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by slig 860 days ago
Which ergonomic model did you choose?
3 comments

Not OP, but I use the kinesis advantage but if I was going to pick one again I'd go with the ergodox, also had a keyboardio but switching between types is kinda tricky and annoying
Anecdotal, but ergodox flared up my RSI terribly. I think it might be the shear size of it and overstretching my pinkies with the shift keys pulling double duty with parenthesis.

I’m now a happy user of the kinesis advantage (though the configuration software pales in comparison to the ergodox) and feel so much better.

There's a number of options for replacing the control board on the kinesis advantage (or advantage2) with one that runs QMK, providing the same sort of configurability as the ergodox, and the advantage 360 pro runs on ZMK.
I can suggest the following, I had three advantage 2s before picking up my 360pro.

I modded all of the 2s with the following boards:

* https://github.com/kinx-project/kint - Great board, requires usb of course. Programmable with QMK.

* https://github.com/wizarddata/Blue-Wizard-Mod - Doesn't support QMK but does support ZMK but is bluetooth. Great board.

I picked the kint up on some pcbway type service, the blue wizard I got off ebay.

I replaced the controller board in my Kinesis Advantage with a QMK-based KinT and I highly recommend it: https://github.com/kinx-project/kint
Do you type S with the left shift?

I think all the ergonomic keyboards assume you use the opposite hand for the shift key.

yeah all the *doxes suck.

I've been on advantages for 20+ years at this point and haven't had any of the RSI that prompted the switch since.

Currently daily on a 360pro. Might want to sell it or reswitch it for something a little lighter and maybe even something linear. Maybe a silent red or lf red.

I bought and returned a Kinesis Advantage360 for a Realforce R3. The R3 isn't better, but if you don't possess the requisite mechanics for their ergonomics, there's no point in buying a Kinesis.
A Kinesis Advtange: https://jakeseliger.com/2011/07/17/further-thoughts-on-the-k.... Well, a series of them. Now I have one from Upgrade Keyboards: https://upgradekeyboards.com/collections/kinesis-advantage36... with "Box White" keys. Very nice!

My guess is that, for most people, myself included, once one has invested the time in learning any particular ergonomic keyboard (Ultimate Hacking Keyboard, Ergodox, whatever), the switching costs are annoying that one just keeps using it

A small number of people seem to get obsessed with the narcissism of small differences in terms of switches, or minute aspects of positioning, or similar matters, but I find that one hits diminishing returns quickly and it's less the keyboard than what's done with it.

I am using https://www.zsa.io/moonlander/ and loving it.