When comparing Kinesis Freestyle2 w/ VIP3 vs Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard, the Slant community recommends Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard for most people. In the question“What are the best keyboards for programming?” Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard is ranked 21st while Kinesis Freestyle2 w/ VIP3 is ranked 29th. The most important reason people chose Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard is:
Our hands naturally rest angled when in front of us, and this keyboard has been built to conform to that, rather than having us awkwardly trying to straighten our hands on a regular flat keyboard, putting strain on our wrists. The keyboard is also curved into a dome shape, which contributes to its ergonomic shape.
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Pros
Pro Ergonomic design
The Freestyle 2 has an ergonomic design, aimed to promote healthier and more comfortable typing.
Pro Reduces wrist pain
The wrist support offered by this keyboard alleviates wrist strain.
Pro Encourages "proper" touch typing
By splitting the left and right hand of the keyboard and leaving out a numeric pad it encourages users to use the home row numbers as typically taught in American English typing classes.
Pro Flexible positioning
The left and right side of the keyboard can be positioned independently and tilted as desired.
Pro Ergonomically shaped
Our hands naturally rest angled when in front of us, and this keyboard has been built to conform to that, rather than having us awkwardly trying to straighten our hands on a regular flat keyboard, putting strain on our wrists. The keyboard is also curved into a dome shape, which contributes to its ergonomic shape.
Pro Quiet
Thanks to the scissor switches used, this keyboard is very quiet.
Pro Low impact keys
The Sculpt's keys absorb impact quite well, avoiding injuries related to repetitive movements.
Pro Cushioned palm rest
This keyboard has a comfortable, cushioned palm rest.
Pro Clean look and flexible positioning due to wireless connection
This keyboard connects wirelessly to the computer. This offers many benefits, such as a clean, tidy look (no cable mess) or a flexible positioning (greater use range). On top of that, it doesn't occupy one of the ports.
Pro Number pad can be placed where it is more convenient
Since the number pad is a separate part from the main keyboard, its position can adjusted and it can be moved out of the way when it isn't being used. This allows for a more ergonomic mouse use, since it can be placed closer to the keyboard, just like in a tenkeyless design.
Pro Very comfortable
Using this keyboard with vim bindings you can sometimes nearly forget there's a keyboard between you and the editor.
Pro Slider switch for special functions
Rather than the usual Fn key that needs to be pressed in combination with other keys to activate said key's secondary functions, the Sculpt has a slider switch that does this. This makes it easier to default to those functions.
Cons
Con Not very solid
This keyboard's construction is not very sturdy and it feels flimsy.
Con Bad for spreadsheet work
Since it has no numeric pad, the Freestyle 2 is not convenient for spreadsheet work.
Con Functions keys are not easy to use
The function keys are too small.
Con Bad separation of key clusters
The Page Up, Page Down, Home, Insert, End, Delete and Arrow keys are squeezed together, right next to Enter, right Shift and right Control, without any physical barrier/marker to separate the two key clusters. Since this is not an usual layout, it is disorienting for users.
Con Less durable than flat keyboards
Because of its shape and thin design, this keyboard will break more easily than the typical, flat rectangular keyboards. This makes it less portable, unless you're very careful.
Con The key switches used aren't ideal for long typing sessions
The switches used are scissor switches, which are the ones used in many laptops. They provide shallow keystrokes which don't give the same feedback as a mechanical keyboard. These keys need to be bottomed out in order to activate, which creates some strain on your finger's joints as they are constantly hitting the bottom of the stroke. Scissor switches are also known to be less accurate than other keyboards.
Con Some keys aren't very reliable
Some keys (like Backspace or Enter), if not pressed perfectly perpendicularly, hit the shelf of the frame and get blocked on their way down. This means the stroke isn't registered and, on top of that, feels awkward. On the (slightly) bright side, this awkward feel acts as feedback that the key wasn't fully pressed.