Wednesday, September 9th 2020
Zergotech Introduces the Zergotech Freedom: Aussie-based Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard
Well, introduces to yours truly at least! The Zergotech Freedom has officially been out since April 2020, but anything before March this year might as well be a parallel universe. The Sydney-based company has thus been also seeing a hard time getting the word out on their take on the ergonomic, split mechanical keyboard design. Developed in collaboration with another Sydney-based design company, Boost Design, the Zergotech Freedom has since won the Red Dot product design award and, as of the time of this post, the Australian Good Design award. These design awards specifically call out the two features that interested me as well, in the form of the patented sliding palm rests that ensure your palms are always supported when needed only, and the semi-orthogonal key layout that should theoretically lower the learning curve when going from a more-traditional staggered column setup to the parallel columnar setup usually employed in such keyboards.
The Zergotech Freedom otherwise ticks off just about every feature I expect to see from a split ergonomic keyboard in 2020, including the option of different tactile, clicky, and linear feedback mechanical switches from Kailh, multi-OS compatibility with a programmable interface to customize key mapping on the different layers of the keyboard, tilting and tenting of the keyboard halves for ergonomics, as well as the ability to go with blank keycaps out of the box if desired. What is different here, apart from those palm rests aforementioned, is the inclusion of O-rings to make the keyboard quieter, as well as the provision of a 75% keyboard for discrete key functionality. This means that the learning curve will be even lower, although the foot print occupied by the keyboard is higher than contemporary offerings. The Zergotech Freedom retails from $339 US, the pricing being another thing in common with other such keyboards, and one that I want to get my hands on to see if the pricing is justified.
The Zergotech Freedom otherwise ticks off just about every feature I expect to see from a split ergonomic keyboard in 2020, including the option of different tactile, clicky, and linear feedback mechanical switches from Kailh, multi-OS compatibility with a programmable interface to customize key mapping on the different layers of the keyboard, tilting and tenting of the keyboard halves for ergonomics, as well as the ability to go with blank keycaps out of the box if desired. What is different here, apart from those palm rests aforementioned, is the inclusion of O-rings to make the keyboard quieter, as well as the provision of a 75% keyboard for discrete key functionality. This means that the learning curve will be even lower, although the foot print occupied by the keyboard is higher than contemporary offerings. The Zergotech Freedom retails from $339 US, the pricing being another thing in common with other such keyboards, and one that I want to get my hands on to see if the pricing is justified.
18 Comments on Zergotech Introduces the Zergotech Freedom: Aussie-based Ergonomic Mechanical Keyboard
Is TPU a marketing site now? The piece reads like it. Please let me know, because I'm not funding marketing. 339 is normal for a keyboard? I see.
For $339, they could at least use Cherry switches instead of knock-offs...
This is a blatant money grab.
Not falling for that nonsense though. Its a hunk of plastic with some odd design choices and knockoff switches. That are fine, by the way. But still knockoff.
At 339
To provide a bit more colour about the keyboard.
The Freedom is primarily an ergonomic keyboard that is built on the sliding palm rest feature. Sliding palm rests provide the same ergonomic benefits as hovering your hands while typing, without tiring your arms. The keyboard comes with a plethora of other features including:
- Three integrated key layouts
- Fully programmable with 15 macro functions – all on-board, with no software
- Interchangeable fixed palm rests
- A split design with four in-built keyboard positions
- Embedded mouse
- Switchable between operating systems and language standards
- A unique semi-orthogonal design to keep as much familiarity as possible with standard keyboards
- Tempered and textured glass slider bay, and an overall premium build quality.
Regarding the key switches, we believe Kailh switches are not only among the best in the market, but Kailh has serviced us with custom key switches that we have spec’d. We chose the box switches to reduce key wobble and spec’d the switches to remove any ‘ping’, which Cherry also suffers from. We intend to broaden our switch range with time.
Editors who have personally reviewed the keyboard have genuinely loved it, and our customers have absolutely felt the benefit of the sliding palm rests. You can read these on our website. Ergonomists, ergonomic product resellers, and occupational therapists can all attest to this ergonomic innovation.
We have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars, and 2 years, to research, prototype and produce this keyboard. It took a great team of industrial design, electrical design, and firmware engineering to produce a product that earned the highest accolades in the world of design – achievements we are thoroughly proud of. It is a great day for our team and hope to continue reading our positive customer feedback about the improvement in their typing pain.
We intend to provide TechPowerUp with a unit for their independent review, and hope they can provide further insight into the keyboard from a power user perspective.
Until then, Safe Typing!
Zergotech Pty Ltd
I guess not.
So as a startup, you're going to have to charge a fair amount over the competition to make that money back, especially when you make a niche product.
I haven't seen the sliding palm feature anywhere for a keyboard and it does seem very interesting in the context of an ergonomic keyboard :).
Would love to test it. Yeah the price is premium, but ergo keyboard are not known to be cheap first of all, and those features are quite unique.
FWIW, I've been using Kailh Browns and they were enjoyable to type on. If you can get them custom made from them, that's pretty neat.
But those cringe worthy awards... Just let the product speak for itself IMHO
The ergodox does have some advantages with the hot swappable switches, led backlighting and advances programmability(tap and hold in particular), however, I found the Freedom to be a better keyboard overall, so i sold my Ergodox and kept the Freedom.