What I Learned Spending +$2000 On Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboards

Summary

In this video, the creator shares their journey of exploring ergonomic keyboards, having spent over $2,000 on various models. Starting with the Kinesis Form, a basic split keyboard, they progress through more advanced models like the Ergodox EZ and Moonlander, showcasing unique features like thumb clusters and customizable layouts. The video culminates with the creator’s final choice, the Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro, praised for its concave keys and ergonomic design, despite outdated software. The summary offers insights into the benefits and drawbacks of each keyboard, helping viewers decide which ergonomic option might suit them best.

Takeaways

• 😀 Split keyboards improve ergonomics by allowing your arms to remain at a more natural shoulder-width apart, reducing strain.
• 😀 The Kinesis Form is a beginner-friendly ergonomic keyboard with a low learning curve, offering a split design and a central trackpad.
• 😀 Ergonomic keyboards with wrist rests, like the Kinesis Freestyle Edge, provide extra comfort by reducing wrist strain and awkward angles.
• 😀 Thumb clusters, featured in keyboards like the ErgoDox EZ and Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro, move key functions to the thumbs, alleviating pinky strain.
• 😀 Keyboards like the Kinesis Freestyle Edge allow users to adjust the split distance, offering customizable ergonomic positioning.
• 😀 Higher-end ergonomic keyboards, such as the ErgoDox EZ, have a steeper learning curve but provide significant ergonomic benefits with their unique layouts.
• 😀 The Moonlander takes the ErgoDox design further by adding built-in wrist rests and the ability to tent the keyboard, promoting a more natural wrist position.
• 😀 The Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro has a concave key layout, which supports a more natural finger position and reduces travel distance, offering maximum ergonomic comfort.
• 😀 While the Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro is one of the most ergonomic options, its software for remapping keys is outdated and difficult to use.
• 😀 Some ergonomic keyboards, like the Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro’s wireless version, can suffer from connectivity issues, making wired versions more reliable for stable performance.
• 😀 For users new to ergonomic keyboards, starting with simpler models like the Kinesis Form can provide a less intimidating introduction before progressing to more complex layouts.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of ergonomic keyboards?

The main goal of ergonomic keyboards is to reduce strain on your hands, wrists, and arms, promoting a more natural typing position, particularly by splitting the keyboard layout to allow for shoulder-width hand placement.

How does a split keyboard design contribute to ergonomics?

A split keyboard design allows users to place their hands at shoulder-width apart, which is more natural for the body, reducing strain on the shoulders, arms, and wrists that can occur with a traditional, non-split keyboard layout.

What is the difference between the Kinesis Form and the Kinesis Freestyle Edge keyboards?

The Kinesis Form is a split keyboard with a low learning curve, featuring a trackpad in the center, while the Kinesis Freestyle Edge is a more advanced split keyboard that offers adjustable width and built-in wrist rests, making it slightly more ergonomic.

Why is the trackpad on the Kinesis Form not ideal for Mac users?

While the Kinesis Form's trackpad is functional for Windows users, it does not perform as well on Mac computers due to hardware limitations imposed by Apple, which ensures that their Magic Trackpad works more seamlessly with their devices.

What makes the Ergodox EZ different from traditional ergonomic keyboards?

The Ergodox EZ features a fully split design with vertically aligned keys and a thumb cluster, allowing for a more efficient typing posture by redistributing common keys to the thumbs, reducing the workload on the weaker pinky fingers.

What is the purpose of the thumb cluster on the Ergodox EZ and Moonlander keyboards?

The thumb cluster moves commonly used keys such as spacebar, backspace, and command/alt/control to the thumbs, which are stronger than the pinky fingers, helping reduce strain and improve typing efficiency.

How does the Moonlander improve on the Ergodox EZ?

The Moonlander builds on the Ergodox EZ by offering features like built-in wrist rests, customizable tenting angles, and a smoother remapping experience, enhancing comfort and ease of use, especially for long typing sessions.

What are the main ergonomic advantages of the Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro?

The Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro features a split, concave key design that naturally fits the curve of your fingers, along with a thumb cluster and ortholinear layout, offering superior ergonomics by reducing finger travel and minimizing strain on the wrists and arms.

What is the issue with the software experience for the Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro?

The Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro suffers from outdated software for remapping keys, which is described as clunky and reminiscent of 90s-era design, making it a less user-friendly experience compared to more modern keyboards like the Moonlander or Ergodox EZ.

Why did the user prefer the wired version of the Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro over the Bluetooth version?

The user found the Bluetooth version of the Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro to be unreliable, with connectivity issues such as the keyboard disconnecting randomly from the laptop and not working properly when the user's treadmill was on. The wired version provided more stable, consistent performance.

What is the learning curve associated with switching to an ergonomic keyboard?

The learning curve varies depending on the complexity of the keyboard. Basic split designs like the Kinesis Form have a low learning curve, while more advanced models like the Ergodox EZ and Moonlander require users to adapt to a new key layout, which can take more time and practice.