I would first like to start off with a little background on myself and my computing career.  Working with MacMod and various other projects, has afforded me the privilege to spend a lot of time at my computer.  Needless to say, sitting at your computer doesn't mean you are just sitting, staring at a screen.  With it comes mousing and typing, lots of it.  As a result of this privilege, I have worked up a nice case of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, CTS, for those of you in the know.  Now, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to put two and two together with my case and conclude that my CTS is a direct result of extensive computing, particularly in regards to typing.

Now, I want to go ahead and put all the prerequisites out there before any of you start jumping on me saying... did you do this, did you try that.  The answer is YES, unless your recommendation is for acupuncture.  I haven't tried that yet, and I still may.  I have the ergonomic desk, the 12 hour chair, 2 mice, including trackball, and I have gone to extensive lengths to ensure my setup is at the proper height and distance according to all sources.  I exercise daily.  I have done the massages, the yoga, you name it.  I take regular breaks and use splints at night.  I have done it all, and continue most of it. 

So, my latest obsession was to try and improve on my keyboard setup.  Well, that and those expensive Chiropractic visits that didn't do anything for me other than waste my time and frustrate me even further, but I digress.  When it came to my keyboard setup, I already knew I had the cadillac of all keyboards in terms of ergonomics.  I was using the Goldtouch keyboard, and it came highly recommended from a number of developers that I know.  I used this keyboard for well over a year and it served me pretty well.  But, it just didn't solve my problems when it came to CTS.  I was still struggling to type a lot without pain.  I was basically coming to the realization that there wasn't anything I was going to be able to do to correct this issue, other than the scary possibility of surgery, which I want to avoid at all costs.  Nevertheless, I decided that I would give the keyboard search another go.  What did I have to lose...

During my search, I became very intrigued with the contoured keyboards on the market.  It seemed to make sense to me with the placement of the keys and the natural action it allowed.  So, I started searching for manufacturers of contoured keyboards and came across Kinesis .  After doing a little research, I found out a little more about this company and decided I would give them a try.  First though, I wanted to send their team an email and ask a few questions.  After a few emails back and forth, the marketing guy with Kinesis said he was going to send me the Kinesis Advantage for a review, but he was also going to include their more popular Freestyle model.  I agreed to the review, as I was excited to try out a contoured keyboard.  After all, I didn't really have anything to lose.  So, a few days passed and I finally got the two keyboards.  They were very well packaged and delivery was very prompt.  As I opened up the box and started pulling things out, I decided that I was going to go ahead and give the Freestyle a run since I was moving from another keyboard very similar in layout.  This would allow me to give the most accurate review possible.
 
Kinesis included with the Freestyle, the VIP kit, which I would not recommended this keyboard without!  The VIP kit includes the keyboard risers to angle the keyboard to a natural level.  It also includes the palm rests for the much needed support for natural typing.  After I got the keyboard and the VIP kit out of the box, I began to take some snapshots for you all and I then hooked it up to my system, eager to give this thing a run.  After a few minutes, I made a quick list of initial impressions before I was able to let any other judgements have their toll on my thoughts...


Initial thoughts: 
I love how the keys click, wow! (click not a clank).  I don't like how easily the keyboard swings around.  I would prefer to set it in a locked position.  I feel like the hand rest is just a tad too small for my hands.  I didn't think I would like that I can take the keyboard apart and move the two ends where I want, but WOW!  My typing speed has instantly increased.  I am amazed here.  It is so much nicer this way, so much more natural.  The stands on the bottom that add elevation to the keyboard are a little annoying, they tend to fall down some as I move the keyboard around.  They do make the keyboard very sturdy though, which is nice!  The hand-rests are extremely sturdy, something I would not have expected.    The wrist pads that you have to peel and stick on are a little scary when trying to line up properly, but not too bad.  They also feel very high quality once in place, something I was not expecting.  The construction of this keyboard is really nice.  I was thinking that it wouldn't be nearly this nice from the pics on the internet.  From a design standpoint, I like the silver paneling on the inside edges of the keyboard.  I would like to see an extended wrist pad, or offer them in sizes.  I need one that is probably an inch longer at all points.  This is becoming a bit of a nuisance b/c I have to cramp my fingers to get to the keys, especially the ones on the bottom row.

After the initial thoughts of the keyboard and the adjustments needed to make this my everyday use keyboard, I decided I would give it a good week or two before writing this review.  Here I am a couple months later, finally writing this review, from the Freestyle keyboard...  I haven't even gotten to the Advantage yet.  Partially, because I am really busy and don't want to take the time to train myself on how to use it at the moment, but mostly because, I have been so pleased with this keyboard!  It hasn't been all smooth sailing though, as is the case with almost every product I have ever purchased.

Firstly, I had some issues with the keyboard doing very strange keystroke repetition.  I would be typing, and all of the sudden, a random keystroke would repeat itself a few keys later.  It was the strangest and most frustrating thing!  I called up Kinesis and they sent me another keyboard, thinking the one I got was defective.  I had little doubts this was the case, and after receiving the replacement, it proved true.  The culprit... USB protocol or my USB hub.  After plugging the keyboard's usb directly into my Mac Pro, I was now typing without this erratic behavior.  Score!  I have never had any strange behavior like this before with any other USB devices, but for some reason, this keyboard just didn't like it...

When I received the replacement keyboard, they sent me their Mac version, the white model.  The first model I had requested in black, which was the PC version.  I had always used the PC version of the Goldtouch as well, mostly b/c I like black keyboards and not white ones.  As much as I don't really like white keyboards, and even more so the mentality that white keyboards somehow mean Mac, it has slightly grown on me and I will say, it doesn't look cheap at all, like I was expecting.  It actually looks quite nice and very well constructed.  It also has extra keys for controlling your dashboard, expose, volume, itunes songs, dock visibility, and other copy/paste and web browser backwards and forwards actions.  I didn't get any software with the keyboard that allowed me to program the keys.  That is kind of a bummer, but, I already have Keyboard Maestro, so, it wasn't a big deal to me.  I do, however, think something should be included for the price. 

The palm rests that came with the VIP kit might be the most incredibly engineered add-on for any product I have ever used.  While the black look on the white keyboard is a little awkward at first, and any other color would be twice as bad, these things are so incredibly sturdy its amazing!  I can put ALOT of force down on them and the top of the keyboard won't budge.  And, as you can see, the palm rest extends out way beyond the edge of the keyboard.  I will say though, as I stated in my initial thoughts on this keyboard, I would prefer to have my palm rest at least another inch longer.  Its just not quite large enough for my hands.  However, I have gotten use to it, and its not really an annoyance any longer.  I can just notice, when thinking about it, that it would be nicer if they were longer.  After time, the pads on the palm rest get a little dingy, as most do.  It is of note that you can purchase replacement pads from Kinesis for $12 dollars.  The fact that they are stick-on pads makes the exchange quite easy.

So, as I stated in my initial thoughts, the separation ability of the two sides of the keyboard really set this keyboard apart from the competition!  At first, I was a little skeptical of this feature.  But, I don't think I could live without it now.  It really allows for guys with even slightly larger shoulders to have a more natural layout.  I am 6 foot even.  I can imagine that people larger than me would really appreciate this.

The riser stands that come with the VIP kit do tend to be a little annoying at first if you move the keyboard around and prefer the highest position.  But, once you get the hang of using the keyboard, they really aren't a problem.  I do wish though, that these risers would go a little higher.  And, that could be because I am coming from the Goldtouch, that is so infinitely position-able.  This hasn't really been a huge concern for me since the highest position is very close to the position I was using with the Goldtouch.  And, if you are one of those that likes to type completely vertical, they even have an add-on for that.

Final thoughts:
All in all, I can say that I have been very pleased with this keyboard and the assistance that it has provided me.  It isn't perfect, as I don't expect any product to be.  It hasn't solved my CTS issues completely.  However, it has helped a good deal.  I can absolutely type more on this keyboard than any other that I have tried, including the Goldtouch!  When I go back to traditional keyboards, it only takes a few moments before I feel the typing pain.  I can type on this almost all day without any pain.  Some really heavy typing and programming days require extended breaks.  So, I went into this, thinking, there is no way this can be any better than the Goldtouch, I am going to need something totally off the wall to help with my issues.  But, I can say, I was wrong in my assumptions, and this has helped.  I honestly believe the reason it has helped so much is because of the wrist pads.  They really do provide a great natural position for the hands.  This product has a very solid construction and has been a joy to use.  I really would recommend it to anyone who is looking to help with their RSI/CTS from keyboard use.  Just buy the VIP or Ascent kit.  Otherwise, its just a well made split keyboard!