The fourth generation ergonomic keyboard X-BOWS has a taste of the tradition and health
I am a designer. Every day when I go to work, I have to face the computer for 8 hours. Typing, using design software and keyboard are the most familiar to me. Today, I was lucky to experience the mechanical keyboard of the fourth generation ergonomic keyboard - X-BOWS. What impressed me most about X-BOWS was the layout of keyboard keys after unpacking. It was very different from ordinary keyboards. The middle letter was in the shape of a bow and arrow, and the middle was marked by a transparent arrow. Start from the 1-0 number key, along with the letters and radians below, and observe carefully, just like our palms, just like the fingers of both hands. The designer of X-BOWS Giampa was originally a doctor. His original intention of designing the X-BOWS keyboard was to allow users to type easily and naturally. To solve the pain of keyboard wrist and shoulder caused by long-term use of keyboard. The X-BOWS keyboard panel is made of aluminum alloy. Compared with the general mechanical keyboard, the X-BOWS is a little petite, because the number of keys on the right side of the keyboard is less than the number of keys, from more than 100 keys to 86 keys.
The X-BOWS keyboard is 34.5cm long, only about 1.2cm longer than the laptop TinKPAD I am using. The width is 13.8 li meters.
First, use your fingers to compare the radian of the letter keys. The radian is the same as that of our fingers. When you type, you don't need to use your fingers to accommodate the keys of the ordinary straight keyboard, but naturally use your fingers to hit the keys. The distance between the letter keys has to make you get used to the keyboard again. The X-BOWS shaft body is a Jiadalong shaft, and the key cap can be easily disassembled without tools. What I received was an engineering machine, so the material of the X-BOWS keyboard I saw now is not the material for public sale, but now X-BOWS has been launched in JD crowdfunding. If you want to experience the latest ergonomic keyboard early, you can go to JD crowdfunding to buy it. Take out the key cap, you can see the Jiadalong shaft body engraved with GATERON English. The shaft body is transparent as a whole, you can see the structural parts inside, and the light of the shaft body can also be clearly seen.
For the white key cap, the letters and numbers are transparent, while the other parts of the key cap are opaque, and the letters and number keys will not leak light. Although it is still an engineering sample, the design is very careful. Officially launched, the key cap and chassis will be optimized and better materials will be used. The data line interface of the X-BOWS mechanical keyboard is Micro USB interface, which can be disassembled. This design is convenient for storage or can protect the data line from bending loss during transportation. In addition, the keyboard interface of inexplicable experience is more in-depth, and the general data line is not long enough, so you need to use a 1.5MM data line interface to connect. I don't know whether it will be the same design in the official version. The keyboard is plugged into the data cable to connect to the computer, which is plug and play. It can be used normally without a safety drive.
On the side of the keyboard, you can see the transparent axis. When you press the keyboard light, you can clearly see the flashing process of the light. Fortunately, the light is designed behind the shaft, so you don't have to worry about the light being too bright when typing. The overall height from the key cap to the keyboard base is 3.6 cm. At the bottom of the keyboard, there is an all white color matching, two support frames plus five anti slip adhesive, and the middle is also engraved with X-BOWS English and a design of Λ and) radians that are the same as the front of the keyboard, forming the same radian design as the front. Each keyboard is equipped with two support feet, which is convenient for users to use the keyboard more comfortably. The support foot of X-BOWS is composed of frosted plastic and a silicone anti-skid rubber, and the anti-skid silicone rubber is sleeved into the support foot. As a designer, I have to work on the keyboard every day, so I have been used to the key position. You can easily type and use shortcut keys without looking at the keyboard. The problem is that there is a radian in the middle of the key position of the X-BOWS keyboard, so I need to adapt to the key position again. My typing habit is to put my left finger on the ASDF key and my right hand on the JKL; On the key position, I will frequently move my finger to press the GH key when typing. For the first time I use the X-BOWS keyboard, I will put my right finger on the SDFG. Because this is my accustomed position, I need to be familiar with it again. Because the key position is bent, the distance between keys is longer, and the fingers are more open than when typing.
For me, who spends eight hours a day on the computer, I am familiar with the X-BOWS keyboard. It took me about three days to type and achieve blind typing. At first, I tend to type the G and H keys incorrectly. Because of the offset of the key position, I will habitually press the F key, which is the main reason why I spent three days to become familiar with it. Because changing one's typing habits can't be achieved in a short time.
There are more ENTER and delete keys in the middle position, because the right hand needs to move to the right to press the two frequently used keys for a long time. X-BOWS designs these two keys in the middle position, so when you type, you can move the index finger of the right hand slightly to press them easily. Long time typing with normal keyboard, right The keyboard ache is also caused by this reason. The X-BOWS is designed to solve this problem. In practice, using the X-BOWS keyboard to type for a long time has greatly reduced the problem of shoulder pain. PHOTOSHOP is a design software I use every day. When I used the X-BOWS keyboard, I was surprised that when I used the letter selection tool, I didn't make too many mistakes. I was able to operate as smoothly as an ordinary keyboard. But when I use the combination keys, the ALT key makes me a little unfamiliar. When I press the CTRL key and the ALT key at the same time, the CTRL key cuts my hand a little. This is also a problem with ordinary keyboards. It would be better if the CTRL key could be smooth.
Another problem is that without the number keys on the right, it seems a bit slow when entering numbers. In other words, this keyboard is not suitable for users who often use the number keys on the right, such as accountants. But for users who play games, it will be more convenient without the number keys on the right.
Every mechanical keyboard will have a lighting effect, of course, so will the X-BOWS. X-BOWS has a variety of light effects. You can adjust the light mode by pressing FN+PG. There are many modes, such as single click light, left and right lights crossing the mode are always on. FN+right space bar can switch the light color of the middle arrow and turn off the arrow. And FN+INSERT, PG and other keys can also adjust more light modes. Fn+right direction button can select the color of light, including red, green, white, purple, yellow, blue and cool colors. Press Fn key+direction down key and up key to adjust the brightness of the light. The rich light transition is smooth and fast. Now let's enjoy the cool lighting effect of X-BOWS through GIF.
After the X-BOWS keyboard is inserted into the computer, it has a cool light boot effect. The light circles around and the arrow in the middle lights up. It looks cool.
In the judgment of light mode, the light is flickering from left to right. This mode is always on. You can also select the key by pressing the shortcut key Fn+DELETE, and the light is on from left to right.
Single letter light mode. Press the button and the light will light up and then disappear gradually. I like this mode in the office, which is interesting and monotonous. It will not affect the colleagues nearby. In this first experience of ergonomic keyboard X-BOWS, I experienced a mechanical keyboard that is very different from the past. In terms of design, the main letter range of the keyboard is the design of finger radian, which is like a bow. When typing, the fingers and shoulders can naturally type, As the most commonly used key for typing, the ENTER key and the delete key are designed in the middle to make it easier for you to type. You don't need to move your wrist too much to make your typing faster. The keyboard reduces the repeated number keys and benefits from narrowing the length of the keyboard, which plays a very good role in game competition. When you operate, it greatly narrows the distance between your hands, Let your shoulders relax.
For a designer, X-BOWS can quickly select tools by pressing a single key, which is not a big problem. But when using combination keys, it is hard to adapt to the new position. Only through a long time of use to become familiar with.
