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28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

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Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#41

Post by jethro_tell »

michaelt wrote: post #18
amelius wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 use it for entering numbers, sure. Almost every fancy mechanical keyboard seems to do away with it, though, so presumably a lot of people are OK without one.

you can defiantly get 104 key mech boards, and 120 key mech boards are easy to find if that's your thing. With that said, when you're paying $1+ per switch, there's a a good chunk of the market that doesn't mind saving the $40+ to have the extra keys removed. Adding keys to a cheap board is an easy way to add functionality, but once you pay to have customizable firmware, it's just as easy and cheaper to put those keys on a layer.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#42

Post by tra3 »

archarios wrote: post #40
tra3 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hah: > Thanks for buying one of these little guys, it’s a little wonky but I’m sure you’ll have some fun with it! (from http://docs.gboards.ca/Meet-Butter-Stick ) Do you actually use this?

I bought a kit and busted one of the pcb pads when trying to solder it together :'(

Bummer :(

Tried youtubing for how it looks in real life usage; no luck.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#43

Post by CarVac »

GordonS wrote: post #32

> With 10mm standoffs this is a snug fit, and it is impossible with the standoffs at full length. Reflow your solder if it climbed up the wire I've never soldered anything before, and I have no idea what this means - does anyone know of a good beginners guide to this kind of soldering?

If you add a lot of solder to a joint, it will wick and the excess will climb along metal using surface tension.

You can cut through the solder when cutting the tops of the header pins off, but it's bad to stress the solder itself like this so you need to reheat it with the soldering iron so it relaxes from the physical stress of cutting.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#44

Post by StavrosK »

gbrown wrote: post #21
amelius wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I just set up my tilde key to change the right half of my keyboard to a numpad when held down, so I'm not missing anything. Seems like a good tradeoff.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#46

Post by archarios »

Waterluvian wrote: post #38
archarios wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Maybe it's my big lanky adult male meat stick hands but "weird reach" isn't a concept I would have ever perceived as being a thing. That's interesting. Is it uncomfortable or painful or just weird?

Well, I think that any keypress that requires you to move your wrists in any way is weird basically. How do you reach 5, 6, or 7 on your number row for example? what about 1 or ` or esc? I like making it so that I can reach all of these buttons without moving my wrists and with the "correct" fingers.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#47

Post by Waterluvian »

archarios wrote: post #46
Waterluvian wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it's my big lanky adult male meat stick hands but "weird reach" isn't a concept I would have ever perceived as being a thing. That's interesting. Is it uncomfortable or painful or just weird?

Well, I think that any keypress that requires you to move your wrists in any way is weird basically. How do you reach 5, 6, or 7 on your number row for example? what about 1 or ` or esc? I like making it so that I can reach all of these buttons without moving my wrists and with the "correct" fingers.

Today I realise that I have mutant hands. None of those things require much movement at all from me.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#48

Post by molteanu »

clarry wrote: post #37
molteanu wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I think lowering makes these unintended presses more likely; raising makes them less likely, but then I'm less likely to get a modifier when I want (because I type the combo too quick). I initially lowered it from the default of 200 to 150, and I've been slowly raising it back. I think it's 185 now but I might go back to 200. Only that will just make it miss more quick combos. As for index: I don't think it's so much…

I'm a bit slow with the keyboard so maybe that's why I don't have problems with these unintended presses. Yet. It's 200 for me, but also like 50 wpm until I manage to get back to speed.

Nah, I'm palm-pressing the Ctrl key on a classic keyboard. I wrote about it here [1]. It was fine for a few years, until I got wrist pain and back problems from leaning on the right side (to reach the right Ctrl with my palm comfortably). So that article needs an update, but I kid you not, there are non-pinky users out there :)

https://mihaiolteanu.me/emacs-palm-press-the-ctrl-keys/

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#49

Post by xupybd »

archarios wrote: post #31

On the general subject, I highly recommend the Dactyl Manuform

Thank you, I'd not heard of this one. It looks amazing. I'm a huge fan of the Kinesis advantage but always wondering if there is something better. This might do it.

Re: 28-Key Mechanical Keyboard

#50

Post by molteanu »

clarry wrote: post #37
molteanu wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

I think lowering makes these unintended presses more likely; raising makes them less likely, but then I'm less likely to get a modifier when I want (because I type the combo too quick). I initially lowered it from the default of 200 to 150, and I've been slowly raising it back. I think it's 185 now but I might go back to 200. Only that will just make it miss more quick combos. As for index: I don't think it's so much…

You could try and use one key for changing layers and have all the movement keys, or your most used keys, on that layer. You could even try to palm-press one of they keys since it seems doable on a Plank. Then you would not have a need to use the Ctrl key that often.

I've tried this with the Ergo and one of the cluster keys. It works nicely. I'm not used to the modal, Vim-like editing though.

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