KINESIS Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB Split Mechanical Keyboard | Cherry MX Linear Red Switches | RGB | Ergonomic | Detachable Palm Support | Fully Programmable | TKL | Available Tenting
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V91-Bleach
18-11-2024Working from home all day then turning around and gaming most nights on the same computer with a normal keyboard pretty quickly leads to pretty severe shoulder and back tension issues. Bought a pair of these keyboards to improve the ergonomics of our day to day lives, and man what a life saver they have been. Within a day or two we were both totally used to the split keyboard layout and our backs and shoulders stopped hurting at the end of the day. Would highly recommend to anyone who uses a computer many hours a day. Well worth the investment. Pros: + Ergonomics + High quality materials, real cherry switches, nice thick wrist rests that hold up over time and dont sag when the keyboard is angled with the optional accessory (see cons below) + RGB lighting is nice, if a bit limited on options + Programmable keys are awesome, and being able to create macros on the fly without needing to open the software is a nice touch + Multiple profiles can each have separate lighting and macros assigned to them Cons: - Updating the keyboard is a bit of a convoluted mess. You have to hit specific key combinations in specific orders, download and rename files to specific naming conventions and put them in specific folders. Its manageable to anyone whos tech savvy and their website has pretty thorough instructions, but it just seems like a royal pain compared to most things that are just Would you like to update your software? Yes/no - The layout of the home, end, page up, page down, insert, print screen keys are VERY different from a standard keyboard. As a programmer, it is taking me a long time to re-learn the positions of these keys that I use ALL THE TIME. - Media controls are mapped to the F keys plus the FN key, so you pretty much need two hands to use them (FN is the far bottom left key, for reference) - The software is a bit clunky. Programming more complex macros can be accomplished, but it has a decent learning curve. The RGB options are pretty limited compared to other software out there like Corsairs iCue. - The tenting accessory (sold separately) is honestly just trash. I reviewed it separately, but TL;DR it wont stay standing at its highest setting. - Both the Red and Brown switches are definitely not silent. Even after painstakingly putting rubber gaskets on every single key on both keyboards, they are still loud enough to hear several rooms over with the doors closed when you are really typing (80+ WPM). This isnt Kinesis fault, thats just mechanical switches for you, but its something to be aware of if you are used to typing on a membrane keyboard (much quieter).
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Debra T
> 3 dayThe quality of the keyboard feels great, the best thing about it for me is that all the keys can be remapped, and macros created for all keys. Im a computer programmer, and use a Mac computer, its hard to find a programmable keyboard that is compatible for macOS. The ergonomics are wonderful. The back lighting is very adjustable. The pads are extremely soft and comfortable. The only thing negative I could say is that its a little pricey, and it should come with the lifts, but its worth it to me.
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Alanis Willms
> 3 dayThis is an awesome keyboard, I love it. You can program it for Mac easily with a click of a button once you plug it in! which has Cmd, Opt, and multimedia controls with Fn, configured automatically at once. (though you have to eject and disconnect the keyboard hard drive first before you can use them. more on that below) I wanted the most top left key to be Mission Control, and it took me a bit to figure out how to do it, since this is my first programmable keyboard. The idea is, the keyboard itself has a hard drive on it so it saves your key mapping to it. To use them after saving the profile, youll have to properly eject the hard drive as youd normally do. Then press SmartSet button + F8 to disconnect the hard drive. the app will guide you. - download the SmartSet app first from https://gaming.kinesis-ergo.com/fs-edge-rgb-support/ youll find the manual there too, they really stress you read it :) - click on the button you want to remap, select Macro, click on the Macro text box On the keyboard, press the key(s) you want the new mapping to be. Save the macro, save the profile, then follow app directions to refresh the updated profile, eject keyboard hard drive then disconnect it. And youre done! For me, Mission Control was Ctrl+up arrow, it can be F3 for you. Find out from System Preference -> Misson Control on your Mac, you can change it to whatever you want. I changed it to F3 so I can program the Macro, otherwise every time I was trying to press the combination Ctrl+up arrow it would show the Mission Control and the macro wouldt register.
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Peace Train
> 3 dayI have a full time desk job. Ive always used an ergonomic keyboard, but this is my first split keyboard. Before getting this keyboard Id been having daily shoulder pain - I believe from the distance my right arm was having to travel between the keyboard and mouse. My shoulder pain went away almost immediately. I love the flexibility of the split keyboard. It is easy to move out of the way during meetings if needed. The wrist rest is comfortable and the key action was very easy to adjust to. My typing speed returned to normal within a couple of days of trying this new keyboard. The only negative to the keyboard is the software is clunky and the macros have been glitchy for me. If macros are a huge draw for you, this may not be the right keyboard to choose.
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Drew
> 3 dayAs someone who both works in IT and then comes home to spend another 6 hours on a computer this was immensely helpful for my wrists. I was starting to develop pain and tightness in my wrist and forearms due to long hours on standard keyboards and this keyboard has been an absolute God-send. The keyboard is sturdy and the mechanical keys feel great to use. The software is a bit wonky and takes some getting used to mounting a virtual drive in order to change settings on it but offers a good amount of flexibility once you get the hang of it. Being able to position each half in exactly the correct position for my sitting style and natural placement of my hands is a nifty feature. I hadnt seen anything like this before and figured Id take the chance given my wrists getting worse. Well worth the money. The only real problem area I can think to nitpick on is the wrist wrests are clipped in and are kind of a flimsy connection. Ive had them slip off a couple times when I picked it up in the wrong spot but nothing worth losing a star over as picking it up from the main body prevents this. Overall Ill definitely be returning to this brand for my next purchase and will be recommending it to anyone that needs some kind of ergonomic hardware.
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Edingerbenz
> 3 dayI ordered the version with Cherry MX Silver keys/switches. It feels great and not clicky like the number pad I ordered to go with it. It was awkward at first because I have muscle memory with my old keyboard. The missing number pad is both nice because my mouse is closer and hard because I used it all the time. Now I have a separate number pad with more functionality, and Im liking it too. Build quality is great. I really like that I could remap keys. I quickly remapped the PG UP, PG DN, and END keys to match my laptop keyboard, so I didnt have to relearn everything. The macro keys on the left are handy too. I want to be able to map applications to keys, not just record keystroke patterns, though. Hoping this is possible with the software. I miss having a button for the calculator, notepad, etc.
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Taryn
> 3 dayOnly ergonomic gaming keyboard I’ve found, love how much you can adjust it to fit you. Recommend tenting but I just have a book in the middle to produce the same effect haha. Switches feel nice!
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Kristopher Katz
Greater than one weekI write for a living, and I play a lot of games, so Ive been hunting for a good ergonomic mechanical keyboard (in MX Brown, please) for a long while. I finally got my hands (heh...) on one of these and yeah, this is exactly what Ive been after. Its comfortable, easily customizable (uses Cherry Profile keycaps), and tactile in all the ways I want it to be. My hands are very thankful for the ergo assist, and the gamer in me loves being able to move the right side away for left-hand keys and right-hand mouse. Even the wrist-rests, usually the first thing I take off on a keyboard, are wonderful to use. The closest I can get to a complaint is the software that runs the RGB is more than a little barebones compared to the iQue software my old Corsair K70 used. This is a *fantastic* board. Highly recommended!
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Phil Stracchino (Technical Thug)
> 3 dayLets get this straight: Right now, the Kinesis Freestyle Edge is the best relatively-conventional ergonomic keyboard you can buy. No exceptions. Yes, its expensive, as keyboards go. But it is tentable, adjustable, programmable, comes with your choice of three types of Cherry mechanical keyswitches (not cheap Chinese knock-offs) and actually useful palm rests. Its solidly constructed and has the good key feel youd naturally expect from Cherry switches. It is customizable in many ways, almost all of which can be done right on the keyboard itself, but if you prefer to do it from a configuration application, Kinesis has you covered there as well. (The Smartset app, available for MacOS or Windows, does everything you can do directly from the keyboard as well as a few things that you cant.) The Edge RGB adds fully addressable RGB backlighting, for the loss only of the Scroll Lock key which honestly NOTHING EVER USES ANY MORE ANYWAY. Like the Caps Lock key, I dont know why it still even exists on modern computer keyboards. Its no longer relevant, and its no pain whatsoever to lose it. I mentioned MacOS above. Yes, you can use this keyboard with your Mac. To do that, youll need to do two things: 1. Youll need to order and install https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B085PWG291/, a set of four replacement keycaps for MacOS. 2. To make the keyboards actions match the new key caps, youll have to remap four keys, swapping the left and right Windows keys with the left and right Alt keys. ALT on the PC and ALT/OPTION on the Mac send the same key code, and WIN on the PC sends the same key code as the Macs COMMAND key, but their positions on the keyboard are swapped. Remap each WIN to ALT and likewise each ALT to WIN, and youre good to go. (This is easier and less confusing to do from the Smartset app.) Every time you run it, the Smartset app will also check to see if your keyboard needs any firmware updates. YES, THIS KEYBOARD GETS FIRMWARE UPDATES. Updating firmware is simplicity itself: Copy the update to the keyboards firmware folder, unplug the keyboard, plug it back in, and thats it. DONE. Your grandmother could do it, after you show her how the first time. So what makes this better than all of those $20-$60 ergonomic keyboards? Well, bluntly, theyre all cheap, dumb crap with no adjustment, no programmability, and with cheap, bad membrane switches (and usually with even cheaper screen-printed keycaps). Theyll wear out quickly under heavy use, and theyll never approach the key feel or tactile feedback of a proper mechanical key switch. Why is tactile feedback important? Because it prevents you from damaging your hands by hitting the keys harder than you need to. So if you have any semblance at all of RSI issues, and you want to protect your hands and wrists, buy this keyboard. Seriously. Im not kidding here. Your hands and wrists will thank you forever. UPDATE ====== Since writing the above Ive bought a third of these, for use with a work-issued Mac. If youve ever typed on a recent Mac keyboard, you know why. The first two are original-version Edges, one with Red switches, one with Brown. For the RGB I went back to the Reds because I think I slightly prefer them. All three have silicone damper rings installed. I personally give the RGB color control on the Edge RGB a resounding meh. I do NOT like the changes to the keycaps; shifted keys are upside down, which is to say, the shifted character is BELOW the unshifted character, not above it or to its right. This can be confusing. I have never seen any other keyboard do this, EVER, and it is a BAD IDEA. It doesnt even work well with the illumination, as the light is mostly blocked from the shifted character. Kinesis should change it back. Since they are standard Cherry keycaps, you could of course work around this by replacing the keycaps with a more conventional set of backlight-compatible Cherry keycaps. But on a $200 keyboard, you shouldnt HAVE to.
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twilight477
> 3 dayIm going to be honest: I got this to decide if I want to make the jump to (and shell out for) the ErgoDox EZ or ZSA Moonlander. Id never used a split keyboard before, but I needed to try something to deal with the pain I was getting in my back and shoulders and going smaller and smaller was not it (but the Logitech G915 TKL is still my most favorite keeb). I have a company provided basic wave ergonomic keyboard from Microsoft at work thats been helpful to mitigate shoulder/back pain, so I decided to go full split at home and Im glad I did. There is a learning curve to be sure; Im still in it. But the fact that I can position each half to keep my shoulders in a neutral position while typing has made a huge difference for me. I did shell out for the additional tenting kit to help my wrists and I highly recommend getting that too as well as using the included wrist rests. I appreciate that there are multiple switch options ( I love speed silvers) for this keyboard and that it has RGB backlighting. Im not a gamer, but I like pretty stuff and this is pretty. Only negative for me is that its not wireless. For someone who is split keeb curious, this is a good starting option. I will eventually pony up for the ErgoDox EZ or the Moonlander...some day.