Classic keyboard designs continue to reign supreme in computer setups, but a split keyboard makes for a more ergonomically healthy choice. Some split keebs look just a little different than a regular keyboard. But some, like the one in today’s M2 Mac mini setup, look almost alien. This one has two completely separate halves that the user places on either side of a Magic Trackpad 2.
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Radically split keyboard looks odd but it’s good for ergonomic health
Redditor strangeweather415 showcased the double-Studio Display setup with two Macs in a post entitled, “So we’re doing dual Studio Display Setups?” Well, Strange may be doing them, but we don’t see setups with two Studio Displays very often on social media.
That’s probably because Studio Displays, while much less expensive than Apple’s premier Pro Display XDR at $5,000 or more, is still expensive, at about $1,600. The setup uses an M2 Mac mini and an M1 Pro MacBook Pro to drive the dual displays.
“My dual Studio Display setup split between my personal Mac mini M2 Pro and my work 16-inch M1 Pro [MacBook Pro],” Strange noted in describing his rig. “It is powered by a Sabrent Thunderbolt 4 KVM connected to my CalDigit TS4 [dock] and all the peripherals.” The Mac mini and docks are mounted under the Fully Jarvis standing desk.
We first covered a strangeweather415 setup awhile back, with a highly portable rig. Later we covered his updated outfit with dual Macs and Studio Displays. Now we focus on the radically split mechanical keyboard. We don’t see it often. It’s a Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro split mechanical keyboard. And maybe we don’t see it around much because it’s wildly different. Or maybe it’s because of its ambitious price tag, $459.
Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro split keyboard
Photo: Kinesis
Split mechanical keyboard
Strange tends to his ergonomic needs more than most of us by using a Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro split mechanical keeb. Many years ago, during a fierce death march of web publishing gigs, we used a more subtly split keyboard, along with a trackball mouse, to try and stave off the worst repetitive stress injury. It seems to have helped, as we can still type and mouse today.
Strange uses it with a Magic Trackpad 2 tucked in between the two halves of the keyboard, which are highly adjustable for ergonomic comfort. The separation and angling of the two halves, as well as unusual key placement, can be good for shoulders, forearms and wrists.
“Excuse me sir, your keyboard seems to have broken,” a commenter joked.
“Snapped it in half and melted it in my insatiable desire to write Terraform code and review a bazillion dev PRs hah,” Strange replied.
Keyboard features and functionality
Kinesis described the unusual keyboard’s features and functionality:- Concave keywells are scooped into a bowl shape to reduce hand and finger extension and relax muscles.
- Separating the keywells positions the arms at shoulder-width to keep wrists straight and perpendicular to the home row to reduce abduction and ulnar deviation.
- The keys are arranged in vertical columns (rather than staggered) to reflect your fingers’ natural motion better.
- The two keywells are “tented” to moderately raise the thumb side of the hand. Tenting puts you in a more neutral “handshake” posture and reduces the stresses caused by forearm pronation.
- Choose from one of three heights depending on your preferences.
- The integrated palm supports reduce stressful bending of the wrists and provide a convenient place to rest your hands when you are not actively typing. Add the new premium pads for even more support (AC360PP sold separately).
- The thumb clusters include frequently used keys such as Enter Space Backspace and Delete to redistribute the workload from your relatively weaker overused little fingers to stronger thumbs.
- The Advantage360 may look big but it has a smaller footprint than most keyboards because we eliminated the numeric 10-key so you can place the mouse closer to your body reducing painful “over-reach.”
- Functions keys are located in the number row and accessed via the Fn Key for reduced reach and enhanced portability.
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Photo: [email protected]
Split keyboard and Trackpad 2:
Computers, dock and KVM switch:
Displays and mount:
Furniture:
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected]. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches, challenges and plans for new additions.This split and contoured Bluetooth mechanical keyboard features a choice of mechanical switches. It's backlit, fully programmable and features adjustable tenting for ergonomic comfort.
