Author Topic: Recommendation: Kinesis Advantage 2 or Ergodox Infinity or ?  (Read 3232 times)

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Offline jleechpe

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Recommendation: Kinesis Advantage 2 or Ergodox Infinity or ?
« on: Mon, 19 December 2016, 14:02:35 »
Hello everyone.

I currently have a White Kinesis Advantage Classic (with footpedals) at home and love using it.  I've been looking to replace my keyboard at work (generic $5 membrane board).

I'd originally planned on holding out for the Axios, but with the project not seeming to be progressing to sales in the near future I've started looking at other options.  I won't say there's no price range, but since I'm considering an Advantage 2 most of the usual recommendations would fall into an appropriate cost.

Ideally I would want:
  • Split Keyboard (minimally split keywells although separate halves would allow for more adjustability)
  • Programmable/reconfigurable
  • Thumb clusters (this as much as the mechanical switches is what I love about the Kinesis)

I've been looking at:
  • Kinesis Advantage 2  I already have the footpedals for it, I don't use my keyboard at home as much as at work so would transfer it there if I got a Kinesis for work.  The new SmartSet sounds like it would make reconfiguring significantly easier (layouts as txt files)
  • Ergodox Infinity  8 extra keys, infinite layers
  • Diverge 3  2 extra keys but less options for the thumb cluster
  • Axios  Extra keys, built in tenting and adjustable thumb angles
  • Keyboard.IO  Looks like it would be slightly fewer keys than a Kinesis.  Uncertain if it supports more than 2 layers (which likely would be enough).  At the price though I might lean more towards the Kinesis just due to familiarity

Any suggestions or opinions as to the above?  I'm not overly worried about sound, right now I'm working in a QA/Server lab so lots of background fan noise, if I were to move I'd be sitting next to someone with a Model M so it wouldn't add any additional distraction to my coworkers.

Offline trenzafeeds

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Re: Recommendation: Kinesis Advantage 2 or Ergodox Infinity or ?
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 19 December 2016, 18:55:22 »
dox
can't go wrong with infinite layers
plus compatibility with a toooon of keysets
demik will never leave.

Unless he gets banned.

Offline jleechpe

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Re: Recommendation: Kinesis Advantage 2 or Ergodox Infinity or ?
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 19 December 2016, 21:24:37 »
Coming from a Kinesis would there be much adjustment to the thumb cluster location switching to the Dox?

The Kinesis is the only one that wouldn't get infinite layers (although I'm not sure how the multiple layouts and switching between them would come into play here).  I'm not overly concerned with the keycaps as far as appearance, if it's comfortable and types well I'll be happy.

My biggest issue with getting the Dox would be the wait before it arrives since I'd have to wait for the next MD drop and then order it (and then wait for shipping).


Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Recommendation: Kinesis Advantage 2 or Ergodox Infinity or ?
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 19 December 2016, 22:01:31 »
It's going to feel odd for 2 weeks, but if you actually use it full time,  you get used to it..

Offline hermes1908

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Re: Recommendation: Kinesis Advantage 2 or Ergodox Infinity or ?
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 28 October 2017, 23:40:16 »
Did you end up getting an Ergodox? How does it compare to the Kinesis? I have a Kinesis Advantage and while it has helped a lot I think having a fully split keyboard might be better and am considering getting an Ergodox.

Offline davkol

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Re: Recommendation: Kinesis Advantage 2 or Ergodox Infinity or ?
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 29 October 2017, 07:54:53 »
I used to have a Kinesis Advantage; switched to it from a stock ErgoDox and then switched from it to a more customized ErgoDox. The way I see it is following:

firmware: Kinesis Advantage 2 is super convenient; ErgoDox or Kinesis Advantage modded with a generic controller are very powerful; original Kinesis Advantage was awful in practice (firmware bugs, inconvenient remapping etc.)

form factor: Kinesis Advantage/Contoured is bulky... very bulky. ErgoDox, on the other hand, fits in a shoe case... unless you have some larger case or a tray/dock, which is kind of necessary for typing in ones lap (balancing each half on a thigh is annoying).

keys: Kinesis Advantage ships with limited switch/keycap options (the keycaps are only thin OEM-profile ABS too); so does ErgoDox EZ (albeit there are at least PBT caps), but with a bit of DIY you can whatever you like, basically. BTW the Kinesis keyboards have a buzzer that can activate on switch actuation; something similar can be added to ErgoDox with some effort.

ergonomics of main sections: Contoured key wells versus flat halves are two different approaches with their own pros and cons. The key wells (Kinesis Advantage) are more comfortable with stationary hands, while a flat keyboard works better with typing style based on moving whole arms (kind of like playing a piano). I guess it's more of a personal preference. Kinesis Advantage has a small plus in putting columns for different fingers into different heights, and so especially pinkies don't strain as much when moving around.

ergonomics of thumb clusters: ErgoDox thumb clusters are commonly criticized for their placement and I agree with that, but it can be mitigated by using the 80key layout (each 2u key split into two 1u keys) with aggressively sculpted keycaps in my experience. Kinesis Advantage feels a bit better, because the thumb keys are on a different plane than the other keys, but I would prefer an even more agressive shape (see, e.g., the ManuForm custom keyboard) and more keys (thus the 80key ErgoDox).

wrist ergonomics: Kinesis Advantage is an one-size-fits-all solution, which means it works fairly well for an average person. If you prefer more tenting or a different hand separation, though, a fully split keyboard like stock ErgoDox always wins... but it takes some messing around and perhaps even DIY. I had another complaint about Kinesis Advantage—it sort of forces one to use the palm rest and thus a certain wrist-forearm angle... I prefer a slight negative slope though, and so I had to raise the front edge of the keyboard, which was a bit tricky due to weirdly contoured surfaces all over the keyboard (another example is placing a trackpad into the empty space between key wells; it has to be taped not to wiggle).