KINESIS Gaming Freestyle Edge RGB Split Mechanical Keyboard | Cherry MX Linear Red Switches | RGB | Ergonomic | Detachable Palm Support | Fully Programmable | TKL | Available Tenting

I had tendinitis due to being a software engineer and gamer. I bought this keyboard and the Freestyle 2 for mac and both have been amazing with respect to relief from repetitive strain. Having said that, this keyboard, in particular, is amazing. Why is it amazing? Ive actually improved in FPS games significantly. Not having to strain makes my reaction times quicker. The keyboard has a premium feel when typing and has great response time. The wrist rests are comfortable and the RGB lighting is really nice to look at. I like that you can rotate the left side of the keyboard a bit when gaming, it makes it easier to reach all the keys you want to use without straining. I recommend buying the elevation stands that are sold separately for even less strain. Pros: Premium feel Fast response times Reduces strain Great ergonomics Cons: High price Some of the keys are sometimes hard to reach when gaming You have to buy the elevation stands that are sold separately to really benefit from the intended ergonomics and reduced strain. Update Jan 1, 2020: The S key broke off the keyboard. I dont use this keyboard for anything other than gaming, and I dont game that much for it to explain how it broke. I really liked this keyboard too, so its a big disappointment. Ive reached out to Kinesis support since its only been 3 months to see if the warranty will cover the fix. Once I have an update on that Ill post it here.

Two months into healing from two broken wrists I was still unable to use a keyboard and missing way too much work. On the advice of my occupational therapist, I looked into a split keyboard and vertical mouse. This keyboard, when used with the lift kit/tenting kit, has been my saving grace. I can split it as wide apart as needed and usually use it tented all the way up. Thanks to this positioning, I can finally put in a 6 to 8 hr day. I was concerned about the keyboard not tilting up/down at the front but realized that doesnt matter (and actually only makes things worse for my wrists). Im not a gamer and use this exclusively for typing but I love it. The wrist rests are incredibly comfortable and the keys offer the perfect amount of bounce (I got the brown). I do miss having a 10-key pad, but figure I can add an external one if I need to do a lot of number entry. I did look at the kinesis freestyle pro (or whatever--the one designed more for typing) but the wrist rests on this one seem superior and the backlit keys make me smile. Important note- I am a home row typer. If you are not, the split keyboard will be challenging to get used to. It took me a day to get used to it, but when my spouse tried it for a day, he hated it as he doesnt use home row. Otherwise, I highly recommend (with lift kit though....which it does suck you have to pay extra for).

Ive been a satisfied owner of the previous (original?) Freestyle Edge. I bought the new RGB Freestyle Edge for a second computer. Its basically the same keyboard except for two things. First, this one has programmable RGB. I didnt think I would care for RGB, but its grown on me. Second, the Fn keys have been shifted to the right in order to accommodate a physical Esc key. The Scrlk key has been removed and is bound to the Del key as a secondary action. This makes it a tad difficult to go back and forth between the two keyboards. I basically have to look down when using a Fn key. As for Esc, I reprogrammed the big << key to function as Esc in order to mimic the old keyboard. I really like the flexibility to configure the keyboard. You can edit a text file that is stored on the keyboard. It is accessed by pressing a combination of keys. This will make the keyboard appear as a mountable drive on the computer. You then open the folder and edit the file with any text editor. This works on Windows and Mac. I havent tried Linux. You can also reprogram keys directly on the keyboard using the Remap button. As for the keys, I have weak fingers, so I like low force, quiet keys so I went with the Cherry Red.

I bought this keyboard not for gaming but for its ergonomics, as someone whose wrists had become sore from typing a lot every day. I should say right away that a big plus of this keyboard is that the soreness in both wrists and some fingers disappeared almost immediately upon my using this keyboard, so its ergonomic design definitely helped me. I use the keyboard with its optional lift kit set to a 10 degree angle. (I think anyone using this keyboard for ergonomics needs to buy the lift/tilt kit.) I also place the two keyboard halves about a shoulder-width apart so my arms and wrists are about perpendicular to the edge of the table. I find the large palm rests sturdy and quite comfortable and I have no trouble typing for many hours without strain or pain. So a great job to the engineers for making a well designed, comfortable to use, reliable keyboard. But the big plus is balanced by a big negative which is that, even after two months of steady use and despite a lot of tinkering with the Kinesis software that lets one remap keys and adjust responses of keys (see below), my typing speed is still way below (about half) of my typing speed on my previous keyboard, and I continue to make many typing errors that are mainly related to having mapped the Ctrl modifier key to a long-press of the thumb keys. I should point out that, before using this Kinesis keyboard, I have used Thinkpad keyboards for many years as my favorite keyboard. I am also an experienced and fast touch typist on standard keyboards. I feel that four changes, in decreasing order of priority, would change this good keyboard into a great ergonomic keyboard: 1. Split the large space key of each keyboard half into two separate keys, giving four keys altogether that the thumbs could type. It would also be better to place the split thumb keys along a short arc of the thumb so one thumb key is a little bit to the right and closer to the wrist pad on the left keyboard half, and similarly for the right keyboard half. (Just splitting the thumb key in half as it currently exists would not be as ergonomic.) Two of these four thumb keys could then be mapped to modifier keys like control or shift, and perhaps the delete key could also be mapped to one, leaving a remaining thumb key for space. Having just one key under each thumb is a greatly missed opportunity to make the keyboard more ergonomic since the ctrl, Shift, Del keys are badly placed on most keyboards (activated by the weak pinky finger). I use emacs heavily for writing and coding and so having quick easy ergonomic ways to touch ctrl and to hit the Esc key are especially important for me. 2. Use half-height short-travel non-mechanical keys or even a mouse-click switch under the four thumb keys so that the thumb keys can be activated as rapidly as possible, with the least amount of travel. (Thumbs are strong but slow.) This is crucial for fast accurate typing if modifier keys like ctrl and Shift are to be activated by the thumbs. My most common error on the Kinesis keyboard is not pressing the thumb fast enough to ctrl or Shift another key. 3. Offer a version of this keyboard that uses half-height non-mechanical shorter-travel silent dome-based switches (similar to what Lenovo uses in its Thinkpad keyboards) for ALL of the keys. After trying several different mechanical keyboards like the Kinesis, I found that I simply type faster and more enjoyably with high-quality non-mechanical low-height quiet keys. (And it doesnt hurt that dome-based keys are nearly completely quiet, no clacking of the mechanical keys that can bother other people or that are heard while talking on the phone.) I think the ergonomic keyboard market is big enough to justify this choice economically, although I would guess many gamers would prefer mechanical keys. 4. Modify the Kinesis software to allow long-press overloading of keys for all keys (see below for more details) and to allow simple chords (say press 2 keys simultaneously to create a letter or to emulate Shift, Alt, Ctrl). Right now, the software allows a secondary long-press only on non-alphabetical keys like the space bars, Shift, CAPS, etc. But it would be extremely useful to allow long-presses on letters under the stronger faster fingers (letters d and f on the left, j and k on the right) so that, say, long-pressing an f on the left would be a ctrl modifier for the right keyboard letters, long-pressing a j on the right would be a ctrl modifier for left keyboard letters, and similarly long-pressing d or k would Shift the letters on the opposite keyboard half. If well implemented, this software fix would also get rid of the need to have multiple thumb keys. Since I believe the keyboard can be completely remapped configured in software, I just dont understand why Kinesis wont provide more flexibility for remapping, including providing some simple chords. The user can simply decide whether or not to take advantage of this more greater remapping capability. Here are some other miscellaneous comments: - To avoid making it too hard to switch back and forth between the Kinesis keyboard and my laptop keyboard (or using another desk keyboard when traveling), this is how I remapped just a few keys of my Kinesis keyboard (using the SmartSet app that works on MacOS or Windows but not Linux), especially to make it fast and easy to use when in the emacs editor: I used the Tap-and-Hold feature to add a secondary feature (long-press) to left space bar: short tap is space, long-press is ctrl right space bar: short tap is space, long-press is ctrl CAPS: short tap is Esc, long-press is ctrl (because I remap CAPS to ctrl on my regular keyboards) ;: key: short tap is Esc, long-press is Shift (so I dont have to move my right pinky for Shift) right Shift: is now the ;: key (a lower frequency key) But, again, using a long-press under the thumb keys for ctrl makes the timing difficult for activating the ctrl key quickly so is a major source of typing errors. This would be avoided by splitting each current thumb key into two separate keys (four thumb keys in all) since ctrl could be directly mapped to two of these thumb keys, also use a much shorter stroke to activate the thumb key. Or use simple chords for Shift, Alt, Ctrl like the original Fingerworks keyboard. Note: the SmartApp and the programming language allows one to adjust the number of milliseconds that have to pass for a long-press to be detected instead of a tap but I could not find a timing that removed my typing errors. I am using 250 ms for a long-tap detection. The extra thumb keys would also allow DEL to be mapped to a thumb, or simple chord like f and j pressed simultaneously could be mapped to DEL if the software were slightly modified. The DEL key on the Kinesis keyboard is really badly placed, far from the main row. - The IOS version of the SmartSet app works only on a large screen Mac, not on a Mac laptop, which is quite frustrating and should be fixed. - change firmware so lighting doesnt turn on and stay on when FN key is used, rather annoying. - redesign the plastic key caps so that the secondary characters are more clearly visible and readable when keyboard lit. Currently, secondary characters are dark when keyboard is lit. - add a 2nd B key to right side of keyboard so B can be typed with either hand. There is room for an extra B key on the right keyboard half. - a warning to future users: the Kinesis keyboard takes up a lot of desk space when the two halves are spread apart at shoulder width, there is little room to refer to documents on the table. Also tricky is where to place a mouse. Between the keyboard halves works but it is awkward to reach in between the keyboard halves over and over again. Maybe implement a Thinkpad-like finger mouse, so one can do some mousing without moving hands off the keyboard? - The tilt kit is overpriced as two simple pieces of plastic, although it is well designed. If Kinesis is finding that most people are buying the tilt kit at the same time as keyboard, include the tilt kit and reduce the total price.

Lets 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.

I got tendonitis from work due to typing on a great mechanical keyboard that was unfortunately straight. This two piece set up with tenting has really solved that issue, and I don’t get pain from typing anymore. I will say that the forwards-backwards angle is not quite ideal. I use maximum tenting, and when that happens, the front of the keyboard is a bit too high compared to the back (it’s very flat, and I would prefer it slope down a bit towards the front, since the tenting already lifts it up quite a bit off the table). My solution was to stick little felt furniture pads onto the bottom of the keyboard to create that slight slope.

I have used mechanical keyboards for a while and really enjoy the feeling. this one takes it one level up with the ergonomics. i havent played with all the customization but i would recommend getting the tenting kit with this. it really helps make it more comfortable.

This keyboard is very nice~ Just what I expected. The blue cherry keys are appropriately clicky to fulfill my odd desire for the mechanical keyboard sound and the amount of effort I have to put into pressing each button is just right. Definitely recommend the tilt kit which wasnt sold with the keyboard but definitely a necessary part of it! One warning is give yourself a good week or two when you buy this before you try to use this for any serious quick typing as you may find that you cant type as quickly as you used to while you retrain your muscle memory. My fingers seem to think the G and B should be on the opposite side and the Y is oddly supposed to be on both sides so it takes a bit of getting used to to figure out which fingers to use for which middle buttons. WPM dropped from 55 on a regular keyboard to 31 when I switched, but with time I got back up there. As for the gaming aspect of this keyboard, love it~! If you program it right (which isnt hard with the application), you can easily get 18 different keyboard set ups and the macro binds are wonderful~! I use the macros to get my league of legends pings off easier. I love the ease of setting it up, the quickness and granularity of customization, and the beautiful colors possible on this keyboard. Also, the macros are great if youre at work and need a small or quick temporary macro and dont want to put it into your excel sheet. Oh and if youre worried about not having a ten-key, dont worry, you can easily program one in and press a single button to flip between the keyboard with the embedded 10 key and the normal keyboard. All in all, I love it!

Its counterintuitive but springy mechanical keys can lead to more ergonomic typing for some people. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that each key pops your finger back up as you touch-type(?) Im using the MX Brown, and honestly would probably be happier with even less resistant keys (i.e. MX Silver). I cant imagine using MX Blue but maybe you want a forearm (and eardrum) workout... The bigger advantage is probably the split design. Combine it with the tenting kit (Id recommend the one that lets you keep the wristpad supports). The ability to shift the keyboard segment distance and angle makes for much more comfortable typing. There are some drawbacks: Of course, mechanical keyboards are noisier. I dont find this to be a problem in a home/small office, but you might not want a bunch of these clacking in the same room as you. The other drawback (unless you have really long fingers) is that you lose comfortable access to some keys that are common for coding & technical typing. This is a LARGE keyboard and Control, Backspace, Home thru PgDwn, and the arrow keys are a bit of a stretch. And there is no numeric keypad (which Ive always preferred for arrow key and Home thru PgDwn use). There isnt really a solution to this that still leaves room on your desk to use a mouse though. This keyboard doesnt magically solve that problem but Im not aware of one that does. Finally there is the fact that mechanical keyboards are sold as gaming devices--which I dont understand. Sure, the RGB lighting and key programming abilities are top notch. But Im not sure why youd want to use a mechanical keyboard for gaming--or any activity that requires you to press-and-hold keys. The added force required to hold down keys makes this slightly uncomfortable. A final comment: my keyboards onboard memory got corrupted at one point--I could type but not use the software or lighting. The fix is easy but NOT documented on the website or the manual which is a shame. The solution--which you will get if you contact tech support--is to reformat the little 4MB onboard drive (K in this command-line example): format k: /fs:fat /a:512 /q. Then unplug and replug in the keyboard. Kinesis probably doesnt want non-technical types formatting things, but do many non-technical people buy $200 keyboards? Bottom line: if you like mechanical keyboards, this is a great one. Id honestly recommend it for conventional touch-typists as much as gamers. If youre coding, it will take some getting used to and you might even want to add a separate keypad if you can figure out where to fit that on your desk.

There are not many split-staggered, TKL, tentable, RGB-backlit, mechanical keyboards, and if thats what youre looking for, this is absolutely the top of the heap. The wrist rests are really comfortable, youre getting the consistent Cherry MX quality that the switches promise, NKRO works very well (I upgraded from the Microsoft Sculpt which I also quite liked, but had *several* un-pressable key combos that actually practically limited the functionality and I have seen _zero_ of that with this board), and the remapping functionality is absolutely world class; software available but not required, lots of profiles, lots of custom keys, macros, scriptable via plain text files... really there is no better keyboard from that perspective. But the case is fairly pingy even after I installed O-rings, it seems like theres no foam or anything keeping the switch springs from reverberating mightily, the split spacebars are an incredibly weird form-factor (3.5u) so custom keycap sets are not usable, the double-shot ABS keycaps get worn and shiny after only a couple of days, the forehead is inexplicably huge, theres no wireless functionality, the tenting kit is sold separately (and it REALLY should be included, for how much this costs), and the layout places the modifier keys *way* underneath your thumbs so youll probably want to remap at least one spacebar to avoid making a cramped claw gesture on every hotkey. So if youre a mechanical keyboard enthusiast this is an intriguing model for a few reasons, but you should expect to have to *heavily* mod it to get anywhere close to enthusiast-grade typing feel regardless of switch type. Plus, you know, no hotswap. Overall Id still say 4 stars because its almost exactly what I wanted, but its a little disappointing that it is not more premium in terms of sound and feel (ahem, PBT keycaps with a softer edge next time plus some case foam and maybe a weight please Kinesis) at this price point.