UltraErgo Wireless Split Keyboard

I strongly prefer this to my Kinesys2. The UltraErgo is objectively better than the Kinesis Freestyle2 on nearly every dimension that matters to me:- It’s significantly smaller, making it much easier to travel with.- It has built-in “feet” that flip up and put the keyboard on a tilt.- It’s wireless (NOT Bluetooth – there is a USB dongle), the primary benefit being that it reduces its size and weight when loading into my backpack.- I experienced a strange phenomenon with my Kinesis where sometimes keys would register in a different order than I had typed them. I emailed with their engineers, who seemed confident that this wasn’t possible, but still I experienced it both with their wired and Bluetooth versions. I haven’t had this problem with the UltraErgo.The UltraErgo is not without compromises, though. A few potential “cons:”- It’s primarily made for Windows, but I use it fine on my Mac. So, there’s a “Windows” key, which I have used Keyboard Preferences to designate as “alt/option.” I have the “Alt” key set to function as the “Command” key.- Where the left “Command” key would generally be, there is instead a backslash key \ which I still hit accidentally.There is no way I know of to change the volume with the Function keys. I can change the brightness with the “Scroll Lock” and “Pause Break” keys, but there is nothing graphically to indicate that on the keyboard.- The biggest, scariest “con” is that it relies on a tiny USB dongle that has to be in the computer for the keyboard to communicate “wirelessly.” I live in fear that I will someday lose this dongle, and wonder how hard it would be to replace. I simply leave it in my USB port all of the time in the hopes that will prevent my losing it.I'm giving it five stars because it's the best split keyboard I've tried, but, as you see above, there's still room for improvement. Since portability is a huge factor for me (I'm including photos for size comparison), this keyboard is a clear winner for me, but if you’d prefer a keyboard built for a Mac, you may prefer the Kinesis.

This is the only split keyboard I have found that comes all the way apart and is wireless. The combination was entirely necessary for me as I wanted my hands pretty much by my sides. I'm actually typing with it right now.First if you type normal, then you should have very little trouble acclimating to this keyboard. You would think it would be strange so because they are apart but your fingers are already trained to go where they're supposed to so your hands being towards the right or left, or each it ended up making very little difference for me.If you are one who has to look at your keyboard then do yourself a favor and skip this. It will frustrate you to no end... You will spend so much time looking back and forth... No.I took it out of the box, charged it up, and kept the parts together, then slid them apart to see how i would type. 3 sentences in and I split them up fully and had no need to go back. I now feel all futuristic and am laid back completely relaxed with only my fingers moving. Ultimate laziness. SO much win.My only complaint is more a defect on the way I trained myself to type. I use my LEFT index finger to type 'Y' and it is on the right hand keypad so that is still taking me a minute to get used to.This keyboard (aside from the 'Y' factor mentioned above) did not slow my typing down one single bit. If you're wondering if you can do it... Like I said, as long as you type normal on an average keyboard you should haven no problem with this one.Oh, also do yourself a favor and if you have a combo wireless keyboard mouse, purchase a separate wireless mouse when you purchase this.

Serious keyboardist here. I've been looking for a keyboard with this design for years! This one is really good. I'm very thankful for the company that made it.A few criticisms and suggestions:I had receiver issues that made the keyboard unusable at a distance of 1 meter. There also seems to be some interference if you place the receiver too close to a Logitech unifying receiver.There is another \ key adjacent to the left space bar where alt should be. I have no idea what motivated this, but fortunately it can be mapped to alt independently from the other \ key in software.There is an integrated number pad that can be accessed by holding the Fn key, but the Fn key is on the wrong side of the keyboard. Also, Since there is an Fn, there might as well be Fn functions on the F1-F12 keys.\ should be Alt, Alt should be windows key, and windows key should be Fn.I haven't found a way to independently map left and right space bar so that one could be used as backspace. This is a really obvious feature that should come with a split space bar.The right-most column of keys should be moved to the left side, and the positions of Home and End should be swapped. This will make both sides of the keyboard the same length, and the keys will be easier to reach.

I seconded the "serious keyboardist's" comments. I too have been waiting for this keyboard…for years. The odd placement of some of the keys (as noted from the previous reviewer), will take some getting use to, but I think it'll be an easy adjustment. I will miss my 10-key and may need to add it on. When I received it, I took it right from the box to my laptop and it worked with no issues. I'm excited to use it at work today!

Everything worked out of the box. If you mess it up like I did, you just plug in the USB cable to your computer and it should start working again. The only thing that bothered me is that the "6" is on the left side. Its not really a big deal but there's no other keyboard like this, so i don't really mind it.

Works great for my tennis elbow. The only thing is that it has only one control key and that mine didn't come with a numeric keypad that I was expecting.