I can't agree with the claims of this article.
Kinesis is far ahead of MS's so-called "ergonomic" keyboards. I know because I suffer from RSI and have tried every model I could get my hands on.
Kinesis is far ahead of MS's so-called "ergonomic" keyboards. I know because I suffer from RSI and have tried every model I could get my hands on.
The Natural has always been a watered-down, cheap feeling keyboard by comparison to thm, with - it would seem - much more attention being paid to not looking too weird than to actually being ergonomic, such as not straightening out the key columns, going convex, putting control keys where the thumbs can reach them, etc. It's pathetic. The only truly positive attribute specific to the Natural when compared to other ergonomics keyboards is that it was cheap, < $100. Although it also felt cheap, wore out relatively quickly making it more expensive per year of potential use, and had a terrible key mechanism that may have negated a good part of any ergonomic benefit - especially after some wear.
I'm biased, of course, I've typed on the "Naturals" and have several Kinesis Ergos. The latter keyboard style is the only thing that's made typing comfortable, and in the office I work in, I'm no alone in preferring them.
To be honest didn't tried too much. I also have an old Kinesis Advantage model, the one with the rubber function keys (I hate them, the Advantage2 has new function keys but they still look cheap membrane buttons) anyway I'm quite satisfied with a TECK 209, it's not perfect but it's more portable than the Advantage if I'm on the go.
I suppose the next one to try would be a Maltron.
One of the blokes at work had an Ergodox and he was kind enough to give me a go. It was great fun - from memory the thumb clusters were closer than the Kinesis which would be great if you have smaller hands (for those who haven't tried the Kinesis Advantage - the thumb clusters are a little far away, using the 2 smallest keys closest to the bottom-centre isn't comfortable for me)
I thought the standout feature was mouse control at the hardware level - think hjkl but moving the mouse instead of your cursor. I have yet to find a way to do that with the Kinesis in software - if somebody can do this please let me know!
The reason I chose the Kinesis is the key wells felt great. It felt more natural for the keys to be the same distance from my fingers as they moved forwards and back in an arc.
The Ergodox was a lot more portable, though I thought I would be frustrated having to set up each half at the perfect distance and tenting each time. You also have a greater switch selection than the Kinesis Advantage if you want something clicky.
It makes every staggered keyboard feel like a relic from another age, they make no sense to me at all.
I agree with you totally, it boggles my mind and I'm so frustrated that we are still replicating a layout necessary for mechanical levering when it's not required by at least a century...