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CLEAVE – Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

trulyergonomic.com

41–50 of 56 posts

Re: CLEAVE – Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

#41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is this so common on these ergonomic mechanical keyboards? I had a similar problem with my Kinesis Advantage. After less than 3 months, it would randomly type out gibberish. I reset it multiple times and even tried different computers and OSes and it was the same. Would have needed to spend 100+ to get the board replaced. So now it's a $300 paperweight. There was another brand that had similar reviews on Amazon o…

Counter-anecdote: I own 2 Kinesis Advantage and they're both working perfectly after 11yr and 5yrs respectively.

That's what frustrates me, because I read a lot of good reviews for them. But now I'm just too scared to test my luck again.

Re: CLEAVE – Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

#42
Umm, okay. IMHO, the most ergonomic keyboard ever was the (defunct) DataHand Professional II. It was so damn expensive that they drove themselves out of business by suboptimal profit maximization. If they cut production costs and cut wholesale prices, they could've made a killing and survived. It seemed like an inventor-led, garage-based company lacking a CFO, design-for-manufacturing engineering and investors.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataHand

Re: CLEAVE – Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

#43

I think a keyboard has to split in two to be truly ergonomic (otherwise it isn't really adjustable to the user). I was a happy user of an ErgoPro [1] for a year until it stopped working. I tried the Ergodox but really didn't like adapting to its compacted layout. I am about to purchase a Mistrel Barocco. [1] http://matias.ca/ergopro/pc/

I have to agree. This situation has been bothering me for quite some time. In the last 8-10 years (who's counting), I've gone through four Matias ErgoPros. Their rate of failure is much higher than I'd expect for a mechanical keyboard, but I've yet to find a better board (despite the build issues and sticky keys problem). I've looked and looked, but haven't yet any better boards to suite my simplish criteria: a) Mech…

My Kinesis Advantage failed within 3 months. That was really disappointing. It had the phantom key presses and ghosting issues too.

Re: CLEAVE – Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

#46
This makes the mistake that all split keyboards make of not duplicating the keys near the split line. Not everybody touch-types in the perfectly ordained "you will use this finger for this key" way and it is pretty annoying when your right hand goes for a "b" and it isn't there.

Re: CLEAVE – Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

#47

I think a keyboard has to split in two to be truly ergonomic (otherwise it isn't really adjustable to the user). I was a happy user of an ErgoPro [1] for a year until it stopped working. I tried the Ergodox but really didn't like adapting to its compacted layout. I am about to purchase a Mistrel Barocco. [1] http://matias.ca/ergopro/pc/

I have to agree. This situation has been bothering me for quite some time. In the last 8-10 years (who's counting), I've gone through four Matias ErgoPros. Their rate of failure is much higher than I'd expect for a mechanical keyboard, but I've yet to find a better board (despite the build issues and sticky keys problem). I've looked and looked, but haven't yet any better boards to suite my simplish criteria: a) Mech…

The Matias ErgoPro is hands-down the best keyboard that I've ever used. When it works.

I had both the standard and low-force keys. One was a warranty replacement for the other, I forget in which order. Both boards had sticking keys within a year.

Re: CLEAVE – Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

#48
post #25

I had a period of being enamored with mechanical keyboards, but not any more. I tried various switches, high-profile, low-profile, always looking for the end-game keyboard. In the end, I realized that I still had more fun typing on Apple Wired Keyboard or even basic keyboards like Logitech K120. I don't imagine coming back to mechanical keyboards any time soon. I'll stick to scissor switches for the time being I gues…

>Apple Wired Keyboard/logitech k120 ...how do you prefer this? it's just one step above typing on a touchscreen, keys are mushy feeling and i keep mistyping because i don't get feedback. also using for long periods of time is murder on the wrists how long have you been held hostage by these kinda keyboards that you prefer them now

See, it's weird, but I feel the opposite. The high-rise of mech keyboards forces me to put my wrists in an awkward position. The long distance of the keys makes my fingers tired quickly and type slower. With low profile keyboards my hands flow over the keys very quickly, with mech keyboard I find myself having to delay myself a bit with each key to make sure it's pressed.

Unpopular opinion: I really like the new MacBook keyboards. I can't speak for their durability, but I like the typing experience on them.

Re: CLEAVE – Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

#49
I have an earlier TECK from them, and it was OK, but the middle row used weird custom keys so key swapping was not possible in the middle stack. This fixes that and goes with a slightly more toward ergodox layout.

The interesting thing is the switches. Optical switches should never fail, unless dust intrudes. It's not a well-tested technology but time will tell on the design.

Re: CLEAVE – Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard

#50
post #33
post #17

I used the old version of this keyboard for a few years. I liked the layout; it has the advantage of being fairly similar to a standard QWERTY keyboard (e.g. a non-split or Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) but with a few modifications to make it more compact, and so it's very quick to learn. Major downside would be that it died within 2 years and I couldn't get any response from support, and the website stopped sell…

Same thing happened to me: I loved the layout, but the keybord died after a year. I switched to a kinesis, since I know other people who have kept theirs for years.

I miss my Kinesis QD ergo. They were good boards. I kinda wish I had fixed it instead of giving it away to someone who could but oh well.
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