I was not expecting a Razer keyboard to enhance my office productivity – here’s how it did

Razer made a few unique layout choices here, namely duplicating both the space bar and the B key. Yes, the keyboard has two Bs, one on each side of the split, as it’s one of those keys you tend to hit with both fingers.

My biggest operational issue with the split keyboard, however, is that the Y key is placed on the right side of the split. I learned to press Y with my left index finger — not my right — so for the first week of using the keyboard (and still occasionally to this day) my left index finger would awkwardly slam onto the (keyless) space of the board and require a deliberate re-focus.

Also: I tested a split keyboard made for gamers, but I’d use it in the office just as much

I would have preferred it if the Y were duplicated like the B key, especially since it could have been possible with the amount of space on the device. After rewiring my brain, however, this became much less common. 

It’s versatile, too: the multi-point connectivity means the Pro Type Ergo can connect to up to three devices at once, and the three Bluetooth buttons on the top right let you easily switch between them. When it comes to charging, you can keep it wired or on the rechargeable battery, which Razer says will last up to three months on a single charge (assuming you turn the RGBs off). 

Also: My new favorite PC accessory has infinite battery life and a host of productivity features

On that note, Razer’s proprietary software for controlling lighting effects and hardware settings isn’t exactly the most intuitive. Once you land in the right place, tweaking the keyboard’s lighting or settings is mostly straightforward, but navigating the different apps and their multiple windows requires a bit of trial and error. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

With a bold design and the customizable RGB lighting effects Razer is known for, the Pro Type Ergo