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My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

jackevansevo.github.io

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Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#371

Post by hakfoo »

EtienneK wrote: post #56

I was expecting to see 10s of keyboards as you'd see from most in r/MechanicalKeyboards and was disappointed to only find 5. Not an unhealthy relationship at all!

I've built the same keyboard four times over the last three years.

Version 1 used a Teensy++ and Box Pale Blue switches. Version 2 used a Teensy++ and Matias Click switches, and added a bodged-on OLED. This required a completely new PCB design. Version 3 used the same PCB, and some more Matias switches from my parts box, but swapped in a nanoCH32V305 controller using a little interposer adapter board. It was mostly to work the kinks out of the custom firmware for the CH32V305. Version 4 ended up with footprints to use either Alps or MX-footprint switches and either the Teensy or nanoCH32V305. I now have stacks of spare PCBs and plates, just waiting for a better switch than Box White v2.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#372

Post by pca006132 »

wellthisisgreat wrote: post #247
pca006132 wrote: post #136

Unhealthy relationship with keyboards? Comparing with the r/MechanicalKeyboards or r/ErgoMechKeyboards people this relationship is more like divorced... I added python binding and ended up being on of the devs for https://github.com/elalish/manifold because OpenSCAD is too slow for my modeling (I am quite impatient). Optimizing my keyboard for months with more than 5 complete rebuilds to optimize my design (looks lik…

Hey how do you like the tented thumb cluster? Have you used the boards with untended one? not Ergodox but something with an actually decent thumb cluster? Also - open source it!! Ppl will be def very thankful and the code quality is secondary VS not open sourcing (if you were so inclined). I am def very interested in that cluster design - how you managed it on PCB level

I only tried redox, I think a tented thumb cluster does feel better comparing with the untended one. Not sure about other kinds of thumb clusters though.

It is currently written in Python, I guess I should port it to js because we have a online js demo.

It is purely 3D printed and handwired, I did not make a PCB for it because it is hard to generate the PCB in a parameterized way. I think if you want to make a PCB, you can do it with some kind of flexible PCB with a socket (like those monitor wires)

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#374

Post by fomine3 »

frameset wrote: post #16

I really don't understand the numpad-less trend of fashionable keyboards. Doing any kind of number entry beyond one or two digits is very annoying without one. They also don't take up that much space really. If your keyboard is a portable one you pack with you on trips, I get it. If it lives on a desk, why not splash out the small amount extra to make number entry much easier.

Location of pointing device is far more important than numpad. If numpad is needed, I want to put it on the left of keyboard.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#375

Post by fomine3 »

NobodyNada wrote: post #321
bigstrat2003 wrote: post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I cannot stand any keyboard less than a 100% layout. I have 30 years of muscle memory built up, and I'm not about to relearn it. I don't really have any beef with those who want a smaller keyboard (though I don't really understand it - no way is your desk so small that saving a few inches actually makes a difference). But it is a real bummer that makers of high-end keyboards only cater to that crowd, and don't make n…

I switched from a 100% layout to a 34-key keyboard last year. It's not about the desk space at all, it's about never having to move my hands while typing. E.g. instead of reaching for the arrow keys I use a vim navigation layer. Instead of reaching for the number keys -- or, even worse, a numpad way off to the side -- I use a numpad layer. And mod-taps are amazing. The small size is nice for portability -- my keyboar…

It's often said that but I don't agree that removing keys (especially for F1-12 row) is for ergonomics. You can remap F keys to combination even if the keyboard has dedicated F keys. I do that because dedicated keys are sometimes useful for me and I don't care additional spaces by adding a top row. Removing it is for cost saving and portability.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#376

Post by fomine3 »

hinkley wrote: post #327
someplaceguy wrote: post #146

My unhealthy relationship with keyboards came to an end as soon as I bought my first Keychron keyboard with a knob (Q-series). After using this keyboard, I can't imagine ever buying another keyboard without a knob. It's really great to control your audio volume with an appropriate hardware control rather than pressing the same key 15 times in a row like an idiot or fiddling around with the mouse. You can configure th…

My old speaker set had a knob so I didn't need one. Now my monitors have a knob but I'd have to fiddle a bunch of things to make those behave as a volume.

What I love for AirPods Max is that it has a knob for volume. Capacitive touch area on headphone is a terrible idea.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#377

Post by Cthulhu_ »

frameset wrote: post #16

I really don't understand the numpad-less trend of fashionable keyboards. Doing any kind of number entry beyond one or two digits is very annoying without one. They also don't take up that much space really. If your keyboard is a portable one you pack with you on trips, I get it. If it lives on a desk, why not splash out the small amount extra to make number entry much easier.

I don't enter that much numbers tbh, so I don't need a num pad per se. The reason I got rid of it is because I switch between keyboard and mouse a lot, or use them at the same time; the extra distance was just uncomfortable for me.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#378

Post by zigzag312 »

rewmie wrote: post #343
zigzag312 wrote: post #243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had one 75% keyboard, but didn't like that extra column on the right. Now I have a custom build (6x14 keys) keyboard (much better IMHO).

> Now I have a custom build (6x14 keys) keyboard (much better IMHO). That sounds cool. Can you share more details about that?

I used BFO-9000 PCB which allows to break off some rows/columns. So, it's actually a split keyboard with two 6x7 pieces and low profile switches.

I like the narrow width and number of available keys.

Keycaps are black & white, but what I miss is different shapes of keycaps for easier tactile orientation. As a workaround I added keycaps with tactile nubs to some extra keys (enter, backspace, alt & tab). It helps, but it's not as good as different shapes would be.

Re: My Unhealthy Relationship with Keyboards

#379

Post by wejn »

nomel wrote: post #245

This is the only keyboard I've been interested in: DataHand Original: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DataHand DIY: https://github.com/JesusFreke/lalboard Using a single direction for activation, requiring massive movements in 2d space, seems so silly. I haven't been able to find one, to purchase. Related, I'm still learning how to use this one, since it's the only non-DIY equivalent I could find (great founder btw): h…

Why don’t you get a svalboard.com then? (It’s a commercialized next gen of lalboard)
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