Review: Kinesis Maxim Keyboard

About a year ago, I got my first ergonomic keyboard, a Microsoft Natural keyboard, after less than a week, I was hooked. It was so comfortable compared to my old Microsoft Intellitype Pro, my wrists were not getting sore, and more importantly, the angle of the keys, meant I was no longer hitting the windows key instead of alt or control :). When I first started at Anchor, I was using a small flat keyboard that had the feel and size of a laptop keyboard, as soon as I could (on my second day) I had a ergonomic keyboard on order, the Maxim from Kinesis

At $149 USD, these keyboards are not cheap, but there features more than make up for that. Firstly the keyboard is hinged, so you can split it to meet your requirements,(up to 30deg of movement). secondly, it offers two levels of elevation of the keys, roughly 2cm and 4.5cm high, finally, the built in wrist wrests have geared feet, that you can place exactly where you need them for the right elevation. The wrist wrest is also a nice 10cm deep, not 3cm like on my old Microsoft Keyboard.

The complete specifications, along with a funky flash show of they keyboard in action are available at Kinesis' website.

I use this keyboard for 7.5hours a day, 5 days a week, so its had a bit of mileage since I got it, in that time I have had no problems with the keys, and my only gripe is the fabric cover for the foam padding on the wrist wrest came loose, and ended up pulling it off because it was annoying, the foam is still there, for now.

I find that after 7 hours of typing articles, and reseting passwords, no matter which keyboard I use my hands get tired, and cramped, a good keyboard is no excuse for not stretching and taking breaks, however, the difference between using the Maxim, adjusted for my exact position, is a vast improvement over a regular straight keyboard, or even my Microsoft Natural keyboard. I find I am able to work longer, with less pain.

The keys are quite responsive with a nice click when depressed so I know when I have hit them, and the most amazing feature, the 3 "windows" keys, have been moved over to the far left, so they are no longer within reach of my hands when they are of course over the home keys. I actually would have to move my hand over to touch them. This keyboard just screams "play Diablo II on me" no more hitting the windows key and losing the game :).

The keyboard does not include a numeric keypad, not a big deal for me, as I don't do a lot of data entry, one is available for an extra $69USD. There is a Fn key, like on a laptop, that converts the right hand side of the keyboard into a numeric pad, which suffices for me. The home, pg-up/pg-down, insert, delete and end keys are arranged in two columns of three, instead of the more normal three columns of two, with the insert and delete keys underneath the end and pg-down keys respectively. This does mean I have a habit of hitting end instead of delete. and insert instead of the up arrow, due to their closeness.

Conclusion

All in all, the Maxim is a damn nice keyboard, that I heartily recommend for those of us who find flat, straight keyboards boring and often painful. It is solidly built with little movement once it is in position, and no frivolous extras like multimedia keys.

Related Links:

• http://www.kinesis-ergo.com