Kinesis Freestyle

It took about a month to get used to it, but the Kinesis Advantage is the best keyboard I've ever used. It's split like the Freestyle, but since your hands are straight out in front, the rows aren't angled, and the keys are in a well to match the shape of your hand.

But the best part -- you use your thumbs! Space, backspace, delete, enter, modifiers (except shift of course), and home/end/pgup/pgdn are thumb keys. And it's reprogrammable if you don't happen to like the placement of any of the keys.

I've been using it so long I almost forgot -- there's an extra row of keys, and the arrow keys are on the fifth row -- left and right on the left hand, up and down on the right hand.

There's even a Qwerty/Dvorak switchable version. I've been promising myself that someday I'll switch to Dvorak.

"I particularly love the big Esc/Force Quit button up on the top left -- clearly the design team at Kinesis has the same build of Firefox I do."

Another reason not to use Firefox...

I have one of these keyboards along with the adaptor that allows it to be placed in a tent like position. The keyboard has a good feel to it although the spacebars are a bit noisy.

What drew me to this keyboard is the fact that it's one of very few keyboards without a numeric key pad. Centering any keyboard with a numeric keypad to your display causes the mouse to be so far to the right that using the mouse becomes uncomfortable. I had purchased the apple wireless keyboard for exactly that reason. However typing 10 hours a day on that keyboard was a fast track to RSI pain.

I have had no issues (RSI or otherwise) since switching to this keyboard. I recommend it highly to anyone looking for a good ergonomic* keyboard without a numeric key pad.

* ergonomic used here in the context of a non traditional keyboard that "tries" to correct RSI issues associated with traditional keyboards. I can only claim that in my experience this keyboard is better than others I have used with respect to my own RSI.

Good start -- now make it in black and with backlighting.

These split keyboards all have the same problem: the six key is on the wrong side for touch typists...

The unfortunate thing about this keyboard is the same thing as the GoldTouch from KeyOvation. Looks great, functions great, but because of the standard-sized modifier keys (command, option, ctrl), when used in the ergonomic position for one-handed key-combinations, it is actually less-ergonomic than a standard keyboard.

The argument here could be "well, you're not supposed to do keyboard commands with only one hand," but then that takes half of their speed away. So, go figure.

Actually, it's not just a "keyboard cut in half." They've added a number of "driverless hotkeys" to the left side, and a number of keys not normally seen on compact keyboards (home/end/pgup/pgdn/sleep/forward delete). See the layout: http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/images/freestyle-us-mac-layout-800x400.jpg

Reviews so far have been generally positive; I'm still using an Apple Adjustable Keyboard with a USB-to-ADB converter, but it's starting to go. I've ordered one to try it out.

It's the 21st century, please fire your designer.

Just a standard keyboard cut down the middle. Whoop de do. I still think the Microsoft Natural keyboard from the early 90s is the best design out there for ergonomics.

Hmpf. I miss the Apple Adjustable Keyboard...