NocFree Wireless Ergonomic Split Mechanical Keyboard - Linear, Hot-Swappable, Compact 60% Layout, Programmable for Mac & Windows, PBT Keycaps(Standard Version)

[No compensation of any kind was received in connection with this review.]I've insisted on keyboards with mechanical switches since the days of the IBM PC. I need a numeric keypad only rarely, so I switched to the TKL layout a long time ago, and all was well. But old age and 50+ years of banging out code and text have left me with moderate wrist pain, so a few years ago I began exploring split keyboards.The NocFree Lite is, overall, the best of the half dozen split mechanical keyboards I've so far put into daily service. Is it perfect? No, though it comes awfully close. In fact, most of the complaints I've read regarding the NocFree Lite are not about product flaws; they are about flaws at the buyer's end. So understand: don't buy a keyboard with an unfamiliar layout unless you're willing to retrain your fingers to use that new layout. If you're willing to do that, this is a first-rate keyboard.It's well made, the switches are good quality, it connects (to Ubuntu) in either wired or wireless mode, it looks, feels, and sounds great; plus, it's tiny. A typical full-size keyboard eats about 96 sq in of your desktop, a TKL layout needs about 78. The NocFree Lite needs 52 sq in; that's not the smallest footprint in this market, but it's close. And despite the small size, it's rock steady and predictable in daily use.But what about the lack of Home/End/PgUp/PgDn keys? Who needs those? Retrain yourself: use fn + LeftArrow for Home, fn + UpArrow for PgUp, etc. (The NocFree arrives already configured to do just that.) Once you adapt, that's far faster and easier than those physical PgUp/PgDn etc. keys you've been using. My previous favorite split keyboard had those keys, but they were just wasted space as I never used them: as long as you've got that inverted-T of Arrow keys and a fn key, you've got something much, much better than the usual column of navigation keys.You can redefine the meaning of any key, and it's trivial to do that with Vial. (For Linux users, there's an .appimage for running Vial; couldn't be easier.) Competing keyboards (e.g., from Keychron) often limit you to two layers for defining what the fn key does (two if you're connected to a Mac, a different two if Windows or Linux). The NocFree Lite enables four layers for everyone: plenty of room for defining comfortable, helpful keystroke combinations and for invoking macros. You can even define the key adjacent to that inverted-T to be a second fn key: perfect!The NocFree Lite comes with a couple of spare keyswitches and keycaps. The switches are hot-swappable, so you can easily install different switches if you prefer; NocFree actually provides the tools to do so. And the walnut palm rests are worth more than they cost.So, why isn't this the perfect keyboard? Well, the build quality is good, but not fabulous. (The Keychron Q11 is a better built competitor.) And there are better keyswitches out there, but those in the NocFree are more than good enough, until you get around to installing your favorite switches.In wireless mode, if the computer goes to sleep, when you wake it the NocFree may fail to re-connect. It's easy to fix: unplug the NocFree dongle, wait a couple of seconds, and then re-insert it. That might actually be a flaw in my OS (Ubuntu), but it is irritating and, mercifully, happens only once or twice per month. Also in wireless mode, you may experience some stuttering due to interference with other nearby wireless devices. That's often an issue with wireless connections; in my case, moving the dongle to a different USB port eliminated the problem.I prefer to work in wired mode, and there's a very small issue there. The two halves of the NocFree connect with a short USB cable that ends in USB 2.0 Mini Male connectors. That's a really poor choice: it's truly hard to find replacement USB cables with Mini Male ends, should you need one. Your best bet is to buy a pair of USB-C Female to Mini Male adapters, plug one into each NocFree half, and then connect the halves with an ordinary cable ending in USB-C connectors; those exist in astonishing variety.But these are very minor quibbles. All in all, the NocFree Lite is the best keyboard I've found, after a lot of searching. Would I buy another one? I already have.

I’ve only had the NocFree Wireless Ergonomic Split Mechanical Keyboard for about a week, but I’m already loving it. The split ergonomic layout feels natural and has noticeably improved my typing posture. Even after long sessions, my wrists feel much more comfortable than with a traditional keyboard.The linear switches are smooth and satisfying to type on, and the fact that it’s hot-swappable is a big plus—I like knowing I can customize it even more down the line. The compact 60% layout is perfect for saving desk space while still giving me all the essential keys.It paired easily with both my Mac and Windows devices, and the wireless connection has been reliable so far. The PBT keycaps also feel solid and high-quality, with a nice texture that doesn’t pick up fingerprints.So far, this keyboard has exceeded my expectations. Looking forward to using it more, but based on this first week, I’d definitely recommend it!

After developing symptoms of a repetitive stress injury I started looking to make my desk more ergonomic. A part of that journey was to try out a split keyboard and I chose this one for it's price and apparent features. The build quality and appearance are great. I got the silent version and Its quiet, but feels good too. I was concerned at first about the lack of a function row; but connecting the keyboard to vial.rock and exploring how the default layers were setup and making a few tweaks really raised my confidence in the long term usability of this keyboard. I was also a little worried about my touch typing skills; but having used the keyboard with the two halves at about shoulder's width apart for a couple of weeks now, I'm happy to report the biggest challenge for me is remembering to use my right index finger, rather than my left to hit the "y" key and that's starting to feel natural to me at this point.I do wish the little feet that tilt the halves up from the middle had more adjustment. I would like a greater amount of tilt. I can live with it how it is though and could probably implement my own fix. But...The one really big glaring flaw this keyboard has, in my opinion, is that in order to fit an arrow key cluster into the layout the manufacturer chose to move the key with '/' and '?' to the opposite side of the right sift key. Not even next to the shift key as the up arrow lies between them. I think I would have preferred not having the arrow key cluster at all. In fact, I made "i" and "k" act as "up" and "down", and "j" and "l" as "left" and "right" using layers in the vial.rock configuration utility and I find I much prefer that functionality.I just can't get past that layout flaw. I have tried to think of a workable solution by remapping things but I can't come up with anything that would work for me. I'm going to wind up returning this keyboard I think and getting a more expensive one from a different manufacturer, just to get past that one issue.I don't regret my purchase, it proved the concept of a split keyboard to me for sure!