Software

You do not need to have an x86 program installed and running to enable software configuration for the Kinesis Advantage360. The professional version, as mentioned before, is fully open source and uses the company's ZMK engine that power users will no doubt appreciate. With the version I have here, aptly named the Advantage360 SmartSet, you can download the app for Windows/macOS/Linux as found on this page. The latest version at the time of testing was v1.0.4 and is specific to this keyboard. It downloads as a ~5 MB compressed file, and you just open the program to get it running. It's effectively just a GUI to aid in programming the keyboard, which is otherwise all done onboard the Advantage360 itself. In order to get the program to recognize the keyboard, you need to unlock it and then load the V-drive similar to the other Kinesis keyboards we've tested. At this point, the drive opens up on your PC and you can also use this to update the keyboard firmware. The SmartSet app will now see the keyboard as connected and allow you to begin customization.


Kinesis has a few tutorial videos and guides walking over the use of SmartSet, but really it's no different from most keyboard software programs outside the part where you have to open the V-drive and then eject it after loading the new configuration onboard the device. This also means the keyboard can be used on any device without worrying about whether all the custom programming done will be retained or not. The UI is clean and well-laid out, everything scales nicely with OS resolution and display size, and I also liked the part where you can add the smart pedal via an easy toggle if you have that accessory too.

I have used SmartSet before, at least the gaming division's skinned version of it, but I dare say the key mapping features are all going to be intuitive. You will be warned about the default profile not allowing full key mapping, so you can choose any of the other eight profiles that can also be selected using onboard controls. Kinesis provides extensive key mapping controls, including multimedia and OS functions, shortcuts to programs, mice actions, and of course macros. This allows you to set up the keys as you desire, in case the stock layout is not to your liking, and then move the keycaps around to make it easier for you to get used to the unique nature of this keyboard. I found a few things that were causing a lot of typing errors for me, such as Esc and Caps Lock being positioned as they are by default as well as Space being only on the right side. I ended up remapping the delete key to backspace, backspace to space, and right control to delete, for example. Over time, I ended up moving a few things back and more functions around before I was able to not only get to my usual typing speed, but also exceed it and in a more efficient manner too.