I can't decide if I love or hate the look of this wooden split ergonomic keyboard. No, no, it's the latter

pcgamer.com:

In my job, I'm not supposed to pre-judge products before I test them. Sometimes the initial reaction to photos of a piece of kit can be misleading, so in an effort to be as objective as possible, I do my damndest not to baulk at an iffy-looking object before I've got the chance to get my hands on one myself.

So when I found photos of this split ergonomic keyboard this morning, I stayed calm (via PC World). Perhaps it's just me, I thought. I'll post it in the PC Gamer hardware team chat, and see if perhaps others might coo over it with desire.

After all, I can be a crotchety beast in the mornings, so perhaps my initial reaction wasn't the best take.

Nope, we're not fans. There was one dissenting voice among the team, my esteemed colleague Nick Evanson, a man who's tested more ergonomic keyboards than you can count. «I want it,» said Nick. «I hate it, but I want it.»

A controversial-looking object, then. Anyway, it's called the Epomaker x Feker Alice 60 (I really wish I was joking), and the chassis and keycaps are made entirely of, you guessed it, wood. Which wood remains unclear from the product description, so tree-enthusiasts, feel free to write in. Still, according to the listing, there are some genuine benefits to using the most natural of materials to build a modern keeb.

«Just like concert halls that naturally reflect sounds better, a wooden keyboard naturally dampens sound, which can make typing on a wooden keyboard quieter compared to other materials.

»The soft thud and muted clack of wooden keycaps and cases are pleasing to the ear, especially in a quiet environment. Aesthetically, wood brings a touch of nature and craftsmanship to your workspace, creating a more inviting and personalized area."

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Blimey. I can buy that it's got a muted clack, as wood can be quite a naturally sound-dampened material, although whether it's inviting is a matter of personal taste.