[wy35]

Yes, I'm disappointed to see that this isn't a contoured keyboard -- still waiting for a contoured keyboard (e.g. Advantage2) with the customization of the ErgoDox without having to build it myself (e.g. Dactyl Manuform).

[mohaine]

This. After using Advantage2 for 10ish years I can't really go back to a flat keyboard. I liked my Keyboardio Model 1 but the Advantage2 is just more comfortable.

I love the idea of customization but the flatness has me looking at all these as non-starters.

[wy35]

I hate to add to the Advantage2 fan club, but Kinesis absolutely knocked it out of the park in terms of ergonomics. Makes constant typing ridiculously comfortable.

[bostonvaulter2]

How does the customizability of the Advantage2 compare to the Ergodox EZ?

[johnm]

Nowhere close.

There are DIY mods that people have done to be able to run e.q., QMK as well as make them bluetooth.

My impression is that people who really want the concave keywells are building variations of the Dactyl Manuform.

[bostonvaulter2]

Thanks for the info! I'll take a closer look at the Dactyl, although at first glance it doesn't look very stable.

[johnm]

Skip to original Dactyl and look at the configurability/customizability of the Dactyl Manuforms.

Personally, after using the Kinesis Advantage for many years, I'm going a different direction... fewer keys, lower profile, etc. E.g., Corne, Kyria, Ferris.

[johnm]

Do you only use the Advantage at home/work? I.e., what do you do when you're traveling (or just using your laptop away from you desk)?

[wy35]

I don't bother traveling with the Advantage2 at all... it's a bit too big to do that comfortably.

I find it pretty easy to switch between laptop keyboard and Advantage2, so no problems there. So the Advantage2 remains on my desk while I just use my laptop's keyboard for meetings/on-the-go. I think the layouts are so different, my brain processes them separately.

[johnm]

Indeed. I started with the original Advantage a long time ago. After getting used to it, switching back and forth with the laptop keyboards doesn't scramble my brain.

But making the jump to the modern, smaller splits + multiple layers, etc. is another huge jump in ergonomics... and they are portable enough to travel with.

[kingnothing]

I also use an Advantage which covers probably 80% of my computer use. I have no problem switching between it and other keyboards. If I'm on my laptop in the living room or away from home, I'll use the built in keyboard. If I'm gaming, I use a Kinesis Gaming keyboard.

[mohaine]

Not OP but I just just use my Advantage at Home/Work (currently the same thing) and the Mac keyboard if I'm mobile. I tend not to do much heavy coding if I'm not at my desk due to the reduced screen size. If I had one of the newer Macs with the crappy keyboard I'm not sure what I would do. This hasn't been an issue since every work Mac since 2015 has been a the old style keyboard for some reason.