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Kinesis Advantage 360

kinesis-ergo.com

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Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#81

Post by jmarcher »

simonsaysso wrote: post #62
db65edfc7996 wrote: post #30

Sadly, no dedicated F-row. I would even settle for a subset of keys that aligned with the columns. I do not consider layers an adequate replacement. Happy to see they are moving away from their own software configuration. Not a fan of the software interface on the Freestyle Pro. More than once I have gotten myself into a loop where I am unsure which function mode is activated and how to switch back to what I want. I…

I would imagine you can add an F key layer pretty easily so this shouldn't be a big deal. I found it impossible to touch-type the F-row on my Advantage 2, and it's awesome to be able to move keys closer to your fingers. That being said, I don't see a reason to upgrade. I've ordered replacement key wells so I can install my own switches, and since the Advantage is my desk keyboard I'm not worried about portability.

My concern with this keyboard and others without F keys would be how awkward some IntelliJ keyboard shortcuts would be

e.g: LayerX + cmd + shift + 9 to rebuild a file. There are much worse offenders I am sure.

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#83

Post by dwringer »

rangersanger wrote: post #69

I picked up a Kinesis a few month ago and it's been a life changer. I've struggled with shoulder pain since as far back as I can remember. I'd done PT, dry needling, massage, etc etc. I'd even sprung for a personal ergonomic assessment. I'm a cyclist and and keyboard jockey, so most of my waking life is spent in positions that seemed to make it worse. At times it prevented me from sleeping, doing things I enjoyed, et…

This was exactly my experience as well.

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#84

Post by pault »

fulafel wrote: post #65
gbrown_ wrote: post #43

It's a shame they couldn't get hot-swapable switches to work [1]. I have an ErgoDox with MX Browns which hasn't seen the light of day for a while. If I were to make a large outlay again on a keyboard I'd want to buy with the switches I now know I want or no switches and fit them myself. TBH I could take a soldering iron to my ErgoDox I just haven't had the motivation. As an aside I've always wondered why the Katana60…

Hot swap switches would be a killer RAS feature for a KB. Throw in redundant power and multipath USB with chipkill ECC in the MCU and it can be the longest uptime device in your data center...

Hot swappable switches is a common (premium) feature in the mech keyboard world. There are many examples, but the ergodox EZ is one that is very similar to TFA, but without the contours.

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#85

Post by jerlam »

FullyFunctional wrote: post #75
jerlam wrote: post #5

I like how they added inboard macro keys. It was odd before how the Advantage had all this programming capability but you had to come up with some new keystrokes. Is it me or the price difference between the two makes the Pro model a no-brainer? Wireless, backlighting, better keycaps, and better programming model for only $40 more?

You find ABS (soft and light plastic that wears down with even moderate usage) to be superior to PBT which is heavier and FAR more durable?

I'll be the first to admit I know nothing about keycaps, it always seemed like worrying about the paint on a car and ignoring the engine. I'm guessing they had to use the worse keycaps on the "Pro" for backlighting?

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#86

Post by ashton314 »

gundmc wrote: post #41
inquist wrote: post #27

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

My only complaint with the moonlander is that you can't use the tenting at all if you have the thumb cluster tilted upwards.

I have a 3D printed leg to do that. They even showcase it here on their website: https://www.zsa.io/moonlander/printables/

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#87

Post by Ninjinka »

I picked up a Kinesis Advantage on Craigslist for $100 a year ago and that's easily been the best $100 I've spent. I've found myself wishing I could travel with it, but it's so huge that's really not feasible. This new design makes that look more possible, and the bluetooth option is a huge plus. So I'll definitely be purchasing.

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#88

Post by powerset »

FullyFunctional wrote: post #47

Base version gets PBT keycaps (yesss!) and Pro gets ABS (buuuh) Sadly not a typo. Hopefully the PBT set is available separately or (pretty please) PMK will make a custom run of the Ice-Cap.

The FAQ makes it sound like it's an option, at least I hope so.

https://kinesis-ergo.com/keyboards/advantage360/#faqs

"Which keycaps should I get? This one is easy…

Dye-Sublimation PBT: These are premium keycaps that are resistant to sheen and and fade. If you don’t plan to use the backlighting then this is the set you want. You have a choice of Dvorak or QWERTY legends. Shine-Through ABS: If you want to work in a low-light environment you’ll need to select these if you want to be able to read the key legends. This set is only available with QWERTY legends at this time."

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#89

Post by tomsmeding »

blt wrote: post #48

Interested in this. I like my Ergodox EZ but I wish its maximum tenting was a little more. I also really want to try the nonflat key arrangement. However, labeled keys and unique key shapes seems like a weird combination. Especially with Enter and Space on the same side.

Question about the EZ: I have one too, but a major problem I have with it is that even when not tented, it's a _significant_ distance above my desk. The EZ wrist rests don't work for me (my palms move when typing, and the silicone deters palm movement for me), but when the keyboard is tented I have a larger problem: where do I rest my arm? Do I just put my elbow on the table? That's a very small surface area to rest my full arm on.

How do you deal with large amounts of tenting?

EDIT: my current solution is two books, one under either arm...

Re: Kinesis Advantage 360

#90

Post by muditmudit »

jerlam wrote: post #17
muditmudit wrote: post #11

Is it just me, or does it look like another ergodox clone/fork? I mean, I'm happy. I hope this would make the split layout even more common place.

The Kinesis "contoured" design with thumb clusters is almost 30 years old, and itself was a clone of the Maltron design - so I think it's accurate to describe the Ergodox as a clone of the Kinesis.

Ha, I didn't know that. Thanks. Learned something new today.
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