The best keyboard in the world

Kinesis saves your wrists single-handedly with a goofy looking keyboard

Call it what you like – RSI (repetitive strain injury), carpal tunnel syndrome, or good ol’ “keyboarder’s bane”. Everyone who types much for very long should at least be thinking about it. While I’m sure we’ve all heard the horror stories of crippling pain or numbness, surgery or lots of time off to recover, an amazingly small number of people do anything to prevent it. (Note: this, like all reviews I post, follow my review policy).

Prevention isn’t the best thing, it’s the only thing

Many people don’t know that the original QWERTY layout for keyboards was set up to slow down typists so keys wouldn’t stick together in the old standard typewriters. It’s a good example of a defacto standard that has long outlived its usefulness. Regardless, standard keyboards have no ergonomic thought put into them at all, and the deluge of RSI cases as numbers keyboard workers increase is an obvious proof.

I’ve never heard a good story of someone who let their wrist pain get so bad that they had to see a doctor. Basically, my advice is to never let it get to that stage, no matter what. When I started typing regularly, it was about 6 years ago. I, like everyone, used the standard crap-keyboard that’s flat and designed to be easy to build. After a couple years, my wrists would start to get a little numb in the afternoons (especially after I learned to touch-type). Even then people were talking about carpal tunnel, and I decided to do something about it. I did some research and paid what I thought was an ungodly sum for a keyboard, $300 for a

Kinesis Essiential. Not only did it teach me to type better and much faster, but within a month or so my wrist pain was totally gone. What’s even more amazing to me, is that after using it for 90% of my typing over the last 6 years, my wrists are still in awesome shape, and I type a ton. Hours per day. at 80+ wpm. Very impressive.

The keyboard that will save your wrists

So, it’s a bit funny looking. Like someone dropped a couple of billiard balls onto a normal keyboard. The dented shape of the keys mold perfectly to the relaxed hand, leaving all keys at an optimal distance from the resting position. Keystrikes are faster and more accurate, and the placement of the thumb buttons is awesome. Most people who aren’t great typists hit their backspace key a lot. I mean a lot. Or at least I did when I was learning. The thumb-activated backspace and space bar are just perfect, reducing mistakes and saving me from having to ‘reach’ for the backspace key with a weak finger like the pinky.

The only complaints I have are minor. The esc and function keys are a bit small and don’t have the best tactile feedback. There is no 10-key by default, but you can buy one separately if it’s a big deal to you. The finger assignments are slightly different, like f1-f8 are left hand now instead of just f1-f5. Once you get used to it you won’t even notice it, and I’ve never had trouble adjusting back to a normal keyboard. You can even buy a Kinesis with dvorak switching ability, so you can teach yourself a much better keyboard layout. I personally have been far too lazy to do so, but I hear it’s great.

Now lately I’ve been looking for a new mouse, and have been having a little strain on my mousing wrist. Thanks to an excellent suggestion from my girlfriend, I’ll be trying out the Perfit Mouse. I’ll post a review of it when I’ve run it through its paces (but probably less than 6 years).

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David Norris

Owner at Fourth Wave Consulting

I have been working with computers and web sites for 20+ years, and have enjoyed mastering many areas of technology. I have been building websites for about 15 years, and working with NetSuite for more than 10. I have worked with dozens of small and medium-sized companies in that time, helping them to understand and leverage the latest tools to grow their business. My business is all about helping you to maximize your business, and I prefer to establish long-term relationships with clients who are dedicated to embracing smart ways to optimize and expand their business.

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