Barocco Mistel Showcases Innovative New Ergonomic Keyboards at Computex 2024

[btarunr]

Mistel brought some of its latest ergonomic gaming and productivity mechanical keyboards to Computex 2024. The Alpha Rhino MD600 is a true-wireless Split Alice compound keyboard. The set connects to your PC as two keyboards, each with half the keyset. You even get two separate palm-rests. As a keyboard set the MD600 has a 60% layout. You can join the two halves and lock them in place; or you can split them to your preferred angle for the best possible ergonomics. There's no cable running between the two halves. In terms of hardware, the MD600 with several variants of Cherry MX key switches that are hot-swappable, topped with PBT double-shot keycaps. The well of the keyset has sound absorbing foam. In terms of connectivity, you have a choice between USB, Bluetooth, and 2.4 GHz RF. The keyboard packs a 2,000 mAh lithium battery, which should give it several weeks of heavy usage on a charge.

The MD750 Delight is a conventional (single piece) 75% format mechanical wireless keyboard, with 87 keys, a programmable rotary knob, and a 2-inch LED screen. The keyboard features RGB backlighting, and its 4,000 mAh battery lasts up to 60 days of heavy use. You get hot-swappable Cherry MX keys with PBT Double Shot keycaps, three connectivity modes, and support for Cherry Profile. The AirOne is an ultra low-profile keyboard that's just 9 to 14 mm thick, and uses Cherry MX ULP tactile-click key switches. It comes in a 65% (68-key) layout, with a CNC milled aluminium body. The switches are topped by a super-slim ABS keycap set. You can carry the AirOne in its provided zipper pouch, or accessorize it with a wood dock that lets you mount tablets such as the iPad Pro on it.



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[halcyon]

Finally a split ADJUSTABLE keyboard from somebody, anybody. Everybody keeps spamming the standard pseudo-ergo and rectangular keyboards that suck for ergonomics for every single living human being. Split adjustable should be the basic standard.

Just so sad that Barco MD600 has the function keyboard row removed (typing this on MD770 WITH function key row). This sucks for programming or any work with plenty of macro use. Non-standard solutions are a nice idea for somebody with a 2 finger typing skills, but anybody who is proficient in 10-finger typing it takes ages to UNlearn the standard layout and relearn a new proprietary layout. That's just loss in speed, higher amount of errors and lost productivity.

Why oh why can't anybody remake this:

Cherry G80-5000 split adjustable keyboard

Had that for 15+ years, but it finally broke down (PCB) so much that it became too expensive to fix. But the typing on that is phenomenal and so is the adjustability range. Of course, with Cherry switches and keys that don't wear out. Full Function keys, full extra keys, near symmetrical and separate numpad that can be placed where you want.

That is such a legend that NIB old stocks still sell for $1000 if you can find one in the key layout you prefer/need and you still have a PS/2 connector on your MB.

Considering how much we have improved gaming / office chairs, display ergonomics, mice, the works... the keyboards are still pretty much the plain old rectangular slab from the 80s often with features removed (like F-keys, arrow keys, etc), sold with pretty key cap selections, or then they are stupid copies of the original Microsoft "ergonomic" (not adjustable) keyboard, mostly with membrane mechanism.

And yes, I've had Goldtouch, Matias, Kinesis and half a dozen of other "ergonomic keyboards" and they all make some crucial mistakes in their design. None of them come anywhere near MX5000 from Cherry.

Just copy the original Cherry MX5000 already and release it for the 2020s! I can guarantee that it would sell like hot cakes at c. $200-$300.

Calling out Cherry AG, hello!

 

[theglaze]

Just so sad that Barco MD600 has the function keyboard row removed (typing this on MD770 WITH function key row). This sucks for programming or any work with plenty of macro use.

Well, at least there's a bottom left FN key on the MD600.

The plastic joints on my Moonlander for the thumb extensions have all cracked, it just can't take gaming abuse. So I'm in the market for a new ergo mechanical... MD600 is honestly the best thing I've seen in awhile

 

[Courier 6]

Lots of cool products this year, thumbs up on the coverage I wish that I could see all that stuff in person

 

[SN2716057]

Oh, the MD750 Delight looks great. I really like that format with the volume knob, plus the delete key at backspace level. I do hope they also sell a version with light pass-through keycaps.