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If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

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Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#201

Post by qwerty456127 »

Symbiote wrote: post #26
qwerty456127 wrote: post #20

I want a keyboard with an extra row of keys (I could use for additional characters in a custom layout) between the letters and the numbers. Is this possible?

Do you still want the F1-F12 keys? If you don't, choose a keyboard with an appropriate physical arrangement (I happen to have [1], which would work for this), and program it accordingly -- any mechanical keyboard lets you move the key mapping around. Optionally swap the plastic key caps around. (You could also achieve this OS-side on any cheap keyboard.) If you want an additional row, you'll probably need to make the…

> Do you still want the F1-F12 keys?

Absolutely. I am an extremely active user of the F# keys.

And I really want an extra row. As for now I have to use modifiers but having an extra row would be awesome.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#202

Post by duxup »

ganonm wrote: post #200
duxup wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I keep meaning to find a local keyboard Meetup and hope to try the ergodox. The downside is I work 50 / 50 home and work so if I liked it I would probably need a traveling case or something.

I impulse purchased the carrying case they released recently... Tbh not very happy with it. The molded foam inside the case only fits the keyboard but not the silicone wrist rests, which imo are vital. The space efficiency of the case is pretty poor too so it doesn't easily fit in a suitcase or weekend bag. I mostly end up just piling the keyboard into a bag loose.

Yeah I might be better off creating my own.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#203

Post by 7thaccount »

Symbiote wrote: post #61
7thaccount wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can any of these be bought? I love mechanical keyboards, but I can only use an ergonomical keyboard

Link dump ahead... https://falba.tech/ and https://keycapsss.com/ are two suppliers in Europe, both sell kits and the first sells premade keyboards. There are small companies selling prebuilt keyboards and kits elsewhere, but I don't know them offhand, except for https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33006060286.html from China (as I have one). There's also https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket where there are people that wi…

Thanks!

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#204

Post by K0SM0S »

fortran77 wrote: post #159
ganonm wrote: post #49

Around 2 years ago now, I took the plunge and bought myself an Ergodox EZ split island keyboard. Quite franky, it is the biggest quantum leap in the ergonomic experience of interacting with a computer I have seen since learning Vim. It is comfortable, effortless and fast. If you spend any significant time interacting with computers it is a complete no brainer to invest in optimising the IO channel between your brain…

I agree. My life has turned around completely because of three things: 1. Ergodox EZ Split Island Keyboard 2. Dvorak keyboard layout 3. Taking a Rust programming job Now I look forward to Mondays.

Writing Rust in Dvorak on an EZ Ergo for a living is next-level techno-paradise to many a nerd. Kudos for that!

Also, if by any chance you feel like sharing details about how, and in which order you made these transitions; things you wish you knew before trying... please don't hesitate :)

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#205

Post by sezna »

souterrain wrote: post #198
souterrain wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was looking for something close to this design, particularly with low profile switches. Thanks.

Alas, it is presently unobtainium. I guess I need to consider building my own split keyboard using Cherry ML switches.

This is similar and in stock, if you’re okay assembling it. They have great build documentation.

https://keeb.io/collections/keyboard-pcbs/products/quefrency...

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#206

Post by deathanatos »

jcims wrote: post #197
0-_-0 wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The guy sitting next to me at work uses and Erogox with blank keys. He's otherwise normal.

Does anyone use his machine?

As someone with blank keys on an Ergodox EZ… it's hooked up to a MBP, so I usually offer guests that keyboard, if they need to type.

(Mine is also mostly QWERTY, but admittedly that's hard to tell looking at blank caps.)

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#207

Post by davefp »

rwmj wrote: post #6

He built his own keyboard and still included a huge CapsLock key in the place where god intended Ctrl to go?

Capslock is the only 1.75u key on a standard layout, so none of the other caps from the cheap set used here will fit there without leaving a gap.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#208

Post by skybrian »

lleolin wrote: post #172

I've wanted a left-side number pad for a long time. I've contended that (for right-handed people) having a number pad on the right is poor ergonomics. If I centered such a keyboard in front of me, then the number pad would be in the way of my mouse. So I end up offsetting the keyboard several inches to the left, which causes me to have to position my arms awkwardly in order to reach the letters. I ended up using keyb…

Maybe buy a separate number pad? Looks like they are $30 to $40 or so.

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#209

Post by StavrosK »

jdc0589 wrote: post #95
ganonm wrote: post #49

Around 2 years ago now, I took the plunge and bought myself an Ergodox EZ split island keyboard. Quite franky, it is the biggest quantum leap in the ergonomic experience of interacting with a computer I have seen since learning Vim. It is comfortable, effortless and fast. If you spend any significant time interacting with computers it is a complete no brainer to invest in optimising the IO channel between your brain…

I'm on year 5 or 6 with a self built ErgoDox. it's really tough to imagine going back to anything else full time. I ended up building another to keep at home. Not sure how much it's changed, but I was able to build both of mine <= $200 each.

How do you build one? I'm handy with a soldering iron (and even designing my own PCBs), but I'd still want to not spend more time on it than I have to (e.g. if there is firmware I can just use).

Re: If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

#210

Post by misterbuzzkill »

joeblubaugh wrote: post #152
dblooman wrote: post #150

I've always wanted a mechanical keyboard with the layout of the Apple magic keyboard, couldn't get use to the windows key position and missed the fn key. Always thought about building my own

I solve this by remapping keys in software and then swapping the key caps - building your own is really fun but it isn’t required!

That's not the problem (at least for me).

On an Apple keyboard the right edge of the X key aligns with the right edge of the command key, which makes it easily accessible by your left thumb from a resting position.

Most non-Apple keyboards use a layout where the command/alt key is half a key width to the left. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it makes those keyboards really uncomfortable for me to use.

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