Kinesis Essential vs Advantage Pro vs Advantage 2

[knightjp]

Pretty much my fav keyboard or at least Ergo keyboards are the contoured ones from Kinesis.
I can't afford a brand new one and just checked on ebay for used options.
Can anyone tell me what is the difference in between the Essential vs Advantage Pro and Advantage 2?

[Findecanor]

Essential: Really old model. No programming/remapping. PS/2 or ADB interface.

The Advantage was the base model from 2002 to 2016 when it was replaced by the Advantage 2.
The Advantage Pro had a controller with more memory than the Advantage.

Advantage 2: Mechanical function keys (Cherry ML). New more programmable controller.

[knightjp]

Essential: Really old model. No programming/remapping. PS/2 or ADB interface.

The Advantage was the base model from 2002 to 2016 when it was replaced by the Advantage 2.
The Advantage Pro had a controller with more memory than the Advantage.

Advantage 2: Mechanical function keys (Cherry ML). New more programmable controller.

Thanks for the reply.
So if someone just wants to use it as a ergo keyboard, no layers, no programming functions, etc., it sounds like the Kinesis Essential would suffice.
However I'm thinking that just for a little bit more in terms of cost, opting for the Advantage Pro, is the better choice.

[zegonix]

make sure not to miss the

Essential: ... PS/2 or ADB interface.

[knightjp]

make sure not to miss the

Essential: ... PS/2 or ADB interface.

Oh no.. haven't forgotten that part. I do have a PS/2 and ADB on my system.

[Findecanor]

I have a Kinesis Advantage. .. I have not used it much but when I did I don't think I could have l lived without being able to remap a few keys around. Such as, for instance, getting more sensible positions for Alt Gr (used in Swedish layout a lot) and navigation keys. And of course: putting Ctrl to the left of A.

[zegonix]

homerow modifiers (with tap&hold) is the most important remap, fight me

[knightjp]

Thanks for the replies and advice. I managed to get a good Kinesis Advantage KB500 MPC