Every "split" mechanical keyboard currently being sold that I know of

split_keyboards.md

• Kinesis Freestyle (Terrible key switches. Mushy and un-lovable)

• Kinesis Freestyle Edge (Traditional layout with too many keys, mech switches, proably too big to be tented easily/properly)

• Matias Ergo Pro (Looks pretty great. Have not tried.)

• ErgoDox Kit (Currently, my everyday keyboard. Can buy pre-assembled on eBay.)

• ErgoDox EZ (Prolly the best option for most people.)

• Diverge 3 (Looks great. Might buy one. Ergo-dox really has too many thumb keys anyway. This might be a better design.)

• Diverge TM 2 (Cool idea. Magnets! Too few keys for me.)

• Keyboardio (Halves can optionally be separated. Looks promising, but too few keys)

• Dygma Raise (Nice thumb keys layout, but no arrow keys and probably too big/unweildy for effective tenting)

• UltraErgo (Does not appear to be mechanical)

• Ultimate Hacking Keyboard (Small layout, mech switches, intersting-looking thumb attachments but missing arrow keys! And Kinda ungly)

• Lets Split (Dunno what this is yet)

• Mistel Barocco (no arrow keys, but looks good if you like 60% keyboards)

• Goldtouch (Technically one-piece, but close enough. I've used these. They're crap.)

• Goldtouch Go (Technically one-piece, but close enough. These are also crap.)

• Comfort Keyboard Split Magic Keyboard (This looks terrible)

• SafeType Keyboard (Also looks terrible)

• Axios (Something gloriously weird that is under development. Maybe.)

• Cheap Split PCB Boards for sale (Totally DIY. Soldering required!)

How long did it take you to get used to the ortholinear key layout on the ErgoDox?

I've got a Matias Ergo Pro. It is pretty nice, but in over a year of use I've got several sticky keys. I have other non split mechanical keyboards from steel series so I know there are better switches out there. Plus the keyboard is missing some important keys. Like insert for example.

You're missing a couple good ones:
https://gaming.kinesis-ergo.com/fsedge/ - Kinese Freestyle Edge - Freestyle 2 w/ mechanical keys and programmable layers
https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com - programmable mechanical

This one looks interesting too: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dygma-raise-world-s-most-advanced-gaming-keyboard#/

Keeb.io makes a few different PCB's for splits

Kinesis Advantage, Kinesis Maxim Combo and Maltron dual-handed might count.

Freestyle Pro was released by Kinesis recently: https://www.kinesis-ergo.com/shop/freestyle-pro/.

It looks very similar to Freestyle Edge, but is a bit cheaper, and comes with no wrist rests.

Maybe this one? https://www.amazon.com/Koolertron-Programmable-Mechanical-Keyboard-Ergonomic/dp/B076FTKD6F/

Don't waste your time with the Matias Ergo Pros ... they are wonderful hardware with HORRIBLE firmware. I've owned 4 of them and every one has had different firmware issues from ghosting to phantom keypresses to caps lock lights randomly coming on (and staying on even when caps lock is not engaged), etc. I just sent back 2 of the new "soft touch" ones. The keys themselves are great, if they can ever get their firmware issues sorted out.

this one is pretty cheap and beautiful, not sure about the quality though.
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.29.68d16222La6Gri&id=556970472669&ns=1&abbucket=4#detail

Thanks for this list! This is out of stock but this is exactly what I'm looking for:

https://keeb.io/collections/frontpage/products/quefrency-60-split-staggered-keyboard?variant=12204552880222

A whole family of wireless splits I worked on https://github.com/joric/bluetosis (see end of README). Split keyboards are generally bad, your old typing habits become pretty much nil and you need different muscle memory for every possible distance between keyboard halves.

been using matias ergo pro for about a year now (avg ~3 days a week) and i definitely have a number of keys that are ghosting/jammed up. i don't recommend it.

Thanks for the good list. Are there any non-split ergo mechanical keyboards? If not, is there some physical limitation as to why that can't be? Thanks.

The ultimate hacking keyboard doesn't have dedicated arrow keys, but it has them on another layer that is super quick to access. I'd argue that it's better than dedicated arrow keys because you can keep your hands in their normal place to use them.

Thanks for the good list. Are there any non-split ergo mechanical keyboards? If not, is there some physical limitation as to why that can't be? Thanks.

X-bows is the only one I can find, though why not go split?

@itod I'm glad that according to the list, the UHK is ungly, not ugly. The latter would be a shocker. In case you meant the former, would you explain what makes it ugly? Disclaimer: I'm the founder of the UHK. See UHK pictures at https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/ for reference.

Thanks for the list! Seconding the addition of keeb.io - I like the Iris

@mondalaci I'm not the author but here are some of the reasons why I did not buy a UHK.

1. Inefficient use of top space

The slanted top increases the maximum height of the keyboard. This means the bounding box of the keyboard is made larger. This e.g. has implications for putting the keyboard into a backpack.
This increase in height would have been ok if it was not slanted. The slant reduces the amount of usable space from the top - especially towards the right and left edges - even though the bounding box is bigger. Inefficient.

Besides the above. The overall shapes in the keyboard are very rectangular. The slant breaks away from your own design pattern.

2. The display/status indicators.

The top display is rather basic in its capabilities yet it takes up a significant amount of space.
The status icons are in my opinion too big and the icon style feels "fat". I subjectively do not like it.
The 14-segment display is too big in my opinion relative to what it offers.

Removing the slant, making the top fully rectangular would allow you to utilize your space more efficiently (bounding box).
You could then potentially fit in a display on the top. This display would not only fulfill the function of the status indicators - but with easy modding support - it could be used for anything (it seems like you are targeting a niche technical market with your keyboard).

Or maybe removing the top part could be an option (other keyboards do this). You have cables sticking out vertically either way so the small form factor might be better. The status indicators could be replaced by labelled RGB LEDs.

3. Inefficient use of key space

This is a split keyboard - People who buy split keyboards probably type in a relatively structured way and want to type even more ergonomically/efficiently. One of the biggest selling points (for me at least) is the easy remapping and layers the keyboard offers. The purpose of this is (in my opinion) to increase the amount of easily accessible symbols/functions a user can access (The following is based on the ISO UHK).
I absolutely adore your work on the left half of the keyboard. Especially the splitting of keys you have made on the bottom-most row.
The right half is where the issues begin to arise. Our fingertips are relatively small, they do not need much space on a key for the key to be easily usable. The Ctrl key on the right half is huge. This comes at the cost of the removal of the Apps Key. The same could be said for the Shift key right above. I am going to guess that most people hit the Right Shift key on the left-most side. Splitting Shift into two keys, and then letting the left-most key be Shift would give us one extra key.
I dislike your choice of choosing to use the ANSI style enter key on the right hand side. I have been following UHK since the very beginning so I know your reasons. I will present why I dislike the choice.
I prefer the ISO layout because the amount of keys that are within quick reach is larger than the ANSI layout. You get the ISO key on the left hand side, and on the right hand side, you get one extra easily reachable key on the home row. The ANSI layout pushes this "home row" key away and up. My little finger is no longer able to reach the key in its new position without a hand movement - That's one less easily accessible key. I know key caps of arbitrary sizes might be hard to source, but at $350 for a keyboard... a solution should exist.

You might argue that few use the Apps Key and the previously mentioned key that would be pushed up and away by the ANSI style Enter.
I agree. But the UHK is a fully remappable keyboard - What the keys were before does not matter. The only thing that matters (in my opinion) is whether the keys are easily reachable, since any key can be anything.

In my case, I heavily rely on the "home row" key that has been displaced by the ANSI enter - Yes, I use it more than Enter in my work.

Ending remarks

I like your keyboard - so many good small thoughts have been put into it - I especially like the left hand side (especially the bottom-most row). Hopefully the next version (maybe even with a columnar layout?) will be it for me.

I hope my thoughts answered your question - even though the question wasn't meant for me.

The let's split is awesome and is my daily driver. Its an ortholiniar 40% that's programmed using the QMK software. It's a DIY keyboard that can be found on keeb.io going by the Levnison name. It does take some getting used to as it's a 40%, but since it uses QMK, it's very versatile.

@sarphiv Thanks for sharing your opinion! I appreciate it.

The use of top space may be inefficient, but the use of depth is more efficient than for any other keyboard which utilizes MX switches. The UHK is unusually thin for a mechanical keyboard, and we've put great effort into its design it as such. One cannot design a keyboard with efficient space utilization in every dimension, so a tradeoff must be made. Given how thin the UHK is, it may fit better in a backpack than other 60% keyboards depending on the available space.

The display doesn't take up any extra space. The space would have been used anyways for the 4P4C connectors of the bridge cable. 4P4C is the most robust connector I can think of, phone cables are retractable, various lenghts of cables are readily available, and they don't come apart by accident. Form follows function is one of our guiding design principles.

It will be possible to make the display show arbitrary content as you suggest.

As for the shape, it largely depends on whether the UHK is split or merged. Almost everyone uses it split which makes the top edges parallel in which case it looks much better than when merged. Given this reason, I don't think it'd have made sense to kill the top slant and take up more space at the top just to make the shape rectangular.

Small correction: the UHK costs $275, not 350. If you're an individual from the EU than it's definitely higher due to the Hungarian VAT. You should purchase it as a company if possible to avoid the VAT.

I personally disagree about the layout, but I understand your preferences and respect them. We'll release further UHKs of different layouts eventually. Feel free to subscribe to the monthly UHK newsletter, so that we can keep you in the loop.

There's a similar listing at https://github.com/diimdeep/awesome-split-keyboards.

Also, this post links to this Google Sheet with a big list.

Don't forget all the weird sub-40% keyboards like GergoPlex or Let's Split Eh. If that's too extreme there's always options such as Gergo or Iris. Some boards also support lower profile switches (Such as Kailh Choc) which can help with wrist issues or do away with wrist rests entirely. All my boards use them because of ergonomic reasons.

Also if you're looking into splits for the first time, try a modern board with columnar stagger. It aligns the keys better to the finger that should be hitting them and allows for easier touch typing.

I have a matias and it's total crap after a few years. The height adjusting bits snapped after just a few months of being in tilt mode and the keys are starting to fail on it after a few years of use. Avoid at all costs.

Any thoughts on the Mitosis Wireless Split Ergonomic Keyboard?

@BrokenFlows , I as an ErgoDox user and basing my opinion just from the pictures I would say that the layout is extra weird by the extra keys where I should rest my palm hands, if you are keyboard collector or want it for very ocasional typing give it a try but not for main keyboard at that price.

The moonlander keyboard blows away most of these~ cutomizable-mech-split-ortholinear keyb https://www.zsa.io/moonlander/

It really doesn't. It's way to big for current ergonomic keyboards and uses an outdated design.

Mistel has 75% Mistel Barocco MD770RGB BT now. I would prefer 80% (tkl) but this is close enough

The domain for the Axios has expired and is no longer available.

One more keyboard to perhaps consider: I'm selling the Kyria as a DIY PCB kit on splitkb.com.

I am trying to find a split mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX red silent or similar. I am not a gamer. I just like the feeling of mechanical keyboards. Does anyone have any suggestions on keyboards with similar switches as the Cherry MX red silent?

I am trying to find a split mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX red silent or similar. I am not a gamer. I just like the feeling of mechanical keyboards. Does anyone have any suggestions on keyboards with similar switches as the Cherry MX red silent?

Exactly what you ask for
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=836

I am trying to find a split mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX red silent or similar. I am not a gamer. I just like the feeling of mechanical keyboards. Does anyone have any suggestions on keyboards with similar switches as the Cherry MX red silent?

Exactly what you ask for
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=836

I already check that site. They are not available (out of stock) on the red silents

The Diverge and Comfort Keyboard Split Magic Keyboard links seem to be dead.

The dygma's keys are 100% rebindable, and they encourage it. You can thus make your own arrow keys however you like.

Further, they're being very transparent about the tenting situation and will be releasing a solution to it soon. Others have made makeshift tenting hacks and say it's very comfortable and usable (at least for the form of the keyboard itself).

So the comment on the post isn't really that fair.

the new e BAROCCO MD770 RGB BT is the only split bluetooth mechanical I've seen. Hoping others with better qa standards follow suit.

liking the list tbh

Bruv thanks for the listing

Ultimate Hacking Keyboard is the best keyboard I have ever used. The new version looks great and I can not wait to get my hands on it!

ZSA Moonlander is another new 60% that looks really great.

I'm curious as to what you mean by "effective tenting."

I've used a Kinesis Freestyle Pro (work) and an Kinesis Gaming RGB (home), both with Cherry MX Brown, for a couple of years with the Kinesis tenting solution. Their solution supports 5, 10, 15 degree tents. I have found 5-10 to be comfortable for me with a shoulder distance separation between the keypads.

Note: This is not an endorsement of the Kinesis. I stumbled across this as I'm researching better split keyboards. I selected the Kinesis a couple of years ago as a quick choice due to arthritis in my shoulders and needing a keyboard that allows me to work with a more open shoulder position. They are serviceable, but not great.

I'm curious as to what you mean by "effective tenting."

I've used a Kinesis Freestyle Pro (work) and an Kinesis Gaming RGB (home
...
Note: This is not an endorsement of the Kinesis. I stumbled across this as I'm researching better split keyboards. I selected the Kinesis a couple of years ago as a quick choice due to arthritis in my shoulders and needing a keyboard that allows me to work with a more open shoulder position. They are serviceable, but not great.

Did you find something better? I've been using Microsoft Natural Keyboards for ages and am used to the split design, but their newer models seem to have gone downhill in terms of hardware quality.

I don’t recall the exact context where I made that comment. I do remember the comment. By effective tenting I mean: Adequate angle. For me this is around 5-10 degrees. The Kinesis supports 5, 10, and 15 degrees. I tend to favor 5 degrees. Stable keyboard when tented. I don’t want wobble. Ease of setup. Does not reduce portability. I’m not concerned about paying $300 for a high quality keyboard. There are less expensive options (see below). Due to my arthritis, I like having the left and right hand separated by about 14-15 inches which rules out many keyboards like the Microsoft Natural Keyboards. The open/shoulder width arm position really, really helps with both stress in my shoulders, upper back, and elbows. In playing with arm position, I find that if the hand separation is less than 14 inches then the need for a steeper tenting angle increases. Otherwise I can feel an increase in tension in my arms. This morning I ordered a Dygma Raise. I’m not real keen on Dygma's newly developed tenting solution and want to play with the keyboard a bit. Since I like a shallow tenting angle (5-10 degrees), I *think* I’ll be able to come up with a 3D-printed solution that is portable, stable, and easy to use. I can add their solution at a later date if I choose to go that way. Here is a general writeup I did on another thread. I edited to include links to my short list of keyboards in case you want to look at them. I've been using an KinesisGaming RGB for a couple of years at home and, until recently, had a Freestyle Pro at work. With the exception of macro keys and RGB they are the same keyboards. They are serviceable, plastic keyboard with Cherry MX switches. It took my about half a day to adjust from a standard computer keyboard. I decided I wanted a split keyboard that I could throw in my backpack with my laptop and take with me so I started looking. The Kinesis is not really designed for portability (tenting solution and components). One of my biggest complaints about the Kinesis is the lack of a number pad. I've been looking at the various split keyboards trying to determine the one I would get. My short list turned out to be: Dygma Raise <https://dygma.com/pages/raise> ZSA Moonlander <https://www.zsa.io/moonlander/> The Ultimate Hacking Keyboard (UHK) <https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/> Common elements on all three keyboards: Layer and macro support - looking forward to a number pad layer. I'm sure I will come up with others once I start playing. Fully split keyboard allowing me to have the two halves at shoulder width. Wrist supports. Hot swap key switches. I've used a few different switches in the past (mostly Cherry). While I doubt I will change switches, the option is nice. Right now I don't know if I will order with the Cherry Browns (same as my current Kinesis) or the Kailh Copper. I like tactile keys. (Well, I truly like clicky but I have that people nearby typically don't like the sound.) I have reached the decision to go with the Raise for the following reasons: It is the smallest and lightest of the three while appearing to have the most robust construction. Staggered keyboard so a significantly reduced learning curve (vs Moonlander). The design is elegant and "concise" minimizing cables. I also like the fact that I can use either side independently. 8 thumb keys. The ability to slide the two halves together into a mostly standard layout. I always find it funny when people come to my desk and want to show me something and get freaked out by the split keyboard. The Kinesis layout is a 75%+ keyboard like most laptops so it should be familiar once you get past the space between your hands (and the fact you can no longer cheat by using the wrong hand under some circumstances.) Keyboard stability. RGB Backlight AND underglow. On my Kinesis RGB, I really like the ability to highlight some keys. With layering, I expect this to be even more important. Comes with orings. Spouses and coworkers don't necessarily appreciate the sound of a nice, clicky mechanical keyboard. The one issue I have is the lack of a tenting solution which shouldl be solved soon. (FWIW, I find I like a tent angle of around 5-10 degrees.) That will probably not delay my order. I also like the keyboard without any positive or negative tilt. A couple of follow-on comments… The Moonlander’s use of a hex wrench to tighten the “legs” and the effective infinite variability makes it seem to me that it would be a problem to quickly setup and get stable configuration. I kind of like the Moonlander but I ultimately decided that I didn’t want to transition to an ortho layout at this point in my life. I’ve been a touch typist on a staggered QWERTY keyboard since high school, which was around 45 years ago. Maybe at some point in the future, but not now. The UHK is basically you have tenting or you don’t. You either have the legs flat or up. I’d like a bit more variation than that. If that was the only issue, I may have looked beyond that like I’m doing with the Raise but the weight, the cable placement, and having only three layers also impacted the decision. With my Kinesis, I’ve learned that wire running across the middle can be a little bit of a hassle depending on what you are doing in the middle. I sometimes put a drawing tablet, or mouse there and that cable can get in the way. I perceive the Y configuration of the Raise to potentially be better. I also like the thumb clusters on the Raise. Other keyboards I looked at but did not make the short list. Most of them were discounted due to concerns about durability when used as a portable. Of course, with some of these, you could buy several of them before spending the cost of a Raise. Ergodox-EZ <https://ergodox-ez.com/> Sol 2 <https://www.rgbkb.net/collections/sol-2> Keebio Sinc, Quefrency, and Iris <https://keeb.io/> Others - There are several sites that have lists of ergo/split keyboards. The six I mentioned here were the ones that caught my eye. Okay, if you are still reading at this point feel free to ask if you think there is anything else I might be able to help with. Ben

…

On Feb 4, 2021, at 12:23 PM, Jimmy Wan ***@***.***> wrote: @jimmywan commented on this gist. I'm curious as to what you mean by "effective tenting." I've used a Kinesis Freestyle Pro (work) and an Kinesis Gaming RGB (home ... Note: This is not an endorsement of the Kinesis. I stumbled across this as I'm researching better split keyboards. I selected the Kinesis a couple of years ago as a quick choice due to arthritis in my shoulders and needing a keyboard that allows me to work with a more open shoulder position. They are serviceable, but not great. Did you find something better? I've been using Microsoft Natural Keyboards for ages and am used to the split design, but their newer models seem to have gone downhill in terms of hardware quality. — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/ae27b30f7517dc18b8df110c1d98bccb#gistcomment-3620383>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ADU2BGL2GM43NYFQGQQKU4TS5L643ANCNFSM4ISTIKIA>.

Lily58 (4 variants/versions) https://github.com/kata0510/Lily58

In this quest as well.. I've been using a MS Sculpt for 4 years and it's been great for my pain. If I switch to a normal keyboard the pain immediately starts after just a few minutes. Now that the keys are failing, had to replace a few I'm looking at a mech one. Wanted it for a while.

I just loved the UHK. Everything about it seems perfect except the lack of arrow/f* keys. As a developer I use them a lot so I'm a bit concerned about using the mod key to access them. Might be fine and I get used to it.. but it costs around 400 euros since I'm buying as a private person. That's a bit way out of my budget (or willingness) to spend for a keyboard.

Leaning towards more a Kinesis freestyle pro with the kit/palm rest as I think that resembles the MS Sculpt more. But I'm also concerned about the fact that the macro software doesn't work on Linux (might not be a problem at all..) and that it seems a bit too big.

The Mistel Barocco MD770 has arrow and F* keys, so it seems like the best of both worlds. But the tilting seems a bit too basic and limited.. also no palm rests so I'm not sure it will be good ergo-wise. Plus I can't find to buy it in any place in the EU. Only on https://mechkeyboards.co.uk.. but now with Brexit god knows about importing and tax

So yeah.. not sure what to do now. If the UHK gave me either F* or arrow keys I would bite the bullet and buy one. @mondalaci is that something you guys have in your plans or not happening at all?

@joaopgrassi the UHK is the best keyboard I have ever used. Using the "Mod" key is basically the point of the keyboard though so it will come into play much more often than when you need arrow keys.

Think of it as similar to when you need to press shift key to get a capital letter instead of pressing the caps lock key. That is how using the mod key feels to me. I never use caps lock and always hold key shift down when needing caps, so transitioning to UHK has been very easy and appealing.

I hope you get a chance to experience it. The people who made it are trust worthy and committed. Really appreciate their team for the hard work they are doing on this keyboard. New ones ship in March I believe which are backlit and hot-swappable!

@wuno Thanks for your kind words and support! Yes, the UHK 60 v2 is backlit and hot-swappable.

@joaopgrassi We'll release UHKs of different layouts eventually, and some of them will be better suited for you than the actual version. You're welcome to subscribe to the monthly UHK newsletter, and we'll keep you updated.

@joaopgrassi I've been using Microsoft Natural over 10 years ( and still do so at work) but have bought Mistel Barocco MD770 around 5 months ago. So, though Natural is not exactly Sculpt, I hope my experience could be of some relevance.
First - MD770 is great. I really love it, it's sound, it's feeling. It's a space saver at my home workplace.
However it has downsides.

• 75% - I think I would never get accustomed to it. While missing numpad is just slightly inconvenient, lacking of navigation block is critical. Ins, Del, End... I'm still watching on the keyboard every time I need to press some hotkey like Ctrl+Ins, Shift+Del or Ctrl+Home.
• No Menu key - never knew I really use it.
• Two halves of keyboard should be connected mechanically - you break hands positioning every time you move keyboard otherwise.

Now I ordered some new keyboard very similar to Microsoft: https://c9ergo.com/products/cloud-nine-c989m-ergonomic-keyboard

@wuno Yeah the UHK is by far the most appealing to me. I like how compact and sturdy it looks. The fact that the new version has hot swap also is very nice. A big plus for me is also that it's based in the EU and they really seem to care for the customers. Like I said, I would probably get used to using the mod keys. The only blocker really it's the price, hehe. Maybe I'll get around by buying via a company.. we'll see.

@wuno how is your exp with the tilting angles? Does it have levels of tilting or just no tilting and tilting? The Kinesis one has 2 levels I think, which is nice to adjust.

@mondalaci thanks for the info! I'll def sign up for it. Any rough ideas of when these plans would happen? Just to find out if the wait is worth haha.

@martin-wanderer nice, I also used the MS natural at work but to me that it's waaay too big. I loved the Barocco MD770 but I can't find to buy in the EU.. only in the UK with UK layout which I would prefer not too. Wish there were more vendors in the EU =/

@wuno how is your exp with the tilting angles? Does it have levels of tilting or just no tilting and tilting? The Kinesis one has 2 levels I think, which is nice to adjust.

@joaopgrassi

The original UHK has legs that you attach and can move around to your preference. I found myself setting it once and never changing it again. The new one supposedly has better legs that I read will attach easier.

I like mine to be identical to the animation at this link - https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/manuals/uhk60pr2/tenting

In all honesty, additional UHK versions may take years to be manufactured.

As for the tilting / tenting possibilities of the UHK 60 v2, check out its onboarding guide, which we've recently taken to the next level. Go with the flow, and you'll find some very fancy and illustrative animations as the one @wuno linked.

@mondalaci Can you let me know when your team is mailing out my V2 and modules? :)

@joaopgrassi If I get my keyboard by my birthday, March 5th, I will mail you my UHK V1 for free!

@wuno whaat haha, are you serious? That's another level of kindness! I wont argue for sure :P.
@mondalaci, whoa that's a nice doc page, well done! Damn all you, making me on the edge of buying one! :D

@wuno Please check out our blog. We always include the most up-to-date ETA in our monthly posts. Thanks for your patience!

It seems like many are on the same journey that I am. I have been using a Kinesis Freestyle Pro for a while after coming from MS Ergos (Natural > 4000 > Sculpt). As much as I like the Kinesis, it's big and I miss the combination of tenting and reverse tilt. I'm curious where some of the others on this path have landed. The UHK looks super interesting. It doesn't look like there is a rev-tilt + tent option, but it does look like I could make/print something to achieve the effect.

@verchalent Thanks for your interest! See the UHK mounting layout and this 3D printed tenting stand. You should also be able to screw screws into the bronze inserts of the UHK with rubber parts on their ends to implement combined negative tilting and tenting. You may be interested in additional UHK modding guides, too.

@mondalaci Thanks for the quick response. Really appreciate that the founder is replying on github and how mod friendly you guys are. That plus the modules concept was the push I needed. Looking forward to giving it a try.

Follow-Up on switch from MS Natural to Kinesis Edge

Summary

Decided to jot down my notes in hopes that it's helpful to someone else.
After using Microsoft Natural kbs for 20+ years (Original, Elite, 4000), I wanted a switch.

I've switched to a Kinesis Edge using Cherry MX Red with the Lift Kit. After about a month, I'm happy with my choice that's had a fairly minimal learning curve. Currently using the 10 degree lift (middle setting) and ~8" separation to nestle a Logitech M500s between the KB halves.

Context

I'm a professional software engineer that mostly touch-types without textbook technique.
No history of major RSIs, just conscious of avoiding hand/wrist pain that hasn't flared up in a very long time.
I did find myself needing to regularly schedule deep tissue massages, and especially wanted to avoid that during the pandemic.
I use a Leopold FC200RT/AB (TenKeyless with Cherry MX Browns) for home use/gaming (that I no longer have time for).

Design Considerations

• Split layout was a must-have.
• No need for a keypad and working area is a touch constrained, so full numeric keypads were generally eliminated early.
• While I was fine with the hand-positioning layout of my Microsoft Natural Original/Elite (no more wrist/hand issues), I did find myself subconsciously slouching. This resulted in chest tightness and knots between my shoulder blades. As such, split halves were high on the wants list (little to no downside other than cost/availability).
• The MS 4000 had an absolutely awful spacebar that didn't like off-center hits, so didn't want to keep using it.
• I did like the idea of backlit keys as I sometimes like to keep a relatively dark home office to minimize glare.
• No interest in portability.
• Preference for wired USB over bluetooth.
• Primary target OS is MacOS, and possible future use with Windows, but I don't care about mismatched keycaps.
• No real interest in keycap colors, customizability, programmable colors, macros, etc.
• Key remapping was a nice-to-have, but built-in MacOS tooling likely would have satisfied my needs.

Alternatives

• Eliminated more exotic layouts (ortholinear, etc) since II didn't want to fight with a possibly long learning curve.
• Eliminated Goldtouch due to non-adjustable split and common complaints about build quality.
• Considered going back to Microsoft, but I tend to avoid wireless KBs for desktop applications (one more thing to go wrong) and the Sculpt seems to have a lot of complaints about wireless connectivity.
• Didn't want tactile keys for noise considerations, but didn't need "silent" keys.
• Looked into the Kinesis Freestyle Pro, but the awkward product configurations required to buy a palm rest and tent kit would have put me back in the same price range without backlit keys.
• "Professionalism" or lack thereof associated with a "gaming" keyboard is a non-issue. Can always turn off backlit keys if that was really a big deal.
• Ignored DIY options due to time considerations.
• Was definitely skewed by reading Wirecutter, but certainly scoured the internet for many first-hand experiences like this github repo.
• Briefly browsed drop.com, but needed something semi-immediately and didn't want to wait.

Details

• Even with a modest split, I've found that i can keep my chest open and my shoulders stay relaxed, avoiding the subconscious shoulder slouching that used to result in misc upper back/chest tightness. I haven't found myself wanting to adjust front/back tilt.
• Currently using an 8 inch split with a slight angle due to space considerations, but will likely switch to something even wider or even variable.
• Learning curve from previous KBs was smooth. In week one, I occasionally found myself settling on the wrong home row with my right hand, but that's likely 100% non-representative user error. The FJ keys have the usual homing nub, and I haven't had any issues since.
• No complaints so far about stability or build quality. I thought I had identified a key with a slightly squeaky spring in my first week, but it appears to be completely gone now.
• Keystrokes aren't silent, but they are quiet enough that they don't bother neighboring home office/sleeping quarters.
• I tried the remapping process just to try it and it was fairly easy to follow the instructions, albeit unintuitive without the manual. Probably could have just used MacOS key remapping to do what I did. Will likely consider taking advantage of the double spacebars and try remapping backspace or delete.
• Note that KB was refurbished, direct from Kinesis as I couldn't locate one from an authorized reseller anywhere. Came with full warranty and only a mild discount as compared to new. Given the option, I probably would have purchased new, but I noticed no particular issues with mine (cosmetic or otherwise).
• I did update the firmware (probably not necessary and tried a few of the built-in color schemes, but found most of them to be kinda ridiculous(waves seem distracting). Eventually settled upon Program-6 (solid blue).

After giving it a lot of thought (probably more than I should..) I decided to try out the Mistel Barocco MD770. It had the form factor I wanted (F and arrow keys) and with a good price.
Initially I let go of it, because I didn't find any store selling them in the EU, but after contacting Mistel, they forwarded me this Dutch store: https://www.ergowerken.nl/md770-zwart-mechanisch-gesplitst-toetsenbord.html

Which I contacted and their customer support was awesome. They answered all my questions about the keyboard, even sent me pictures of it. Mistel also sells now a palm rest pad to go along with the keyboard.

Mine will be arriving later this month, so I'll update my findings here so you all know.

Missing my personal favorite: the Helix ⌨️

After giving it a lot of thought (probably more than I should..) I decided to try out the Mistel Barocco MD770. It had the form factor I wanted (F and arrow keys) and with a good price.
Initially I let go of it, because I didn't find any store selling them in the EU, but after contacting Mistel, they forwarded me this Dutch store: https://www.ergowerken.nl/md770-zwart-mechanisch-gesplitst-toetsenbord.html

Which I contacted and their customer support was awesome. They answered all my questions about the keyboard, even sent me pictures of it. Mistel also sells now a palm rest pad to go along with the keyboard.

Mine will be arriving later this month, so I'll update my findings here so you all know.

Did you get it? How do you like it? Im thinking of getting the same. Honestly EU has really less suppliers and Customs and VAT are a pain :(

@0xKC hey I got it! I ordered through this store I mentioned above: https://www.ergowerken.nl/md770-zwart-mechanisch-gesplitst-toetsenbord.html.

Their customer service was awesome. I asked a lot of questions and they were very helpful.

So far the transition between the MS Sculpt was very painless. The build quality is very good. The tilt is good but I also ordered rest pads. I think without it it would be less comfortable. It would be perfect it there was a way to make a negative tilt but oh well.

Another thing I liked is that you can re-map keys without having to install any software. You just do it right in the keyboard with some key combinations. I didn't like where thee home/end key were so I remapped them and moved the keys :D

You can check a pic I posted here:
https://twitter.com/jotagrassi/status/1382293696872333312

I had a Keyboard.io Model 01 and sold it. Beautiful piece of hardware, but bulky and requires large hands to reach everything. While it's likely improved over time, flashing it was a buggy, convoluted, poorly documented nightmare.

Looked at the Mistel Barocco, but what few reviews I could find reported issues happening pretty quickly. Meantime, there's no means of warranty support that I'm aware of, so it was a hard pass.

I own not one, but TWO Dygma Raises (one in each color!). Attractive (especially in white/silver!), with very little learning curve - particularly if you're used to 65% keyboards. It's easy to program, and the thumb cluster is brilliant. I've actually used it tented up to 40 degrees (rigged my own solution, since Dygma's STILL isn't out yet), and it was fine. I swap between tented and flat and love it either way. It's admittedly not inexpensive, but imho it's worth it.

@kittykatmax

Looked at the Mistel Barocco, but what few reviews I could find reported issues happening pretty quickly. Meantime, there's no means of warranty support that I'm aware of, so it was a hard pass.

What kind of issues you found? I didn't see many on my research and I have been using mine for almost 2 months (for work and personal use) and have had 0 issues. Would be interesting to see what reviews you found.

As far as warranty, I ordered my through this store in the Netherlands and it has 2 years of warranty (I believe)
https://www.ergowerken.nl/service/garantie-retourservice/

I'm sure if you order via Amazon in the US you also have some sort of warranty.

I'd looked at least 2+ years ago, and these keyboards weren't widely available at the time. The MD600 (v1) was the only model available, Mistel's site was very limited, and what few reviews I could find at the time were mostly on Amazon - and involved hardware failures after mere months. Amazon only provides a 30 day return/exchange policy in the U.S. There was no mfr warranty information, nor was there feedback on Mistel's product support to take comfort in - and my assumption was that any support would involve my paying for two-way overseas shipping, so no, I wasn't going to spend over $130 on one of their keyboards. I bought a Dygma Raise when it first came out (and then a second), so keeping current on Mistel was not something I've been invested in. I took a quick peek on Amazon, and Mistel's split keyboard models seem to enjoy a 4 star rating these days, BUT*, *I saw many comments involving connection issues.

…

On Wed, May 12, 2021 at 7:57 AM Joao Grassi ***@***.***> wrote: ***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------ @kittykatmax <https://github.com/kittykatmax> Looked at the Mistel Barocco, but what few reviews I could find reported issues happening pretty quickly. Meantime, there's no means of warranty support that I'm aware of, so it was a hard pass. What kind of issues you found? I didn't see many on my research and I have been using mine for almost 2 months (for work and personal use) and have had 0 issues. Would be interesting to see what reviews you found. As far as warranty, I ordered my through this store in the Netherlands and it has 2 years of warranty (I believe) https://www.ergowerken.nl/service/garantie-retourservice/ I'm sure if you order via Amazon in the US you also have some sort of warranty. — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/ae27b30f7517dc18b8df110c1d98bccb#gistcomment-3740080>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ADKXDCOYSDOYDZGADHSP2LLTNJ3KRANCNFSM4ISTIKIA> .

Fair enough. Just wondered as I researched a lot and didn't find anything. I saw the Amazon reviews about the disconnects and those seem to be solved by updating the firmware which I did on day 1.

Diverge 2 & 3 website doesn't exist anymore

This is an important gist. Thank you all for your comments and stories. Where do I start?

I own an uhk (version 1), apple magic and a planck ez. Just this week I got a kinesis freestyle but I am going to exchange it for a freestyle pro since I prefer the switches that come with it.

I spend quite a lot of time coding. Most of it happens in the console under vim. My vim setup doesn’t use arrow keys (hjlk instead). This means I don’t have to use the mouse that often. My mouse is an apple magic mouse.

Lately I have been doing more coding in the web, in observable. There, you code in the browser that requires using the arrow keys and the mouse more often.

I have used the apple keyboard and mouse for a long time. I feel apple doesn’t care too much about ergonomics, only about aesthetics. The mouse and the keyboard are solid but they have horrible ergonomics.

In my opinion, a split keyboard (with a bit of tilting) is a big improvement for ergonomics. Ortholinear keyboards are great but they are very custom. The problem for me is that it is hard to switch between those and a regular keyboard. I want to be able to be productive when I work off of my laptops keyboard (MacBook Pro). Because of that, things like the moonlander are not an option for me.

The UHKv1 is a great keyboard (v2 is even better) but the mod key is a bit challenging if you want to use the arrow keys. Yes, the concept is great but again, you have to get use to it and then you may run into difficulties if you switch to a traditional keyboard. A solution for this could be mapping the mod key to space and then use the left caps key as a mod key. You can then also remap that in your laptops keyboard.

The Kinesis (at least the freestyle v2) has a more traditional layout. I don’t like is that the shift right key is a bit shorter. I guess they have to do that in order to fit the arrow keys. That may be the keyboard I end up using. I will let you know. Also, it is frustrating that the left space key is so big. It could be a bit smaller. I don’t know about you but I only use the right part of the space key. It also feels cheaper compared to things like the UHK.

I final point I want to make is the importance of a good mouse (for ergonomics). I am exploring using the Kensington trackball. I think it is an improvement but it is not as precise as the Magic Mouse.

I’ll add more follow up comments as I spend time with the kinesis.

-drd

I have been enjoying my ultimate hacking keyboard (UHK) for a while now but recently I run into an issue. The right side of the keyboard wiggles a bit when I am typing so I have to put a little piece of paper on the top ride side to make it go away. The keyboard lives in a flat surface so the issue is not coming from there. Also, all the pieces that allow for typing on an angle are properly secure. It is annoying having to use a paper to remove the wiggling.

Has any of you seen this? How did you fix it? @mondalaci, do you have any advice for me?

@drio Hi there, and sorry to hear about this issue! Please shoot an email to support@UltimateHackingKeyboard.com and include photos of your UHK so that we can see the gap between the keyboard and the desk surface. Please also include photos of the feet of your UHK.

@mondalaci, I just sent the email. Thank you.

As mentioned by others above, Diverge 2 & 3 links are duds - but they're now being domain squatted potentially by questionable entities.

Might be worth ditching the direct link just in case