Weirdest keyboard I've used: CharaChorder One review

I used the CharaChorder One full time for five weeks. Here are my honest thoughts. (They aren't pretty!)

0:00 Introduction
1:00 Learning journey
5:42 Pros
8:53 Cons: software
10:44 Cons: customer support
12:31 Cons: device
14:14 How chording works
15:49 Deal breakers

Co-editor: member926

Music and sound effects:
Silfra - West & Zander
Overpass - Major Tweaks
Stand - Jones Meadow
catching flights - Sarah, the Illstrumentalist
A Mirage (Instrumental Version) - I'MIN
bichon - bomull
Carte Blanche - Matt Large
Dowel Swishes 11 - SFX Producer

CharaChorder Lite photograph copyright CharaChorder

[CharaChorder]

Thank you so much for making this review. 😄We really appreciated hearing both the positive and negative feedback from your journey, and it has helped us tremendously in continuously improving our products. At this point, we believe that most of your negative feedback has been addressed. Since the release of CCOS earlier this year, all CharaChorder devices now include programmable key layouts, configurable debounce, advanced arpeggiates, as well as many other new features! Since the publication of this video, we have also unveiled new training tools, our first two open source projects, and a new ticketing system for customer service which was specifically inspired by your critique. We also have a 60 day return policy for those on the fence about trying the product. Unfortunately, our original top comment on this video seems to have been somehow deleted, however our CEO has also made a video response to your review on our channel which goes through each unique line item brought up here, both positive and negative. If you ever decide to give CharaChorder another chance, we hope that it will exceed your expectations, and that you will continue to be vocal in sharing your feedback with us! Thanks again :)

[Alecgach]

Seeing this type of review is so refreshing. You clearly tested the product extensively, and provided such in-depth criticism. On top of that you know exactly what you're talking about. I'm definitely subscribing in hopes of more future content like this

[joyQuery]

this video was ridiculously thorough -- probably the most informational video I've seen for this keyboard -- much appreciated!

[skylerbrown]

I'm really glad that you gave a very detailed explanation of how you went about it. It helped that you gave some likes and dislikes and why you decided to not use it anymore. I was debating on getting one and this definitely helped make a decision.

[taylormanning]

On-board remapping is a must for anything this niche. Even if they solved the key-doubling, I would have been upset to receive a device that has a fixed keymap. I continue on with QMK, as many do

[RafaelKarosuo]

Thanks for the honest review, and I'm very happy that CharaChorder team took your feedback as in input, because you did an awesome, structured, and very thorough review/eval, as a programmer I definitely appreciated the details.

[pwngrapher]

I have been interested in this for a little while and this video makes me glad I didn't shell out a couple hundred dollars for a single keyboard with such a big amount of critical issues. That dry safe location seems about right.

[doa_form]

Just want to say that this was a perfect video in terms of information, density, presentation and layout! I wanted to learn more about this CharaChorder thing without having to buy the device, and without the videos coming from advertisements from the manufacturer. I learned everything that I wanted to know from your video.

[DMWatchesYoutube]

The closed source is a big deal breaker for me, thanks for letting me know

[mihamihanik]

Thank you for spending time to make such a great review! I've been looking to try this device after seeing their promos, but now i think i'd rather wait 'till next iteration!

Was nice also to get a perspective of programmer.

[MaxxD]

I couldn't have found a more relatable review for my circumstance ( I am a programmer, QWERTY speed 115wpm, VIM user, interested in the CharaChorder for productivity and strain reasons). - I greatly appreciate and respect your review and will be interested in seeing a follow up in the future.

[mkvalor]

If you're watching this and wondering what the heck "chord" or "chording" means, jump to the section at 14:14 and all will become clear.

[MaxCoplan]

One benefit you didn’t mention: after using the Characorder for a few weeks my gf reported my fondling game is much improved

[maskarovortzy]

This review is so methodic I would call it "scientifical"; I am very impressed and pleased by the quality of it: very coherent choices of topics/key-points discussed, as well as the overall progress of the review and of your explanations. Thank you very much for your dedication and your good work and please, keep it up.

[rudolf-adamkovic]

Thank you for a truly in-depth review! The closed-source firmware alone is a show stopper. Perhaps try the Svalboard next? The concept is similar, but it has a longer history, fully open-source hardware and software, and more. I am waiting for mine as I type this.

[tobiaswegener]

Doubling of key presses is called key-chatter and a standard keyboard mostly related to debounce timing (switch closed, open timing break if it is registered or not), though it is normally possible to fix this with a firmware update.
I am thinking about if it would be possible to write an open source firmware for it or replace the microcontroller, that take KMK or QMK for it.
That would be great. I don't understand why they don't open source a minimal version. They could get much more customers, if there would be community software version, I think.

[tornaxo]

What a review! I'm a programmer as well and I'm almost*only* using vim for everything, so this review was perfect for me! :)

[achimwasp]

Thank you for preventing me from buying another input device just out of curiosity. "Solarized dark" in Vim - one of my favourite schemes! I'm using steno with Plover whenever I have to type a lot and it works fine inside Vim - and I'm also on Mac, Win and Linux and the steno chords are the same on each platform, as tweaking the steno dictionaries accordingly is very easy.

[handcoding]

Big thanks for this comprehensive review of the Charachorder. I’ve been following along with his keyboard for a little while and this is easily the most thorough review that I’ve come across

I also couldn’t help noticing the reply from the company where they admitted to some of the issues that you brought up. And if they do end up releasing firmware updates that resolve some of those bugs, I’d love it if you might do a follow-up video about whether their fixes ended up playing out.

[christywells]

Thank you fot this thoughtful, detailed review. I'm not tech savvy enough to follow a lot of your info that may be helpful to techier people, but I definitely got the gist of it all and you answered my no pun intended "key" questions. would love to see you review the charachorder lite.