Kinesis Advantage2 Ergonomic Keyboard (KB600), Black top case, Cherry MX Brown Switches, QWERTY keycaps

This might sound extreme, but I think this keyboard literally changed my life. I say "think" because I'm not sure what could have been. I am a software engineer. Needless to say, I spend a lot of time at a keyboard. Over the years (I'm 39 by the way) my hands and wrists have progressively got worse. I would hear cracking, and constant aching in my hands and wrists. I just assumed that was par for the course with my job. As time went on, it got worse, and I decided to look into keyboards. I've had the split wrist ergonomic keyboards in the past and I liked them, but I thought I would look into something else. After reading tons of reviews, looking at and seriously considering every crazy keyboard style out there. I looked at all the start ups, oldies, etc. I had some criterion: - Nothing but the best ergonimics - mechanical keys - programmable I finally settled on the Kinesis Advantage 2. Setup was as expected. Now that's because I was already aware that there are KVM switches often have compatibility issues for keyboards like the Kinesis. This prevents you from being able to use the keyboard input on the switch. I have a KVM switch (IOGear Miniview DVI 4 port USB KVMP Switch). When reading the reviews from both companies, I knew it wasn't going to work, but I already had a workaround. Basically, because your keyboard has the multimedia controls (like a lot of other of your cool keyboards) and some other advanced features, KVM switches don't recognize them. That doesn't mean that you will have any drivers on your windows PC (or Mac/Linux/etc) or anything like that. It's just a keyboard to everything else in the world... but your KVM switch. This problem was easily solved by using one of the standard USB connections on the switch. I just have to push the button on the switch now. I also hooked up a standard keyboard for the rest of the people on this planet that don't know how to use my keyboard... so I just use that to actually control the KVM so it's really fine in the end. If you are planning to use a KVM switch have a look at the Kinesis web page, they have identified some that do work, sometimes only in a partial manner. As any other review of the Kinesis will tell you, it takes time to get used to. Plan on that. I spent a lot of time on Type Racer practicing in my down time. I completely stayed away from standard keyboards for about 2 months (mostly). I made a lot of mistakes and made a lot of mistypes, hitting double keys, etc. It was obvious from the start how much better the ergonomics were. I was able to easily program some macros into the keyboard. As I mentioned, I'm a software engineer. There are a lot of patterns that I type many times a day, I can do this with a single keystroke now. So far, I haven't found a need for it yet, but the keyboard has different layer settings so if I'm switching between editors that have different auto completion features (i.e. how {} and () brackets are written out and tabbed... developers know what I'm talking about). The Cherry keys are all they are cracked up to be. It's my first mechanical keyboard set so I don't really have much to compare them to, but the keys are wonderful. They are clicky, but not too bad. People I work with have not mentioned much about it so I assume that it is not too bother some. Now, on to the real reason you would buy this keyboard. The ergonomics... As I mentioned, it was obvious immediately how much more comfortable this keyboard is. I'm not sure exactly at what point it was, but my wrist pain went away... and I'm talking about a 2 months... probably less. I didn't have any diagnosed carpal tunnel or anything like that, but the pain was constant. It's also important to note that I have reduced shoulder and neck pain because my arms are in a more natural position as well. I carried my keyboard back and forth to work gladly every day until I got one for my work. At that price my work wanted a doctors note, which I gladly went for. At this point, I have had the keyboard almost a year. I will now switch between "normal" keyboards and the Kinesis pretty easily enough. It literally becomes painfully obvious how much better the Kinesis is after typing at a "normal" keyboard for more than 5 minutes for me now. My wrists will start to hurt almost immediately and I think that I've been doing this all my life. I'm seriously considering switching to Dvorak now that I have one at work and one at home. I was thinking that it might help me separate my brain more from the "normal" keyboard so switching would be easier. I did get the Dvorak version for work to plan for this and will likely buy the keys for my home keyboard. Have a search on Youtube for a review on the Kinesis Advantage 2. There is a very good one that is about about a 15 minute in depth review of the "Human Keyboard". Pros: - Ergonomics - Program-ability - Ergonomics - Build quality - Ergonomics - Actually smaller than it appears in pictures. - Ergonomics Cons: - KVM Switches... but a lot of other high end keyboards will suffer - It's completely different from all other keyboards (but that's why your buying it right?) so switching between "normal" keyboards can be awkward, but it's not as bad as I expected. - Fatter and taller than a "normal" keyboard but slightly shorter. It might not fit well in those desk drawer keyboard trays. - could be considered loud, but nothing louder than any other mechanical keyboard. In the end, this keyboard does exactly what it says, every other review I read is spot on. If you are serious about your ergonomics, are experiencing pain in wrists and shoulders. I'm not saying this is going to cure you... but it might. In conclusion, I "THINK" this keyboard changed my life, because I will hopefully never know, but I was quite certain that I was developing some long term chronic problem with my wrists and hands. As of a year later, I don't worry about this nearly as much.

This is probably the best keyboard I've ever purchased but it can be incredibly frustrating at first. It definitely takes about a month to totally re-orientate your muscle memory. The placement of the keys is well thought out to reduce the amount of reaching you need to do, which is the point, and is easy to learn key location. However, its the reaching part that takes some time to get used too. At first I was constantly overreaching for every key, hitting multiple keys at once accidentally. Basically you need to keep telling yourself to reach half as far. This doesn't sound that complicated but changing the way you've been doing something for 30 years takes a little bit of time to change. If you are a computer programmer I would say this keyboard has some huge advantages. If you've ever done any programming for any length of time you'll quickly realize that many of the major programming keys are almost all on your right pinky finger, and worse yet they are all keys you must reach for. These are . / ? ; : ' " = + [ ] { } | \ _ - and of course backspace, shift, control, Delete and enter. My right wrist constantly hurt because of this. On the Kinesis the Backspace, delete, control and enter keys are under your thumbs and this is awesome. Not only are they easier to reach but they are faster and more intelligently placed. The + and = keys are moved to your left side. This takes a minute to get used to but balances the work load better between both your hands. There are also macro's if you want. I set a few up for things like lambda function boilerplate but honestly setting up snippets in your code editor is usually a better way to go. Overall I'm pretty impressed and my wrist hurts much less then before. My typing speed seems to have improved slightly but not dramatically.

I am a big fan of the Kinesis Ergo keyboard. I have one that I bought 10+ years ago, the Professional, that is still chugging along with almost no issues. So when I decided that I was going to amp up my IPad (and other computers) experience, I decided to go with another Kinesis Ergo. It works great connected through a QGeeM USB-C adapter. The keyboard does not disappoint, the brown switches are nice and crisp with a hint of mushiness. It is nice to see they’ve upgraded the function keys from mushy rubber to sweet mechanical switches. If you have an older keyboard, note the brown switches on this one are more crisper, or less mushier, than the older model. I’ve never customized my old keyboard and don’t plan to customize this one, but it is nice the customization feature is now moved into the keyboard itself. Looking at the keyboard, they’ve also added volume controls as well as one-touch switches to go between query-duvorak-Mac-windows and there is even a button called “status”. The beep-on-click feature is also still present. As many other commentators have noted, this keyboard is really expensive. I held off on buying a 2nd one for a long time and seriously considered getting a Logitech or Microsoft Ergo instead. It is a very hard decision and I’m still split about it. Other drawbacks are, for this price point, the plastic feels cheap. Also I was expecting blue switches under the blue keys, it would have been a nice highlight. Another sad observation is the letters are still glued onto the keyboard which means they’ll fade out over time. At this price point I’d expect them to be pressed in. And just to finish it off, it is 2021 and there is no LED backlighting. How am I supposed to see the keys in the dark when I’m on a marathon coding session? Even my $30 Razer I got used off eBay has customizable LED backlighting.

There aren't too many options out there for readily available ergonomic keyboards. However, at the price point, there are much better options with more features. Pros: 1. Ergonomics: The curved/concave wells, use of thumb clusters, and separation from left and right should help alleviate RSI induced pains. 2. Built-in remap program: You push program+shift+esc, then you push program+F1. This will make the keyboard into an external storage device. Run the program, change your key mapping, click save, eject, and I had to unplug and replug. 3. Ortholinear/columnar/column staggered layout: This is supposed to be better ergonomically but might take some time to adjust to. 4. Mechanical Switches: You have your picks of mx brown and silent red (is blue an option too? maybe?) Cons: 1. Price: At the MSRP, there are a lot of worthy competitors with more features. You could get a prebuilt dactyl, a used ErgoDox EZ, or look into the new ZSA Moonlander. 2. Ergonomics: If the predefined ergonomics aren't for you, then too bad. You cannot adjust how close or far apart the left and right halves are. You cannot adjust the angle/tilt. It is as is. 3. Not hot-swappable switches: You are stuck with what you get. 4. Modifier keys are not easily accessible: The alt and ctrl keys can be used a lot depending on the user, but they are somewhat far and difficult to reach. 5. Sounds, random beeps: I found it slightly distracting as it beeps when certain keys are pressed. Might be able to change the settings but I didn't play around to find out. 6. Feels cheap: It feels hollow and cheap. Quality is more of $100-$150 range. 7. Takes up a lot of desk space: This could be a problem if one has limited desk space. 8. Loud bottoming out: The hollowness of the shell really seems to make bottoming out louder than other keyboards. 9. No tactile bump on f and j keys: I think it has deeper dishes on those keys but still hard to tell. 10. Not ideal key mapping for layers: The default mapping has a tiny button you push to toggle layers (toggle, not hold and switch). It is on the top with the F row and a very small button. You have to stop, look down, and take your hands off the keyboard to toggle it on and off. Certain modifiers were hidden in the layers too, which makes it extremely tedious (compared to a normal keyboard at least) and time consuming to use.

So thought I'd come back to give a one month review. I don't feel at this point any new revelations will come thru. So here is the final review. *** Who this is NOT for *** - People that don't type pretty strictly home key (at least for normal typing). - People that 10-key a lot. So this keyboard has keys closer together and a concave shape. 10-key is embedded within the right half of the keyboard. All of this makes it a) difficult to look down and type and see what keys are what, b) creative fingering can be awkward and slow as you lose all the ergonomic benefits of the unique shape of this keyboard. 10-key because the alternative function of these keys are painted on the bottom sides facing you of each key. But since each key is down and concave there's limited area to see what each key is. Lastly, I finally learned from Kinesis support that th SPC key becomes the 0 in KeyPd mode. So you can type a zero, it's just a bit weird. *** Who this is for *** If you are pretty significantly a home key typer- you will absolutely fall in LOVE with this keyboard (as I have). the ergonomics are really that unbelievably good. Best I can explain it is, I am not one who has ever had hand or wrist pain when using keyboards. But, using this keyboard just for a short while I suddenly can feel how strained my wrist and fingers are going back to a normal keyboard and even a standard ergonomic keyboard. It's immediately obvious when going back: - why the concave curve - why the "more cramped" keys closer to each other - why these analog keys (the action and feedback is UNBELIEVABLE). I especially love turning on all the tones as it helps me save my fingers from crashing against the bottom and also the CAPS lock indicator. *** The unexpected fallout if you buy this kb *** 1. If this keyboard is to your liking, you will absolutely fall in complete love with it. To the tune that you will find excuses to sit at your computer just so you can use this keyboard more. To the tune that you may even feel compelled and tempted to bring it everywhere with you just so you can use it more (like to work). 2. I laugh every time I'm at work and I start typing and I start mis-typing characters because my thumbs are now used to being used for del, backspace, etc. and not just the space bar. So when I come up to a task where my thumbs are used on this keyboard, but I'm using another keyboard- my thumbs either hang in the air because it wants to do something it can't, or I end up forgetting and using them anyway and get unintended results. It make me laugh every time now. 3. If you switch keyboards regularly (say work vs home) and don't take this with you constantly- even really good typists (e.g. me) will now have to get used to not being such a good typists anywhere anymore. The switching back and forth from muscle memory will become a factor. Even though this is true, I will never go back if I don't have to and may buy extra units of these so I can have a Windows one and a Mac one- then take whatever I need with me. Hope this helps. Good luck.

The shape of this keyboard can't be beat. Not only are the keys vertically aligned, not only does it have thumb clusters, but the shape is concave, so your fingers have less distance to travel, and also you can avoid typing with your hands out of place because it will feel wrong. No need to search around for the nipples. That's the good news. The bad news is that this keyboard is barely programmable (remappable), and the promotional literature is highly deceptive on this point. The problem is that the system for remapping makes no distinction between a shifted versus non-shifted key. So, for example, if you want to remap the double quote character to a colon, it's impossible, because a double quote is a shifted single quote and a colon is a shifted semi-colon. The best you can do is to create a macro that looks for a "shift-quote" sequence and sends a "sift-semicolon" sequence, but that won't work if you type some other character between the shirt and the quote. And it will leave you in shifted state, so you need to send an unshift, but if the next character you want to type is shifted, that won't work. In short, the programming system on this keyboard is literally broken for anything but the simplest remaps. If you need any kind of realistic remapping capabilities, I recommend the ErgoDox. It has a similar layout, the switches are mechanical (in fact you have a dozen choices) and it is COMPLETELY programmable. Unfortunately the finger wells lack the concave shape of the Kinesis, but if you need to customize the layout this Kinesis is not an option. If Kinesis ever gets their act together and fixes this major defect, I'll gladly give this keyboard six stars.

I’ll update this & can only give a partial review @ this time. But I LOVE it! Was afraid since it was so expensive, 1 reviewer said it was too big for her hands, others said too small for their hands; but everyone agreed it was good for pain issues. Just got the keyboard but the computer isn’t here yet. So I can’t plug it in & test functions out yet. But I can play w/ the key fingering & have done that for 2 hrs. I can say it’s very comfortable & the pain I usually have in just 10-15 min’s hasn’t flared up yet. Can also say the fingering is very natural feeling & I’ll only have to get used to some of the symbol & punctuation keys that are in different places than I’m used to, so not much adaptation needed at all! The numbers are so much easier & more natural than on flat keyboards! I always hated the numbers, but not now! I’m a woman w/med. size female hands if that helps you any, but smaller hands should do even better than I’m doing on this keyboard. It’s easily suited for all sizes of female hands. I can’t attest to it for men w/ larger hands tho. So until I get my computer so I can test the functions of this keyboard, this is all I can truthfully say. So far I LOVE IT & it doesn’t take days & weeks to get used to at all as far as key positions & just straight typing on it. Maybe it will to learn the special functions, remapping keys, or other things, but I don’t know yet. Will update when I know more. I personally see no need to remap keys, but I fully intend to use the shortcut keys & things like that. So if you’re like me & afraid of the price (OUCH!) & what other reviews say about hand size using this keyboard, don’t worry about that if you have female sized hands. No problem there or with learning key layout either! It’s just so natural the way this is made & I can’t believe there aren’t more made this way! It’s such a no-brainer & so perfect the way it’s laid out for body comfort & use! All this being said tho, I can’t believe it takes so much more money to produce it that it has to cost this much! I got lucky & got mine w/a very large discount or never could have gotten such an expensive one. I do believe it’s pricing itself out of the market, but as others have said, it’s better than dr & hosp bills & crippling body issues that are very real for some people. I hate to think it preys on injured people to suck more money out of them for the hope of comfort. But I do believe it’s the best keyboard I could have ever chosen for my own issues & thank God for my discount so I was able to get it!!! Hope this helps clarify some questions for anyone on the fence & unsure about what some other reviews are saying about the learning curve & hand sizes.

I bought this keyboard a few years ago and had to come back to leave review because it’s that good. I have carpal tunnel and cervical spine issues and typing on regular keyboard was extremely painful. I tried the Kinesis Freestyle Edge but it’s too big for my hands and the split keyboard was too awkward to use. So after reading and watching reviews, I bought the Advantage2. What a great keyboard! The layout and key well keep the my fingers tips from burning. It took a few days to adjust to thumb clusters but now I type considerably faster than I did before. Moving keys to the thumb area reduced strain on the pinky from hours of copy/paste. I have not used any of the remapping or macros but intend to. It’s expensive but the ROI is worth it if you are online all day. I bought second used one so I can leave it in the office. Cons: it’s a weird shape so traveling/commuting is awkward. I wish Kinesis would offer glow-in the dark keycaps to make up for not have an LED keys. The Advantage360 looks amazing but I prefer a stable keyboard I can use in my lap if I wanted and the Advantage2 has the stability I need. One last wish: gel pads. The Advantage2 palm pads are flimsy pieces of foam that I supplement with improvised cushions. All in all it’s a great upgrade.

Un diseño fuera de serie en la búsqueda de un teclado ergonómico que reduzca las dolencias y malestares de quienes pasan muchas horas tecleando textos. Sin embargo, lo devolveré, porque en mi opinión, dado su diseño curvo, las teclas tienen una posición inusual, por no decir extraña, por lo que se tiene que reaprender la posición de las teclas para llegar a dominar este teclado. Tengo 50 años y empezar de nuevo significaría una preocupación, más que un apoyo.

I've had several natural keyboards in my time, including a much loved Microsoft Ergo one and the Sculpt. But I started to notice wrist, arm, and neck pain, so I ordered a Logitech version of the natural keyboard and their vertical mouse. It got worse because the keyboard was so much larger and the mouse hurt my hand. So back they went which was a shame as I love Logitech normally (I'm using an MX Master 2 mouse now). Still, I had to do something and I'd heard of Kinesis before. I looked at the Ergodox as well, but that looked even worse. Enter the Advantage 2. I still flub typing the c key as my finger thinks it should be lower down, but I'm almost back to where I was with speed and my body thanks me. Expensive? Yes. Worth it if you're typing a lot? Absolutely! I'd highly recommend this to anyone that wants to feel better about their ergonomics and who wants a premium mechanical experience. And....I can switch to a laptop keyboard with no issue and back again as well.

I was recently diagnosed with RSI. A general economic keyboard did not help the situation and this is where I decided to try this. First challenge was you have to relearn how to use this keyboard as all the characters are slightly displaced. So I actually tracked my progress on typing test.com. on the first week I was at 13 words per minute and subsequently I progress back to 60 words per minute. the only biggest thing I hate about this keyboard is that it is not wireless, given how long it is really been in the industry.

Hat meine Probleme mit RSI sehr verbessert. Innerhalb von einer Woche werden die Schmerzen in der Hand bereits spuerbar weniger. Beste Investition in meine Gesundheit und in meine Arbeit als Programmierer.

I've used split keyboard for ages and finally wanted a mechanical one. There are a number of alternatives, all expensive, so I decided to give this one a try. I got the version with Cherry Brown switches. Once I got over the learning curve - and don't fool yourself, there is one - I found it very comfortable and easy to use. It's even got a Mac mode which alters the mapping of the thumb keys slightly (and it comes with the correct keycaps for a Mac). I found the hardest thing to get used to was the thumb clusters - specifically, moving the backspace and delete keys from right-pinky to left-thumb. I love it now though. A word to the wise, though: If you can't touch type, you should think again before considering any split keyboard, especially this one. You WILL have to learn to touch type to use this keyboard if you can't already... and you will find out all about the little bad habits you had built up as you get used to the ortholinear key layout.