This is the best video that I've seen on this topic and I was shocked when I realized you actually were a keyboard company. I really appreciate you going through the range of keyboards from various manufacturers honestly. I have a logi 860 and still get shoulder pain but was concerned about he learning curve of some of the choices and I think I'll miss my 10-key. But I will definitely check out Dygma after this video.

Completely blown away with this video. Great job highlighting strengths of your competitors as well as your own keyboards (also, I want aware that you have an ortholinear option 😉)

I love that you take the time to acknowledge your competition, and while you still point out why you feel your keyboards are better, you don't just act like they're complete trash. I got a Moonlander earlier this year and have loved it! I do wish it tented more though.

One of the most important feature of Dygma-keyboards is that you support ISO-keyboard-setups, like a german keyboard-setup. On top of that, you are also an European company, so no more import taxes, etc.

The amount of research the Dygma team does is fire!!! Listening to your community is just one way of saying, "We care about your ideas and we are we with you all the way. Welcome home." This brief comparo makes it easier for everyone to decide which is the best product in the market to date. Wonder when will Dygma get their Red Dot design award. #DygmaForRedDot

Glad to see Dominique becoming more involved with Dygma again.

This is a hard video to make, well done! I’ve tried outlining something like this for a while but it’s hard to keep concise. Thanks for the link :)

Awesome video! Clear explanations and I learned a lot; I didn't know about tenting for keyboards. I need that so much and it will fit perfectly with my vertical mouse :)

This is an amazing guide. Thank you soo much ❤

that new keyboard you made looks really good tbh... i might buy one to try it out... respect for continuing down the path of true ergonomics 😏

I love the humour in dygma films. I am tracking dygma progress for 4-5 years and I am thinking 2023 is finally the time to buy dygma defy. I dont like the price, but if something is good it needs to cost, and the features you have included in your product definitely are the 'wet dream' of professionals who spend long days in front of keyboard doing their job.

I would say the last part of the Ergonomic journey is hand wiring a custom made Ergo board like a Dactyl manuform. I personally can't wait to get my Defy though ;)

love this run down, great video!!

Like it!you created professional , Dygma~

This video was AMAZING! 👏 👏 👏

I am a bit worried how I will adjust to the columnar layout once my defy arrives but hey gotta get out of that comfort zone lol. Another great Video by the way!

The end of my keyboard ergonomic journey is the Dygma Defy with an integrated trackball. Unfortunately the latter is not available yet, but I'm more than happy with the Defy without trackball. Hopefully I will receive my new toy/tool next January ☺

I love that the TinTin poster is proudly on display in the background. Fond childhood memories of going to the library and reading the comics over and over. Also can’t wait to get a Dygma once the feature set gets just right 👌

ok, i just saw that you have a new model with a columnar layout... props to getting onboard the columnar revolution #ergodoxgang 😎😏💪

I really needed this video. But still can't decide if I want to go for the Raise or Defy. Kinda just want to get the Defy but I am worried that I'll have trouble adjusting. And I don't want to spend even more money on another keyboard to ease that transition. Please keep posting videos!

Great explanation! I returned to a MS Ergo keyboard after using a variety of normal and small keyboards; I was having too much wrist and elbow pain on the straight keyboards and had the old school MS Ergo one laying around. Once I got up to speed again I used a Goldtouch split model with the hinge at top center for several years. It is cheap, and an awesom step into the split world. I'd seen The ZSA models and moving to one of them was the obvious next step. At the time I didn't know that so many other split designs existed. I'm using the Ergodox EZ right now and am exploring what, if anything, is the next step. I hadn't heard of Dygma yet, I'm afraid to go check out the products because if I like one, I'm back to relearning to type. I definitely had a rather steep learning curve on the Ergodox, and 12 months later I'm still altering angles and reassigning keys once in a while, there's just so many config options; layers, tap, double tap, tap and hold, macros, combos... I'm getting it right for me, at the moment at least. If I change jobs or even pick up new tasks I could envision another round of mapping a layout. My only complaint is that as a not-so-great touch typist I like symbols, letters on my keys. I don't spend al day at the keyboard anymore and just fell back into looking down at times. I can't imagine trying to learn this layout when all blank or only alphas and 40 odd blanks. I also like to swap keycaps at times for a new look. Once you get into the odder keyboard designs finding the proper size keycaps for some characters gets hard and you may realize that you just are never going to find that 1.5u keycap for ~ and `... or for Enter. You might find ergo sets (in my case) but as the layout is so variable often they are largely blank outside alphas. Or you end up buying a lot of sets and hoping the colors are very close or at least complimentary as you need to use a mix. This is further complicated with layers, I'm testing a one layer set up now and find I really don't miss the added layers. You may or may not be able to do that depending on what you do, whether you are going no mouse, or have a better memory than I do.

I love your videos D. 😉😉 They are very enjoyable to watch and I like very much the details. I love the dygma-defy and the dygma-raise-2. I will try them one of this days. I am trying to move out of traditional keyboards 😊😊 Also, with all respect, i want to tell that you are very beautiful. 😍😍😍😍 Please let me know if you come to Portugal . Thx

Best in class video on the matter! And your keyboard if the best too!

Big props on mentioning Ben Vallack's end game. Although I think the order of the steps are up for debate, this is a stellar all around jumping off point, one which is great to point ergo newbies to.

I got the kinesis freestyle a few months ago when I started developing arthritic pain in my wrists. Overall, I like the keyboard and I think it accomplishes what it’s meant to do. However, I personally cannot adjust to the “tall“ keys after using slim profile keyboards for over a decade. I just cannot get used to it. It’s like my fingers are getting stuck between the keys! yes, it doesn’t have 100% of the keys (I miss my number pad!), But it has some handy keys instead, such as copy cut and paste keys, to prevent using modifier keys.

Great overview! My compliments for daring to mention the competitors. The last level, key wells, indeed cuts both ways. Key wells feel great, really great! But they come at a price not to be hot swappable. For me (I prefer cherry MX browns anyways), it is worth the price, but that's for every one to decide by himself. By the way, they actually are not the final level. There still is Data Hand, and - more contemporary - Charachorder.

This video is a near perfect primer to entering the world of enthusiast keyboards. The only advice I’d give to anyone watching, avoiding row stagger is *so* much more important than the video suggests. Columnar or ortholinear layouts make a bigger difference than the rest of the options combined for typing comfort. Reaching the y key without taking your right hand off the homerow or the b key without removing either hand from the home row highlights this really clearly! Columnar/ortholinear largely solves the reach issue for most keys, and I’d go so far as to say buying any keyboard over $80 that doesn’t have this feature is a waste of money. This video is a perfect overview of the options out there, but if you want advice, make sure no matter what you buy, you try to find something without row stagger. I’ve got what you would probably consider close to the extreme end of the split keyboard enthusiast options, and I’d give it all up before I went back to row stagger.

As a data analyst the Raise will be my endgame keyboard a few months down the road. Just wish there was some place to get custom keycaps for it. But never the less a great ergonomic keyboard IMO, should be better(wrist, forearms, shoulders) than the Alice layout I'm using now.

Absolutely love how you're fair about your competition. How do you feel about Zack Fridman's modular keyboard project? It's not available yet (probably won't be for a long time) by it looks absolutely wowzers.

great video, lot's of valuable information for beginners to quickly get on track. I was missing mainly two things if I was to provide some critics: 1. the "end" is not really the end. IMO dactyl manuform could be an even further improvement. Furthermore, 2. I generally miss the discussion about pointing devices in combination with ergonomic keyboards. Having a split ergonomic keyboard with a fancy layout is great, but we still have to switch between mouse/trackball/touchpad and keyboard thousand times a day. I have never tried, but somehow including a trackball or similar into one of the splits could be the next logical step. Nevertheless, great video with an awesome host! Please take my money! 😀

I think the confidence you show by holding off mentioning your board for so long has sold me on a Defy.

Nobody has actually made a video on which one of these keyboards are good buying options - crazy! Thanks

New Subscriber here. Good content! :)

You talked about tenting but didn't mention negative tilt. From what I've read, it seems like this is one of the key ergonomic features to consider, especially for standing desk users. Would love to see a video about this.

Another important feature is a software to quickly and easily change the configuration/layers of your keyboard. Installing, configuring and flashing QMK/VIA/VIAL is a non-trivial task, even for technical people.

Alice/Arisu layouts are a step in between common layouts and split ergonomic ones. Akko and Feker already have very affordable mechanical hotswap Alice boards, but with proprietary software; Keychron have just released two versions (regular, extended) for the V (plastic) series of VIA/QMK-compatible boards, and had the more expensive Q (aluminum) series for a while. Keychron are also working on a split, so we'll likely see a very affordable split board from them in the near future.

The x-bows is a fantastic starter ergo keyboard. I've had mine for about 2 years and it's fantastic. I'm planning on upgrading now, but it was probably the best $100 I've spent

Glad I found this channel

Awesome video. I started my journey with mechanical keyboards from WASD, then went for a split one with UHK. Finally landed on the Moonlander and I love it. But I keep second-guessing myself... do I need the Defy?? Wireless, built-in tenting, more thumb keys, fewer keys because of that...

Awesome video, I hope this company goes far!

I'm just going the 3d print route. That way I can adjust the layout and size to my liking. Its also very cheap. Already have the skill set needed.

This is the best video on ergonomic keyboards on the internet... PERIOD.

Great video, what about the corne keyboard?

Nice balanced video

The Defy is the next I will get. It has all the things I want to try. Will try to get it when it comes out. The plan is for the streaming/editing/main PC, but I'll try it for gaming as well to see how it is.

Do you have a recommendation for a split & tenting keyboard ideal for someone who uses the 10-key A LOT? Only thought I have is programming one in but am interested in other options.

Nice video. I would probably have got one of your if I had seen them before i bought my Moonlander. Aside from the practicality, the cable on the moonlander spoils the aesthetics somewhat. If I upgrade, I may check you guys out next time.

If you don't know where to start.. get Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (40$ original), then learn touch typing -> dygma defy or kinesis advantage 360 Respect to DygmaLab for mentioning your main (and only) competitor kinesis advantage 360

I've started with microsoft ergonomic, and currently on dactyl manuform 5x6.

Thanks for the video. Do you plan to sell the defy with cherry mx silent red as well? We can chose kailh pink but not cherry mx pink :-/

Your thoughts on the glove80? Im in the Game for a new keyboard and found you guys as well as the Reddit subs that help me join ergonomics with mechanics and customization. Never used a concave keyboard and the most ergonomic one I’ve had so far is the cheap one by Microsoft which held up well for years at work and already drove coworkers crazy when they had to use my computer. My dasKeyboard ultimate without characters enhanced their frustration so rarely anybody sits in my place. I want to make my workspace absolutely unusable to others and for that - and happy hands 🙌🏻 - I got the UHK, Dygma and the Glove on my list. 😂 (This narrative took an unexpected turn along the way)

Windows and macOS lets you use multiple keyboards, so for the longest time I just used one side of my laptop keyboard for one hand and a separate keyboard for the other hand. I think I'm finally ready to buy a dedicated split keyboard if they can be as far apart as I want.

Imagine a hotswap, tented, ortholinear, staggered, and split keyboard akin to the Iris, Sofle V2, Kyria, etc. With the option to add rotary encoders on both the left and right halves, along with a pointing stick (nipple mouse) on the right half. The encoders could be placed in the thumb region, while the pointing stick could be positioned between the keys near the index finger. With this design, the encoders could be used as vertical/horizontal scroll wheels or volume/seeking control wheels, this and the pointing stick would significantly reduce the need to reach for a mouse. I'd love to retain the number and function rows as they can double as macro keys or media controls, and you can keep the novelty of smaller keyboard with easy to reach keys through programmable layers. Don't find an OLED screen to be necessary; however, compatibily with existing software and perhaps on-board storage to keep changes across devices would be great. While a palm rest would be a nice, it could be optional. My only concern is the potential cost, which personally might be hard to justify for a keyboard at the moment.

Interested about your opinion on the Dactyl Manuform.

Another comfort level is low profile switches paired with standard height caps. I love Mx low profile + MT3 profile caps which have some benefits of the well while keeping a hot swap PCB.

my keyboard journey are started on some cheap 65%, then i tried to use smaller keyboard (feel more challenging) and i fell in love with them,but i feel a pain in my shoulder after using it because my hands are cramped in a small form factor. then i tried corne keyboard, the DIY split programmable keyboard with 42 keys, it feels great, and cheap, i got it only 100$ and it got a tenting, although smaller one, but its a great keyboard after all.

Thank you for the great explanation on this type of keyboards. Despite having your own company, you really succeed in explaining obljectively the different sets which leads to a split columner keyboard layout. I just learned today about those keyboards, and am eager to get one! If I go for Dygma, I would probably go directly to the Ryse, so as not to have to upgrande from a regular to a columnar layout later. It's good that you give the option of wireless or not however. Prices of these types of keyboard, whatever the brand, are however very high. I wonder what justifies it. Is it a current fad? It would be great to make those more accessible to the general public. I might get one personnally however. I am still wondering a bit on the switches type. Would would be closest to the Mac butterfly keyboard (which I have learned to like and am used to now) ?

I'm amazed that such things even exists. I was just looking for suggestions of a better keyboard that would reduce a bit of pain and entered the rabbit hole

What about a number pad for accounting? I have ulnar nerve damage and need an ergonomic keyboard.

Hi, can you make a keyboard like the Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro, but with the Dygma cool features?

Went for the moonlander myself, though it would be nicer if wireless. Still, it's a great keyboard if you can spare the time to get used to it.

What is different about the thumb key switches? If I’m swapping in a custom set of switches, do I need to order something specific for those keys?

Dygma is great and stylish, but you need to include the arrow keys, home/end/etc. and function keys.

Will you guys add a finance option to the Dygma keyboard? I haven't gotten an answer yet

This has me rather worried that I've jumped too much into the deep end, as I'm just going from a standard mechanical keyboard to the defy. I've never experienced split, tented, or columnar before in any sense. Is there anything I can do in the meantime to soften this transition?

Lovin my Redox keeb

Can you add a numerical key pad to this board? If so, do you recommend one?

Can’t believe you guys have a Moonlander wíth the platform! It was sold out in a day!

I strongly recommend the keebio iris.

What keycaps (and what profile) will the defy support ?

I actually use my thumbs to type letters, spacebar and enter, and have layers set up on what would be the qwerty keys.

Very nice!👍👍👍⌨⌨⌨

omg I'm half way through this video and I'm in love... with the keyboard. but what is the lady's name? muy cliente! you can sense the passion and character, yet still classy and professional.

Do they come with Bluetooth option also

Depends what you do. Do you write a lot, split. Do you write less then use mouse? 60% for me over split. With split, my mouse always ends up in wierd place.

Ill keep to my k380, thanks.

I find the most important aspect of the Dygma keyboards to be Dominique.

I am considering buying a Dygma raise, but this review from the Wirecutter left me a bit puzzled "We dismissed the Dygma Raise because it doesn't have a neutral slope. The Raise tilts upward, from back to front, 3 degrees, which goes against ergonomic principles." I'm not sure what they mean, and wonder if you have comments.

While I found this video a good summary of many of the perks of ergonomic keyboards, the bias toward dygma was uncomfortable for me. The hype and special effects reserved for your own board with the mere shrug at concave key wells and no mention of the glove80 kinda slayed me. I’m looking for a video to explain ergonomic keyboards to my physical therapist and for those reasons it can’t be this one

this video is so good , please come to Brazil without costing both my arms, thanks

Is there an ergonomic keyboard which has big enter key and a range of non-English layouts (for EU market)?

im so happy more people are moving towards ergo keyboards. the normal design of a rectangle just isn't good

Dygma Defy is clearly the best keyboard and i would love to get one, just a bit to pricey for my liking. Totally Justifiable price, just broke lol.

I'm brazilian and these keyboards are really expensive here :/ I want to buy one, but I cannot buy a wrong keyboard But I want a split keyboard ortholinear. I'm thinking in moonlander or dygma defy

Really good guide, but you forgot about the importance of blank key caps to dissuade against looking down.

I wonder what can you say about "ergo" and still use the illogical QWERTY? That is the first thing when I think about "ergo", you can go "ergo" and help yourself against some health problems (as RSI) by changing your layout even on your cheap plastic noname keyboard for under 5$. And the next necessary things come: your desk, your chair, how high are these? The most important your sitting (or standing) posture makes your "ergo". Then the last ornament stuffs come: keycap, switches, material of your case, how bling is your RGB etc... these luxuries would please your eyes but have nothing to do with "ergo".

Well form a legal stand-point you actually showcased a lot of competitors without de-faming their products and while emphasizing the superiority of yours!!

This is the BEST review video I have ever watch. Thank you!

OMG, why is EVERYTHING a journey now? I can't wait for the band Journey to go on tour again. Then I can blog about my "Journey to see Journey journey."

Used Dygma Raise for the last year. I will never go back to a normal keyboard. The only time I will buy another one is when my existing one breaks or when the Raise goes wireless.

I wish there was a version of the defy that was cheaper, membrane keyboard. It's just costing so much makes it really hard to take the chance on it.

how many Layers does this keyboard support? i need at least 8 full Layers.

It's honestly hilarious how bad the default QWERTY keyboard is! I'm planning on getting an ergonomic keyboard when I can get the money together (ZSA Moonlander) and I don't think I'll be going back!

Just curious, why would you want to attach the two halves of a split keyboard when the video opened with the perils of those poor ergonomics?

Can Dygma ship to Brazil as well? :) We can love you too xD

tip for a better video, everytime you name drop a keyboard, show it with text so that people can take a screenshot and take advantage of affiliate links

why does the Dygma Raise not have bluetooth connectivity? you are advertising it as a middle step keyboard for people who might eventually choose the Dygma Defy columnar keyboard but you are limiting it's connectivity. Please add multi-device bluetooth connectivity.

wonder how much a company could get out of setting up testing spots in public places where people can try out all the stages because I really would buy a small fee to play around

Ben even has made a functioning keyboard with only two keys! ;-)

Thank you Ligma lab, you've changed my life