In-Depth Overview of the ErgoDox EZ: Ergonomics in Mechanical Keyboards

Keyboards like the Microsoft Natural are common suggestions for those who swear by ergonomic keyboards. Yet, for those interested in an ergonomic mechanical keyboard, there are very few options. The Truly Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard springs to mind, but is expensive at $250 and may not be to everybody’s liking. Similarly, the Matias Ergo Pro is another option, but is -- once again -- a hefty buy at $200, and only comes in Matias (Alp clone) switches.

Ergonomic mechanical keyboards are generally expensive.

One of the most popular ergonomic mechanical keyboards, the ErgoDox, is actually unique in a few aspects of its deployment: The ErgoDox is an open source, do-it-yourself (DIY) keyboard that splits into two halves, with a nonstandard layout. This is done so that users may position the halves however is most comfortable/natural. Due to The ErgoDox’s DIY nature, builders either had to buy all the parts separately or buy a kit, and then assemble it manually. Both of these methods are expensive ($200+ usually) and aren’t user friendly, as soldering, flashing firmware (for the microcontroller), and any other work -- such as getting acrylic or metal cut -- is vastly more complicated and time-consuming than simply buying a keyboard.

In comes the ErgoDox EZ -- a name that might lend itself to a 90s infomercial, but one that brands a promising product.

The ErgoDox EZ is a pre-made ErgoDox crowdfunded via IndieGoGo. Currently, the cost of an ErgoDox EZ is a hefty $215 for one without keycaps or $225 including printed PBT keycaps. It should be noted that a full set of PBT (or ABS) keycaps is very challenging to find for $10, so the slight price increase for keycaps is reasonable. The price point of the ErgoDox EZ is also fairly reasonable, as custom building one usually costs $200+, and the ErgoDox EZ has a number of unique advantages we will overview below.

The ErgoDox EZ campaign is among notables on IndieGoGo, lending potential to be the first ErgoDox keyboard sold as a complete unit from a manufacturer on a wide scale.

(Note: This photo is of a 3D printed prototype. The final product will be injection-molded though)

Expanding on this, the ErgoDox EZ comes with a two-year warranty (something a homemade keyboard certainly can’t offer), an ABS injection-molded case, removable interconnect cable, removable usb cable, and PBT keycaps. Having an injection-molded chassis alone is a considerable gain, compared to 3D-printed alternatives and the avoidance of acrylic plates stacked together (which leads to visible lines where they meet). The inclusion of removable cables does allow for people to replace broken USB/3.5mm cables. PBT keycaps are more expensive than ABS, but are generally considered better as they are stronger and offer a grittier texture compared to ABS. The keyboard does not use a metal backplate, instead using a PCB mounted against ABS plastic, which should provide a very similar feel; for a more in-depth reading, our explanation of different backplate materials and how they differ may be helpful.

The ErgoDox EZ has a non-standard layout (as seen below), but key sizes are standard, allowing for the easy replacement of keycaps.

One very notable detail is the ability to implement Cherry MX Brown, Blue, Red, Black ($15 extra), Clear, or Green switches, which is more inclusive than many manufacturers of more popular keyboards. The starters of the ErgoDox EZ campaign have also expressed interest in using switches produced by other manufacturers (Gateron, Kailh, and Matias switches being the most likely options), should there be enough of a demand in the future.

As said previously, an ErgoDox EZ can be had by pledging $215 for one without keycaps, or $225 for one including PBT keycaps. The estimated shipping time is December 2015, so a wait should be expected. The MSRP of the ErgoDox EZ is estimated to be $250 upon its official release.

Speaking as GN’s resident keyboard expert: The ErgoDox EZ is exactly what I have wanted to come along -- an ErgoDox keyboard that is mass-produced and sold as a product, rather than a kit. Furthermore, for the price of $225 is competitive compared to the price of building one by hand (especially considering it comes with PBT keycaps and a 2-year warranty). I am cautiously excited for the ErgoDox EZ; as with all crowd-funded projects, it’s very possible the goals don’t pan-out, the final product is terrible, or the project just disappears, but such is a risk of crowdfunding. We urge readers to judge for themselves whether the company, its goals, and the price are reasonable before pledging money.

For anybody interested in reading more, check out their IndieGoGo page here.

- Michael "The Bear" Kerns.