When comparing Ultimate Hacking Keyboard vs Vortex KBC Poker II, the Slant community recommends Vortex KBC Poker II for most people. In the question“What are the best keyboards for programming?” Vortex KBC Poker II is ranked 15th while Ultimate Hacking Keyboard is ranked 18th. The most important reason people chose Vortex KBC Poker II is:
It has a 100% standard ANSI layout and you can program keys to perform media control functions if desired.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Ergonomic design
The UHK has a split design, since two keyboard halves result in a more natural typing posture. The halves are connected by a bridge cable, which expands and contracts as needed, occupying minimal desk space. The halves can be merged together as one, which is useful for transportation purposes or if you happen to prefer a one-piece keyboard.
Pro Programmable
Through the use of an app called Agent, users can configure the UHK to their liking.
Pro Feature customization via add-on modules
You can attach trackpoint, trackball, trackpad and additional key clusters to the board. This allows for extensive feature customization, for increased productivity and convenience.
Pro No need to leave the home row
For maximum touch-typing productivity, one's hands should not leave the home row frequently. With conventional keyboards, this is not the case when navigation and function keys need to be used. On the HKB, via a thumb key press, several function layers can be activated, turning the home row keys into function keys.
Pro Modular and disassembly friendly
The UHK is modular and has disassembly instructions embossed onto components and even printed on the circuit board. It records use data, so when key switches have reached the end of its lifespan, users can replace them.
Pro Easily customizable (both programmatically and with new keys)
It has a 100% standard ANSI layout and you can program keys to perform media control functions if desired.
Pro Doesn't take much space
The Poker II takes less space than most keyboards, since it's tenkeyless.
Pro Great quality
The materials and overall design is of good quality.
Cons
Con Has a learning curve after moving from full-sized keyboard
As with other 60% keyboards, a learning period is required for adjusting to the non-letter key positions.
Con Hard to use in parallel with standard keyboards
If you have multiple work environments (such as Home & Office) with different keyboards, the unique layout of this keyboard requires constant adjustments between the environments.
Con Suffers from side flex
Since it doesn't have a faceplate, the Vortex KBC Poker II suffers from a bit of flex on its sides.