Ask HN: Kinesis Advantage2 keyboard programmers please share layout

Any Kinesis Advantage2 programmers out there?

Feels like I can get used to the regular character keys positions.

However, all of the Ctrl, Alt, Option, Cmd, Shift combination became really hard an unnatural to do.

I'm mostly using Intellij IDEA for development.

I'm looking for other developers with the same keyboard that maybe could share their experience and methods for using this keyboard for writing code.

4 comments

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kevinherron 7y ago ↗

I use the stock Mac layout for the one hooked up to my MBP at work. Some of the combos are a little awkward I guess, but I've gotten used to them.

I do wish there were enough thumb keys to have one each of Super/Cmd, Ctrl, and Alt/Opt on each side (without sacrificing one of the pg up/down or home/end keys). I've even written to their support requesting this :/

I find the lack especially problematic on Linux where I really need the Super key to operate i3 or window manager shortcuts and the Ctrl and Alt for IntelliJ and other program shortcuts.

ducklingslicks 7y ago ↗

Sounds like we are in the same boat, more or less.. It's strange that there is no community or forum of developers that are also Advantage owners. :-)

jryan49 7y ago ↗

I just got used to it eventually (I've used mine for 2 years now). Only key I changed was insert. I haven't gotten the pedals yet, but looking into it [0]. Maybe those can help make things less awkward?

[0] https://www.kinesis-ergo.com/shop/advantage-3-pedal/

ducklingslicks 7y ago ↗

And now you have two problems :-)

The most awkward combinations are with the F keys. How do you handle these? Like Cmd-Option+F12 (Ctrl-Alt-F12) Or Option-F7 (Alt-F12)