The Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB Gaming Mechanical Keyboard Review: An Ergonomic Masterpiece
by E. Fylladitakis on July 16, 2019 1:30 PM ESTThe KinesisGaming SmartSet App
As with any really advanced keyboard, one of the primary features of the Freestyle Edge RGB is its software. Kinesis named their software SmartSet. What is truly unique about the software is that it is a completely portable application – no installation necessary – and that it lives on the keyboard itself, via the keyboard's integrated "vDrive" USB flash drive. After enabling vDrive (Fn + F8), the SmartSet application becomes available, and it in turn stores everything back in to the keyboard’s internal memory. In short, it is nothing but a tool that assists the users with programming their keyboards.
Every change that is saved while using the SmartSet app is permanent, meaning that the keyboard will retain all of its programmed profiles, commands, lighting effects, macros, and everything else, regardless of the device is it plugged in. Once it is programmed, it requires no software to perform any of the programmed functions and even the host device’s OS is mostly irrelevant, save for any programmed OS-specific commands (if present).
The flip side of this portability, however, is that it limits the advanced programming capabilities of the software. Simple actions, such as multimedia functions, special characters, and even mouse clicks can be tethered to any key. But advanced commands, such as launching third-party applications, are not supported. That is because no external device can actually “tell” the OS what to launch. An installed application can do so, which is why most of the competition supports this function, but that is not something one can implement on a device that requires no software at all.
Kinesis has significantly refined the SmartSet application since last year. It now is a two-page configuration screen, split between layout and lighting programming. The interface is cleaner and there are more configuration options. There are also buttons that can initiate a tutorial, updates, profile import and export commands, and global configuration changes.
Users can reprogram any key, both on the “top” and the “Fn” layers of each profile. The keyboard supports nine profiles and, with two layers each, that is quite a lot of possible layout variations. Aside from simple layout changes, users can also tether advanced functions, keystrokes, or even complete macros to every single key. Advanced functions may be limited by what the keyboard can actually do without having to use any installed software but Kinesis does offer a hoard of options, ranging from multimedia controls to multi-modifiers. Mouse clicks also are available, but mouse movements commands are not.
Kinesis also has semi-automated layout changes implemented into the software. These options allow the user to program a full keypad on either side of the keyboard, or even change the entire keyboard’s layout entirely (such as to Dvorak, Colemak, or Workman). This makes it possible to switch the keyboard’s layout without affecting the OS’s native setup.
The Macro recorder is relatively basic. The initial version of the recorder was limited to simple keystroke combinations but Kinesis evolved it a bit and it now supports delay programming. There is also a repeat option but is limited to nine iterations. The playback speed of the macros can be either individually adjusted or set to follow the “global” setting.
One of the unique aspects of the macro programmer is that the user can select a “trigger” key per particular macro. The trigger key is one of the Shift, Alt, or Ctrl keys. Launching the macro requires the trigger key to be pressed prior to pressing the key that the macro is tethered to. This way, it is possible to store up to three different macros into any single key, as long as they use a different trigger.
The second page of the software allows for lighting programming. It is relatively simple to program the lighting effects per profile, with several pre-programmed visual effects already present. If a pre-programmed effect is selected, the user can adjust its direction and speed. Per-key manual programming is also possible.
At this point, we must emphasize that one must not forget to click on the “save” button after making any changes. Everything, from layout changes to lighting effects, is stored in the keyboard’s internal vDrive memory. If the software is closed without saving the changes or if the keyboard is disconnected from the system, any and all changes will be lost.
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bldr - Tuesday, July 16, 2019 - link
Maybe it's just me, but this review is so positive it reads like a paid advertisement. To the point I was looking for clues or comments thinking the same. As I didn't see any, maybe I've just developed review trust issues lol.Ryan Smith - Tuesday, July 16, 2019 - link
To be sure, it's not a paid review. E. just really, really liked it. I'm pretty sure he's found his perfect keyboard.marc1000 - Tuesday, July 16, 2019 - link
hi Ryan. since we are talking keyboards, what would you think of reviewing an "office" one? I love gaming and high-end reviews, but spend most of my online time writing things at office - where it is the company who decides what to purchase.recently I discovered Dell KB522, which is cheap, silent, has a couple programable keys (directly on regedit, no fancy software/driver), and also a couple extra USB ports (think mouse and headphone), all with a really familiar layout. for me, it is amazing for office usage, but I would love to read more "corporate reviews" if at all possible.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/accessories/apd/33...
DanNeely - Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - link
Any keyboard reviewer is going to hate it. They're all mechanical keyboard snobs and sneer at membrane designs.Ryan Smith - Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - link
Hmm. I completely understand why you'd want to see such a review. But to be honest, it probably wouldn't be worth our time. High-end keyboards do as well as they do because of the window shopping effect; but history indicates that there's probably not much reader demand (i.e. traffic) in reviewing budget Dell keyboards.mode_13h - Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - link
High-end keyboards? Did you see my post about the Advantage 2, below?Old_Fogie_Late_Bloomer - Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - link
I'm literally typing on one of these right now and I never noticed the extra USB ports until you mentioned them. It has, or rather it started off having what I considered to be a decent key feel for a membrane keyboard, but I have recently found that some of the keys are getting squeaky after less than a year of use, which is disappointing. Call me a mechanical keyboard snob if you must, but a Cherry MX-based keyboard wouldn't be doing that.Other than the longevity issue, I doubt I have much to add that you don't already know from your own experience. It's head and shoulders above the newer, flat-topped chiclet-style Dell keyboard that came after it (which I have only briefly had the "privilege" of using), which is listed on Amazon as the KB216 (but I think there are a few different, similar models).
It's also superior to its contemporary non-multimedia keyboard, the KB212-B, because that keyboard has switches that wear rather quickly and require harder and harder presses to register. Again, not a problem with any mechanical switch worth its salt.
I believe that the older Dell keyboards with the full-sized keycaps were better than the KB522, but since I never had a brand new one sitting in front of me to break in, I can't provide a direct comparison. Eventually they wore down, too, with squeaky, hard-to-press keys, but I've used ones that were old to the point where some of the more heavily-used keys had smooth, shiny caps, legends long since completely obliterated, but the board was still usable.
twtech - Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - link
The older non-RGB Kinesis Freestyle Edge is actually what I use as my office keyboard. If you were one of those people who liked/used the MS split keyboards, and don't want to switch to a more exotic layout, but wished they made a mechanical version - this is where you end up.I participated in the Kickstarter, and have been using two of them since launch. Haven't had any issues so far, which is more than can be said for most of the split mechanical keyboards I tried in the past.
I actually also owned a Kinesis Maxim before this, which was a similar keyboard, but the two halves were tied together, and the keys were rubber-domes.
Powerlurker - Thursday, July 18, 2019 - link
Owner/user of a 17-year-old MS Natural Elite and that's exactly why I kinda want one of these.twtech - Thursday, July 18, 2019 - link
Another plus if you're coming from a MS board, is that the Kinesis puts the 6 on the left side, just like the MS. Some split boards have it on the right.If you go for it, the lift kit is a must, and if your desk surface is smooth, you'll want to get one of those big mouse-pad-material mats to put the keyboard on to keep the halves from sliding around slightly during use.
One thing that takes some time to get used to is that there are other keys immediately to the right and left of your typing keys. For example, I found when I first started using it, that I had a tendency when not typing to locate the "Enter" key by feel from the right edge of the board. Well, on this board, that's not the Enter key right there at the edge - it's PgUp. So I remapped the navigation keys to the left side of the board as a workaround.