Got RSI from coding at job circa 2016 and bought this baby for $350. I'm using it as long as possible, but I would love a metal splittyboi
Thumb clusters are life!
That's the ugliest thing I've ever seen. Must work great!
this post was submitted on 26 Jun 2023
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ErgoMechKeyboards
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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards
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Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)
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¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
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Some useful links
- EMK wiki
- Split keyboard compare tool
- Compare keycap profiles Looking for another set of keycaps - check this site to compare the different keycap profiles https://www.keycaps.info/
- Keymap database A database with all kinds of keymap layouts - some of them fits ergo keyboards - get inspired https://keymapdb.com/
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It sure does!
there were a couple projects at one point that did flexible replacement PCBs for the Advantage2 that would upgrade the board to QMK (Stapelberg?) – could use it as an excuse to update switches and keycaps?
These are separate things. You can easily replace the SmartSet controller in the KA2 with a KinT controller with QMK. The key wells and thumb clusters are connected to the controller with removable ribbon cables. The swap-out takes maybe 5 minutes.
Kinesis offered replacement flex PCB and key wells in the past, so that you could replace your switches. They don’t sell them anymore and instead you have to go through an expensive UpgradeKeyboards.com build.
Do you know of any projects that include the PCBs for the switches? I've only found the controller PCBs so far.
don’t remember anything recently (was under the impression BastardKB had something but I can’t find anything on the website) – and it seems most people working on Dactyl variants usually end up just using the Amoeba PCBs because they’re easier to source …
Working with Amoebas was my back up plan. I might have to retrace the thumb PCB, as my older kinesis would not work with the king replacement controller. But that's a project for next winter :-D
I'm in the works on a solution with hotswap but I'm not there just yet.
Interested to see how that works. What I've heard so far from diy dactyl/Skeletyl builds is that the curvature of the flexible PCB makes some glue or similar necessary.
Glue to some extent on the advantage 2 because it doesn't have mounting tabs like the 360 and 360 pro line has.
The BastardKB pcbs look to have the same problems the kinesis does
I want one but in Dvorak
They have them in Dvorak (QD). But presumably, most Advantage users are touch typists and the Advantage is programmable, so there is no real need? I use mine with blank PBT caps.
Function + F4 actually toggles to Dvorak!
Last year I made the switch from the KA2 to a custom built keyboard (Scylla kit from BastardKB) and I have been really happy with it. Keeps the curve of the hand, has better thumb clusters (IMO), is split, and has full customization through QMK. Plus it was fun to try building my own!
It’s pretty easy to replace the controller in the Advantage2 with a KinT and then you have QMK as well. My three Advantages all have QMK.