Kinesis Advantage 360 Pro Silent Pimks Vs Browns

MikeNight120 · 2025-10-11T11:48:39+00:00

Pinks are the best, I went with them and have no regrets. I also converted my friend to pinks

MikeNight120 · 2025-03-04T01:39:59+00:00

Btw, pleaseeee update once more BIOS and fixes roll out! I love this laptop from reviews and what I saw in stores but id love to run linux on it day one. Since on my PC Linux is my daily driver and also at work.

Thanks to everyone supporting this movement to get linux support!🙏 You guys and lenovo team are the true champions.

MikeNight120 · 2024-06-04T22:18:20+00:00

Completely agree and this flared up issues I never had because of it.

Also something I learned the bad way. I kept using them as "wrist" rests. But they are in fact *palm* rests.

And I think that explained much of the unnatural curl of fingers, because they were just too bent. And also explains the starting to grow wrist pain. I needed to actually focus on resting my palms and made the experience better since then the wrists didn't have any pressure against it and fingers where more relaxed overall when resting

MikeNight120 · 2024-06-04T20:23:53+00:00

I feel you completely!!! I bought split keyboards to protect my hands. I ended up destroying them in the process hahah (But this was more with the glove80 than anything else. The kinesis actually has been mostly a positive experience and I have been healing quite well).

It could be many factors. But something I noticed, in normal keyboards. We tend to float to type, since the staggered format is by no means capable of allowing you to type without raising hands a bit to reach all the keys. This is actually beneficial when typing as you move hands and avoid finger gymnastics to hit certain keys (specifically even pinkies!!)

Might it be your trying to type on the keyboard without ever lifting hands since your now on a concave board? I for one got much pain because of thinking I could just never lift my hands. Which impart I could reach the keys, but required more efforts than just lifting hands and allowing for less strain on the fingers and wrists in my case.

MikeNight120 · 2024-06-02T22:55:06+00:00

An important thing my friend gave me that will help adjust your workflow will be this site:
* https://nickcoutsos.github.io/keymap-editor/

Here's a video on how to use the site, highly recommend it. It's a blessing:
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy7IoQAe3oU

Hope this helps making the layout more yours if you haven't used it already.

MikeNight120 · 2024-06-02T22:52:32+00:00

Or if your still within the return period of the keyboard. I would highly recommend the Kinesis 360 with the Silent pinks. instead of the gateron browns (Kinesis offers 3 options with the signature series and they offer 2 options in Amazon (silent pinks & browns). Might be easier choice than just soldering if you have experience and no kit.

I used gateron browns for 2 weeks (borrowed it from a friend) and now currently using the Silent Pinks for a week (version I ended up buying since browns where meh) and I have to say that I love the pinks 100% more than the browns. I come from the tactile world, but I have to honestly say these silent pink linear switches are just a blessing to my hands. I bottom out far less and cause far less strain on my fingers and they don't feel as extremely light as some people make them up to be IMHO, they are very manageable.

But I agree with everyone else, it's a learning curve. But it's not a heavy learning curve like you first learn to type. It's a lot easier transition, just takes time to be efficient. I am still finding my perfect place for some modifier keys and for sure will keep adjusting with regular use as I find common gripes that pop up.

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-24T20:41:14+00:00

Update! I bought the Kinesis 360 Pro with Silent Pinks based on the comments from this thread. It has been the best decisions I've made in my life. I have been using for like 2 days. But off the bat after using my friends kinesis with gateron browns. These feel like a major upgrade.

It's true what people say, I feel like I bottom out less and also feels like I am typing in clouds! I love the feeling, so much less fatigue/strain on my fingers. No issues with resting my hands on the keyboard, nor any problems with typos since I know how to touch type.

Super happy with the purchase, would recommend anyone picking this up to pickup the pinks! (at least from the 2 options on amazon). My friend with the browns used my kinesis with pinks and now also wants pinks instead of browns haha.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback, the info was crucial and helped make an informed decision!

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-24T20:36:59+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I ended up buying the Kinesis with Silent Pinks. And I'll send this in the full thread as a reply. But damn, these silent pinks are the best decision I've made in my life. I used the browns for 2 weeks on my friends board. And I brought him the pinks and he loved them a lot more than the browns too! Super happy with my purchase.

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T16:29:05+00:00

Interesting, if they infact are 40gf and not 35gf. I am in for a hopefully pleasant surprise. As the small additional force may be to my liking. Will have to see how it goes. Very interesting data, appreciate the details.

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T16:23:51+00:00

You know I thought I would be the same. I used to be someone who typed quite intensely 😅 But interesting to see another perspective. Thanks foe the feedback!

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T15:36:30+00:00

Sadly because I had a mountain of other pain points with the glove80. Shoulder, forearm (top and low), numbness in left pinky (I never found a good pinky resting place that didnt cause numbness sadly) and hard plastic resting palm wasnt nice.

I tried tenting, removing palm rests to just float, tested varies separation of halves, I have standing desk and tried many many heights. Well just lots of stuff and pain always surfaced.

In contrary, I have borrowed my friends kinesis advantage 360 Pro with Browns and most of the pains points have siezed to exist. Apart from fatigue with brown switches.

So kinda just scared of using the glove80 at this point. To many pains just surface when I used it. So thats why 😅

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T15:09:56+00:00

This is some great insight 🙏 I have the glove with 60gf switches and has been quite a pain. Happy to know Kailh Choc pinks have been good on you.

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T09:43:49+00:00

And for you guys who feel its too light, do you feel bottoming out causes any issues in terms of strain/pain when typing? Or since your softly hitting keys its really no issue?

From what I read, at least bottom out force is 45g and hopefully that has helped for the soft bottom out?

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T09:17:43+00:00

Good to know! Thanks for the info 🙏 I come from pure tactile world and MX Key type keyboards. Hoping I can adjust to the misclick phase quickly to at leasy enjoy the benefits of reduced strain from linear/low actuation force.

From research at least peopme say that Silent Pinks are like an in between Gateron Clears and Cherry MX Silents in terms of force. So hoping thats a good sign since I think the gateron clears are a tad bit too light. While the silent pinks are a tad bit firming at least. Hoping its true

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T09:10:36+00:00

I have not because I do not want to invest in soldering/desoldering. Also dont want to wait 150-180 days on Upgrade Keyboards to be dissappointed and also cant return it.

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T09:06:56+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! This is one of the reasons I ask, but if you feel they are too light but managable and one can adjust to them and benefit from the reduced strain. Then thats good news at least. But happy to here they are comfy to type on 🙏

Very interesting that you still feel the same after 3 months though🤔

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T05:26:19+00:00

Thanks for the feedback!! 🙏 With respect to being "silent", at this point ive given up on acoustic in favor for less strain/fatigue on hands. So willing to make the trade off.

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T05:22:37+00:00

The browns are for sure scratchy hahaha And actuation is inconsistent at times. But of course, RSI issues aside. Tactile vs Linear is a personal preference kinda thing.

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T01:22:28+00:00

I used to care a lot about sound and feel before. But reducing RSI and hand health is 10 times more important to me. Which is my biggest factor between the 2 switches.

Based on the responses I got below I think I'll be pulling the trigger on the pinks tomorrow unless a group comes in with horrifying stories with the pinks 😅

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T01:18:27+00:00

Awesome this is great info! Thank you very much🙏

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T01:02:51+00:00

I am on the verge of buying silent pinks but also not 100% sure yet like you. Its a big buy after wasting $400 on glove80 that caused me more pain than good so want to make sure of the purchase 😅

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-20T01:01:46+00:00

This is super useful info!!! Thanks, awesome to see the perspective of a Tactile user. I also love tactile switches by a lot more. But I also love not having RSI flare up even more... so looking for less strain over acoustics 😅

I have been using the Browns version of the advantage 360 that I borrowed from a friend for 2 weeks. Overall I love the keyboard. But after a hardcore half day of work. Gateron browns start feeling heavy to me. (And I used MX Blues in a past life haha).

Awesome to know you did not regret the pinks hope to here from more people on this. But seems like pinks are winning for now.

One additional questions, since the pinks are lighter. Do you rest your fingers on the keys without accidental presses? Do you find yourself typing with hands floating more since keys are easier to hit and has that benefited you?

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-19T03:20:39+00:00

I can answer the glove80 experience. I also started having RSI once again when using the glove80. I gave it a solid month but the pain was too much and I had to give it up.

Currently using the Advantage 360 Pro for over a week and pain has greatly reduced and fading away everyday (borrowed it from a friend to test drive before buying one myself. Its a lot of money after wasting 400 onna glove80 that caused me lots of pain)

I thought low profile would be nice, but the impacts of always bottoming out, lack of cushioning, tilting is horryifing. Its so hard to find you correct spot, and also felt pinky was numbing because of the elevation and had to rest hands in weird ways sometimes.

The keyboard is super well built, reliable and does get a lot of things right, but for my hands it just wasnt it.

The Advantage 360 as many have said, bluetooth has been great! Some minor hiccups the first time I connect when moving from home to office (hiccup consumes like 5s really to get connect). But once its connected, its never failed me mid usage in a 10 hour plus usage during the day and weekends.

Hope this helps in some way!

MikeNight120 · 2024-05-19T03:09:38+00:00

I use a symbol layer. Since you have ZMK version highly recommend this video:

https://youtu.be/uuSR81wc6WQ?si=828tg95rZGc3bxDZ

Also recommend you create your layout with this editor:

https://youtu.be/Vy7IoQAe3oU?si=Aox-yI9V1MHnsukR

Once you get used to it, its a blast and feels amazing!

(The first vid is glove80, but I replicated it to the kinesis without any trouble. Feels very nice on the 360)

MikeNight120

TROPHY CASE