Kinesis Freestyle2 Blue Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard for Mac (9" Standard Separation)

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KINESIS

Kinesis Freestyle2 Blue Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard for Mac (9" Standard Separation)

Regular price: €175,00
Sale price: €175,00
Regular price: ~~€288,00~~
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Save 39% (€113,00)

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Description

AWARD-WINNING SPLIT DESIGN: Unlike fixed ergonomic keyboards, the Freestyle2 allows you to rotate and separate the key modules up to 9" to achieve natural hand, wrist and forearm positions for your specific body type and preferences.
CONVENIENT BLUETOOTH WIRELESS CONNECTION: Multichannel Bluetooth technology allows you to pair the keyboard with up to 3 Bluetooth-enabled devices like Macbook, iMac, iPhone and iPad and switch between them instantly. Rechargeable Lithium polymer battery with up to 6 months between charges. 30 foot range. "
STANDARD MAC LAYOUT: The Freestyle2 for Mac features a standard Mac layout with Mac-specific hotkeys, shortcuts and multimedia keys to boost your productivity. Mac OS X 10.4+. No software or special drivers required.
LOW-FORCE KEY SWITCHES: The Freestyle2 uses a custom membrane key switch that features a low-activation force and tactile feedback to reduce finger fatigue, impact and strain.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX: Freestyle2 Blue for Mac wireless Bluetooth keyboard with a standard Mac Layout with 9" linking cable, detachable pivot tether for adjustable splay, USB charging cable (6ft), and Quick Start Guide.

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Customer Reviews

Great product!Wow, this is a fantastic keyboard. If you spend all day in front a computer and you know how to touch type with proper form, do those wrists a favor and get one. If you don't touch type, it might be a bit of an adjustment, since the split assumes standard finger usage.My biggest complaint is the Fn key. If you use applications that assign function to the F-number keys, you're going to find that it's rather more awkward. I wish they would have put separate media/special keys and left the F-number keys as they were.It is very expensive, especially with the very nice accessory kit. But think about all the time you spend typing.4Great Mac KeyboardThe quality of this keyboard is surprisingly good. The fit and polish isn't Apple quality, but overall, it's well put together, and adapting to it from an Apple bluetooth keyboard has only taken a few days. It does have a few quirks, though. For instance, I'm used to using "fn+delete" to perform a forward delete, but the "fn" key on this keyboard doesn't seem to behave like the one on an Apple keyboard. However, there is a dedicated forward delete key above the primary backspace delete key.Another added bonus that I haven't gotten used to yet but that seems nice is that there is an extra row two keys wide and five keys tall on the left edge of the keyboard that includes dedicated cut/copy/paste, web browsing forward/back buttons. It also has a button for hiding/showing the dock and a few other keyboard controls like play/pause, skip track, and volume controls. It feels like this keyboard was definitely built to work closely with Macs instead of being PC-only with some keys changed. It feels natural and just works the way that you'd like a keyboard to work.5Requires setup as a new device every time I reconnect my laptop at homeI use my laptop at home at at the office, which is setup with a separate monitor on a stand, under which I store the laptop itself. So when I come hope and plug everything in to work at my home office, the bluetooth connection doesn't work (despite my leaving the bluetooth connection on and pressing the connect button under the keyboard, which lights up). The keyboard requires a new setup every time my computer wakes up from sleep. I can never type in my password to log back in, so I have to first pull out my laptop from under the stand, type my login directly, then go to settings and setup a new bluetooth keyboard by typing in a code on the keyboard. So much hassle. All instructions manual says is that the keyboard may take a minute to reconnect after you hit the bluetooth connect button, but that doesn't seem to happen for me. I have to do the new setup every time.1Accessories are necessary but are marked up to gouge pricing levelsI've been looking for the perfect balance between ergonomic and intelligently designed and thus keyboard is the closest except for a few major things:Pros:* Split keyboard* Pairs with multiple devices and switches between them sanely* The Mac version has a "Dock" button that hides and shows the dock!! * Full size inverted T arrow keys* Convenience media buttons for volume, media playback etc like a regular Mac keyboardCons:* $25+ for freaking tenting accessories on a $100 keyboard* $219 gorram dollars for the vertical Freestyle Ascent accessory to get a 90 tenting/mount for a vertical keyboard layout???? It's just a piece of ****ing metal with hinges!!! Join a makerspace for a month and 3D print your own for 1/3 to 1/2 the price.* Key rows are all the same height* It's huge. YUGE. There's almost 2 inches of extra plastic above the top row of keys. It should not be marketed as an iOS keyboard when it's as tall as an iPad mini...4Relieves stress on wrists! PROs:I found this keyboard very adjustable to get the correct angle to relieve the stress of angling your wrist while typing. You can spread each side out pretty wide. (up to approx. 24") and/or angle the keyboard to match the angle of your forearms as they come together to type .The keyboard is a fairly good size and the keys are a decent width apart, its not a compact keyboard.I'm so used to a keyboard like those on a laptop or from apple which are more compact. However I've noticed that I"m putting much more tension on my wrists that way. This keyboard has relieved my wrist pain in a matter of a day or so.I was able to transition to this fairly easy, but like any keyboard change expect some time it takes to get used to it, missing keys, especially if spreading the halves out wider. Though I must admit once you get used to it, it is the better way to type.The extra keys on the left for cut, cop, paste are very helpful. And I had no problem using this my Macbook. Setup was easy.Use with 3 bluetooth devices: The fact that I can switch to use this with my phone (typing longer texts or emails) and my iPad is very useful. I have both on my desk.I went back and tried my old compact keyboard and realize how much strain I'm putting on my wrists. Thought I'm used to that more and can type faster on its compact size. I won't ding them for that, it all up to preference and what you are used to.I now use this along with a vertical mouse and my angry wrist is happy now!CONS:- The blue writing for the "F" functions are not easy to see unless in a bright office.- It doesn't have a "Caps" light to let you know when in upper case mode.- The option to tile the keyboard forward should be just a kick stand, not a $30 or so option. 5Just okay. No way to position it correctly, and function keys are in the wrong place and not lockable.I have and old "Comfort" keyboard, which to me at least, establishes the gold standard for split keyboards. I'd buy another of those, but they don't seem to make them any more. Pity. This one has some issues:1) The fact that the "risers" are not included is ridiculous. The keyboard is worthless from an ergonomic point of view without them.2) The risers are okay, but don't give you the level of adjustment that you actually need, The vastly more expensive (more so than the keyboard itself) metal contraption (Ascent Accessory for Freestyle2 Ergonomic Keyboard) is not nearly adjustable enough, either. Let your hands dangle loosely at your sides. Bend your elbows to bring them up to keyboard height without moving your wrists. That's the angle you want the keyboard at. There's no way to achieve that angle with any of the Kinesis options. I'm a woodworker, so I can kluge together a riser that will actually work, but the fact that Kenesis hasn't done that indicates that they don't really understand the ergonomics.3) I'm constantly accidentally hitting the pairing button on the back of the keyboard, which puts it into pairing mode. This button needs to be recessed.4) I'm a touch typist, the fact that they've put the F6 key above the 5 instead of to the right of the 6 drives me nuts. I have to actually look at the keyboard when I use the function keys, but I forget sometimes, and strange things happen as a consequence. It's also incredibly annoying that the only way to activate the "function" function of a function key is by pressing a blue "fn" key at the same time. Since there's only one of these (on the left of the keyboard), it's literally impossible to touch type F1-F7 (which are on the left half of the keyboard). Not having a function lock is stupid. I had to tape the "fn" button down so that the thing would stay in function mode.On the plus side, the full-travel keys are nice, and it pairs painlessly with multiple devices. It's also way cheaper than the Comfort Keyboard was.2Used for 8 months I've been typing for 30 plus years. My wrists are pretty messed up because of it. This keyboard is wonderful. It allows me to type without pain and cramping in my wrists and lower arms. A few things you should be aware of before purchasing. This is an 'old school' style keyboard. It's big, clunky, and loud, just like the original IBM keyboards back in the day. It's not pretty or portable. But it gets the job done so style be dammed. It works as advertised, but you really need the VIP3 accessory kit to raise the angle of the keyboard to get the full benefits. And the accessory kit is very, very expensive for what it is. The keyboard comes with a standard set of cushioned wrist wrests, but the fabric covering the rests came unglued almost immediately. I notified ErgoWarehouse of this issue and never received a response back. In closing, if you need to save your wrists this keyboard really works. You'll have to decide if the price point is worth it. 4Like all Kinesis keyboards Like all Kinesis keyboards, this is a great one. The key switches are rubber domes, but good feeling, if a bit short in throw.The Kinesis key switches require less pressure than a Goldtouch, but more than an Apple laptop or Apple Aluminum keyboard. The throw of the Kinesis keys is also in-between a Goldtouch and Apple, but closer to the Goldtouch and other full-size-keycaps keyboards.Bluetooth with this keyboard is great it wakes up promptly, pairs without issue, and having 3 channels allows you to pair it with as many computers without conflict, even if they're all in range.The biggest downside is if you're a programmer or other type who likes to use the function keys as their namesake suggests full time. There isn't a way to lock the fn on this keyboard the keys that are dual-marked as F# and an OS function (volume, brightness, play/pause, etc.) always perform the latter operation unless you are also pressing the fn key in the lower left of the keyboard. This is unlike Apple keyboards, which provide an option in keyboard settings to invert this behavior (i.e. the F#/OS function keys act as F# keys normally and only perform their OS behaviors when fn is pressed). If you use IntelliJ other JetBrains IDEs, you'll be frustrated by this behavior. 4Best I've ever owned. Broken more than any other.First let me start by saying this is by far the best keyboard I've ever owned bar none. Then why 3 stars then? Well, something is up between Kinesis and OS X. I'm on my second keyboard where the first one just started typing random special characters whenever it decided and all I had to do was shut it down, turn it on and bam it was fine again for an indeterminate period of time. I contacted support and they were great and sent me another keyboard. I'll give you three guesses as to what happened and the first two don't count.Here's how I know it's not my computer which is a logical question.1. An Apple Bluetooth keyboard is unaffected by this issue even when it's happening.2. I rebuilt my Mac in desperation and still the same issue.Now here's something interesting. I think it has to do with the battery. When the keyboard is fully charged and I remove it from power, it lasts about 3 days before it starts flipping in and off in OS X. Not 3 weeks, 3 days. When I leave it plugged int to source power via USB, the keyboard works flawlessly and I've next to no issues. Becuase of this, I think the root cause is a battery issue either supplying toe Bluetooth module, not supplying the requisite voltage or current or flat out just crappy batteries Kinesis got without knowing about it. If I didn't love this keyboard this much I would have long ago booted it ot the curb but what can one do when there is no sufficient replacement? Nothing, that's what.3An excellent travel keyboard for those committed to the traditional layout: but users of Kinesis desktop versions: be careful!I like this keyboard *AND* if you haven't owned/used the desktop version, then you will likely *love* this keyboard. I'm very pro Kinesis keyboards, own two one for the office and one for home and realized before I headed on a journey, I would have extended time to write. So, knowing about this bluetooth version, I purchased it, and felt I was good to go.So, assuming you haven't used the desktop version, and you use a traditional keyboard, *AND* you travel with writing with a good surface, this is the one to get. As you can observe in the first photo, I have the 9" cable version, and I also have the Kinesis Freestyle2 VIP3 Accessory AC820-BLK (Freestyle2 keyboard sold separately). The level of comfort from the palm rests with the tenting that joins this split keyboard cannot be understated: it feels good for using a traditional keyboard. So, if you use a traditional keyboard, purchasing the accessory will make for comfortable usage. But, if you own or already use desktop version of Kinesis, you may have some troubles or at least challenges.As you can see in the second photo, I suspended the desktop version over the bluetooth split version. It looks like I can move the halves apart and the feel will be more like the desktop version. But, that is the least of my challenges. If you compare the layout, you'll observe the difference. Even typing this review on the bluetooth version is taking longer, because my right thumb reaches for "Enter" key on the desktop, only to find I've struck the space bar. Similarly, when I attempted to paste the URL into the insert box for this review, my left thumb reached for the Mac Command key, only to fall off the keyboard. Muscle memory matters, and once you've learned to use the desktop version, I find that I stumble along if I have to return to the standard keyboard layout. Obviously, I should've paid closer attention to layout before making the purchase.So, I'll have to return it. The idea is brilliant, though, and for those already committed to the traditional layout, the flexibility and comfort of both the keyboard and the accessory remains superior to other keyboards of similar aims. It travels well too: In my trial run, I used Eagle Creek Pack It Clean Dirty Half Cube , Red Fire, Small and it worked/packed both keyboard and the accessory easily without deformation or breakage; I could well imagine inserting some thin cardboard in the future on the inside surfaces of each compartment to protect the cargo.4nice split keyboard but it has bluetooth issues I've been using this keyboard for almost a year now and while I really like the split design and feel that it helps with my overall comfort, I'm no longer going to use it because of the bluetooth issues. These issues may be limited to MacBooks as that's the only thing I've used this with. One of the issues is that it will randomly repeat keys. It doesn't happen a lot, but once every couple of days it's like the key gets stuck. Most of the time it's not a big issue, but every once in a while it's a pain...like if it gets stuck on ctrl-w. The other issue is that it will randomly drop connection and you'll need to wait a few seconds to get your keyboard back. My bluetooth trackpad doesn't have this issue and remains connected while the keyboard is not responding. About a month after I got my keyboard I got some Airpods. I almost returned them because they were constantly cutting out when connected to my MacBook, but worked perfectly with my iPhone and iPad. I recently downloaded the Bluetooth Explorer tool from Apple and watched how the Kinesis keyboard caused interference with the Airpods as soon as it was turned on. Turn it off and the interference disappears.If I could have a do-over, I would probably get the wired version of this keyboard. I do wish the keys had a bit more resistance but I think that would increase the price of this keyboard so I don't fault it for that. 2Works OK but takes some getting used toIt's a decent keyboard and has fairly nice key action but takes some getting used to. The problems I've run into are:(1) The extra home/end/page-up/down/etc keys on the right and to a lesser extent the extra function keys on the left are constantly getting pressed by accident since I'm not used to having these keys being present. I also find the arrow keys harder to use because of this. For me, it would be better to have those more separated like on most keyboards. Also related to this is the dinky right Shift key which trips me up from time to time. It is hard to find and too easy to end up pressing Return instead. Position of Esc key is also a bit off. I'm sure I'll eventually get used to all this, but most people will probably find these things odd as well.(2) The F-keys at the top always require pressing the 'fn' modifier key to get F1->F12, which is annoying for my pattern of use. It would be nicer to have a way to lock the 'fn' key; I just ended up remapping keys in the software where this mattered and didn't investigate further.(3) A more minor nit is that when I wake my Mac, the keyboard is asleep as well, connects to bluetooth and the screen goes blank again and I have to rewake the Mac. Maybe an OS X 10.9 bug, but I am not sure.(4) Also a bit odd is the fact that the connecting cable for the two segments seems to want to lie under the right segment, right where the bluetooth connect button is, which then gets triggered when I type. At first I thought it was broken until I realized what was happening and man-handled the cable into a better position.4Great keyboard for software development. Except for the Function key.This is a good keyboard. I prefer to use a full-size keyboard with full key travel for development. So the standard Apple keyboards are not useful to me. The ergonomic benefits of the Freestyle2 Blue and the convenience of Bluetooth are just icing on the cake.The one problem is that Kinesis really screwed up the Function key, when compared to the non-Bluetooth version of this keyboard. It's not model; that is, it behaves like a shift key, not a caps lock. And, it apparently doesn't send a key-press event to the Mac, so you can't work around this by setting "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" In the Keyboard System Preferences. What all this means is that this keyboard is useless for working in an IDE or other application where real function keys are essential.Fortunately, I was able to MacGyver a solution pretty easily: I just put a piece of tape across the Function so that it is permanently engaged. Now my keys do exactly what I want in IntelliJ. And for the times when I want the Mac "special features" (volume control, Dock, Space, etc.), those are already available via other shortcuts (e.g., Control-uparrow, Control-downarrow).So minus one star for making me do that. But otherwise, I'm a satisfied customer.4Caveat emptor: key mapping is crazy on MacOSI won't comment on looks, conform or ergonomics. These are a matter of taste. Suffice to say that I prefer typing on my MacBookPro. But what really drives me slightly nuts with this keyboard is the key mapping.Down below is a rough outline of the issue, but first you should know (1.) that the keyboard has a FN-Key that works by locking; that is, you turn FN Keys ON and OFF (so you can't just hold it and press other key to use it as function/special key). And as you all probably know, (2.) the MacOS system also has an option in the keyboard configurations menu that allow you to choose whether to use the function keys as function keys or as special Mac keys that control brightness, sound and so forth.Now can you imagine how these two settings play along? Right... not well.## System option for function keys ON, Keyboard FN-Key OFFF3 (should be mission control) but does nothingF4 (should be launchpad) but does nothing## System option for function keys ON, Keyboard FN-Key ONF1-F12 work, but now I got 3 dead keys laying around, namely the 3 keys on the edge of the keyboard that will set the keyboard to connect with other devices.## System option for function keys OFF (so special keys ON), Keyboard FN-Key OFFF3 (should be mission control) but becomes left control + uparrowF4 (should be launchpad) but becomes volume UP.## System option for function keys OFF (so special keys ON), Keyboard FN-Key ONF3 now works as mission controlF4 now works as launchpadF5 (should be rewind) but does nothingF6 (should be play/pause) but does nothingF7 (should be fast forward) but becomes rewindF8 (should be mute) but becomes play/pauseF9 (should be volume down) but becomes fast forwardF10 (should be volume up) but becomes muteF11 (should be show windows) but becomes volume downF12 (should be "dock") but becomes volume upVerdict: I wouldn't buy it again. As a matter of fact, I would return it if I could.1

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Kinesis Freestyle2 Blue Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard for Mac (9" Standard Separation)

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Kinesis Freestyle2 Blue Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard for Mac (9" Standard Separation)

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Headsets

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Kinesis Freestyle2 Blue Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard for Mac (9" Standard Separation)

Description

Shipping and Returns

Customer Reviews

Kinesis Freestyle2 Blue Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard for Mac (9" Standard Separation)

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