By: Caffeinated Gear Review Team
At Caffeinated Gear, we’re passionate about more than just coffee machines. As experts who spend countless hours writing detailed coffee reviews, we understand the importance of having the right tools for the job. That’s why we’re sharing our hands-on experience with the Kinesis Advantage keyboard – a remarkable piece of equipment that’s transformed how we write about coffee.
After extensive testing, our team has discovered this uniquely designed keyboard offers extraordinary benefits for anyone spending long hours at their desk. While its unconventional appearance might raise eyebrows, the split layout with dedicated sections for each hand has proven invaluable for our daily writing tasks.
The palm rests and recessed key wells create a remarkably natural typing position. Our productivity skyrocketed once we adapted to this innovative design, typically taking just 3-4 days to feel completely comfortable. The ergonomic benefits are substantial – several of our team members reported complete resolution of their RSI symptoms after switching to this keyboard.
We’ve paired the Kinesis with an upright mouse, creating an ergonomic workspace that’s revolutionised our comfort levels during long writing sessions. For context, we’re currently using a Lenovo G500 laptop as our main workstation. While this laptop has served us well with its Intel Core i3 processor and generous 8GB RAM, you can now find these machines here on Amazon at remarkably reasonable prices.
Our journey to the Kinesis began when one of our writers developed severe RSI in their dominant hand. The pain became so intense that even basic tasks like preparing coffee became challenging. Through research and experimentation, we discovered that the issue wasn’t necessarily the amount of typing, but rather the typing technique itself.
We started with an upright mouse and the Microsoft 4000 Ergonomic keyboard. This combination revealed that improper typing technique was the culprit – many of us were overworking our dominant hand by using just a few fingers for most keystrokes.
Our solution was to master proper touch-typing. We began with the Mavis Beacon touch-typing training program to learn proper finger positioning and home row technique. After mastering the basics, we progressed to Ratatype.com for additional practice and used typeracer.com to refine our skills.
The learning curve took roughly 2-3 weeks to achieve basic proficiency, with full mastery coming after 2-3 months of consistent practice. The Kinesis Advantage stood out during our research for its wider split design and ergonomic key wells. The mechanical switches provide satisfying tactile feedback, and frequently used keys are positioned for optimal reach.
Customisation options are brilliant – the keyboard is fully programmable, and Kinesis provides replacement keycaps upon request. While the £240-£250 price tag on Amazon might seem steep, we consider it an essential investment for professional writers.
For touch-typists, expect a brief adjustment period. If you’re new to touch-typing, we strongly recommend mastering proper technique before investing in this keyboard. We’ve found that switching between the Kinesis and standard keyboards can be challenging, so consider your usage patterns carefully.
If you’re interested in starting your own coffee blog, check out our guide on how to start a blog.
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