Filed under: Peripherals
Kinesis Freestyle
Kinesis (from the Greek kinetikos, or "damn you, carpal tunnel syndrome!") have released a Mac addition to their Freestyle line of ergonomic keyboards, which allow users to split the keyboard in half for optimal positioning. This is accomplished via Kinesis' Pivot Tether™ technology, which appears to be, uh, a cable that connects the two halves of the Freestyle.
Kidding aside, this actually looks like a nice solution for those of us whose wrists are ravaged by unfriendly keyboards. 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.
$99 for the Freestyle and $40 each for the Incline and VIP snap-on accessories, which provide a 10 degree slope and wrist supports, respectively.
[via Gizmodo]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gazmik Fizzwidget said 7:39PM on 6-04-2008
Hmpf. I miss the Apple Adjustable Keyboard...
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mark said 7:50PM on 6-04-2008
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.
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Martijn said 4:58AM on 6-06-2008
Well, maybe you'd be more impressed with the design of one of their other products, namely the Ergo Elan (http://kinesis-ergo.com/images/kb_classic-blk720x455.jpg).
Looks completely out of this world, but once you get used to them, you'll never want to go back. Keyboards don't get much more ergonomic than this baby...
I got one in the office and also at home. Oh and don't forget to switch to dvorak layout:)
Andrew said 10:26PM on 6-04-2008
It's the 21st century, please fire your designer.
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AHM said 12:21AM on 6-05-2008
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.
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Erin Sparling said 9:24PM on 6-05-2008
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.
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Mardi said 7:58AM on 6-05-2008
These split keyboards all have the same problem: the six key is on the wrong side for touch typists...
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Bob Mc said 10:53AM on 6-05-2008
Good start -- now make it in black and with backlighting.
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Owen said 12:30PM on 6-05-2008
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.
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Johnathon Zirkle said 8:40PM on 6-05-2008
"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...
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homagetogorto said 12:35AM on 6-06-2008
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.
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