Kinesis Advantage Brief User's Manual

Brief User's Guide
Kinesis Advantage
®
USB Contoured keyboard
™
(Mac/PC Switchable)
KB500USB, KB500USB-LF, KB500USB/QD, KB510USB
This document is designed to be a quick overview and refer-
ence guide for your new Advantage contoured
The full User's Manual can be downloaded at kinesis.com
(click on "support").
Connecting to your computer
The Kinesis Advantage keyboard requires a USB port on your
computer or on a wall-powered hub. For Macintosh
the operating system must be OS 8.6 or more recent. For Win-
dows PCs, the operating system should be Windows
newer. No special driver is required; just use the standard
driver provided by the operating system. Note: due to incom-
plete backwards compatibility of some USB 3.0 hardware, the
Advantage keyboard will not work on some USB 3.0 ports in a
Windows 7 environment. This problem does not exist in Win-
dows 8, Linux, or Macintosh OS X.
The first time you connect your keyboard to a Windows PC,
the system will identify the keyboard as a new USB device and
should install generic "HID" drivers provided by the operating
system. It is advisable not to connect a USB device to the USB
ports at the back of the keyboard until the keyboard itself is
installed and operating correctly.
Using integrated palm rests and palm pads
The palm rests are designed to provide comfortable support for
your hands while not actively typing, though many users rest
their palms some of the time while typing in order to relieve
strain on the neck and shoulders. For maximum speed, try
holding your palms slightly above the palm rest area while
typing. Do not expect to reach all of the keys on the keyboard
without moving your hands from a stationary position on the
palm rests. For maximum comfort, install the self-adhesive
palm pads provided with your new keyboard. Replacement
palm pads are available from your dealer or direct from
Kinesis.
Connecting an optional foot switch
If you purchased an optional single or triple Contoured key-
board foot switch, it plugs in to the telephone-style (RJ11)
connector at the back of the keyboard, where the main cable
exits the enclosure. The default action for a single pedal acti-
vates the embedded keypad layer, while the additional pedals
of a triple foot switch perform Shift and Keypad Enter. Foot
switches are programmable just like any key on the keyboard
(see remapping and macros on pages 2 & 3).
Familiar key layout
(QWERTY standard, Dvorak dual-legended available)
Kinesis Contoured keyboards retain the familiar QWERTY
key layout. Several changes in the location of non-letter keys
reduce the work required of your little fingers and increase the
workload for your stronger thumbs. Optional foot switches can
further reduce the work demanded of your hands and fingers.
Keyboard
™
keyboard.
™
systems,
®
2000 or
®
Alphanumeric keys on the Advantage keyboard
The alphanumeric key layout is split into two separate sections
on the keyboard. However, the finger you use to press each
key is the same one that you would use on a traditional key-
board. The middle row of keys is the home row.
To help you to locate the home row, these keys are a different
color and are differently sculpted. It is important to be able to
find the home row by touch from anywhere on the keyboard.
To facilitate this, Kinesis has designed the tops of the home
row keycaps with a cupped shape to comfortably hug your
fingertips.
Keys legends which differ for PC and Macintosh
PC/Windows keyboards and Macintosh keyboards have differ-
ent legends for certain keys that perform the same action. As
the Advantage keyboard can be used on both a PC and on a
Mac, we've provided a list below to clarify the slight differ-
ences you may notice.
PC Backspace is the Mac "Delete"
PC Delete is the Mac "Forward Delete,"
PC Enter is the Mac Return
PC Ctrl is the Mac Control
PC Alt is the Mac Alt/Option
PC Windows key is the Mac Command
PC keypad = key is a duplicate of the number row += key
The Mac keypad = key is unique to the Mac OS and isn't
recognized by Windows.
CHOOSE FROM FOUR MODELS
Except for KB500USB-LF, all models use Cherry MX low-force, no-click
tactile switches (brown stem), which were developed by Cherry
specifically for Kinesis in 1992.
KB500USB:
Standard model, QWERTY legends, black enclosure
and keycaps, white legends (U.S., German, Swedish, and UK layouts
available).
KB500USB-LF:
Same as the standard model except with low-force
linear-feel switches (Cherry MX, red stem). U.S. QWERTY layout only.
KB500USB/QD:
The Dvorak layout is a driverless on-board feature
of all Advantage keyboards. However, this model has QWERTY/
Dvorak dual white legends on black keys. U.S. layout only.
KB510USB:
Advantage Pro has a metallic-finished top case, black
keys, white QWERTY legends, extra lockable memory for longer
macros, and a single footswitch. Memory locking details on page 3.
U.S. layout only.
key