As someone who's tried several keyboards, a key feature I've found myself unable to go without is contouring of the keyboard. Keyboards like Kinesis Advantage 2, Kinesis Advantage 360 and the Glove 80 essentially. I've personally found it the biggest gain to reducing strain on my left hand.
Likes it
I loved the Model M, but my first real THIS IS MY FAVORITE I WILL CUT YOU keyboard was a Northgate. Dang, I loved that one. For most of the last 20 years I've been on Kinesis boards. First a regular Ergo, and then starting about 6 months ago their new Advantage 360, which is a definite improvement.
Likes it
I went from “regular” keyboard to kinesis freestyle 2 to kinesis advantage 360. The switch to the freestyle 2 was basically seamless. Switching to the advantage 360 was brutal, but I can tell you that i have not only fully recovered my typing speed but have even improved on my historical ability. I used monkeytype.com for a couple years before the jump to the advantage 360 and still to this day, and you can see the deep trough my speed went through while i figured out the ortholinear layout and thumb clusters, and the new all time high records i’ve recently set.
Neutral
I’ve been using split boards since the original Microsoft Natural Keyboard, the one with the awful number pad. Then a Kinesis Advantage, then the 360. The DIY boards like a Lily58, Corne and a similar custom are mostly for travel. Switching to split or ortholinear takes time. Doing both together is a significant and slightly annoying adjustment and takes a few weeks to feel normal. The payoff is when you lean into it. Home row mods so the home keys become ctrl shift alt meta when held, plus a thumb layer for navigation so you get vim-style movement everywhere, and a symbols layer for the stuff not on the top row. Two thumb keys per side works well. Layer on both sides, enter on one thumb, space on the other. About 6x4 per side is the sweet spot for me. A function row on things like the Advantage 2 or Glove80 can be handy. If you want to try it in steps, the Kinesis mWave is a decent bridge. Split but not ortholinear, full keyset so you don’t have to relearn everything at once, mechanical, runs ZMK, and in US pricing it’s very cheap for what it is, roughly $120.
Likes it
Looks like a cool kind of keyboard. I tried the ergodox, but eventually resold it (came from a typematrix). But I like most my Kinesis Advantage 360. Strangely, I find myself using dictation more and more while working. With a headset on, people don’t notice much since it looks and sound like being in a virtual meeting. Coding is still best with a keyboard.
Recommends it
Under $1,000 Kinesis Advantage 360 or ZSA Voyager (split ergonomic keyboards with ortholinear layout). I ended up buying both. I had chronic wrist pain and weakness for a few years that I thought was caused by an acute injury. Turns out I think it was actually typing. I bought the Advantage 360, and after a few days, my wrist pain disappeared and never came back. When I switch back to a standard keyboard, I can't type for more than an hour before I start feeling discomfort.
Neutral
I have tried a lot of split keyboards. Haven't tried the Glove80, but I have used the Kinesis (Advantage and 360) and other scooped keyboards. They feel very naturally ergonomic. Allowing your fingers to move in a way that feels more comfortable to your hand. The split design furthers that by putting your hands at the distance they should be separated. The pros: very comfortable resting position, minimal hand, wrist, and finger travel. The cons: Size and dedicating yourself to a unique layout. The Kinesis (even the 360) takes up a lot of space. The bigger issue for me though was that I had to retrain my brain for standard layouts every time I sat at a computer with a normal keyboard. Imagine building the most comfortable bike in the world, but then not being able to ride in other cities because 'your' bike is at home. Long story, I found the UHK to be the best option. While it doesn't have the scooped or natural key placement, the layout being standard staggered allows for existing muscle memory with all the benefits of the split and tilted design. I now have two UHKs for home and office. And I would buy another if they weren't so easy to travel with.
Likes itHasn’t owned it
I believe there are only 2 excellent options. The Kinesis Advantage (360) or the Glove 80. Both are very expensive. Still a bit more expensive, but most similar with your MS Natural Keyboard, is the Kinesis mWave.
Recommends itHasn’t owned it
Have to say I also disagree[0]. For my money, the Keyboardio Model 100 has been the best keyboard in terms of functionality and acceptable compromises, but it’s not perfect either. I miss the Kinesis Advantage’s key wells (note: if you’re looking to buy one, buy the 360, not the Advantage2), but the Keyboardio’s thumb cluster and palm keys offset that loss. Looking at custom keyboards, the Dactyl is probably quite good. [0] Even if it’s a huge step above normal keyboards.