Workplace ergonomics grew to become a extremely necessary issue when everybody began work at home throughout the pandemic. Even probably the most careless individuals I knew invested in laptop computer risers or stands and wi-fi mice (together with primary keyboards) to cut back neck pressure. And since many people are nonetheless working remotely or from house, we regularly search the very best {hardware} to make our work lives rather a lot simpler. And this isn’t simply restricted to your desk and chair, however extends to what’s in your desk as effectively. There are a number of varieties of ergonomic mice obtainable, and even a number of common ergonomic keyboards. Most of those go along with a bulge or a wave within the centre with the everyday scissor switches and the same old key structure, which doesn’t require one to relearn finger positioning making them fairly simple to make use of and adapt.
The Keychron Q10 Max has an Alice structure for improved ergonomics over a standard keyboard
After which there’s the world of extremely customisable (to not point out costly) ergonomic mechanical keyboards.
First, there’s the standard break up keyboards with an Alice key structure (Keychron Q8 and so forth.) which shuffles the keys a bit (has two area bars and B keys on either side), however packages it right into a single-piece keyboard design. This keyboard class additionally has one other sub-category with two bodily separated halves (Keychron Q11), letting customers unfold out the 2 halves for higher ergonomics.
Secondly there’s the entire world of custom-made ortholinear keyboards that are conventional trying keyboards however typically have a smaller footprint given their non-staggered key structure aimed toward quicker typing and fewer hand motion.
Then, there’s the acute world of ergonomic and tented break up keyboards (Naya Create, ZSA Moonlander and so forth.), with ortholinear key layouts that goal to ship the very best ergonomics, by not simply maintaining your palms positioned proper (or far aside) but in addition goal to cut back finger actions to a minimal, making certain an virtually injury-free typing expertise.
The Naya Create provides a break up ortholinear key structure with hot-swappable modules
X-Plus, a Hong Kong-based firm has provide you with the VickyBoard, which merges the Alice key structure from the primary class with an ortholinear typing expertise of the second class however lays all of it out in a singular cross-radial design which is analogous however not the identical as tented break up ergonomic keyboards when they’re unfold aside. The corporate claims to get you the most effective of each worlds with some additional keys thrown in at proper locations and claims to do minimal harm to your wrists and fingers whereas typing.
Aside from the way in which it seems to be? Is it value spending all that cash on this keyboard? After greater than a month of utilization, I lastly have a solution.
X-Plus VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V Assessment: Worth and field contents
X-Plus’ VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V is at the moment obtainable for buy on Indiegogo and these can be found in 4 primary case finishes (or collection). It’s important to decide one of many 4 (Ruby, Sapphire, Onyx and Neon) case colors and go along with the keycap choices supplied with every case there on. In response to X-Plus, customers are free to pick out a mechanical change sort of their alternative (a collection of Gateron mechanical switches) when selecting a keyboard.
The essential package which incorporates the essential key instrument, charging and connectivity cable (together with a keyboard of your alternative) has an early fowl pricing of Rs. 14,903 (excludes delivery and {custom} duties) and retail value of Rs. 20,688.
The VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V has a clear backside case which like the highest case is produced from CNC-machined acrylic
The VickyBoard All-Star package features a particular X-Plus Key a particular Swap puller instrument, an X-Plus Mat and X-Plus Eva case has an early fowl value of Rs. 17,304 (excludes delivery and {custom} duties) and a retail value of Rs. 27,309. Since all of those equipment are priced at a premium, it is advisable to go for the latter because it provides higher worth.
X-Plus VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V Assessment: Design
The X-Plus VickyBoard has a high and backside case made solely out of CNC-machined acrylic. My Ruby unit with its clear sapphire keycaps seems to be like nothing else you might have in all probability seen on-line when searching for pre-built mechanical keyboards. Whereas the colourways are a bit vivid (and extremely subjective), I am a fan of the keyboard’s general design, solely due to how hanging and angular it seems to be. It is also fairly the dialog starter, which means whoever you present it too will go “Wow! I need this!” till they take a better look, look at the oddly positioned keys and provides it a fast move.
One of many benefits of a clear acrylic case (versus an aluminium one) is that it exposes the internals of the keyboard. This mainly offers lovers a window into the again of the PCB together with the chips and the wiring. And it certain seems to be good and attention-grabbing when performed proper. Which is the case with the VickyBoard. One other benefit offered by a clear acrylic case is the underglow the RGB key lighting supplies in your desk mat.
It is very exhausting to beat the VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V’s RGB lighting and floor results
One element that stands out aside from the clear design of the keyboard and the keycaps is the X-Plus brand. It is approach too massive, garish and ruins the look of the keyboard for my part. And to make issues worse, there’s two of them one on the high centre of the highest case and one other to the left of the directional keys.
The end of the CNC-machining strategy of the acrylic case is implausible, nevertheless it’s worrisome that the screws which maintain the 2 halves of the case collectively haven’t any steel sleeve however drive instantly into the acrylic case, which is placing numerous religion into one thing this delicate.
As quickly as I pulled it out of its package deal, I shortly observed some deep scratches on my overview unit, proper out of the package deal. In the course of the overview interval, topic to common typing use, I didn’t handle to get any new scratches on it, however it is rather simple to get a deep scratch on this one if it makes contact with a metallic object in your desk.
The X-Plus brand is an eye-sore on this attractive acrylic case
Now acrylic is about 10 instances stronger than glass whereas giving an identical feel and appear to a fabricated product, however it isn’t proof against breaking, in truth polycarbonate as a fabrication materials is rather a lot stronger than acrylic and glass. The upside of utilizing acrylic is that it doesn’t yellow like polycarbonate and can be proof against flexing to a sure restrict, which makes it fairly sturdy within the case of this keyboard.
My delivery expertise with the VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V was not performed proper and so my keyboard arrived wrapped in a bunch of froth sheets and bubble wrap, minus the same old branded cardboard packaging. The prototype keyboard I obtained was clearly thrown round throughout the delivery course of and so has a number of deep cracks on its acrylic case. Whereas this makes it evidently clear how delicate acrylic may be, I am hoping that the delivery expertise with the correctly packaged retail models (that have been shipped out in February, 2024) are rather a lot higher and safer.
The VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V provides a 75 % structure with 72 keys. However due to its further keys which might be all well-spaced out for higher ergonomics, it is going to really feel rather a lot bigger in comparison with an everyday 75 % layouts.
My overview unit included a Ruby colourway with clear sapphire keys and Gateron yellow mechanical switches. The Eva case was shipped individually and it included a primary connectivity and charging cable together with a primary keycap puller instrument.
The X-Plus VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V keyboard makes use of clear Cherry profile keycaps product of acrylic
The whole key structure is angled at 6-degrees and sadly this can’t be adjusted primarily as a result of it was supposed to supply the most effective consolation by the producer. This typing angle can’t be adjusted in any respect because the case doesn’t have any adjustable fold out toes to make any fantastic changes such as you would discover on common pre-built mechanical keyboards.
The Cherry profile keycaps that got here with my overview unit are of the clear sort and produced from acrylic. They’ve a pleasant matte translucent end on the highest floor with clear sidewalls. I am not a giant fan of those as a result of it is exhausting to learn the characters on the keys (with the backlights on or off) and so they do not sound nearly as good as the same old PBT keycaps.
The PCB helps hot-swappable switches
The PCB contained in the case additionally helps hot-swappable switches, which means you possibly can swap the switches with a wide range of obtainable choices. Nevertheless, I need to add that I discovered the cutouts within the acrylic case for the switches to be very tight, making swapping very tough with the offered change and keycap puller.
X-Plus VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V Assessment: Efficiency
The cross-radial design of the keys implies that each halves of the structure have been angled inwards after which fanned out. The keys even have an ortholinear structure, which means that your fingers principally find yourself transferring up and down and never throughout, making typing extra comfy. This mixture together with a 6-degree incline of the 72 keys made it moderately comfy to sort on, however you’ll have to spend money on a set of ergonomic gliding wrist rests (additionally used for mice) or get an Alice structure or break up wrist relaxation (two piece) to make the typing expertise extra comfy as there’s a correct one-inch clearance from the underside until the keycaps on condition that this keyboard doesn’t use low-profile switches.
For every day work use, I’ve an everyday 65 % keyboard with common QWERTY structure. So I tried to attempt to rewire my muscle reminiscence to adapt to this keyboard’s unorthodox structure. I need to confess that I didn’t succeed, as this key design and structure has a steep studying curve and wishes you to rewire your muscle reminiscence, given that the majority of us are used to common keyboard layouts.
Even ortholinear keyboard customers will discover the fanned out cross-radial design distinctive
Nevertheless, I did try a number of checks with this one and whereas I used to be clearly low on pace, I did realise that it was immensely comfy on condition that my palms have been firmly planted in place whereas typing. The explanation for this are the extra keys positioned bang within the centre of the break up structure. This features a delete, enter, management and shift keys which we regularly attain out for on both aspect of the common key structure whereas contact typing. The positioning of the 2 area bars and the centred delete key can be one thing I received used to and located to be very handy. All-in-all this keyboard does what it claims to do which is to successfully scale back typing pressure in your wrists (with a wrist relaxation), it is simply that it’s important to adapt your typing fashion drastically to a brand new structure, which is able to take loads of time, except you might be an fanatic who’s already accustomed to utilizing ortholinear keyboards.
The keyboard by design helps hot-swappable switches. As for the switches, these are your typical Gateron G Professional yellow mechanical switches, which by trait are linear however require a little bit of power (50g) regardless that they’ve respectable pre-travel (2.0mm). These sound pretty commonplace (quiet) however supply a snug typing expertise. Whereas a lot of the switches labored simply fantastic, I had two broken switches out of the package deal which had bent pins.
It is exhausting to learn the characters on the clear keycaps
I had my doubts about how effectively the keyboard would sound given the acrylic case (which isn’t good for acoustics) and the acrylic keycaps. To be very trustworthy, it sounded very hole and never satisfying in any respect, in comparison with a completely steel pre-built keyboard at this value level, which sounds rather a lot higher as compared.
Whereas the acrylic case and acrylic keycaps have some impression on the sound, common PBT caps (obtainable on the enter and area keys and different case variants) would have improved this to an extent. The case due to its acrylic design is not plate mounted, however has the PCB instantly mounted on to the CNC-machined case, which made for a moderately stiff typing expertise on condition that the entire mount is inflexible and has zero flex. Add to this the clear design and it’s exhausting to even add any sound dampening mods to this case to kill any undesirable sounds or vibrations.
On condition that this is not a keyboard constructed for the plenty I nonetheless missed a easy mac/home windows change, which might conveniently let me change between a Mac or a Home windows structure. The operate key row can be lacking, so these will should be reconfigured through software program.
The keyboard doesn’t use your typical VIA software program for key-remapping however goes with a {custom} QMK resolution for key-remapping and macros. It isn’t as handy as VIA the place remapping occurs on the fly when making adjustments on a web-browser. Out right here, it’s important to make adjustments on a web-browser, obtain a configuration profile and manually load (learn: flash) profiles each time you need to remap a set of keys, which might get annoying you probably have a posh setup.
The location of the extra keys similar to the cross-radial design takes some getting used to
Whereas remapping and loading keyboard profiles was not the issue, I used to be in for a shock because the cable I obtained for overview was not supported by the keyboard. Fortunately, I did have a spare one mendacity round and it helped me manually get into DFU mode. And I needed to get into DFU, as a result of I needed to reconfigure a few of the keys that are by default setup for Home windows.
Aside from its hanging design, one other characteristic that actually stands out is wi-fi connectivity. Whilst you can join the keyboard through a cable for low latency, you can too join it wirelessly (elevated latency) through Bluetooth. Wi-fi connectivity also needs to work higher right here on condition that the case is not made out of steel which is an issue with most premium wi-fi keyboards. Moreover, the X-Plus VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V can join and change between 5 units (together with Android and iOS), which is healthier than the same old 3.
Battery life is fairly good general. The three,000mAh battery lasts a couple of week of use with LED lights however can final a number of weeks with the lights off. Charging pace isn’t one thing I examined out, since this isn’t a keyboard one would journey given its weight (1.4kgs) and the way delicate it’s.
X-Plus VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V Assessment: Verdict
The X-Plus VickyBoard Ergo Cut up-V is a keyboard I need to use each day, due to how good it seems to be in all its glass-like acrylic glory. However for me it isn’t value retraining my muscle reminiscence to adapt to an ortholinear cross-radial structure as a result of I’m extra comfy with an everyday keyboard structure. And this additionally implies that it is all down to private preferences and your willingness to adapt to one thing new.
With that stated that is undoubtedly not a keyboard for everybody and undoubtedly not for the informal consumer searching for a correctly ergonomic mechanical typing expertise. It has a extremely steep studying curve and is supposed to be a showpiece that may sit on the cabinets of lovers or those that are already used to the ortholinear key layouts (and possibly already personal a number of related keyboards). Even seasoned break up keyboard or Alice structure customers ought to discover themselves scratching their heads over this one, due to the cross-radial design and that is rather a lot to ask even for a keyboard that appears this good. This one caters to a distinct segment viewers and these are precisely the purchasers who will discover this keyboard engaging.
Rankings out of 10
Design: 8
Efficiency: 8
Worth for cash: 7
Total: 8
Execs
Engaging design
Constructed for RGB followers
Good ergonomics
Can join to five units wirelessly
Cons
Acrylic case and building is delicate
Key remapping is kind of complicated
Wants a break up palm-rest to be efficient
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