KINESIS GAMING Freestyle Edge RGB Split Mechanical USB Keyboard (MX Brown)

Glad to see these are now available. For months at the beginning of 2021 they were unavailable.I have two of these; a cherry brown at home (my first one) and a cherry red at work. For an expensive keyboard like this, it's tough choosing the right cherry switches without being able to try them out. Many reviewers of mechanical keyboards advise getting the cherry brown switches for the subtle tactile feedback and relatively quieter key presses compared to the louder cherry blue switches. The Reds are recommended for "gamers". After getting the cherry brown keyboard, I liked it so much I wanted one for work. At the beginning of 2021, when there was no supply, Amazon had one used cherry red version and I ordered it. Being used it was unfortunately missing the normally included palm rests which are very necessary when using the tent kit. Before returning it, I was able to try it out to asses the cherry red switches before ordering a new one when they became available. For me, I like the cherry reds better and here's why.Cherry browns. Coming from a conventional membrane keyboard, you probably don't realize it but you normally push the keys all the way down until they bottom out. Fortunately you bottom out into a soft squishy rubbery material (the membrane). When you first type on a mechanical keyboard, you'll do the same and bottom out your key presses. This is part of the "clackiness" of a mechanical keyboard. The key is literally physically contacting the board, plastic on plastic with no soft cushion. The cherry brown switches provide tactile feedback or a bump towards the end of the key travel so you can actually stop pressing down when you feel the bump and before the key bottoms out on the board. It's kind of cool to realize you don't have to press so hard and so far down to actuate the key press and this should allow you type faster and lighter since you can be more efficient, but you have to train yourself not to type so hard. If you are a hard typer and bottom out the keys anyway, you may not even notice the subtle feedback of the cherry browns because the bottom out feel is much stronger. There is a crispness when typing with the browns similar to the cherry blues that you don't get with the cherry reds or any standard membrane keyboard.Cherry reds. Nice and smooth. When transitioning from the cherry browns to the cherry reds, the first thing you notice is that the keys seem easier to press. Second, you immedeately realize the difference in the tactile feedback the browns provide. There is certainly no issue typing with the cherry reds and it feels more like a traditional non mechanical keyboard. I appreciate what the cherry browns have taught me that I don't have to push down so hard or so far, but the main reason I prefer the reds over the browns is that I feel less tired typing on the reds. They claim it's the same actuation force between the reds and the browns, but to me typing on the reds just feels easier. The tactile bump of the browns is like a small percussive force on your fingers joints that adds up over time and you can feel it. If you're young and virile and want the feedback, the browns are great. Or go for the blues and strut your stuff and let everyone around you know you are a mechanical keyboard aficionado and they should respect your authority. But I'm glad I made the choice of cherry reds for work where I do most of my typing. I just don't need the extra percussive force on my fingers. I don't think there is any downside to the cherry reds, I can type just fine. The browns and blues just let you know that you have a mechanical keyboard and give you a different feel than what a traidtional keyboard or laptop can provide and you may enjoy that.The KINESIS GAMING Freestyle Edge RGB Split Mechanical Keyboard itself is great. One of the main reasons I chose this keyboard is to remove the number pad on the right so my mouse can be closer to the midline for better ergonomics. I am much more comfortable working with this configuration. I do miss the number pad at times, but the trade off is worth it. I do have the second layer programmed as a number pad, but every number pad is ortho-linear where the keys are directly above each other. Even color coding the keys and extinguishing the lights on surrounding keys is still not the same. Most people will choose 7, 8, and 9 to stay the same which makes u, i, o = 4, 5, 6 and j, k, l = 1, 2, 3. But to match a number pad, 0 (to the right of 9) becomes your plus key, and for me this is hard to get used (the key says 0 and there is a plus key two more keys over) and space or M (or both) becomes 0. The fact that the keys below 7,8,9 are diagonal and to the right just isn't quite the same. And the j key has the bump, which is now the number 1 key vs the bump on the number pad is the on the 5 key. If you can get used to the layout without looking it's better. At home I don't have space for a number pad, but at I work I do and I place it above the keyboard. I've just started using the real number row above the letters more and more.The second reason I wanted this keyboard is for the illuminated keys. If the microsoft natural 4000 keyboard had back lit keys, you wouldn't be reading this review and I would have right arm pain with my hand further out to the side. Nothing is better in a low light environment than back lit keys. And I've really enjoyed color coding the keys to my liking. You can soften the brightness of the keys by choosing a softer color. I use browns, oranges, and reds so the keyboard is easy to look at in low light.The third reason I wanted a keyboard like this is for on the fly macro programming. Back in the late 90s I had a keyboard that let you program extra keys on the keyboard and it was awesome for short term repetitive tasks. This keyboard shines in this area. While you can put a macro on any key, this keyboard gives you 8 keys on the left side for easy programming and easy access. You press the macro button at the top above the fn keys, press the key you want to program, type whatever you want including spaces, returns, multi key presses (ctrl-shft-end), etc. then press the macro key again to finish. Then bam you have a repeatable set of key strokes for editing that spreadsheet you're working on. It's great! Don't want to accidentally press that macro key and have that complex macro do all kinds of crazy stuff on another important document or spreadsheet? Press macro, the key you just programed, and macro again... macro erased. I did have to burn one of the macro keys for the function layer (fn) toggle (press it once and release to toggle to the function layer, press it again to toggle back vs the built in FN button that only toggles to the funciton layer while your holding the key down). There is an oversized Kinesis key in the upper left next to ESC, the perfect location for fn toggle, but strangely enough, fn toggle is the one thing you can't program that key for. You can but it prevents you from programming macros with the macro button. It's a bug in the software they don't care to fix. So I just programmed the big kenesis button as another ESC key and I used the macro 7 key as fn toggle just above the fn key. I also reprogrammed F2 and F3, which I never use, with volume up and down, which is already printed on the key. F2 and F3 are then on the function layer if I need them. ## edit 12/9/2022. I still use macros all the time, but sometimes the macros are too fast for the program you are using. For example your macro involves entering info into a popup dialog box, that delay for the dialog box to appear takes time and the macro can speed past and now you are out of sync. You can fix this by slowing the macro down or by adding delays, but you have launch VDRIVE and edit the macro in the keyboard gui keyboard application. It's not that big of a deal, and you can change the settings to globally slow down macros, but I thought it was worth mentioning as it does take time to deal with.The palm rests are super comfy and coming from a microsoft ergonomic keyboard the tent kit is a requirement. I'm happy with the middle setting of 10 degrees and I spread the keyboard out until it's comfortable.Last thing, I did "O-ring" both keyboards. I bought these silicone O ringshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMMGHL4and this key pullerhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TAUJDJKand it very noticeably reduced the "clackiness" of the keyboards.So it becomes quite the investment of keyboard, tent kit, O ring kit and a little time to install the O rings, getting used to the layout, programming the lights and other layers. But in the end, I think it's worth it.Keyboard, Monitors, and Mouse are your main interfaces to the machine. Make them count.## edit 12/9/2022. I still love both keyboards and use them daily without issue. While it could be valuable using keyboard layer switching for particular software like gaming, adobe, or video editing, I find myself never using the fn layer toggle.At home I use a KVM switch to switch between several computers. I can't launch the VDRIVE (F8) when plugged into the dedicated keyboard port on my KVM switch (because the VDRIVE button turns the keyboard into a USB key and the KVM switch only wants to see a keyboard). But I can access VDRIVE if I plug the keyboard into the 'shared usb' port on the KVM switch, but then I can't use the keyboard commands to change computers because the KVM switch is looking for those commands on the keyboard port. So fast macro tuning using the VDRIVE keyboard app is out when using a KVM switch (and I would imagine most KVM switches operate this way). In order to change keyboard settings or edit a macro, I have to be determined and change USB ports on the KVM switch, launch VDRIVE, make the changes and change back the USB port. You don't have to shutdown the computer to change ports but it's painful enough that it prevents me from making changes at times. I don't do this very often and haven't for months. But in the beginning, you will probably be making frequent tweaks to your setup to dial it in. Just wanted to share my experience with the KVM switch I'm using. Siig SIIG CEKV0612S1 4x1 USB HDMI KVM Switchhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G88PRUK/

Due to significant pain in my wrists, forearms, and discomfort in my shoulders after typing and working on my computer for even short periods of time, I decided to bite the bullet and invest in some type of ergonomic input tool(s). I researched mechanical keyboards incl. "Alice" layouts, straight split boards like the Keychron Q11 and tentable boards from Kinesis, Dygma, ZSA, etc. My two biggest goals in being a newbie was finding something that would provide a high degree of relief without a lengthy adjustment period and something that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I decided my best choice would be a true split keyboard with tenting. This Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB (KB975), with the lift kit (AC910), turned out to be the perfect choice!I'm a 72 year old who learned how to touch-type in high school on old manual typewriters and have only used staggered QWERTY keyboards my whole life so expected I should be comfortable moving to any keyboard with a similar layout, like this Kinesis. That immediately eliminated the columnar or ortho-linear designed keyboards, which also seem to be the most expensive. And indeed, transitioning to this keyboard has been absolutely painless. I've had virtually NO adjustment period, regardless of the tenting angle I try, and was typing at my maximum wpm the very first day! What a great choice! I much prefer mechanical keys and have experimented with a few mechanical boards (two Keychron and a LowFree Flow Light) and switch types and have found the switch type that best prevents me from erroneous mis-strikes are higher initial force tactile switches so, of the options available, the blue clicky switches have turned out to be perfect. I wish they were hot-swappable because I would likely lube them somewhat but, as far as stock Cherry Blues go, they are absolutely acceptable and help keep costs down. I could get hot-swappable switches if I wanted to pay hundreds more for a Dygma or ZSA board but I would also have fewer keys and they, like most other brands like Corne, etc. "require the user" to deal with multiple layers, not something I relish the thought of doing. Though this keyboard takes up more real estate than some of those, I have no issue with it's size. Especially because I really like the layout and number of keys on this Kinesis and, though I don't want to be forced to deal with layers and customization, I love that this keyboard allows for that should I choose. I'm using WIN 11 Home and have found the SmartSet App to be quite different from using QMK/VIA, etc. but it's pretty straight forward and easy to use and the configuration(s) are saved to the keyboard's internal memory.The keyboard is plastic but solidly built and with a nice heft. The included wrist rests are sturdy and comfortable, as well as easily removeable. I have no issue with the fact the power/control cables are not removeable and, though I've used 2.4 GHz dongles & Bluetooth with other boards, I have no problem using a wired only keyboard. This keyboard uses good quality braided cables and, though it can be fed out from it's storage area to enable up to a 20" separation between the halves, I've found the 9" "out of the box" length to be perfect for me. The RGB looks great, and there are a number of stock animations or the user can easily configure it per key if desired.I purchased the Lift Kit for use with wrist rests to get tenting. After having tried all three tenting levels, I find tenting adds enough benefit to be worth-while. I initially felt the Lift Kit seemed a bit pricey but if I consider the benefit added by tenting, the ability to easily switch between tenting levels while using the wrist rests, the ability to easily install and remove them and the sturdy support they provide during use, I feel they are worth the money spent.After a week of heavy use, I can say this Kinesis FreeStyle Edge RGB was absolutely the right choice! I'm really enjoying the comfort it's providing and can't get over the ease of transition from using standard keyboards. It meets my wants & needs perfectly and only hope it will serve me well for many years. In addition to purchasing this keyboard I purchased a new Logitech MX ERGO Plus mouse and, though I hadn't used a trackball in many many years, found it to be as easy to adjust to as the keyboard and, by adding both the mouse and the keyboard, I have drastically improved my ability to now spend hours comfortably working at my computer. Money very well spent!

I love the keyboard -- it is very nice to type on. I got the tenting accessory, which feels comfortable, but then the keyboard slides around, so not sure if that is resolvable. The SmartSet program for programming the keyboard is just awful! The UI is crude (reminds me of DOS), and there's a a cryptic procedure for opening and closing it. Fortunately, it should be relatively rare to need to change the key programing. Got it with the Cherry Browns, thought it was too noisy, tried the Pro with Cherry Quiet Reds and liked the quietness, but went back to this one as I noticed that I would activate the wrong keys too often with the linear switches. The caps lock key is not stepped, so it is really easy to hit when you are typing "A" -- I disabled it. It is almost impossible to see the shift characters, as they are not illuminated and are in dark grey. No integrated numeric keypad legends like the PRO, and no quick way to program that functionality (I tried programming the 8 left-side keys as numbers and it made the keyboard crash -- had to unplug it to restore operation). The shift and function layer lights are really small and dim. Took some adjustment after using the Microsoft Ergonomic for 30 years, as the banks are straight and don't have the gentle curve between the side and center keys that the Microsoft has. But overall, I like the feel of the keys, and I don't do gaming, but the lighting is very cool!