Vantex V1 Puts a Trackpad Inside an Ergonomic Keyboard
The Vantex V1, a new mechanical keyboard project that recently launched on Kickstarter, is an interesting signal for input device design. It takes the columnar stagger ergonomic layout normally seen on split keyboards such as the Corne or Silakka54 and places it in a more manageable aluminium unibody chassis with a central trackpad. The aim is an all-in-one input solution. Its tri-mode wireless version starts at $159 on Kickstarter against a $159 MSRP, while the wired version starts at $129 against a $259 MSRP. The 60% layout uses mostly 1u or 1.25u keys, which could lower the barrier for newcomers to ergonomic keyboards. Firmware details are still undisclosed, which will matter for how useful the programmable layers prove in practice. For anyone following peripheral design, it is a useful case study in combining ergonomics with convenience.
Key points
- A keyboard with a trackpad built in The Vantex V1 is a new mechanical keyboard project that recently launched on Kickstarter, combining ergonomic layout with a trackpad.
- The key details It has a 60% layout, a 45 × 45 mm multitouch trackpad, four programmable layers, and wireless from $159 or wired from $129.
- Why it matters It brings the columnar ergonomic layout of split keyboards into an all-in-one design that may be easier for newcomers to adopt.