.
I’m now using a Draculad wireless after really learning Colemak dhk on a 34 key dilemma, both of which I really love. I don’t think I would be as comfortable with firmware and switching to zmk for the Draculad if I hadn’t had the experience getting zmk to work.
I’ve been happy to experience many years of custom keyboards and the advancements in firmware over that time, and I think I’ve found an end game solution with zmk/Draculad
How do you like the pinky stagger? ( I think that’s what it’s called). I’m modding a 42 key board to have a similar layout (I find moving the pinky up forces me to move my whole hand)
I thought it might fall into the non-split ortholinear category, but that makes sense once you pointed it out.
It only fulfills point 4 I think, but it does look like it might not be in line with the rules on the sidebar, so it will probably get removed (admittedly I don’t know if posts need to be manually approved here, so I’m not sure about this).
It might not be “hand-shaped”, but the use of layers (and tap-dance/home-row mods) will minimize hand-movement, which is another way to approach ergonomics.
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ErgoMechKeyboards@lemmy.world•The Triboard, a Tiny 34/36 Key Wired/Wireless Split Keyboard - Tarneo's blog
1·2 years agowow, wireless for €90 sounds great! I’m on a dilemma currently (pink chocs too!), but I’ve been looking to go wireless
For the vendor submission, do we need to be affiliated with a project to submit?
I’ve been wanting to see mechwild on there for a while, but would feel weird submitting on their behalf, as I have no affiliation but as a member of their discord. I especially like the sugarglider from there as an entirely through-component kit.
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ErgoMechKeyboards@lemmy.world•Used Ergo-keyboard Market (Question/Discussion)
1·2 years agoNo worries, I was wondering if it was bastardkb, good prices
Thanks for the explanation! Yeah, I misremembered what I read about the cheapino not using all of its 8P8C wires (it uses 7 out of 8), but that makes sense.
Beautiful board! I thought the thumbnail might be a render, that’s crazy
Looks really clean! How do the RJ11s compare to the RJ45s in the cheapino? Could you get away with doing a single microcontroller with them?
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ErgoMechKeyboards@lemmy.world•Used Ergo-keyboard Market (Question/Discussion)
1·2 years agoNice! What discord if you don’t mind me asking?
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ErgoMechKeyboards@lemmy.world•Used Ergo-keyboard Market (Question/Discussion)
2·2 years agoNot including switches and keycaps, two cheapinos would come to around $60 according to the prices listed on its GitHub (I don’t think I’d be confident to do the job myself, but going half with someone might be a cheap option).
This is the thread where I learned about the cheapino and the OP is asking a similar question that might have relevance to your situation https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/16id57p/recommendations_for_cheap_split_ergo_keyboard/
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ErgoMechKeyboards@lemmy.world•Used Ergo-keyboard Market (Question/Discussion)
2·2 years agoWhat’s your budget? I have also been looking out for something similar, mostly on r/mechmarket (I have an ergo travel that I am trying to get to work consistently).
There are sometimes deals like this: (not sure if this one is still available) at $80 https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/162uc4s/uscah_dilemma_v1_choc_pink_w_paypal/
Another place I’ve found really good prices is the bastardkb discord, but like r/mechmarket the postings for split keyboards are infrequent.
If you have switches and keycaps from a donor mech kb, this could be a good option at $128: https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/162uc4s/uscah_dilemma_v1_choc_pink_w_paypal/
Edit for completeness: $120 one piece option just without keys/keycaps: https://ergohaven.xyz/shop/tproduct/339856256-880659810681-planeta

It looks like the feature is called Auto Shift in QMK/VIAL (I had to open up VIAL to remember the term).
I’m not sure I have a good answer for quick typing, I was in the process of implementing urob’s timeless homerow mods for ZMK when I fried my ZMK board. I know there are QMK implementations (maybe in userspace?), but my quick googling didn’t come up with what I was thinking.