1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,360 Veteran viewers know that I have a bit of a history with ergonomic keyboards 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:10,080 But it all started with the Kinesis Advantage 2. This is the Advantage 360 3 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:15,880 Professional there's also a non-professional which is basically a souped-up version of that same keyboard 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:21,840 I saw back then so the question is what's new what does it come with and will I switch to it? 5 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:27,920 I do currently use and have used for several years a similar but different 6 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:36,880 Ergonomic keyboard inside the box We have two key modules with bubble wrap for the children as well as a box of accessories 7 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:42,000 You get a key cap puller, but not a key switch puller more on that later 8 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:49,120 You get a USB A to C cable for connecting the keyboard to your PC. They even have 9 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:56,280 Advantage 360 branded cable ties pretty cool. Maybe six feet long. I'm not six feet tall 10 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,640 So, you know, I can't grab that wide a bridge connector 11 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:05,120 Basically a piece of plastic says 360 on it and it holds the two key modules together more on that later 12 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:11,600 Some extra key caps with this model. These are shine through ABS caps on the non professional 13 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:16,480 They're actually double shot PBT caps weird that you get different key caps 14 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:22,520 But that's what the $30 difference gets you a baby and a quick start guide. Let's look at the modules 15 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,880 Don't give these to your kids to play with but they're so fun 16 00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:33,000 These are so awesome. They have a great weight to them. They have very high quality plastics 17 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,760 They don't feel 3d printed at all. Like they look pretty modern 18 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:41,280 I remember the advantage to was like had a great ergonomic innovations 19 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:46,500 But it's kind of just a weird like 80s feeling keyboard even though it wasn't but this is nice 20 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:54,200 Now let's talk about the features first of all It's split and that gives you a lot of flexibility because you can put them close together 21 00:01:54,440 --> 00:02:01,000 You can put them far apart and this allows you to have whatever kind of ergonomic setup for your shoulders that you need 22 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:07,480 So you can turn them like that Have it like that, which is nice and that's gonna reduce what's called all-in-one deviation 23 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:14,640 Which is when your hands go like this if you're like squished in on a cordy keyboard kind of like that with a split keyboard 24 00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:18,280 You can tilt them in Put your elbows on the table 25 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,360 That's great It also gives you the freedom to put your mouse where you want believe it or not 26 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,840 Some people may choose to spread the modules like this and put the mouse in the middle 27 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:30,200 And what that does is it prevents them from reaching way over here for their mouse 28 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:34,080 Which can cause shoulder and neck strain. That's the name of the game ergonomics 29 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:38,640 We're trying to reduce prevent or heal from repetitive stress injuries 30 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:43,320 And there's a few different ways you can get them all in deviation shoulder strain another way you can develop in 31 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:48,920 RSI's from having too much brisk extension. This is flexion. This is extension and that hurts 32 00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:54,000 And normally it's because your hands are on your desk if your keyboard has those little legs on the back that make it tilt up 33 00:02:54,000 --> 00:03:04,280 I used to always use those once I got educated I stop because that's extension these you have the option of extending your wrist because the wrist pad is built onto the key module itself 34 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,200 It just like forces you look how neutral my wrist is there 35 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:14,240 It's just straight and not only that they sell an optional sold separately accessory for $25 and 36 00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:17,800 It's attaches on with magnets. It's so awesome and slick 37 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:21,520 It's very cushy and plush and I actually recommend getting it if you're in the market for this keyboard 38 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:30,200 I probably would get the wrist pads. They're awesome The next thing is pronation which is when your hands are like this the two bones in your ARM the radius and the ulna 39 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:39,160 They scissor and they pinch tissue This is the one that I feel the most and this is also the way that this keyboard has improved probably the most like I've used 40 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:44,000 Keyboards from ergo docs which are really cool, but their tending system is so much more finicky 41 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,680 You have these little legs kicking off every direction that you turn and tighten on these 42 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,640 they just have this one big stand with a button under it and 43 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:58,780 What that allows you to do is you press the button and you can increase the angle or lower it just like that 44 00:03:58,940 --> 00:04:05,460 There's only one dimension to it You you know the extra jank of the ergo docs allows you to put all sorts of different angles 45 00:04:05,460 --> 00:04:08,460 But this is just up and down this way which is 46 00:04:09,380 --> 00:04:11,380 Unpronating your arms 47 00:04:12,500 --> 00:04:18,060 Unpinching that tissue so I would probably just tent it to the max look at that looks cool 48 00:04:18,140 --> 00:04:22,060 So that's a cool profile if you guys could see what I see from this way like 49 00:04:22,980 --> 00:04:25,140 It's neat and finally 50 00:04:26,140 --> 00:04:28,900 What's the deal with these contoured key wells? 51 00:04:29,900 --> 00:04:35,180 Well, that is because Your fingers don't have to sit on the keyboard like that 52 00:04:35,220 --> 00:04:40,700 They get to rest in a natural state like this and not only that look out look at the variation in 53 00:04:41,380 --> 00:04:48,580 the key heights What they're trying to do there is have it so that the keys are at a consistent distance 54 00:04:49,020 --> 00:04:53,180 From your finger as it sweeps in its range of motion. It should be able to touch all those keys 55 00:04:53,180 --> 00:04:57,300 They're all right there. See like this number keys farther away, but it's also sticking out more 56 00:04:58,020 --> 00:05:01,620 So my finger doesn't have to reach a crazy amount to get to it. It's just awesome 57 00:05:01,620 --> 00:05:07,540 They thought it through if you're someone who's suffering from an RSI or trying to prevent one and that is your number one thing 58 00:05:07,540 --> 00:05:12,540 This is probably or at least this brand is probably the ergo keyboard to go with they really thought it through 59 00:05:13,580 --> 00:05:18,140 That doesn't mean I don't have problems with it, which we'll get to in a bit, but first let's continue the 60 00:05:18,860 --> 00:05:23,220 Journey of discovery here. You can see there's a power on switch for each one 61 00:05:23,220 --> 00:05:30,460 There's also a USB-C port for each one if you're running with that bridge accessory does I think he'd click it onto the 62 00:05:30,900 --> 00:05:34,900 tent boy 63 00:05:35,660 --> 00:05:39,820 And then you've just got one unit that's pretty cool 64 00:05:39,820 --> 00:05:44,060 But I like it to be a little turned in so I probably wouldn't use this 65 00:05:45,020 --> 00:05:50,900 Yeah Keyboard does not come with a dongle. It's Bluetooth, which is okay. I 66 00:05:52,060 --> 00:05:57,540 Do like to have a dongle a little lower latency and just kind of simpler setup. You just leave that thing in your computer 67 00:05:59,260 --> 00:06:03,460 Keyboard is available with multiple different switch types from the store. However 68 00:06:04,860 --> 00:06:07,380 They're not hot swappable which is 69 00:06:08,100 --> 00:06:11,460 Sad you can't put any keys which you want on here 70 00:06:11,460 --> 00:06:15,940 So you do have a little bit of a selection these ones that comes with these browns. They're not cherry MX browns 71 00:06:15,940 --> 00:06:22,900 Or Gateron Browns It's one of those things these keyboards ergo keyboards often have a hefty price tag 72 00:06:22,900 --> 00:06:28,320 And you kind of just wish that you got everything under the sun for that price like and hot swappable 73 00:06:28,420 --> 00:06:35,820 Key switches is just cool to have and if I'm spending so much for a keyboard be nice for it to be not just my 74 00:06:36,460 --> 00:06:41,180 Ergo keyboard, but also my enthusiast keyboard like let me put freaking pandas in here 75 00:06:42,020 --> 00:06:46,340 But alas, I would say that's a through line of my criticisms for this thing overall 76 00:06:46,700 --> 00:06:53,860 During filming Kinesis added the advantage 360 signature to their lineup where an aftermarket outfitter called upgrade keyboards calm 77 00:06:53,860 --> 00:06:59,620 We'll build you a 360 or 360 pro with purportedly any switch you want and 78 00:07:00,140 --> 00:07:04,340 Cool other upgrades as long as you're willing to wait up to six months 79 00:07:04,780 --> 00:07:10,180 One thing that I love to have in an ergonomic keyboard is thumb clusters, which is what you have here 80 00:07:10,180 --> 00:07:17,660 Their philosophy at Kinesis is why let your little pinky do so much heavy lifting on a keyboard 81 00:07:17,860 --> 00:07:23,980 When your thumbs are way stronger let them do repetitive tasks like spacebar back speed space delete and 82 00:07:24,780 --> 00:07:29,980 Why not chuck in some other lesser-known keys like paging up and home and end. I really like that approach 83 00:07:29,980 --> 00:07:35,580 I will not use an Ergo keyboard that doesn't have thumb clusters. It's just so sweet the keyboard that I have in my desk 84 00:07:35,580 --> 00:07:46,060 I personally use space and Backspace and delete and enter all on my thumbs and having backspace in particular on the thumb rather than I used to use my pinky up here 85 00:07:46,260 --> 00:07:52,780 Like reaching over there so much better highly recommend. However, you will see that there's other elements of this 86 00:07:53,420 --> 00:08:00,140 Keyboard layout that are non-standard for example. Where's the caps lock button? Is it right here beside a no that's escape 87 00:08:00,620 --> 00:08:05,940 The philosophy of Kinesis is like they're trying to make the most ergonomic keyboard possible 88 00:08:05,940 --> 00:08:11,620 They want to have everything within reach of the home row and if there's keys that are not within reach then they go 89 00:08:11,620 --> 00:08:17,020 Into a second layer you hit some key press and then you're on a layer that has all your numpad for example 90 00:08:17,020 --> 00:08:22,540 If I show you the K key, there's a second legend on the bottom of it indicating that it's the number five 91 00:08:22,580 --> 00:08:30,060 Which is super cool got your F keys on a layer underneath the number keys and that's all gravy if you get used to it 92 00:08:30,060 --> 00:08:34,420 I don't want to get used to it. I never ever want to switch layers. I want more keys 93 00:08:35,060 --> 00:08:40,580 And that's because I don't have an RSI. I'm using ergonomic keyboards to prevent RSI's and 94 00:08:41,660 --> 00:08:47,700 Because I don't actually have an injury. I'm willing to like sacrifice some ergonomics for extra productivity 95 00:08:48,260 --> 00:08:54,380 So my preference would be if they made a I would love for them to make a keyboard that also had F keys up here 96 00:08:54,380 --> 00:09:01,380 And just maybe it's just a couple more keys So they don't have to do things like move escape down to over here and caps over here 97 00:09:01,380 --> 00:09:05,500 What were they thinking and I hate these arrow keys that are divided you see they've got 98 00:09:06,020 --> 00:09:12,500 You're supposed to go way down here and use these fingers for the left and right arrows and use your whole other hand for the up and down 99 00:09:12,500 --> 00:09:17,180 Arrows, I don't like that I want to see all the arrows in a normal cluster in a normal orientation 100 00:09:17,820 --> 00:09:24,260 Because you spend years working in retail getting muscle memory for the arrow keys gaming getting muscle memory for the arrow keys to 101 00:09:24,420 --> 00:09:29,500 Re-learn stuff like that is brutal in the case of hotkeys. I want to use the same muscle memory 102 00:09:29,500 --> 00:09:32,620 I already use on my laptop, which I might be using 103 00:09:33,300 --> 00:09:36,820 While I also have this keyboard in my life, you know, we're multi-device people 104 00:09:37,060 --> 00:09:40,300 You got to switch between and I have no problem switching between 105 00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:46,220 Ortho linear keyboards like this with the up and down keys and using my thumbs and then going to my laptop 106 00:09:46,220 --> 00:09:52,940 It's different enough that I actually don't have a problem switching between but switching the muscle memory of hotkeys is a big deal 107 00:09:53,460 --> 00:09:58,060 So why not just reprogram the keyboard? That's easy to do on most keyboards, right? 108 00:09:58,460 --> 00:10:05,540 Indeed, you are right except for this keyboard this specific keyboard if you get the advantage 360 non-pro 109 00:10:05,820 --> 00:10:11,820 That's a USB version you plug that poppy in it actually has a different and much easier to use 110 00:10:12,260 --> 00:10:18,540 Keyboard reprogramming software with this particular pro board. They're like, hey, you're a pro 111 00:10:19,020 --> 00:10:21,940 You're such a pro that instead of having a nice gooey 112 00:10:22,300 --> 00:10:27,780 That's just like on our website for you to reprogram your keyboard like a or a docks might you actually have to go to their 113 00:10:27,900 --> 00:10:34,660 GitHub and fork their GitHub in order to reprogram this thing, which is doable and they have an instruction guide on how to do it 114 00:10:34,660 --> 00:10:38,420 It's just not like I just don't get it on the one hand 115 00:10:38,420 --> 00:10:45,100 Is there customer people who are like are not keyboard enthusiasts, but just need ergonomic keyboards to service their injuries if it is 116 00:10:45,700 --> 00:10:50,780 Why are you expecting those people to go and be power users on your get repository? 117 00:10:51,300 --> 00:10:56,940 That's two different users. I don't get it. I think that all their keyboard should have easy remapping 118 00:10:57,540 --> 00:11:04,500 Since it's so important on a on a smaller non-standard layout where you're gonna want to customize it your way 119 00:11:04,940 --> 00:11:10,580 Especially with thumb clusters make it easy for us guys another issue. I have is that 120 00:11:11,180 --> 00:11:17,060 It's not RGB Seems like a stupid thing again. It's an Ergo keyboard. Why does it need it? 121 00:11:17,060 --> 00:11:22,500 It does have a backlight on the pro model. There is a global white 122 00:11:23,180 --> 00:11:26,340 Backlight which you can turn it up and down you hold down the mod button and 123 00:11:27,220 --> 00:11:32,780 Error down and up, but you see that going off and on. Yeah, I can see it up here 124 00:11:34,500 --> 00:11:37,220 But why not have that RGB for a price of 125 00:11:38,500 --> 00:11:46,580 $480 Yes, it's $480 the non-pro model is $450 so that's my thing you guys 126 00:11:46,700 --> 00:11:51,980 It's very expensive and you can't put a price on health and that's their aim is solving your health problems 127 00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:56,020 It's almost a medical device. You could probably write it off. So it's cool 128 00:11:56,020 --> 00:12:00,740 I just wish it was be it went beyond that and could be also my enthusiast keyboard 129 00:12:00,780 --> 00:12:03,700 so for those prices like yeah throwing some RGB and 130 00:12:04,460 --> 00:12:09,700 Like cuz why not? It's cool that you can have five different profiles for attaching Bluetooth 131 00:12:10,100 --> 00:12:12,860 It's cool that there's multiple layers of keyboard 132 00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:17,820 Profiles you can connect to it or program into it beyond just the standard three 133 00:12:18,900 --> 00:12:21,140 Profiles that are included. It's cool that it has 134 00:12:22,500 --> 00:12:27,140 this easy to use tenting system and it's cool that it's like the most ergonomic thing ever 135 00:12:27,940 --> 00:12:33,700 but I just wish they had like a Middle ground keyboard that had all these benefits 136 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:40,580 But just like an extra row keys over here Maybe some macro keys on the side and and let every user have the cheap and easy 137 00:12:41,300 --> 00:12:46,900 non-power user reprogrammability And then it would be my perfect keyboard and I would put it on my desk 138 00:12:46,980 --> 00:12:54,820 But until that day I'm stuck using the truly ergonomic cleave keyboard with its optical switches and you know, it's flat 139 00:12:55,700 --> 00:13:01,140 It's not everything I want. I want it plus this smashed together and like an external 140 00:13:01,540 --> 00:13:05,060 Keypad, I'd probably put like a little keypad in the middle here or something like that, but 141 00:13:06,100 --> 00:13:11,780 Anyways, thanks for watching guys If you like this video, maybe you go down memory lane and check out all the other weird ear girl keyboards 142 00:13:11,780 --> 00:13:13,780 We've covered over the years