(waiting for deletion)

(waiting for deletion)

(waiting for deletion)

Hi Brett!

Typing this on my newly arrived UHK V2 (with key cluster module and trackball module). I read this article of yours while waiting for the keyboard a couple of times and I implemented almost all of your changes. Do you mind posting other customizations / changes / tricks with the UHK?

Thanks!

Vlad

(waiting for deletion)

(waiting for deletion)

Nice review! Thanks for your insight into the ergonomic mechanical world! I've been trying to decide between the UHK and the Dygma Raise and your review provided me with a lot of information!

I read this article some time ago, and had me start thinking about the UHK... Then I forgot about it, as shipping etc. was just going to get too expensive... Then I lucked out on finding one (basically new) second-hand, that will be arriving this week... And I've spent the past several weeks watching all sorts of YouTube videos, and reading up on blog posts, in eager anticipation...

Then I found this article again, which I had forgotten about. And remembered that it was reading this that had me excited in the first place... I was having a little bit of buyer's remorse at buying one, when honestly, I was happy enough with my MS Scuplt Ergonomic... But this has assuaged my fears! Full-circle again – cannot wait!

I'm very curious if you're still on the UHK as your primary keyboard. My typing experience is VERY like yours (including a litany of keyboards sitting on the shelf). I'm about to spring for a UHK, and if you're still on it, I feel like that gives me some good confidence (given what you mention as your difficulties with keyboards).

(waiting for deletion)

Listening to Mac Power Users - did you ever get the optional trackball/pointer - and if so how do you like them?

Hi Brett

Very interested read. I'm a bit nerdy and enjoy reading about your goal to find The Perfect Keyboard.

I have also tried the Matias Tactile and the Ergo Dox. Wanted to love the ErgoDox - but I also find it very hard when the modifier keys are not in the usual positions. I also having trouble to adjust to the higher profile (then the Apple keyboard).

I might have to look at the UHK.

• Magnus

Now that it's been a while, what's the verdict? Do you still recommend this?

Also, have you tried anything like the trackball adapter for it?

I've been meaning to ask whether you have checked out QMK, an open source firmware project supporting a wide range of custom keyboards. It allows you to program your layout in C. Defining a basic layout is very easy: KC_TAB, KC_Q, KC_W, KC_E, KC_R, KC_T, KC_Y, ..., though you can also do some really complex macros.

I am just starting to experiment with these features, but I do have a concrete example of why I love this project so much (and really want to see what you would do with it) addressing the following complaint:

The toughest part for me happens when using a combo like “select by word,” which is Option-Shift-Arrow. Now it’s Option-Shift-Mod-[i/j/k/l]. And when I want to switch to selecting by character in the same selection, I have to think for a second to remember which of those three modifiers to let go of.

Now, I am using a version of your keybindings file with an XD75, which has 75 1U keys in 15 x 5 grid. Z is programmed to activate my text selection + clipboard layer when held down. On that layer x/c/v are mapped to Command+x, etc. while b is mapped to activate LaunchBar's clipboard history with ⌘⌥\. So, I can just shift my left hand straight down one row, hold z, and my other fingers are ready for clipboard operations. On the right side, the key where my thumb naturally rests is mapped to select by word while the key 1 space over selects by paragraph. h/j/k/l extend selection by word / paragraph (Option-Shift-Arrow). One row above, u/i/o/p extend selection by character / upward (Shift-Arrow). One row below, n/m/,/. extend selection to the beginning / end of the line or document (Command-Shift-Arrow).

It has been quite the rabbit hole already, but QMK + a custom keeb has been the biggest productivity enhancement I've found in some time.

One last note, you can find 'silent' mechanical switches. I really like Zeal Zilent switches, which are expensive, but more tactile than Cherry Browns and about as noisy as the keyboard on my MacBook Air.

Hi Brett,

Thanks for the great article! I genuinely enjoyed it, and not only your nice words, but also your writing style. Let me address your concerns:

1. We were tweaking the Space/Mod case buttons, but their optimal force seems to be highly subjective. I've just read another review in which the reviewer found the buttons hard to press. That being said, it might be possible to make them harder to press by adding extra springs. We can look into this if you want, but no guarantees.

2. The "double tap to toggle layer" feature will be configurable in Agent on a per key basis in the future. We're not there yet, but you can configure it in the meantime. See https://github.com/Ultimate...

3. Please flash the latest pre-release firmware version, and give it a try. Chances are fair it'll fix it.

I plan to check this page later for replies, but in case I forget, feel free to shoot a mail to support@ultimategadgetlabs.com or open a GitHub issue.

Keep up the great work!

László Monda - Founder and lead of the UHK

I have found myself very much in that opening part on the struggles of having modifier keys away or in different positions then usual. That's the reason I couldn't really get into using the Kinesis Advantage.

I'm very curious how this keyboard will work for you (and keep my fingers crossed it will work given the "investment" :-)

Hi Brett,

Thanks for the great article! I genuinely enjoyed it, and not only your nice words, but also your writing style. Let me address your concerns:

1. We were tweaking the Space/Mod case buttons, but their optimal force seems to be highly subjective. I've just read another review in which the reviewer found the buttons hard to press. That being said, it might be possible to make them harder to press by adding extra springs. We can look into this if you want, but no guarantees.

2. The "double tap to toggle layer" feature will be configurable in Agent on a per key basis in the future. We're not there yet, but you can configure it in the meantime. See https://github.com/Ultimate...

3. Please flash the latest pre-release firmware version, and give it a try. Chances are fair it'll fix it.

I plan to check this page later for replies, but in case I forget, feel free to shoot a mail to support@ultimategadgetlabs.com or open a GitHub issue.

Keep up the great work!

László Monda - Founder and lead of the UHK

I've been meaning to ask whether you have checked out [QMK](https://qmk.fm), an open source firmware project supporting a wide range of custom keyboards. It allows you to program your layout in C. A simple layout would look like this:

```
const uint16_t PROGMEM keymaps[][MATRIX_ROWS][MATRIX_COLS] = {

[0] = LAYOUT(
KC_GESC, KC_1, KC_2, KC_3, KC_4, KC_5, KC_6, KC_7, KC_8, KC_9, KC_0, KC_MINS, KC_EQL, KC_BSLS, KC_BSPC, KC_INS,
KC_TAB, KC_Q, KC_W, KC_E, KC_R, KC_T, KC_Y, KC_U, KC_I, KC_O, KC_P, KC_LBRC, KC_RBRC, KC_BSLS, KC_DEL,
KC_CAPS, KC_A, KC_S, KC_D, KC_F, KC_G, KC_H, KC_J, KC_K, KC_L, KC_SCLN, KC_QUOT, KC_ENT, KC_PGUP,
KC_LSFT, KC_NUBS, KC_Z, KC_X, KC_C, KC_V, KC_B, KC_N, KC_M, KC_COMM, KC_DOT, KC_SLSH, KC_RSFT, KC_UP, KC_PGDN,
KC_LCTL, KC_LGUI, KC_LALT, KC_SPACE, KC_SPACE, KC_SPACE, KC_RALT, KC_RGUI, KC_RCTL, KC_LEFT, KC_DOWN, KC_RGHT
),
};
```

However, you can also do some really [complex macros](https://www.reddit.com/r/ol....

I have not yet gone that deep with the software, but I do have a concrete example of why I love this project so much (and _really_ want to see what you would do with it) addressing the following complaint:

> The toughest part for me happens when using a combo like “select by word,” which is Option-Shift-Arrow. Now it’s Option-Shift-Mod-[i/j/k/l]. And when I want to switch to selecting by character in the same selection, I have to think for a second to remember which of those three modifiers to let go of.

Now, I am using a version of your keybindings file with an [XD75](https://www.massdrop.com/bu..., which has 75 1U keys in 15 x 5 grid. Z is programmed to activate my text selection + clipboard layer when held down. On that layer x/c/v are mapped to Command+x, etc. while b is mapped to activate LaunchBar's clipboard history with ⌘⌥\. So, I can just shift my left hand straight down one row, hold z, and my other fingers are ready for clipboard operations. On the right side, the key where my thumb naturally rests is mapped to select by word while the key 1 space over selects by paragraph. h/j/k/l extend selection by word / paragraph (Option-Shift-Arrow). One row above, u/i/o/p extend selection by character / upward (Shift-Arrow). One row below, n/m/,/. extend selection to the beginning / end of the line or document (Command-Shift-Arrow).

It has been quite the rabbit hole already, but QMK + a custom keeb has been the biggest productivity enhancement I've found in some time.

This was an interesting post. I'm happily typing away on my Apple Extended Keyboard II, but I've been contemplating building a custom programmable keyboard. I also use a Kensington Expert Mouse trackball from the same era.