Ergonomic Keyboards

It is interesting that you think arrow keys are a likely blocker. I have a Kinesis Freestyle Pro and my favorite feature is having the arrow keys on the second layer as vim style HJKL. I also have backspace, esc and del on the second layer with the right half of the space bar as the layer shift key. Moving these common keys made a huge difference to me, and was an easy transition since I exercise them so much.The reason I couldn't move to a much smaller keyboard is that the less common k

Strongly recommend using a keyboard with modifiers under your thumbs like Kinesis Advantage.

you might want to look at the kinesis advantage keyboard, moves the backspace and enter to your thumbs cluster, and greatly improves ergonomics for your pinkie fingers.

Switching to a planck keyboard would let you customize all the positions of buttons for less strain.

For me, using a keyboard with more keys around the thumbs and configurable keymaps with layers solves this. I have space, return and esc all easily accessible on my thumbs and my most used punctuation across the easily reached keys (such as home row) on a layer, also activated with my thumb.fwiw I use a moonlander but many keyboards could work equally well I'm sure

Why are 10 keys practically ubiquitous outside of Apple? Typing to the side feels quite awkward.

The idea is that reaching for F keys, the numpad, the arrow-keys etc., takes too long. It breaks your flow and slows you down. Or, it is just much more ergonomic avoid them.So instead they usually have more modifiers and utilize the thumb for way more than the spacebar. The varieties are endless.Arrow keys are right on your home-row, it is just a thumb-press away, as is F-keys and the numpad (numpad works better if you have an otrholinear layout rather than the staggared keys normal keyboa

If only keyboard manufacturers - especially laptop manufacturers - agreed on where to put modifier keys other than Shift. A small difference in locations can thwart your muscle memory.

Yes, most keyboards still have the traditional layout. But I believe many options fit what OP needs. A split keyboard such as Ergodox EZ allows access to the maximum amount of keys possible without moving your hand. You can then customize the mapping to properly distribute commonly used keys.

Get an ergonomic (probably split) keyboard and use your thumb for modifier keys. It’s meant to rotate all around unlike our pinkies.