A plain, flat keyboard is just so boring. For someone such as myself whom spends most of their day typing away, a good keyboard can make all the difference between a good day and a bad day. Ergonomic keyboards have been around for years claiming to reduce stress, tiredness, and injuries from those living in front of a computer screen. But do they really? At least in my experience with certain ergonomic keyboards, after the initial break-in period of getting used to a goofy shaped contraption, all is well. Though I’m not so sure how well the Kinesis Keyboard above would fair.
From the heavily scalloped letter keys to placement of the remaining keys located oddly split and staggered in the middle of the board, I’m left scratching my head as to what it feels like. Besides helping aching hands, this keyboard may also cure cancer, have a solution for world hunger, and know the origins of the universe. Well, the $300 price tag would lead us to suspect so at least…
I guess that mystery of “what it feels like” will forever remain a question as I simply can’t find myself spending $300 on a radical keyboard design, much less one that looks as if it were made out of 1980′s plastic even if world hunger could be solved. Sorry kiddies, no dinner for you tonight…
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On December 14th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
February 10, 2010 at 9:57 pm
As a game programmer, I did a heckuva lot of typing. Eventualy I developed pretty bad carpal tunnel syndrome, despite using a Microsoft Natural Keyboard. The doctor gave me a splint to wear at night, but it still didn’t seem to help – after an hour or so of typing, the pain flared up again.
One of the other programmers at work was using a kinesis, and persuaded me to try an old one lying around the office. There is indeed a huge learning curve, and there’s definitely some flaws in the keyboard – like the tiny rubber function keys and lack of a keypad. But after a few weeks with the keyboard, my crippling carpal tunnel pain completely went away.
I’ve been using the kinesis ever since. It’s outrageously expensive, and it sort of ruins you for regular keyboards (I can type on regular keyboards, but not really program on them anymore – all of the special characters really aren’t in muscle memory anymore) – but if you have tendonitis or carpal tunnel, it will let you continue a career as a programmer – your problems will disappear. In it’s favor, the keyboard is well constructed (has a solid feel), and there’s an excellent warranty.
Every programmer I’ve talked to who’s had carpal tunnel has had it cured by this keyboard – I think the biggest advantage is reducing stretching from the shift keys to type parens and curly braces. So I like to think of it more as a medical device than a ‘better’ keyboard’. It’s certainly a lot cheaper and more effective than surgery.
January 31, 2010 at 10:24 pm
I have been using a microsoft natural keyboard (or something shaped just like it) for over 10 years. I have a heck of an uncomfortable time using a standard keyboard.
In the last year I managed to pick up a Kinesis Advantage keyboard for $200 used. It took me three weeks with two keyboards on my desk, and another three weeks on just the Kinesis before I was back up to par on my typing. There is a huge learning curve. One thing I can say for sure about this keyboard. If you rely on the number pad religiously… this is not the keyboard for you. If you have small hands… this is not the keyboard for you. If you are even a little bit of a hunt-and-peck typist… this is not the keyboard for you. If you are not willing to invest 6 months in learning to love this keyboard… this is not the keyboard for you.
All that said, it is the most comfortable keyboard I have ever used. After 3 – 4 months I was finally seeing an improvement in my typing speeds, and no longer had to make an effort to remember which keyboard I was typing on. Low stress, all the keys are within reach, some of the function keys I have to stretch for, and a few of the key combo presses are awkward, but thankfully the hardware is able to allow the remapping of keys, or even the creation of keystroke macros. If you see this keyboard and THINK you might like it, chances are you should pony up the cashola and get one.
By far the most brain bending part of the keyboard is learning to “space” with only the right hand, backspace with your left thumb, and enter with your right thumb. I think next I will try to learn a Dvorak layout.
January 31, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Whew, thanks for the added info. The more I read about these and see them on the internet the more curious I get.
December 23, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Don’t knock it until you try it! If a cheaper keyboard will keep your hands from hurting than that’s the way to go, but for many the Microsoft keyboards just don’t cut it. There are good keyboards in the middle, such as the split keyboards from Goldtouch and Kinesis which are around $100. When I tried this one, I was initially frustrated with the different layout but within a week or so, I was actually typing faster than before. I love this keyboard.
December 14, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Been using the Microsoft Natural keyboards for over 10 years and love them. I’ve looked at the Kinesis, but just wasn’t sold on it for the price. Maybe if it was more like $79