I use both regularly, no big issue switching. Don't worry.
this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2023
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ErgoMechKeyboards
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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards
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Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)
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¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid
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- Keymap database A database with all kinds of keymap layouts - some of them fits ergo keyboards - get inspired https://keymapdb.com/
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Your brain is way more adaptable than you think. I go between 3 or 4 different keyboard layouts regularly and can use them all just fine. I think the secret is just to force yourself to recall locations from memory even if it takes a moment, only look up the layout if you are totally stuck. It's also kinda fun to see how weird of a layout your brain can get used to. E.g. one-handed layouts, morse code, stenography etc.
I have three different kinds of keyboards. Regular, Alice and split ergo with columnar stagger. It always takes a little while to get back to speed when I switch boards. But I think that the layouts are different enough so that a distinct muscle memory forms for each one. I guess that the most important thing is that you should be fairly proficient with touch typing on a regular board before trying a different layout. If you are still in the phase of learning, I imagine that it gets really frustrating.
You’ll be fine. Just be patient as your muscle memory adapts.
At first it was pretty hard, but I found that it became easier once I built up muscle memory for my Colemak-DH column stagger split keyboard. Suddenly switching between the split and my MacBook keyboard started working again.
It took me a month to get used to my Corne, mostly because I went split, and 40% (dependent on layers for everything). This was during the pandemic, so I was also WFH and didn’t need to use the laptop keyboard for a couple years.
When my company returned to office, and I started using the laptop occasionally, it took a couple hours to wake up my row-stagger muscle memory, but I’m able to switch between ergo and my laptop without issue.
Initially there was a difference for me, but now I can switch from one to another without a problem if I need to work on laptop keyboard for some reason.