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28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

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Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#21

Post by gbrown »

amelius wrote: post #11
ardy42 wrote: post #2

I don't get the obsession with custom keyboard with ever fewer keys. If I designed one, if anything it would have at least a few more modifier keys that a standard keyboard.

I don't get why most keyboards available in stores have a numpad. I never use it, and it takes up valuable space on my desk. I wonder how many people actually use the numpad section of a keyboard on a daily basis.

I require a numpad - any time I need to enter more than a few numbers, the speed difference is unbelievable.

I’d say most analytics focused people will need to do something like this at some point - that, and people who are forced to interact with spreadsheets occasionally.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#22

Post by gonehome »

ardy42 wrote: post #2

I don't get the obsession with custom keyboard with ever fewer keys. If I designed one, if anything it would have at least a few more modifier keys that a standard keyboard.

It's fashion more than anything - and it's fun to play with something you use on a regular basis.

I like the HHKB because of its default layout and how it feels in addition to the way it looks. I wouldn't use these smaller ones, but I understand why people like to play with them.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#23

Post by azhenley »

I switched to a Drop ALT keyboard about 6 months ago which has 67 keys and I love it. Sometimes I forget how to do things like tilde which is annoying but I figure it out.

I've been looking at some tiny orthlinear (like the Drop Planck) but I am too put off by having to relearn so much. Maybe in the summer when I have more time! Very interesting though.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#25

Post by molteanu »

clarry wrote: post #13

If anyone's using modifiers on alpha keys with QMK, let me know what sort of setup works for you. Right now I have ctrls under both pinky fingers (A and S since I'm using dvorac), and it kinda works but but I'm not 100% happy with it. Either I get unintended ctrl-modified presses while typing normal text, or a crtl-modified combo does not register because I do it too quick.

I've tried CTL_T(KC_F) for a single day only. I though it was a good idea to have all the modifiers under the home row. It doesn't seem like the index finger is a strong finger as it started to hurt after only a few hours of heavy use. Neither the other ones seem to be strong enough except (I'm hoping) the thumbs.

So for now I'm mapping Ctrl to the thumb cluster (on an Ergodox) and the lesser used modifiers like Alt can be in the home row, for now.

I don't seem to be having problems with the unintended presses though. Try lowering the TAPPING_TERM, maybe?!

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#26

Post by filoleg »

gonehome wrote: post #22
ardy42 wrote: post #2

I don't get the obsession with custom keyboard with ever fewer keys. If I designed one, if anything it would have at least a few more modifier keys that a standard keyboard.

It's fashion more than anything - and it's fun to play with something you use on a regular basis. I like the HHKB because of its default layout and how it feels in addition to the way it looks. I wouldn't use these smaller ones, but I understand why people like to play with them.

Agreed. I feel like HHKB hits that sweet spot where it is minimalistic, but still very usable without messing with layers. If it had just a few more buttons (left Ctrl + arrow keys; though I personally don't care for left Ctrl, as I have remapped it to CapsLock, just Like I do on every keyboard), then I wouldn't even need to use the Fn key at all either.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#29

Post by archarios »

gonehome wrote: post #22
ardy42 wrote: post #2

I don't get the obsession with custom keyboard with ever fewer keys. If I designed one, if anything it would have at least a few more modifier keys that a standard keyboard.

It's fashion more than anything - and it's fun to play with something you use on a regular basis. I like the HHKB because of its default layout and how it feels in addition to the way it looks. I wouldn't use these smaller ones, but I understand why people like to play with them.

It's not for me. I like fewer keys because I find that it's easier/more comfortable to use layers rather than have to do a weird reach for some key I need.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#30

Post by jethro_tell »

ecliptik wrote: post #4
ardy42 wrote: post #2

I don't get the obsession with custom keyboard with ever fewer keys. If I designed one, if anything it would have at least a few more modifier keys that a standard keyboard.

While this keyboard is too small for me personally, something like a 40% or a 60% is doable since they retain the modifier keys. These keyboard sizes are great for traveling or taking somewhere with a laptop to give a "proper" keyboard experience without being overly bulky. Keyboards with support for custom firmware ( https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/ ) can also greatly increase the functions of normally single-us…

yeah, I'm in the 61 key zone and it drops right into my bag as needed. I mostly grew up on laptop keyboards, so I don't have much use for a 104 key board. And I don't really use the function keys for anything, so I don't really need that row, I use vim bindings for my arrow keys and page up/down so don't need those keys. I find that I use a 61 key keyboard without any layering or special mapping. Though I do program a few macros here and there but no real need to use layers for my workflow.
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