In a detailed verified-purchase review, one software engineer proclaimed the Truly Ergonomic CLEAVE keyboard is “almost perfect” and “objectively better than everything else.” This reviewer spends 8–12 hours a day coding, making the keyboard his second-most important tool (after the computer itself) [amazon.com]. Years of typing on standard straight keyboards had led to RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) symptoms, so comfort became paramount in his workflow [amazon.com].
The CLEAVE’s enhanced ergonomic split layout design, with ortholinear keys, optical mechanical switches, and premium build, has not only relieved his strain but transformed his daily typing experience. After adapting to its layout, he now calls the CLEAVE “my new normal” [amazon.com], and even a brief return to a conventional keyboard reminds him of the CLEAVE’s advantages. Below, we break down why this professional developer believes the CLEAVE stands in a league of its own.
An Engineer’s Daily Companion: Ergonomics First
For a programmer who touch-types and uses many special characters, key placement and reach are critical [amazon.com]. The CLEAVE’s ergonomically split design immediately addressed his needs. By dividing the keyboard into two halves angled for natural wrist alignment, it helped him maintain a neutral posture and avoid the wrist contortions that plagued conventional keyboards. As he notes, “ergonomics is king” for someone typing all day [amazon.com], a split layout is a must-have to prevent strain. The CLEAVE delivered: the reviewer reports that his previously sore wrists and forearms now remain comfortable even through marathon coding sessions. In his words, after getting past a brief learning curve he became completely “comfortable with the keyboard” [amazon.com] a crucial endorsement from someone who had experienced RSI issues in the past. By enabling pain-free typing for long hours, the CLEAVE has effectively become an integral part of this engineer’s daily workflow, allowing him to focus on coding instead of discomfort.
Reimagined Layout: Ortholinear Keys and Symmetrical Design
One of the CLEAVE’s standout features is its reimagined QWERTY layout. The keyboard retains the familiar QWERTY letters but intelligently redistributes other keys for efficiency. The reviewer found this redesign “undeniably a significant improvement”, yet “not so different that switching to other keyboards is a problem” [amazon.com]. In practice, that means you can reap the ergonomic benefits without losing the ability to use a laptop keyboard when necessary. After a few minutes of adjustment, he can transition to a conventional keyboard, but the CLEAVE has become his new normal for 8-12 hour workdays [amazon.com]. The subtle changes (like relocating Enter and Backspace to the center) keep all standard symbols in logical places, so programming characters and punctuation remain intuitive to reach [amazon.com]. This careful balance between novelty and familiarity is a key reason he deems the CLEAVE superior.
Even more striking is the CLEAVE’s highly symmetric, columnar key arrangement. Traditional keyboards stagger keys in rows a design inherited from 19th-century typewriters intended to prevent jamming. In contrast, the CLEAVE arranges keys in vertical columns (ortholinear layout) on both halves, creating a mirror-image symmetry. This was a revelation for the reviewer: moving fingers straight up and down each column felt “so natural” that his immediate reaction was “why aren’t all keyboards this way” [amazon.com]. Each hand’s keys are aligned to follow the body’s natural symmetry, meaning far less sideways reaching. After adjusting to this, he reports “all keys [are] within comfortable striking distance of home”, which makes typing efficient and strain-free [amazon.com]. In fact, once acclimated (which took him about three weeks), he “will never go back to a horizontally staggered arrangement” [amazon.com]. He even hopes more manufacturers copy this approach, noting it could become a new standard for efficiency and comfort [amazon.com].
This split symmetric layout is slightly narrower than a typical keyboard, which the reviewer points out could even save space on a laptop without sacrificing key functionality [amazon.com]. The CLEAVE manages to include a full function key row and arrow/navigation keys in a clever arrangement, all within a compact footprint. The centrally positioned thumb keys (for Space, Enter, Backspace, Delete, etc.) are especially useful, letting the strong thumbs and index fingers handle tasks that usually strain the pinkies [amazon.com]. He praises the placement of the Fn key and the presence of a full-sized function key row often absent on other compact ergonomics as touches that “are to be commended” for maintaining productivity features [amazon.com]. In short, the CLEAVE’s layout is a carefully thought-out reinvention aimed at maximizing comfort and minimizing movement, and it shows in the user’s enthusiastic response.
From Learning Curve to “New Normal”
Adopting an innovative keyboard like the CLEAVE does require an adjustment period. This engineer notes it took him a solid three weeks to feel completely comfortable with the new key locations [amazon.com]. During that time, certain placements (e.g. the relocated Page Up/Down, Home, End cluster) felt odd simply because muscle memory had to catch up [amazon.com]. However, he emphasizes that the payoff was “well worth the effort” [amazon.com]. Once he acclimated, his typing became fluid and instinctive on the CLEAVE. In fact, the layout became so natural that switching away from it now requires adjustment a testament to how thoroughly it changed his habits. Each time he returns to a conventional keyboard, it only takes a few minutes of fumbling before he finds himself wishing for the CLEAVE’s comforts [amazon.com]. The transformation of his workflow is evident: what began as a bold experiment in ergonomics has become his daily driver for coding, writing, and everyday computing.
Crucially, the ergonomic benefits translated into tangible relief. With the CLEAVE, he can type all day without the tingling or numbness that previously signaled RSI flare-ups. The combination of the split layout, ortholinear keys, and integrated cushioned palm rest, encourages a neutral wrist angle and light, natural keystrokes. Over time, this comfortable setup not only prevented pain but likely improved his efficiency (a comfortable programmer is a more productive programmer!). As he confidently declares, “Overall this is easily the best keyboard I have ever owned, and I will not go back.” [amazon.com] The CLEAVE has fundamentally reset his expectations for what a keyboard should feel like in professional use.
Build Quality and Typing Feel
A keyboard used as intensively as this demands durability and quality and the CLEAVE delivers. The reviewer flatly states “the physical construction is excellent on all counts” [amazon.com]. The keyboard’s body is a solid aluminum alloy frame (something he doesn’t explicitly mention, but is evident in the sturdy feel), which provides heft and stability on the desk. There’s no flex, creak, or flimsy parts; every component feels built to last. This robust build is matched with features like a built-in padded wrist rest that comfortably supports the palms during long typing sessions. Even after a year of heavy daily use, the mechanical switches and internal hardware held up flawlessly for him. Such construction quality is a major reason he was willing to invest in the CLEAVE, and why he feels it justifies its premium price tag.
When it comes to typing feel, the CLEAVE uses custom optical mechanical switches that actuate via infrared light. Out of the box, for this particular user, these switches are very light and tactile. As he initially found that the keys registered easier than required, He replaced all the switches with slightly heavier Gateron KS-15 Optical Black switches, which have a 2.0 mm actuation distance (a tad weightier than the stock switches) [amazon.com]. These switches provide a consistent actuation point and “positive feedback” in each keystroke [amazon.com]. Few off-the-shelf keyboards allow this level of customization, and it highlights the CLEAVE’s appeal to mechanical keyboard aficionados. Even the switch-swapping process is possible on this board meaning advanced users can truly make the CLEAVE their own.
Tweaks and Personalizations: Addressing Minor Criticisms
Despite his glowing praise, the engineer-reviewer did identify a few quirks and shortcomings in the CLEAVE. Importantly, none were deal-breakers for him in fact, they reflect how power users might tweak and personalize an already-great keyboard. Here are the advanced-user adjustments he made or suggested, which actually demonstrate the CLEAVE’s flexibility:
- Keycap Wear after Extended Use: After about a year of heavy daily typing, he observed that some frequently-used keycaps (like Ctrl and Shift keys) began to wear through their black coating, revealing the translucent plastic underneath [amazon.com]. This cosmetic wear was disappointing to him, but it didn’t affect functionality. The upside is that the CLEAVE uses standard MX-compatible keycaps, so an enthusiast can easily replace worn caps with aftermarket sets. For most users, the stock UV-coated keycaps will hold up well, but extreme usage may eventually make custom keycaps a worthwhile upgrade a small concession for a keyboard that otherwise performed flawlessly over thousands of hours.
- Tuning the Switch Feel: As mentioned, the default optical switches are light. While many users might love the effortless press, this reviewer preferred a sturdier feel. The CLEAVE accommodated him: its swappable switch design let him install different switches to get the tactile response he wanted [amazon.com]. The fact that he could do this at all is a testament to the keyboard’s enthusiast-friendly construction. In his case, the modification resolved his only gripe about typing feel, proving that power users can fine-tune the CLEAVE’s hardware to their taste.
- Custom Key Mapping Preferences: Being a programmer, the reviewer has specific key usage habits. He was initially puzzled by a few layout choices for example, the CLEAVE ships with an extra Ctrl key in place of Caps Lock (Caps Lock is accessible, but not in the usual spot). He found this redundant and immediately remapped that key to act as Caps Lock for familiarity [amazon.com]. He also noted the keyboard only has one Windows (System) key on the left side, whereas he wanted one on each side for certain shortcut combinations. His solution was to assign the programmable central Fn/Shift key to act as a right Windows key, which worked. Additionally, the CLEAVE has a unique “Backtab” key (for Shift+Tab) that he didn’t use much he mused he would likely remap it to something more programming-specific in the future [amazon.com]. While the keyboard’s firmware doesn’t allow every single key to be remapped, he leveraged software (Windows PowerToys’ keyboard manager) to customize some functions [amazon.com]. In a perfect world, he’d like to see full hardware programmability for all keys. But in practice, these tweaks were achievable through external tools, and they showcase how enthusiasts can adapt the CLEAVE to their workflow. Rather than being flaws, these are niche preferences that the keyboard is flexible enough to accommodate with a bit of tweaking.
It’s worth noting that throughout these critiques, the reviewer’s underlying message is one of high expectations expectations the CLEAVE largely meets. His minor gripes (keycap coating, switch sensitivity, key mapping) stem from the fact that this keyboard gets so much right that he’s motivated to perfect it for his needs. And importantly, none of these prevented him from loving the device. As he plainly concludes, “In spite of some shortcomings, it’s still the best keyboard out there, IMO.” [amazon.com] Such a statement coming after a year of intense use speaks volumes.
Conclusion: A Transformative Investment in Comfort and Productivity
Not everyone types for 8–12 hours a day, but for those of us who do programmers, writers, engineers, and heavy computer users ergonomic equipment can be life-changing. The Truly Ergonomic CLEAVE is a bold attempt to reinvent the keyboard for comfort and efficiency, and this software engineer’s experience suggests it succeeds. By combining modern ergonomic design (split layout, ortholinear keys, thumb clusters) with high-quality construction, the CLEAVE enabled him to type longer, faster, and pain-free, ultimately becoming his primary tool for work. It may require an adjustment period and some willingness to customize, but the payoff is a keyboard that feels like it was made for human hands rather than typewriters from the 1860s [amazon.com].
For professionals in their 20s, 30s, or 40s who spend their days at a keyboard, the CLEAVE offers an opportunity to prevent strain and boost productivity in the long run. It’s not a conventional or cheap keyboard it’s an investment in your workspace comfort. As evidenced by this reviewer’s journey, that investment can yield a workflow where your keyboard fades into the background, letting you think and create without distraction or discomfort. If you’re an avid typist seeking a healthier, more efficient way to work, the Truly Ergonomic CLEAVE is well worth considering as a transformative addition to your desk. After all, it turned one skeptical software engineer into a true believer who “will not go back” [amazon.com] to ordinary keyboards and that is high praise indeed.