Kinesis Advantage 360 • Hacker News Board

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#31

Post by dmm » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 6:32 PM UTC

I recently replaced the controller on my advantage2 to support qmk[0]. Using multiple layers lets me avoid the tiny rubber f-keys and move the arrow keys to hjkl along with a few other tweaks.

I wish kinsis would make qmk support a default option. Custom layouts and layers are just too useful for me to give up.

[0] https://github.com/kinx-project/kint

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#32

Post by Palomides » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 6:34 PM UTC

dsr_ wrote: post #26

I don't understand the surrounding decisions. Differentiating by wired/wireless makes sense. Using two different programming systems? No. ZMK instead of adding BT support to QMK? Why? RGB underglow but not individually programmable key backlights? For the money they are charging, all of these things should have been extremely easy decisions. Anyone have insight?

> ZMK instead of adding BT support to QMK?

speculation, but I'm pretty confident: ZMK is MIT licensed and QMK is GPL

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#33

Post by lowmagnet » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 6:35 PM UTC

I had an Ergo way back, and it was a decent keyboard until something failed on the bottom row. I've since moved on to building a Ergodox in 2014 that I've been daily using since.

This model looks really slick, and adds a number of nice innovations to the form factor. I'd reconsider if my current keyboard wasn't so bullet-proof.

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#34

Post by huang47 » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 6:37 PM UTC

love the split design but the new challenge will be where I can mount the magic trackpad LOL

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#35

Post by dogma1138 » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 6:39 PM UTC

I would like to see them partner with Logitech and integrate Logitech’s wireless tech into this and get rid of the cables all together and have a much lower latency interface than BT.

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#36

Post by linsomniac » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 6:41 PM UTC

endisneigh wrote: post #24

If you're seriously thinking about buying this go try the other Kinesis keyboards first. After you get in the ergonomic territory I find the comfort increases to be very marginal. IMHO assuming you have no ergonomic setup at all you're better off buying a Kinesis Freestyle, a used Steelcase/Herman Miller chair, and a VESA mount for your monitor/laptop to make it eye level - all of which can be had for the cost of the…

FWIW: We had ergonomics consultants in 3-4 years ago and they recommended displays be lower because having them higher makes your eyes open wider and dry out more. If you have problems with dry eyes, maybe try lowering your display?

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#37

Post by twalla » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 6:43 PM UTC

Palomides wrote: post #32

dsr_ wrote: post #26

I don't understand the surrounding decisions. Differentiating by wired/wireless makes sense. Using two different programming systems? No. ZMK instead of adding BT support to QMK? Why? RGB underglow but not individually programmable key backlights? For the money they are charging, all of these things should have been extremely easy decisions. Anyone have insight?

> ZMK instead of adding BT support to QMK? speculation, but I'm pretty confident: ZMK is MIT licensed and QMK is GPL

ZMK is built on top of Zephyr while QMK is built on top of ChibiOS - I'm not super familiar with the specifics but it's my understanding that the way ZMK/Zephyr handles bluetooth and matrix scanning is like an order of magnitude more energy efficient.

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#38

Post by linsomniac » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 6:44 PM UTC

inquist wrote: post #27

FWIW I've been quite happy with the ZSA Moonlander https://www.zsa.io/moonlander

I was pretty hot on getting the Moonlander when it first came out, but I really wanted unlabeled keys. They now offer that, but I'm having a hard time committing to spending the money when I'm so happy with my ErgoDox Ez.

Anyone made that switch that can compare/contrast?

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#39

Post by qq4 » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 6:48 PM UTC

I was getting hand fatigue from my laptop keyboard and decided to look into split keyboards. I tried a variety of Kinesis keyboards but I didn't like the build quality or inconsistency in features between models. I ended up settling with the Mistel MD770 which is a compact split keyboard in a traditional QWERTY layout. I found that was all that was really needed. I still use my laptop a ton, but I switch it up just enough with the split one to keep fatigue at bay. This goes the same for using a trackball with my left hand and a mouse with my right.

At the end of the day the solution for me is to move in different ways and to build strength to combat fatigue. The trouble to adapt to Dvorak or curved, exceptionally ergonomic layouts isn't worth it for me, nor is the cost.

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#40

Post by Sholmesy » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 6:49 PM UTC

dsr_ wrote: post #26

I don't understand the surrounding decisions. Differentiating by wired/wireless makes sense. Using two different programming systems? No. ZMK instead of adding BT support to QMK? Why? RGB underglow but not individually programmable key backlights? For the money they are charging, all of these things should have been extremely easy decisions. Anyone have insight?

The go to for the ErgoMechKeyboards realm seems to be to use ZMK for these sorts of things. Power consumption and customization of certain things is better supported.

Individually programmable key backlights is nice, but imo a gimmick. That being said I never use backlights on a laptop keyboard, or mech keyboard, so I don't know what the use case for wanting ur Q to light up in a colour different to your W key would be.

Also this board is not that expensive.