Quote:
Originally Posted by Hitch
I haven't, but...I think that Tex2002ans has one. He loves it, IF (big caveat there) I'm remembering correctly that that's what he has. I don't move my keyboard around, if you don't count cat-induced shiftage. (My big Maine Coon thinks it's hysterical to run across the house, through the french doors into the office, launch from 10 feet away and do the Baseball/Risky Business SLIDE onto the paperwork, etc., on my desk. Everything goes flying.) Other than THAT, no, I don't move my keyboard around at all, so that wouldn't be an issue.
How do the keys LAST? That's the biggie for me--the lettering wears off in weeks, LITERALLY. Two months, at the outside, before the m goes. Then the s-d; then the k-l. Oh, and the "e" goes somewhere in there. Right now, I have a QWRY keyboard. {sigh}. This sucker isn't even 5 months old, IIRC. (I told the spousal unit I really ought to buy 3 at once!!!! He can't type by touch, so this is a HUGE issue for him.) [...]
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I touch-type so I had to pull it back out to check
but yes, after 2.5 years of use (10+ hrs a day) all the keys are still clearly marked (no obvious fading). I think they sell replacement key-caps. Checking my diary from when I changed over to the MS Sculpt, it notes that the reason I changed was that there was a few keys starting to get a bit sticky (I may have been able to clean it out, but decided to try the MS Sculpt).
The VIP accessory kit includes separate pads to stick on the palm rests, but I left them off, preferring the plain plastic palm rest - which also makes it easier to keep clean and looking okay (my MS Sculpt with its fake leather palm rest started to look awful after just a few months). You can use just the V3 accessory if you don't want palm rests.
The pictures here for the
VIP3 Accessory show some of the layouts, but don't show how the keyboard can be linked at the top corner. One of the pictures here
Freestyle2 for PC shows the top corner link.
I see they also make a bluetooth version, which is tempting. Note that they have different models for PC and Mac.
You've probably seen the weird Kinesis Advantage keyboard that incumbent was talking about, I've never really been tempted by one of those - way to big, I'd need a new desk. I found the Freestyle very adaptable, and the fact that there are two halves means you can actually make subtle changes to the spacing and angle as you go which I think helps a bit. (I saw a keyboard somewhere that had built-in motors to deliberately keep changing the keyboard angle etc., because, in theory, this reduces repetitive strain.)
I did look at a Goldtouch Adjustable keyboard (easier to find here in Australia than the Kinesis), but I didn't really like the ball-joint thing going on between the two halves. It may be okay, but I it looked like a problem waiting to happen, to me.
ETA: I should note that the keys on my MS Sculpt are all still clearly marked after 12 months of use, no sign of fading/wearing. (A couple of keys are getting a bit sticky already - which in combination with how awful the palm rests look will probably have me hunting down a replacement soon.)