Is an Ortholinear Keyboard Good for Typing?

An ortholinear keyboard is one that doesn’t have staggered rows or keys arranged in an arc-such as the standard QWERTY layout. That’s a pretty broad description, though, and the term “ortholinear” has been applied to keyboards with many designs including columns of staggered rows, split layouts where the halves get staggered in different directions, and compact layouts where each column is further compressed.

Ortholinear keyboards differ from traditional ones. They share some similarities, though. The conventional layout of the keys gets retained, but the keys themselves have different shapes. This makes typing on an ortholinear keyboard very easy and fast.

What Are the Advantages of Ortholinear Keyboard?

If you’re considering using ortholinear keyboards, here are six benefits of using them:

1. Ortholinear Keyboards minimize the Amount of Finger Movement

Ortholinear keyboards (or ortholinears) are a different breed from your typical keyboard. Because of their staggered layout, they don’t have the same finger reach needed in other layouts.

The staggered design forces you to place each hand in a unique position that allows for easier and faster typing, like on a piano. They also encourage ergonomic, healthy posture, unlike regular keyboards that cause strain on your wrist and arms, which can lead to long-term problems like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

2. Ortholinear Keyboard’s Layout Affects Your Performance

Research shows that the position of keys on a keyboard can affect your typing speed and accuracy. It’s why most typists can type at much faster speeds on their mobile phones than on desktop computers. That’s because mobile phones have smaller, more compact keyboards that reduce the distance your fingers need to travel to reach each key.

Ortholinear key reduces the distances your fingers need to travel as all key is aligned in a better configuration for typing.

3. Ortholinear Keyboards Gives You the Ability to Have More Keys in Less Space

One of the most common issues that people with large hands and fingers face is that their keyboard simply doesn’t fit them. They can’t get their hands on the keys and type properly, which leads to a slew of problems, including carpal tunnel syndrome.

Ortholinear keyboards are designed in a way that allows each key to be accessible by a thumb and one or two fingers, making it easier for people to type correctly and painlessly. This means they can type faster than ever before. As a result, they can effectively get more work done in less time, improving productivity.

4. They Reduce the Risk of Injury

Because you’re able to type faster using an ortholinear keyboard, you’re able to complete more work in less time. This means you have more free time.

This might not seem like a big deal now, but it can make a huge difference when you get older. People who don’t exercise or otherwise remain active are at an increased risk of injury and illness as they age. This is especially true for people who spend most of their time sitting at a desk.

5. Ortholinear Keyboards Are Designed to Improve Your Health

Ortholinear keyboards are not only safer than traditional keyboards, but they’re also healthier.

They force you to keep your wrists straight and in line with your forearms, which reduces the risk of injury and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Many ortholinear keyboards are split into two halves. This makes it easier to keep your wrists straight while typing and reduces risks.

What Are the Disadvantages of Ortholinear Keyboard?

Before you buy an ortholinear keyboard, here are some cons you need to know:

Requires a Learning Curve to Master

Ortholinear keyboards are not for everyone. If you’re the type of person who likes to type without looking at the keyboard or the kind of person who uses your keyboard to open up files and folders when you hit a button, then an ortholinear keyboard probably isn’t for you.

Ortholinear keyboards take some getting used to because they don’t have a “home row” as standard keyboards do. The keys aren’t arranged in rows. You have one column on the left, another on the right, and then two vertical columns.

New Keyboard Layout Makes Several Typos in the Beginning

The layout is different from what you’re used to, and it takes some time to get used to. If you’re making a lot of typos in the beginning, don’t worry, it happens to everyone. Once you become more familiar with the layout, speed, and accuracy will come naturally.

Muscle memory

Returning to a keyboard with a staggered key layout after months of using an ortho-linear may cause you to notice that your muscle memory has changed. You will need to re-learn to use a staggered keyboard again as both layouts of the keyboard need a different set of muscle memory.

Where Can I Get This Keyboard?

As of now, it is a very niche product that is only popular within the mechanical keyboard DIY community. Some of these types of keyboards are bought in DIY kits that you will assemble. It is also sometimes more expensive than the usual staggered keyboard.

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One of the popular brands in the ortholinear keyboard space is the Planck EZ, which is a compact 47 keyboard. This keyboard is currently not available in other different retail online stores like Amazon.

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