If you're looking for a mechanical ergonomic keyboard that you can also easily take with you, I suggest taking a look at Atreus[0], a 42-key column-staggered keyboard.<p>I got one a while back. Haven't gotten around to publishing my build log, but building the keyboard was a lot of fun.<p>With the somewhat steep learning curve out of the way, I've been really enjoying it and gone are the days of wrist pain.<p>Oh, and I'm in no way affiliated with Phil or the project, just a very happy user dropping his 2¢ here.<p>[0]: <a href="https://atreus.technomancy.us" rel="nofollow">https://atreus.technomancy.us</a>
Originally bought because of wrist pain, I've had the kinesis advantage for 16 years, I'm on my third one and I've worn out keys on each one from so much use. Luckily they shipped me new switches for free and allowed me to switch the myself (at my request due to timing). Fantastic service and product. I really do wear them out.<p>With that said, all three exhibited the sticky modifier problem. I'm used to it but it always made me wonder if the internals were going bad.<p>In March I preordered <a href="https://shop.keyboard.io" rel="nofollow">https://shop.keyboard.io</a><p>I'll be very interested to compare, and if it isn't as good or better, I won't hesitate to order the updated kinesis advantage.
This keyboard style is absolutely amazing. I had pre-carpal style pain in my hands for years and tried every other keyboard out there, including all the ergo ones that came highly recommended. This is the only one that actually stopped the pain for me. 10+ years of satisfaction here - I've got one at every PC I use regularly now.<p>The new non-mushy F-keys are a nice improvement, but honestly not sure that's worth replacing my existing ones since they're built like tanks already.
I'm waiting for ultimate hacking keyboard in September [1]<p>[1] <a href="http://www.ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/</a>
For those that may wonder "What's the point of a weird-looking keyboard?":<p>Engelbart's Violin
<a href="http://www.loper-os.org/?p=861" rel="nofollow">http://www.loper-os.org/?p=861</a>
Personally I am waiting for the KeyMouse[0], a physically-split keyboard with integrated mouse as part of the keyboard parts, so no need to lift hand from keyboard to perform mousely duties.<p>Hopefully it is a great product, but I'm wondering if they couldn't have taken it a step further and made the keyboards at an angle to mimic natural arm positions.<p>[0]: <a href="http://www.keymouse.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.keymouse.com/</a>
I code the CODE keyboard right now <a href="https://codekeyboards.com" rel="nofollow">https://codekeyboards.com</a>
And I especially like the hardware switches to remap some keys.
But the Kindesis SmartSet Programming seems like another level.
The main problem with <i>buying</i> the right keyboard is that you almost never can try it out (i.e. in a store). There are multiple variables, besides the general ergonomic question, mainly:<p>You want to know how it <i>feels</i> to type, you want to know how it <i>sounds</i> to type (mostly: is it quiet or will you get on your co-worker's nerves?).<p>I have just bought a Logitech in a store that did not allow me to take it out of the box to try it out. Once I've tried it out at home, I wanted to throw it in the trash immediately. F*ck them for selling like that.<p>So, if you're looking for a start-up idea: Why not set up an online store with ALL brands (maybe focus on the premium segment which is ergo keyboards, first). Then you ship the customer keyboards to test at home. Once the customer's happy, he returns the last test keyboard and gets a brand new version of it.
Given the usual price multiples, this is going to be a nearly 500 euro keyboard in Europe (inc. VAT).<p>E.g. Kinesis Advantage Pro in US: $359 ( <a href="http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/shop/advantage-pro-for-pc-mac/" rel="nofollow">http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/shop/advantage-pro-for-pc-mac/</a> )<p>In Holland: 390 Euro ex VAT ( <a href="https://www.backshop.nl/kinesis-advantage-toetsenbord" rel="nofollow">https://www.backshop.nl/kinesis-advantage-toetsenbord</a> )<p>So let's say for the Advantage 2 the $369 price becomes 400 Euro. Add 21% VAT and you end up paying about 484 euro, without shipping of course.<p>Ouch.
I have used the original edition of this keyboard for some years now, and it is amazing. By far the best keyboard I have ever used. While I prefer the Cherry Blues on my older Das Keyboard, the layout of the Kinesis Advantage is incredibly comfortable and quite efficient. It does take some remapping to make it work well with Emacs, but that's all done with the keyboard firmware itself (i.e. no driver software needed).
Does it fix the shift bug that plagues the model 1? Every user I have talked has had the issue but the company denies it is an issue even though we can reproduce it on many different keyboards, different hardware, and os's.<p>I am very interested in getting this, but I don't want to do it if this issue hasn't been resolved.
I had RSI issues, and jumped into using a Kinesis Advantage and switching to Dvorak. I eventually went back to using my laptops keyboard, and still use Dvorak. I haven't had any RSI issues in the last 6+ years! I highly recommend switching to a Kinesis if you have hand/wrist pain and still need to work.
For those that prefer a split keyboard, I highly recommend Matias Ergo Pro.<p>The keys are very nice, more importantly, it allows me to adjust how far apart each halves of the keyboard should be.<p>It seriously alleviated my shoulder ache as I can finally type with my arms open.
Everyone always focuses on keyboards for RSI.
While a great keyboard helps, removing the pressure off your wrists makes a massive difference.
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wrist-Rest-Horizontal-Fashionable-Armrest_Silver/dp/B00OFNFPMG" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Wrist-Rest-Horizontal-Fashionable-Arm...</a>
These may make you look awkward at the office, but it takes all the strain out of your hands and wrists. Your weight is now on your forearm.
Leaving your hands free to move. They articulate in every direction allowing full "wax on" "wax off" motions.
Here is "What's new" info:<p>1) Cherry ML mechanical function keys<p>Original Advantage: Mushy rubber function keys.
Advantage2: You asked for it and we delivered. The function key row now features low-force Cherry ML mechanical key switches that offer a satisying, tactile key press plus unmatched reliability and durability.<p>2) Whopping 2 MB of onboard memory<p>Original Advantage: 2 KB of onboard memory (Advantage Pro had 4 KB).
Advantage2: The Advantage2 has 2 MB of memory, as in megabytes, which is 1000x more memory than the standard Advantage. Now you have an enormous amount of space to record macros and build custom layouts.<p>3) Heavy duty macros & increased capacity<p>Original Advantage: Up to 48 “short” macros (28 characters or less) or 24 “long” macros (58 characters or less)
Advantage2: Each custom layout built with the SmartSet engine can now support 100+ “heavy-duty” macros of more than 200+ characters in each. SmartSet allows you to create even more powerful macros through the direct editing process. Insert delays into macro playback of either 125ms or 500ms, or trigger different actions on the press and release of a given macro trigger.<p>4) View and edit layouts<p>Original Advantage: When you remapped a key or recorded a macro you had no easy way to track you changes or perform any updates.
Advantage2: With SmartSet, all layouts are saved and stored as basic .txt files which can be opened with any text editing program on any operating systems. Open the text file and directly edit your remaps or macros. Even insert new actions using many standard USB hex codes.<p>5) Share and backup layouts<p>Original Advantage: There was no way to share or backup layouts. You had to keep a separate crib sheet if you ever wanted to rebuild your custom layout.
Advantage2: Each layout is stored as a basic text file making them easy to save, backup or even share with a friend. The days of rebuilding your custom layout from scratch are over.<p>6) Status Report<p>Original Advantage: It was easy to forget which layout was active, which thumb key mode you were in and other keyboard settings.
Advantage2: Thanks to the new Status Report feature, you can quickly “print-to-screen” a Status Report showing you basic information about the active layout include the number of key remaps and macros, and your thumb key mode.<p>7) Adjust macro playback speed<p>Original Advantage: All macros played back at one speed.
Advantage2: Choose from 9 different macro playback speeds. Set the playback speed globally for all macros or set it individually for a specific macro to optimize performance. Slow playback down to 4.2 characters per second (“CPS”), or speed it up to a blazing fast 250 CPS- equivalent to typing 3,000 words per minute!<p>8) Hotkey layouts<p>Original Advantage: Only supported one custom layout.
Advantage2: With the Advantage2, you can now create dozens of custom hotkey layouts for either QWERTY or Dvorak and access them with a simple 2-key combination: Program + the assigned hotkey.<p>9) Native Dvorak<p>Original Advantage: When you switched out of Dvorak you lost your settings. When you remapped keys in your Dvorak layout you did so in QWERTY.
Advantage2: Dvorak is no longer a second-class citizen. Dvorak users get all the same functionality as QWERTY users, and each custom Dvorak layout is saved to the keyboard so it’s easy to move back-and-forth or share your keyboard. And when you’re remapping in Dvorak, you no longer have to translate from QWERTY.<p>10) Easy firmware upgrades<p>Original Advantage: Firmware was not upgradable.
Advantage2: When you invest in an expensive keyboard, you expect it to last. Thanks to the SmartSet engine you can upgrade the firmware when new versions become available. Firmware updates take only seconds and don’t require opening up the keyboard or downloading a scary executable file (.exe) from the internet.<p>11) Kinesis Blue Home Row<p>Advantage2 features a more vibrant, modern home row accented in Kinesis Blue.
I have been using the Kinesis Freestyle on my Mac with the VIP accessory pads and it is very comfortable. I place the two parts of the keyboard on the sides of my 15" MBP.
Along with everyone else here, I had the same issue with my wrists, took a gamble, and got the keyboard. I haven't looked back. It's awesome.<p>I let a co-worker borrow it, because he was having wrist issues, and he had the complete opposite effect with him. Wrist was turned down when he said it needed to be turned to the side. So he tried it for 15 minutes and returned it to me. So I guess it's not for everyone.
How long does it take to get used to using something like this?<p>Is it worth the effort?<p>How does it compare to a natural keyboard (the slightly more normal looking split one by Microsoft)?
I tried out the original and found it to be incredibly frustrating. I'm a fast typist, used to MS Natural keyboards,and I constantly felt like my fingers were "tripping" over the keys. I'm sure part of that is just getting used to the arrangement but I really felt like I was putting more strain on my wrists trying to move my fingers more deliberately to avoid hitting other keys.
Anyone know if the firmware allows you to program keys to emulate a mouse? I use this often with tmk_keyboard <a href="https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/tmk/tmk_keyboard</a> firmware and found it to be just good enough to never use a mouse and keep the keyboard on your lap which is much better for my shoulders.
I bought the Advantage1 in 2008 and it's been one of my best keyboards ever since then. It's extremely comfortable. I wrote up a few paragraphs about my impressions here:<p><a href="http://therandymon.com/index.php?/archives/167-Typing-in-Style-with-the-Kinesis.html" rel="nofollow">http://therandymon.com/index.php?/archives/167-Typing-in-Sty...</a><p>The one common complaint is that they had used rubber keys instead of mechanical for the function keys. Looks like that issue is addressed in this second edition. For sheer key build quality, the Totally Ergonomic Keyboard is better. But the Kinesis is more ergonomically comfortable, and includes a couple of USB slots so it can function as a hub (few other ergo keyboards do that).<p>I won't buy this new version because my own Ergo will probably last another 20 years - it's built that strongly! - and the rubber function keys don't bother me a bit.
I was lucky enough to find a local-ish store that had in-store demos available. They were nice enough to let me go in and try one out for an hour or so.<p>I'm quite happy with my MS Ergo 4000, but I always wanted to try out the Kinesis. It does take a fair amount of getting use to. Initially feels quite funny to type on. The deal breaker for me at the time is that too many of the symbol keys are not in their usual locations, which is more significant when programming than writing prose.<p>Here in the Antipodes the markup on these things is ridiculous (e.g., AU$550/US$420) so you really have to want one.
Another keyboard to look at is the Keyboardio Model 01: <a href="https://shop.keyboard.io/" rel="nofollow">https://shop.keyboard.io/</a><p>They're not shipping yet; as of their last update, estimated ship date is Nov. 1. I have a pair on order, but I haven't had a chance to try one, so I can only hope they work as nice as they look :-)
You could always 3D print your own one...<p><a href="https://github.com/adereth/dactyl-keyboard" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/adereth/dactyl-keyboard</a><p>Bonus points for having used Clojure to design it<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk3A41U0iO4" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk3A41U0iO4</a>
Hey Kinesis, if you're reading here, I'd love to see a controller upgrade for the original Advantage to get around the sticky keys bug. It's not even a problem to lose the built-in USB hub. My two old Advantage keyboards are trucking along just fine otherwise!
FINALLY real key switches for the F-keys. I have been making do without them for at least 7 years now, since they gave out after only a couple of years on my Kinesis Ergo Elan.<p>Still using the same old plastic moulds with the weird off-centre label I see.
Wonder if this is worth buying over the advantage 1 in Canada with additional costs of getting it shipped over the borders. Can get the older model for $400 CDN on amazon.
Why is that thing so bloody expensive? The cost of parts for a keyboard are measure in pennies, for the most part. The manufacturing is ridiculously cheap.<p>So, with all of that, what justifies a $350 price tag on any keyboard these days?