{"video_id":"LALQsqZP1nA","title":"The DANKEST Ergonomic Keyboard - Ergodox EZ Review","channel":"Linus Tech Tips","show":"Linus Tech Tips","published_at":"2018-05-06T14:53:45Z","duration_s":534,"segments":[{"start_s":0.48,"end_s":5.52,"text":"we have had all sorts of bizarro","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":3.6,"end_s":10.96,"text":"keyboards through the lab lately from super ergonomic to super ergo no thank","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":8.639,"end_s":17.68,"text":"you but the one thing that all of them have in common is","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":13.44,"end_s":20.88,"text":"they're just not that cool to be fair","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":17.68,"end_s":23.68,"text":"the kinesis freestyle edge isn't uncool","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":20.88,"end_s":27.279,"text":"it just lacks the wow factor of the more flashy mainstream keyboard options that","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":25.92,"end_s":34.719,"text":"are out there so then introducing the latest iteration of the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":31.279,"end_s":37.2,"text":"infamous ergodox easy keyboard a no","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":34.719,"end_s":43.68,"text":"compromises ergonomic keyboard that actually looks as good as it feels and","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":41.36,"end_s":50.32,"text":"for the first time ever now comes with user replaceable key switches","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":47.52,"end_s":55.36,"text":"today's video is brought to you by zotac zotac's zbox pcs are compact and they","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":53.44,"end_s":60.81,"text":"have different variants that are great for applications like streaming and","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":57.6,"end_s":69.28,"text":"gaming check them out at the link below","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":69.28,"end_s":76.799,"text":"looking at it the ergodox easy is kind of like a mashup of two boards from","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":74.0,"end_s":82.56,"text":"rival ergoboard maker kinesis it's a split keyboard like the freestyle edge","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":79.6,"end_s":88.64,"text":"but it has thumb clusters and ortho linear keys like the advantage ii","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":85.36,"end_s":91.52,"text":"it's a small 76 keyboard which lands it","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":88.64,"end_s":96.72,"text":"somewhere between a 60 and a 10 keyless so there's no function row but it does","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":94.72,"end_s":100.96,"text":"have navigation keys wherever you decide to put them","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":98.72,"end_s":106.159,"text":"now since ergodoc started out as an open source build your own board company","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":103.28,"end_s":111.28,"text":"customizability is in the easy's dna they include f and j keycaps that don't","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":109.28,"end_s":116.799,"text":"have tactile guides in case you plan on rearranging the letters in a dvorak or","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":113.52,"end_s":118.64,"text":"colemat configuration and even if you","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":116.799,"end_s":121.84,"text":"order your board with a legend on the keycaps which you're not even required","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":120.799,"end_s":127.119,"text":"to do some keys are still left unmarked so as","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":124.479,"end_s":131.28,"text":"to not be confusing after you customize your layout","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":128.56,"end_s":135.36,"text":"and customize you will because the default layout is","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":133.84,"end_s":140.72,"text":"pretty different for example the backspace is now more","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":138.08,"end_s":146.319,"text":"easily accessible over here beside the a key while the apostrophe","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":143.52,"end_s":151.599,"text":"is way down here under the z that is too far for me i'm very","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":148.319,"end_s":153.76,"text":"possessive of my apostrophe key","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":151.599,"end_s":159.84,"text":"now for his part james our writer actually went through nine iterations","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":156.56,"end_s":162.319,"text":"before landing on the perfect layout","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":159.84,"end_s":166.319,"text":"that sounds like a lot of work but that high number actually just goes to show","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":164.4,"end_s":170.16,"text":"how easy it is to tweak the configuration","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":167.68,"end_s":174.56,"text":"just use the online configurator tool and flash the firmware to save it right","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":172.08,"end_s":178.319,"text":"onto the board and while you're at it you don't have a ton of keys on this","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":176.64,"end_s":184.879,"text":"thing so you'll probably want to take advantage of at least a couple of the 32","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":182.08,"end_s":189.599,"text":"available layers which you can switch between in some pretty cool ways like","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":187.68,"end_s":195.76,"text":"switching only as long as you hold a particular key down or switching layers","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":193.12,"end_s":201.44,"text":"but only for a single key press kind of like how shift works on your phone all","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":198.48,"end_s":205.519,"text":"this customization does mean that yes this board","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":203.44,"end_s":210.4,"text":"can take some time to get used to especially if you're not used to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":207.36,"end_s":212.959,"text":"ortholinear or non-staggered keys which","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":210.4,"end_s":217.04,"text":"i guess then brings us into ergonomics the split board lets you tilt each key","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":215.28,"end_s":220.56,"text":"module to keep your wrists from bending outward so that's good","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":218.879,"end_s":226.159,"text":"but if you want to cut out wrist extension you'll need the nice and solid","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":223.599,"end_s":231.599,"text":"but sold separately silicone buzz collector sorry excuse me uh wrist rests","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":228.799,"end_s":237.76,"text":"and same goes for battling pronation you'll actually need the tent kit for","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":233.76,"end_s":240.08,"text":"another 30 bucks extra it's not cheap","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":237.76,"end_s":244.4,"text":"but the legs are metal making them nice and durable the cute little dipped feet","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":242.239,"end_s":248.319,"text":"are available in white or black to match the color of your board once it's","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":246.0,"end_s":253.599,"text":"installed you can tilt each individual leg through ratcheted steps or using the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":251.04,"end_s":258.959,"text":"included washers steplessly it takes longer to set up than kinesis","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":255.92,"end_s":262.079,"text":"is also sold separately lift kit but the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":258.959,"end_s":264.0,"text":"end result is more versatile and feels","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":262.079,"end_s":268.4,"text":"more quality in fact overall build quality has a lot","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":266.16,"end_s":273.6,"text":"to do with the easy's cool factor it doesn't look like it was made in the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":270.56,"end_s":275.919,"text":"90s like many other ergonomic keyboards","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":273.6,"end_s":280.32,"text":"and that beauty is more than skin-deep the keycaps for example are made by","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":277.68,"end_s":286.0,"text":"signature plastics the printed set is double shot injected abs plastic with a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":282.8,"end_s":287.84,"text":"lower profile than most key caps and a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":286.0,"end_s":292.72,"text":"rough and surface finish on the top so they don't get that gross shiny look as","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":290.0,"end_s":297.199,"text":"they wear out and the unprinted set is pbt with a special bonus as well","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":295.759,"end_s":301.759,"text":"since there's no reason to move them around they're sculpted meaning that","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":299.04,"end_s":307.44,"text":"each row has a differently shaped keycap for improved ergonomics","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":303.759,"end_s":310.24,"text":"then underneath the keycaps it gets real","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":307.44,"end_s":313.52,"text":"because you'll find one of 12 different switch types available right out of the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":312.32,"end_s":318.72,"text":"box wait i'm sorry did i say one of believe","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":316.32,"end_s":323.759,"text":"it or not our board right here actually has five different switch types plugged","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":321.199,"end_s":326.24,"text":"into it right now the easy makes swapping them out","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":325.44,"end_s":331.44,"text":"well easy just use the included dual pullage","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":328.8,"end_s":336.16,"text":"tool to swap out some cherry mx browns for reds on the wasd keys maybe some","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":334.639,"end_s":340.639,"text":"blacks on the keys you don't want to strike accidentally like hue and","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":337.84,"end_s":345.36,"text":"overwatch um maybe some super crunchy kale thick gold for the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":343.52,"end_s":350.32,"text":"number keys i mean hell yeah why not let's throw let's","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":347.199,"end_s":352.479,"text":"throw some cherry mx whites in here for","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":350.32,"end_s":356.08,"text":"i don't know these keys in the future you'll even be able to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":354.0,"end_s":360.56,"text":"order small numbers of extra switches directly from ergodocs but for now their","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":358.639,"end_s":363.6,"text":"ordering system only allows you to buy a complete set","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":362.08,"end_s":369.52,"text":"which i guess brings us nicely to our gripes it wasn't easy to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":366.88,"end_s":374.08,"text":"dox these marks but i have to talk about the cable","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":372.08,"end_s":378.479,"text":"i appreciate that these are detachable and therefore replaceable in theory but","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":376.479,"end_s":383.12,"text":"they stand out as the least premium aspect of the entire package not only","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":380.56,"end_s":386.24,"text":"are they not braided they've got like printing on them like they just went to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":384.72,"end_s":391.199,"text":"a store and bought them next up is the lighting the underglow","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":389.199,"end_s":394.88,"text":"pretty freaking sweet it does contribute to the coolness factor there's lots of","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":393.44,"end_s":400.319,"text":"options for colors patterns and brightness but","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":397.28,"end_s":401.919,"text":"is this as good as backlit keys","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":400.319,"end_s":405.6,"text":"maybe that's a matter of opinion but i do hope to see that on a future version","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":404.319,"end_s":410.0,"text":"of the board as for the bottom line whether to buy","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":408.4,"end_s":417.44,"text":"that depends on what you're willing to spend just the board by itself without even","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":413.52,"end_s":420.24,"text":"switches is 225 us dollars a basic","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":417.44,"end_s":425.28,"text":"configuration then is 270 and if you add all the bells and whistles which to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":422.319,"end_s":431.12,"text":"achieve proper ergonomic status we'd recommend you're sitting at 355 dollars","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":429.12,"end_s":434.24,"text":"as for any bonus key switches you want to throw in well that's gonna cost you","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":432.88,"end_s":438.16,"text":"two so is it a lot for a mechanical keyboard","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":437.28,"end_s":443.919,"text":"yes is it a lot for a programmable mechanical keyboard","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":441.52,"end_s":447.759,"text":"yep is it a lot for a programmable mechanical keyboard with RGB lighting","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":446.16,"end_s":451.199,"text":"it sure is but is it a lot for an ergonomic","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":450.0,"end_s":454.96,"text":"keyboard actually no","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":453.28,"end_s":459.039,"text":"so if you're looking for a board that's as functional as it is eye-catching then","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":456.8,"end_s":461.759,"text":"the ergodox easy might be worth making the switch","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":462.16,"end_s":469.84,"text":"speaking of making the switch if you're hosting your website on a less versatile","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":467.68,"end_s":474.479,"text":"less reliable platform or if you don't have one at all why don't you sign up","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":471.84,"end_s":478.8,"text":"for squarespace squarespace makes it easy they've got beautiful templates all","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":477.12,"end_s":484.16,"text":"of which feature responsive design so your site will look great on any device","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":481.68,"end_s":489.36,"text":"and they've got 24 7 support via live chat and email to make it simple for you","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":486.879,"end_s":492.96,"text":"to get set up cover pages is a feature that actually allows you to set up a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":490.8,"end_s":496.479,"text":"beautiful one-page online presence in just minutes and they've got tons of","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":494.72,"end_s":500.0,"text":"other great features as well including the ability to publish content in apple","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":498.319,"end_s":504.96,"text":"news format directly from the squarespace blog module so start a trial","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":502.8,"end_s":508.759,"text":"with no credit card required and start building your website today then when","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":506.8,"end_s":513.039,"text":"you sign up for squarespace head over to squarespace.com forward slash LTT we'll","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":511.36,"end_s":517.039,"text":"have that linked below and use offer code LTT to get 10 off your first","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":515.36,"end_s":520.88,"text":"purchase so thanks for watching guys if this video sucked you know what to do but it","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":519.839,"end_s":525.12,"text":"was awesome get subscribed hit that like button or check out the link to where to buy the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":523.68,"end_s":528.32,"text":"stuff we featured in the video description also link down there is our","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":526.88,"end_s":534.76,"text":"merch store which has cool shirts like this one and our community forum which you should","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":531.36,"end_s":534.76,"text":"totally join","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0}],"full_text":"we have had all sorts of bizarro keyboards through the lab lately from super ergonomic to super ergo no thank you but the one thing that all of them have in common is they're just not that cool to be fair the kinesis freestyle edge isn't uncool it just lacks the wow factor of the more flashy mainstream keyboard options that are out there so then introducing the latest iteration of the infamous ergodox easy keyboard a no compromises ergonomic keyboard that actually looks as good as it feels and for the first time ever now comes with user replaceable key switches today's video is brought to you by zotac zotac's zbox pcs are compact and they have different variants that are great for applications like streaming and gaming check them out at the link below looking at it the ergodox easy is kind of like a mashup of two boards from rival ergoboard maker kinesis it's a split keyboard like the freestyle edge but it has thumb clusters and ortho linear keys like the advantage ii it's a small 76 keyboard which lands it somewhere between a 60 and a 10 keyless so there's no function row but it does have navigation keys wherever you decide to put them now since ergodoc started out as an open source build your own board company customizability is in the easy's dna they include f and j keycaps that don't have tactile guides in case you plan on rearranging the letters in a dvorak or colemat configuration and even if you order your board with a legend on the keycaps which you're not even required to do some keys are still left unmarked so as to not be confusing after you customize your layout and customize you will because the default layout is pretty different for example the backspace is now more easily accessible over here beside the a key while the apostrophe is way down here under the z that is too far for me i'm very possessive of my apostrophe key now for his part james our writer actually went through nine iterations before landing on the perfect layout that sounds like a lot of work but that high number actually just goes to show how easy it is to tweak the configuration just use the online configurator tool and flash the firmware to save it right onto the board and while you're at it you don't have a ton of keys on this thing so you'll probably want to take advantage of at least a couple of the 32 available layers which you can switch between in some pretty cool ways like switching only as long as you hold a particular key down or switching layers but only for a single key press kind of like how shift works on your phone all this customization does mean that yes this board can take some time to get used to especially if you're not used to ortholinear or non-staggered keys which i guess then brings us into ergonomics the split board lets you tilt each key module to keep your wrists from bending outward so that's good but if you want to cut out wrist extension you'll need the nice and solid but sold separately silicone buzz collector sorry excuse me uh wrist rests and same goes for battling pronation you'll actually need the tent kit for another 30 bucks extra it's not cheap but the legs are metal making them nice and durable the cute little dipped feet are available in white or black to match the color of your board once it's installed you can tilt each individual leg through ratcheted steps or using the included washers steplessly it takes longer to set up than kinesis is also sold separately lift kit but the end result is more versatile and feels more quality in fact overall build quality has a lot to do with the easy's cool factor it doesn't look like it was made in the 90s like many other ergonomic keyboards and that beauty is more than skin-deep the keycaps for example are made by signature plastics the printed set is double shot injected abs plastic with a lower profile than most key caps and a rough and surface finish on the top so they don't get that gross shiny look as they wear out and the unprinted set is pbt with a special bonus as well since there's no reason to move them around they're sculpted meaning that each row has a differently shaped keycap for improved ergonomics then underneath the keycaps it gets real because you'll find one of 12 different switch types available right out of the box wait i'm sorry did i say one of believe it or not our board right here actually has five different switch types plugged into it right now the easy makes swapping them out well easy just use the included dual pullage tool to swap out some cherry mx browns for reds on the wasd keys maybe some blacks on the keys you don't want to strike accidentally like hue and overwatch um maybe some super crunchy kale thick gold for the number keys i mean hell yeah why not let's throw let's throw some cherry mx whites in here for i don't know these keys in the future you'll even be able to order small numbers of extra switches directly from ergodocs but for now their ordering system only allows you to buy a complete set which i guess brings us nicely to our gripes it wasn't easy to dox these marks but i have to talk about the cable i appreciate that these are detachable and therefore replaceable in theory but they stand out as the least premium aspect of the entire package not only are they not braided they've got like printing on them like they just went to a store and bought them next up is the lighting the underglow pretty freaking sweet it does contribute to the coolness factor there's lots of options for colors patterns and brightness but is this as good as backlit keys maybe that's a matter of opinion but i do hope to see that on a future version of the board as for the bottom line whether to buy that depends on what you're willing to spend just the board by itself without even switches is 225 us dollars a basic configuration then is 270 and if you add all the bells and whistles which to achieve proper ergonomic status we'd recommend you're sitting at 355 dollars as for any bonus key switches you want to throw in well that's gonna cost you two so is it a lot for a mechanical keyboard yes is it a lot for a programmable mechanical keyboard yep is it a lot for a programmable mechanical keyboard with RGB lighting it sure is but is it a lot for an ergonomic keyboard actually no so if you're looking for a board that's as functional as it is eye-catching then the ergodox easy might be worth making the switch speaking of making the switch if you're hosting your website on a less versatile less reliable platform or if you don't have one at all why don't you sign up for squarespace squarespace makes it easy they've got beautiful templates all of which feature responsive design so your site will look great on any device and they've got 24 7 support via live chat and email to make it simple for you to get set up cover pages is a feature that actually allows you to set up a beautiful one-page online presence in just minutes and they've got tons of other great features as well including the ability to publish content in apple news format directly from the squarespace blog module so start a trial with no credit card required and start building your website today then when you sign up for squarespace head over to squarespace.com forward slash LTT we'll have that linked below and use offer code LTT to get 10 off your first purchase so thanks for watching guys if this video sucked you know what to do but it was awesome get subscribed hit that like button or check out the link to where to buy the stuff we featured in the video description also link down there is our merch store which has cool shirts like this one and our community forum which you should totally join"}