Customer Reviews

Kinesis Corporation Kb500usb-blk Kinesis Contouredkeyboards Are The Best Available Design For Both Comfort And Pr

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When doing normal typing, I found the Kinesis Advantage to be very comfortable and ergonomic. However, there were issues in performing certain tasks on this keyboard.

I am a software developer and frequently use the arrow keys to move around. However, the arrow keys on this keyboard are located way off to the bottom of the main key section in a position very difficult to reach with my fingers. Moreover, the arrow keys are split between the left and right handed keys. The left/right keys are on the left-hand side and the up/down keys are on the right-hand side. This orientation is VERY difficult to use and not suited for certain repetitive tasks I often perform. However, I was able to get around this problem by purchasing a USB numeric keypad (http://www.amazon.com/IBM-Numeric-Keypad-Thinkpad-USB/dp/B00004Z7F0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1222551284&sr=1-1), which can also be used for its arrow keys.

A similar issue for me is the location of the bracket keys. These are even more difficult to get to than the arrow keys. Most typists probably only use these keys rarely, but they are used quite frequently when writing software programs. The Advantage lets you remap keys, but this leads to a lot of confusion while you are typing and simply swaps one set of keys with another.

Another issue with this keyboard is that ctrl/alt key combinations are designed to be keyed using both hands. Frequently, I need to perform cut and paste operations while handling the mouse with one hand. On the Advantage, this can only be done by stretching out your thumb and little fingers in an uncomfortable and unergonomic fashion.

I also am not fond of the soft function keys (F1-F12) on this keyboard. I use these keys extensively when I am debugging my programs to step through and navigate through my source code. These keys are small and simply do not have a great touch when you press them.

While this keyboard was generally very ergonomic (aside from the ctrl/alt issue), I found the issues generally too awkward to overcome, so I decided to send it back to Kinesis for a refund.

As someone who learned to type on a Smith Corona typewriter and spent nearly a decade in IT, I have used many keyboards. Whenever I begin a new job, I ditch the keyboard and mouse that's provided for me and replace it with my Kinesis contoured keyboard and Kensington trackball. I just hope motherboards continue to support PS/2 inputs a little while longer cuz that's how old my Kinesis is.

It took me about 2 weeks to get fully adjusted to using the Kinesis, but if you are patient, it will not only pay off with better ergonomics, but speed. I can probably type 5-10WPM faster with the Kinesis than with any other keyboard. Co-workers walking by my desk always thought I'd been over-caffeinated because of how fast I was typing. My only caution to you is if you have root privileges and are learning on a Unix or Linux system. Watch those typos! The only bummer about my version is that it's not USB and doesn't have a Windows key. I personally don't use the macro's but it's extremely useful for developers. One of the companies I used to work for would order them for developers and sysadmins at their request; they all requested them. The new Kinesis Advantage is USB and includes a Windows key. Even with the minor drawbacks on my version, I still preferred it when having to work 8-10 hours/day. I got used to creating shortcuts for everything in Windows.

Another funny advantage to the Kinesis is it keeps other people from "driving" your computer. It's hilarious watching people look for the Enter and Backspace keys like they have never typed before in their lives. Tee hee! Seriously though, this is the best ergonomic keyboard on the market. Now all they need to do is add some multimedia keys, add backlighting, and drop the price by $200 and I'll update mine! Most IT guys and geeks I know like typing in dimly lit environments or in the dark so a backlight would be nice to have..

For those who cannot or will not drop $300 for a keyboard, the Microsoft Natural Ergo Keyboard 4000 is a great value. Just be sure to use the reverse slope attachment.

Let me start off this review by admitting that many will find it unfair. I have used this basic model of keyboard (maybe one minor revision back) for over five years now. As a programmer, I love the layout. The ability to use Alt and Ctrl with my thumbs is a lifesaver. On top of that, my thumbs get a nice workout with all the other useful keys in the thumb section.

So if it's such a great keyboard, why the 1 star rating? Well, this is my second keyboard. As others have mentioned, the top row of keys containing the escape and function keys is horrible. It's soft rubber that wiggles horizontally as well as pressing down. It's extremely difficult to get any useful feedback on pressing it and I find that I frequently wind up with multiple keypresses on them with one poke if I'm not very careful. There's nothing quite like hitting escape in an app, only to have it send multiple escapes, thus possibly backing out of too many prompts/windows.

On top of that, the reason I'm on my second keyboard is because the F9 key ultimately failed on my first one. That was after only a couple of years of using it. The construction and design is incredibly poor in this area.

But even this could possibly be forgiven if they keyboard wasn't $300! For that much, there's just no excuse for either the choice of these squishy rubber keys or for them failing in a couple of years. Maybe they think "normal" users don't use these keys much (that might be true of the function keys, though it's really hard to believe with the escape key), but I don't think their biggest market is "normal" users. It's users that use keyboards a lot, which includes programmers and job-centered application users. Both of these tasks typically heavily rely on function keys.

I've written them an email almost nine months ago but never got any response. So lacking any possibility of this improvement, I feel I have no other recourse than rate this product so low. It's great, but how often can you afford to replace a $300 keyboard? How does every 2-3 years sound?

PS: To try to work around this situation, I'm buying a $100 function key strip from x-keys. Yes, $100 more just to try to make a $300 product work like it should. It should help me avoid having to ditch this keyboard when it inevitably breaks, but it's not the most ergonomic or economic of solutions.

If you are even considering this, you more than likely have RSI/Carpal Tunnel/etc. I have owned Kinesis contoured keyboards for over ten years now, they are simply wonderful. I had severe RSI for a couple of years and I was forced to seek medical attention, they wanted to operate, I didn't. Besides I had just graduated and couldn't afford to take time off or the cost of the operation. So I took the weekends off, did a little less typing and took over the counter ibuprofen. That was also the time that I discovered the Kinesis products. It took about two weeks to adjust to the new keyboard, although going back to a regular keyboard was no problem for me. I also learned the Dvorak keyboard, but it was too hard to switch back to a regular QWERTY keyboard. For me as a consultant/contractor, I often need to work at client sites and needed to be able to use a QWERTY keyboard, so I abandoned Dvorak. I tend to work twelve hour days so there were times when I did have soreness and numbness, but it was minor compared to problems I used to have. Some wrist excersies/stretches and alternating hot/cold water treatments helped too. Several years later, I had an alternative/energy medicine person do some things on my hand and I have not had any problems since. But I still have a couple of Kinesis keyboards and I love them. Wouldn't go back to a regular keyboard. The cost is a higher than others, but I have not found a keyboard that worked better for me. I've have the Microsoft Natural keboard, among others, but this one is still my favorite. Also, is it worth the lost productivity and recovery time? These days I can work for sixteen hours and not have any problems to speak of. If you decide to try it, give it at least two weeks, it can be really frustrating at first, but once you get used to it, its really great. One thing is that due to the contours, your fingers don't have to stretch very far so the distance your fingers need to move is less and I believe that really helps. Other ergonomics should also be attended to: keyboard tray, hands at or below elbow level, wrists straight, etc. One thing that really helped was to get rid of the arm rests on my chairs, drops the elbows to their natural position, otherwise we tend to rest on them and pull our shoulders up. Hope this helps.

I has been using kinesis keyboards for ten years, I have three of them so far

The first one I bought in 1997 is a PS/2 version, it is still working very well, the keys has excellent "tappy" feedback that let me know when a key press is registered.

The second one I bought in 2000 is also a PS/2 version, I bought it to use in the office. In less than a year, the keys start getting stuck ( a key press produces multiple characters), Kineses support told me to put some lubricant from radio shack into the switch, that make the keyboard feels mushier and the problem returns and more and more keys experienced the same problem, I put the keyboard into storage a few months later.

I took a chance last week and order a USB version last week because I recently got a mac which don't take a PS/2 keyboard, I was hoping that Kinesis would have solved the key stuck problem by now. When it arrived, I found is that the keys on the new keyboard DO NOT PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK AT ALL !!! I need to push the keys all the way down just to be sure that the key will register, the key action feel very cheap, and I found that I prefer the keyboard on the new MacBook Pro Unibody much better.

So, I cannot feel but disappointed, the keyboard was a great product but now the quality is gone, I just expect something more from a $300 keyboard...

I am going to keep the new keyboard because Kineses keyboards does help a lot on my wrist pain. Now I just hope that the keys on this one do not get stuck like the last one.

To people who work in Kinesis, if you are reading this, I want to let you know that I am willing to pay an extra $100 if you I can get a new keyboard that is as good and as durable (last 10+ years without problems) as my first kinesis keyboard. Please use good key switch even if they cost more.

I recently got this keyboard because I wanted a good ergonomic keyboard to use at work, as I type all day long (I'm a Software Engineer). This is the best ergonomic keyboard hands down. I highly recommend it to anyone who basically types for a living, like engineers and programmers. It's especially good for anyone who struggles with RSI or wants to help prevent it. Prior to getting this keyboard, I would get slight pains in my left hand and wrist when using a normal keyboard. I primarily got this to eliminate those pains and to help reduce the chances of me having more severe problems down the road. After about a month of using this keyboard, I'm much faster and more accurate than I was before (even when I go back to normal keyboards).

Pros...
* Feels great to type on... really great.
* Having enter/backspace/control/etc on the thumbs is great once you get used to it.
* Easy to reprogram it and move keys around directly on the keyboard.
* Mouse can be closer to your hands due to the lack of a true number pad (which could be considered a con)
* Will turn you into a really good typist.
* 2 integrated USB ports

Cons...
* It's a dinosaur. The keys are somewhat loud by today's standards. A few coworkers have this keyboard and it's easy to tell which ones they are without looking :)
* Function keys are kind of cheesy but whatever
* Missing modern day conveniences like backlit keys and whatnot (but if you're considering this keyboard, you probably don't care about that stuff).
* Would be nice if Kinesis could put a good use to all that space in the middle (trackpad?).
* Can take a while to get used to it but it's not as bad as one might think at first. It's much worse if you don't already type properly as this keyboard forces you to.
* Price although it's cheaper than dealing with medical problems and whatnot.
* For the programmers out there, it might take a while to get used to some of the keys that we tend to use more often than other non-programmers (like brackets).

Getting used to it...
A lot of people might write this keyboard off because it is so different than other keyboards, not to mention the price. I won't lie here. It does take some time to adjust to it, even if you type properly. I suggest switching to this keyboard when your schedule is light. After a day or two, I was able to use the keyboard at a very slow pace. I had to consciously think every time I had to hit backspace or enter. Force yourself to do it right and don't cheat by using the wrong fingers. After about 2 weeks, I was back to my normal typing speed and quickly exceeding it. The biggest things to get used to are the placement of the enter and backspace keys (space also if you're used to hitting it with your left thumb). If you tend to cheat when typing (e.g. don't use your pinkies), then it will take longer to get used to it as this thing sort of forces you to use the correct fingers. It took me an extra week or so to get really used to the placement of the bracket and arrow keys. It comes with exercises but I didn't use them.

The Kinesis keyboard is legendary. But there was a glitch in the installation process on a Dell PC. Dave at Ergo Works (the provider) went above and beyond in helping solve the problem. Five stars to Dave and also to Kinesis. The keyboard is highly recommended to anyone with wrist, hand, or even finger RSI. I've had four of them.

I was having moderate RSI wrist pain, so I figured I'd go all out and try this keyboard. It took me a good couple of weeks to get up to speed on it, but after a month I'm faster on it than I ever was before, and my pain is 100% gone. I can type all day long, which I never did before, and I can do an honest 65 wpm. The two thumb pads are strange-looking at first but work very well: they put delete, backspace, enter, and spacebar all at your thumbs. Those are about the most common keys to use, and it makes sense to have them there.

The layout of the main keys is very good, and I got used to them quickly. The outlier keys -- brackets, math symbols, arrows -- are all a bit weird and took longer to adjust to... it's an easy adjustment for writers, and a somewhat longer one for programmers. The keycaps can be easily moved around with the included cap-puller, making customization easy. I found the arrow keys to be frustrating: by default, up/down are controlled by one hand, and left/right by another. But editing code is often a one-handed thing (with the other on the mouse), and this keyboard requires two hands. Eventually I moved the arrows around so all four were on the right side, and that makes the arrows work a lot better. That left the various modifier keys -- Alt, Commmand, Control -- which I've moved around to various places and am eventually happy with, but it took a lot of experimentation. I do recommend reprogramming the Caps Lock to be a Control key -- perfect place and who needs a Caps Lock anyhow? Note that although it's advertised as being Dvorak-compatible, the home-row keys it comes with are a different color and shape than the rest, so it would look a bit funny in a Dvorak configuration.

An unintended side benefit: I'm a much faster typist now since I now actually touch type. Your hands are kind of locked into the two 'bowls' here rather than sliding across the keyboard freely like on a standard board. It's harder to look at the keycaps, so I learned to touchtype without cheating. Very nice. I've heard this is common.

Programmablity: In theory you can program new configurations into the keyboard itself, but this is very difficult, and according to others the keyboard will often forget the codings. I would instead recommend using a program like ControllerMate (Mac OS), which very easily lets you modify key mappings and much more.

The board is missing the 'locator dots' on F/J that most keyboards have. I bought some stick-on dots from Hooleon that made a huge difference for me.

This keyboard has been on the market virtually unchanged for most of a decade, and its age shows. Many new keyboards are wireless, backlit, have controls for CD & screen brightness, have thin profiles, have lighter-touch keyswitches, and so forth. Not this one: it looks and feels like a dinosaur. You have to press the keys a long way before they bottom out -- this is *not* like typing on a new Apple keyboard. Nothing light, thin, or sleek about it. That being said, if you have the room and don't mind the long key travel and the noise, it does disappear and just let you type.

Pros:
o No RSI pain! Totally gone. Of all the pros and cons, this is the only one that really matters.
o Fast once you get the hang of it.
o Price: Expensive on the surface, but seriously, it's the cost of one doctor visit, or a day of lost work. It's a real bargain.
o Made in USA. I disassembled it and it's got this crazy flexible curved circuit board in there, with hand-soldered connections. No wonder it's so expensive.
o Solidly built and comfortable.

Cons:
o Loud and heavy.
o Rubbery function keys up top are a joke.
o Need to pay extra for programming software (ControllerMate) -- the programmability included is very primitive and awkward.
o No locator dots for fingers on home row F/J keys.
o No AV controls (CD player, etc).
o Backlit keys? No way!
o No separate numeric keypad.
o Not low-profile: I have to put my keyboard tray lower than I did with other keyboards, and now it knocks my knees.
o Keys occasionally get sttttttttuck on auto-repeat. Might be an issue with the USB software inside the keyboard, since the keys themselves seem fine.
o Another USB bug: the keyboard doesn't start properly on my Mac after I've put the computer to sleep and awoken it. I have to unplug the keyboard & plug it back in again to get it working.

But none of these cons really matter. The keyboard is great, it's fast and comfortable, and if you're reading this, you probably need one.

*** Update: I've just posted a diagram of my custom configuration under the 'Photos' section for this product on Amazon. I moved a lot of the keys around for programming on a Mac (arrows, brackets, Command/Alt/Control) and I really like how I have them now, compared with the stock configuration.

I purchased 2 of these keyboards about a month or so ago and haven't regretted it since.

The reason I got this keyboard is by day I'm a programmer - so that's a good 6-8 hours of programming, but I also did a considerable amount of programming at night too. So all in all I was doing well over 10 or so hours of coding a day on many days. I am also an avid user of emacs, a tiling window manager, and so on...so much of my time was spent typing and rarely even using the mouse. I had constant issues where I had noticeable pain around the knuckle near my pinkie. Long story short..I really wanted to figure out a setup that would allow me to code longer periods of time without causing more pain. Previous to this, I was using a logitech mouse and a Microsoft Natural Keyboard.

I ordered just one keyboard at first, and when it came in the mail i was worried a little about the learning curve associated with the keyboard. A few keys are remapped to the thumb area, = and + as well as ` and ~ are remapped, as well as the arrow keys. In the box, you get the keyboard itself, pads for wrist support, adaptation exercises, a manual, and extra keys to swap out. This keyboard is programmatic. For example, out of the box it's in PC mode. You also have PC-non-windows mode, as well as OSX mode. These are easy to switch and makes moving from one computer to another pretty easy. Furthermore, if you have certain keys it recommends in places you don't like, you can code them to swap their locations. This was the case with me. At home, I use OSX. At work, I use linux. In OSX, I use vmware and in there a tiling window manager where I do most of my coding. The default mac layout put option closer to the thumb spot than ctrl. I didn't like that since so many emacs keys rely on ctrl. It was really easy to swap the keys programmatically (and by that, I mean you don't need software..there's a Program button that serves as the start of this, or macros, or general options). Also, since the keyboard also includes a way to swap out keys physically, I moved the ctrl and option keys to where I like them. The keyboard resembles and acts like my keyboard at work (same model) even though they are on different operating systems - and best of all, this is all hardware. No software fixes were done for this.

Another feature I like about this keyboard is a way to change the F-keys to being multimedia keys. These do work on OSX, even though I believe the manual says it won't because of OSX not supporting some standardized codes. There are other modes too, such as DVORAK mode - which is something I'm hoping to learn eventually.

For typing quality - lets just say it's the best I've ever used. I've used many, many keyboards in my day including mac keyboards, microsoft natural, and some logitech keyboards but nothing beats this. This has the feeling like some of my coworker's old keyboards have. I'm not sure how best to explain this...but it really comes down to the resistance offered by the keys. On the MS Natural, the keys have a very spongey feeling and the resistance is really noticeable.

There are a few downfalls though to the keyboard, though..
1) Cost...yeah, it's very expensive. Lost productivity and health issues kinda outweigh this. Some people have said these keyboards don't last 10+ years like the previous model...but more around 4 or so. That's not a long time in my opinion, but it may come down to how you take care of equipment too. i'm not sure.
2) Reading the manual is a bit of a must. Not often would I recommend reading a manual for a keyboard...but the key clicks may annoy you and you may want to know how to turn them off. Things aren't super intuitive to figure out without reading the manual.
3) Be prepared to customize some. I doubt anyone opens this keyboard and feels it's in the exact correct setup to begin with. It's not to say that it'll take awhile to customize, but I spent a good hour reading the manual and playing with settings.
4) The learning curve is pretty high at first. It takes a few hours to get used to this keyboard. The Adaptation exercises are said to be a really good introduction. Personally I didn't use them, but just continued my normal workload. I still have to look at the keys every so often for stuff like the ~ and all. My accuracy isn't super good either yet, but improving.

Overall, I don't know what i'd do without this keyboard at this point. I also got a kengsington expert mouse too. I found both really helpful to avoid hand pain..which has gone away within the first week of use and hasn't returned. I do take more breaks than before, so think of this as just a tool that helps but doesn't replace normal computing practices for people with RSI.

I got one in last summer and really loved it. Today the Apple Command key stopped working totally. It was the best keyboard that I have ever used yet the 17 month life time is too short for a keyboard priced at this price.