Ergonomic Keyboard Zergotech Freedom Full Review
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- Clicky Kaihl Whites: amzn.to/3cTjWSe
Quieter Kaihl Browns: amzn.to/3jv8e1E
Check out all the features of the Zergotech Freedom at their site:
zergotech.com/
Pros:
* Comfortable
* Fun design with the wrist sliders
* Ability to add stationary wrist pads if you prefer
* Fantastic key feel with the Kaihl White's
* Unique feature to add rings to the bottom of the keys to soften/quieten the typing experience
* Remappable keys
* Programmable Macros
* Excellent build quality
* Excellent implementation of the mouse layer - works incredibly well
Cons:
* Some keys are a little hard to reach with average hands
* Need to use a modifier key to use the arrow keys
Quick thoughts:
After a month of using this keyboard exclusively, I can definitely say that it's an excellent piece of gear. I do wish that you didn't need to use a modifier key to use the arrows, and I do wish that all the necessary keys were within reach without having to take your hands off the wrist pads, but even with those minor setbacks, this is a well designed keyboard. It's comfortable, well built, and fun to use...fun is not typically a term I've used for keyboards, but this one definitely fits that description. If you're in the market for an ergonomic keyboard and you're tired of some of the boring status quo designs out there, definitely give this one a shot. Unique but not just for the sake of being different. It delivers the goods.
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Allen, thanks very much for your detailed review! We are thrilled that you enjoyed the keyboard.
We've taken your comments onboard and will be relocating the backtick and tilde key to a more convenient location in our next batch. If any viewers have questions or comments, we'd love to answer them here. - Zergotech
Well that's just awesome! Can't ask for much more than a company willing to listen to and react to feedback! Lovely product you've created. Thanks so much for dropping by and letting us know!
"A dance floor for your wrists" :D beautiful!
Anything to get you moving has to be good, right?!
@@AllenUnderwood That's right :D
This feels like to me a fair review.
Definitely an interesting take. I expect you’ll love the Moonlander: it has its own distinct advantages over this, but also its own quirks. I got myself an Ergodox for more keys I could readily remap for coding, and HOW I could remap them, as much as where, as the Moonlander and Ergodox EZ Glow I bought work the same way for layers and key assignments, having the same open source firmware, though the Moonlander has more memory (different CPU as well? Doesn’t matter for that) but the Moonlander has fewer total keys, and just enough fewer it matters to me. I wish I could add a couple (split thumb cluster buttons in 2) to totally take care of symbols.
I’d have to test this keyboard in hand you just reviewed, but my expectation is moving all the big keys to only be at the bottom along an entire row will result in still a lot of typing hand contortions I can completely avoid with the Ergodox and Moonlander because of placement and number of keys. It appears this keyboard isn’t nearly as programmable (only 3 layers, is that max?) as the Zsa keyboards: I wonder if it can be, you just didn’t spend enough time with it.
Lastly, truth of the matter is there isn’t a single keyboard layout ideal for everyone, or I suspect we would have achieved nerdvana and converged on one decades ago. I have fairly large and flexible hands, and the span between fully stretched pinky tip and thumb tip is about 10” for me, so the Ergodox thus far (I need to invest time typing on it) feels like it’s a good size for me, but this keyboard, well, I don’t think I’d get maximal benefit from it. I’ve spent a HUGE amount of time trying to create an optimal set of layers from the start, perhaps committing the silly sin of premature optimization (I don’t want to waste time constantly retraining myself on mutating layouts).
I’ll definitely want to see your Moonlander review.
Would be interested in how the different keyboards address the most relevant factors in ergonomic keyboards and which one covers the most / them the best - as that is what we buy them for:
* pronation and wrist pain (ulnar/carpal/cubital tunnel) > tented/angled
* shoulders > split
* fingers, tendons > type and setup of keys and switches (well-form, flat, ortholinear, mechanical etc)
* whatever I am forgetting
It is the best keyboard I've had.
It has a bug I've learned to accept when you use FN layer e.g.: press FN; press J (left arrow); release FN and J together. That will in 50% of cases emit both arrow and J :/
Could you please take a look into Dactyl Manuform too?
17:35 for mouse layer discussion
You didn't mention about it lacking the thumb cluster.. Which is one of my favourite parts of the ergodox... I do like that this one is produced in Australia though.. Another good review.. will keep my eye out for the next one.
Yeah, they had a different take on your thumb's abilities with this thing. They still make your thumb responsible for multiple things, it's just not in a cluster. I do wonder if you being in Australia if it's even cheaper for you to get...
You haven’t talked about the mouse feature at all in your videos about the kenisis nor the Moonlander.. at least the Moonlander also has this feauture (not sure about the kenisis) can you give some insights here as well?
When are you doing the Moonlander review? I already got mine, just curious to hear other people's experience with them.
I believe I'll have that out there next weekend...been using it for a little while now so I have a pretty good grasp on what that review will be :-)
@@AllenUnderwood is there still going to be a moonlander review?
@@AllenUnderwood I call shenanigans on this reply
Are you planning to test out the Truly Ergonomic Cleave?
Haven't heard of that one...looks like I need to have a peek.
Thanks for the review, I've been looking at this keyboard for a while.
It looks good, but as a developer I don't think it will be a good fit for me.
I also lift my hands a lot, so I don't think the sliding pads would fit my use.
Yeah, in all honesty if they'd throw in some dedicated arrow keys as well as find a way to reduce the distance to the far keys, this thing might even be in a league of its own. While it's not perfect, it's still a very good keyboard.
@@AllenUnderwood Do you prefer it over the Kinesis keyboard?
@@WorstDeveloper It's close, but I think simply because of the dedicated arrows, I'd give the slight nod to the Advantage 2
@@AllenUnderwood Alright, thanks. I might buy it soon unless I find something better. It costs $510 in Sweden, so quite an investment for a keyboard, haha.
@@WorstDeveloper Ouch...that's more than a 50% markup than our cost here in the states...fwiw, both are brilliant keyboards, but like you, as a developer, there are just some features I value deeply :-)
Huh.. didn't know you could get actual sliders meant for wrist support. :-) I've used a fluffy sock LOL
Learn Vim and all problem with arrow keys will go away. You'll remember times with VScode like nightmare.
Where is the 6 key?
Right split.
@@AllenUnderwood Do you mean that the 6 is on the right side of the split?
@@surferdude4487 Yes, the right keyboard portion. It's the first number key on that right side.
The noise is a deal breaker for my office. :(
Keep in mind they have quieter keys you can get. I happened to get the more obnoxious one to test it out.
I'm guessing the company is no longer in business. The website at least is dead in the water.