Kinesis Advantage360 is a split keyboard focusing on ergonomics. I started using it due to a wrist injury, and I’m almost glad I got injured because it led me to this keyboard.

It took me around 3 months to get comfortable typing on this keyboard. If you, like me, never learned proper touch typing – here is your chance. This keyboard “forces” you to apply the correct touch typing technique. I’m not a particularly fast typist (typeracer), and you should not feel that you have to be in the 100 WPM Club to own this keyboard. However, accurately typing with the correct touch technique around 80 WPM should be an attainable and beneficial goal for anyone working within the realm of IT, and having a keyboard you care about might help you along the way.

So, which version of the keyboard should you get? I have both the Smartset and Pro versions, and I prefer Smarset. The Pro electronics uses Bluetooth, which in my experience (even after upgrading the firmware) often has connectivity issues. I don’t use the backlighting offered in the Pro version either. The only benefit of the Pro version is that you can customize the key layout regardless of your PC’s operating system, while the software used to customize Smartset is only available for MacOS and Windows.

Speaking of customization, you should get the Advantage360 Blank Keycap Set. It is made from PBC, does not leave a stain, has a better feel, and allows you to customize the layout to your taste. Remember, the keys are locked to their respective position due to the curved nature of the keys and keyboard. For example, switching from Qwerty to Dvorak requires a new set of keycaps (or simply blank keycaps) to make the physical layout look correct.

What type of mechanical switch you get is just a matter of preference. I find Tactile Brown (gateron) to strike a good balance between feel and noise, but Kinesis also offers linear switches (kailh) if you prefer that.

To sum things up: the Smartset flavor of Kinesis Advantage360 with Tactile Brown switches and blank PBC keycaps is an awesome keyboard. It’s an investment that makes typing more fun, comfortable and pain-free.