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I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

electronicmaterialsoffice.com

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Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#231

Post by numlock86 »

kerblang wrote: post #46

Web site advice: The spinning graphic is cool but it's very hard to get a decent look at the whole thing. I even tried clicking to pause it. It seems like all the pictures are partial or moving. As the keyboard goes: As others have noted, it would be really nice to see this design approach taken to a more full-sized standard keyboard. I think it's necessary to have some kind of tactile thing between function keys - a…

I don't have a cursor on the website. Is it just me? As soon as I click the link it simply goes invisible. I see some hover effects when I move around, though. Is this intended design as in "use your keyboard"? I mean I'd get the joke but it's a terrible idea ...

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#232

Post by unsafecast »

vladvasiliu wrote: post #87
unsafecast wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but over bluetooth it does something weird so that a hack [1] to use it in Mac mode is necessary and some key combos still don't work right for me. I have one too and it does it over USB as well. Though keyboard shortcuts work fine for me, USB or not.

Which Keychron is that? I have a K2 which works well for me in "mac mode", both wired and USB. The only gripe I have with it is that the Fn key is "fake", as in it doesn't send any signal by itself, so it can't be remapped.

I have a K2 as well. I set it in Windows/Android mode to use with my Linux box (Mac just changes the modifier keys afaict). The F-keys default to the FN row, not the F1-12. You can change that with a command I completely forgot and just copied once to a startup script.

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#233

Post by aemerson_ »

layer8 wrote: post #163
Lendal wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a lot of wasted space on the right side of this keyboard where they could have easily put the Del/PgUp/PgDn keys right there. I don't know why they didn't.

I suspect they need that space to house the internal electronics like the keyboard controller.

You are correct! There was not enough space below the keys due to the device's low profile. So the right hand area houses the MCU, USB C port, battery, as well as the 2 slide switches and button that poke out the side of the case.

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#234

Post by what-imright »

Really nice especially the moulded keys, but two eyesores, the logo and the whatever knob in the top right. You’re never going to be able to slip that into a bag with the knob sticking out. And nobody uses those. Well nobody that can pay $120 for a keyboard.

As for the logo, that’s a vanity thing. I know you’re very proud of making the product but if you put a stupid logo on front it kills the minimalist vibe and reduces the practical low key expensive style to just another “RBG in the next model haxxors”. It’s a keyboard, let it be a keyboard, with a simple model number, and add your brand logo to the back of the device. Let the product sell itself.

Uh-ho just looked again and saw it was made in the uk. never buying it

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#235

Post by [deleted] »

lpasselin wrote: post #214
ebastler wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not a member of the team, but was contracted for the PCB design as an external freelancer - I have one of the PCB prototypes sitting in a shelf, and the designer has a fully functional prototype with aluminum case and keycaps already. Bit dusty, but here's my proto with a ridiculously oversized battery (that would probably run for a year or so without charging): https://mpwr.xyz/blog/2022/pcb_1.jpg This will most…

How much does a pcb like this cost for a small prototyping batch of 1 or 5 for example?

[deleted]

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#236

Post by numlock86 »

mrdrqr wrote: post #225

How is that rotary encoder low profile?

That was my first thought as well ... also I wouldn't call 15mm (excluding the rotary) a "low profile" USP for a keyboard in 2022 anyway. The generic wireless Logitech MX I am writing this on is thinner than that.

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#239

Post by aemerson_ »

filippofinke wrote: post #4

Is it possible to remove the 'rotary encoder'? As someone who often carries his keyboard around in a backpack, I think this part can break very easily.

I hadn't considered that but you raise a good point. I'll look into it.

Re: I spent a year designing a low profile, minimal mechanical keyboard

#240

Post by peace4all »

I like it being low-profile. That's why I didn't buy ErgoDox.

So all the best wishes to the author.

But there are some tradeoffs why I probably not buy it.

1) I'd suggest a column of home/page up/page down/end (top to bottom in this order) on the right side, like some laptop makers do. They're very convenient. That's absolutely necessary for text editing or navigating in various windows. (Sure one can use combos, but then you must stick to the keyboard all the time.) Del/backspace probably also should be different keys.

2) Missing menu key also requires you to take mouse sometimes. Laptops can get away with touchpad. But with the minimal keyboard, that requires user to hold it more and use combos, you must leave the keyboard and take a mouse to open a context menu.

A general philosophical question (not a negative comment to this particular keyboard): do we really still need key rows to be shifted 1/4 of width, because keys needed arms underneath in the late 19th century?

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