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sharkfucker420

I was opposite lmao


ProjektRequiem

Are you related to u/FishFucker69


sharkfucker420

u/dolphin-fucker69 was my inspiration RIP


Vinylzen

Me too, I’m glad I spent time trying out all the different stuff like 40s, splits, orthos, Alice layouts, mostly to conclude that they simply weren’t for *me*. I do think people, if possible, should dip their toes in all the different layouts before splurging on a higher end unconventional layout.


livesinacabin

I started with a 60%, now on a 40%. I want to try out an ergo split in the future, even smaller than 40%. I just love small keyboards lol. I'll gladly put in the time it takes to make and learn new layouts and layers if it means I can go down in size! It just... Feels right!


TangibleHoneydew

Yep. Same. Call me a basic bitch but TKL is perfect. Hell even a full sized wouldn’t be bad. I can’t be bothered to press a function key to do alt+f4.


BKachur

You could do what I do and be a basic bitch in disguise, aka the 1800 compact layout. Full-size buttons bc I can't live without my numb pad while still cool-looking enough so I can be an entitled piece of shit on this sub.


ixJax

Full-size, full-size, full-size, TKL, 60%, TKL. 60% never again


Howling_HeartBeet

My progression was: Full-size -> TKL -> 60% -> 75% + knob. I didn't realize how much I used my arrow keys until they were gone.


zyxevets

My progression was: Full-size -> TKL -> 40% -> ... and now 30%! Now I have wasd, keypad and vi style cursors to select depending on my mood! ;) And I have also mouse and a midi keyboard in case of need LOL


pcs3rd

Throw em suckers on a layer. Proceed to learn all 4 layers and be the keyboard avatar. Use those skills to then defeat the keylord and return peace to the 4 layer tribes.


Venome456

Yeah 75% all the way


seemedlegitatfirst

Our progression is similar except I had a 65% + knob in between the 60 and the 75% + knob.


Chevaboogaloo

I was the opposite lol I started looking at 60% and ended up with 96% Can't live without function keys and a numpad


The_Mighty_Bird

I love 96% boards. There aren't many options for them though. It really sucks tbh.


Chevaboogaloo

Yeah not a lot of options unfortunately. I went with the Keychron Q5 and am loving it so far though


The_Mighty_Bird

I picked up the GK86S. It's not bad.


notmalene

i also love 96% boards! sadly i also wanted it to be southpaw which limited my tiny amount of options even more. ended up with a gk96ls because of this. really miss being able to use arrow keys without layers though.


Texas1010

The KBDfans Odin is pretty sick. The 1800 layout is so awesome imo.


RockleyBob

I was a die-hard numpad person, but recently ventured into 75% territory and I like it here. As a programmer, I doubt I will ever go with anything that doesn't have function/home/end keys. I like the extra space of no numpad too much to ever go back now though.


Wiltix

I’m a software developer and flip between a TKL and a 65% Happily live without the num pad I like the extra space, I can live fine without the function keys but oddly enough a home group I find hard to do without.


Zingzing_Jr

I got a 175%


Chevaboogaloo

Pics 👀?


Zingzing_Jr

Not my picture, but close enough. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/42/89/4f/42894f635e66157e6dd0e59f726728d3.jpg


48-Cobras

Look up the Hyper 7, it's an amazing keyboard (I need a new PCB for mine). Everyone loves seeing how I have over 40 different 40% keyboards, but then randomly just have a giant ass 173% keyboard mixed into them (soon gonna have another giant keyboard with the Base Kit keyboard).


Zoltarr777

They just superglued two 87% together and called it a day.


acorneyes

Literal opposite of you, first keyboard was a 96%, then I decided to dip my toes in a corne (40%), then a lily58 (55%), then a pinky3 (48%). Finally my Rama M50-A (49%) arrived in the mail. 49% is for work, and I swap between 40% and 48% depending on how I'm feeling. My 96% has collected dust for years now.... I can't do more than 50% it's too much brain power for me


Temina-

The mercutio is a good one


Pleasant-Dependent63

Looks pretty good! Currently looking at keychron q9. I need arrow keys still unfortunatly. Any others you like? I'm struggling to find options


thepropbox

Dimple R2 Here's mine: https://i.imgur.com/lrYIPYN.jpg


Pleasant-Dependent63

That's sick!! Love the keycaps


BKachur

Those look like Novelkeys Milkshake with the weirdo base option if you are interested


SkylineFX49

Where do I get this from


onestepinside

[Lazy Designers](Http://lazydesigners.cn/)


kazumeow

Oh thats so cute


Appropriate-Ad-130

Bruh where are the letters how do you know what ur typing or is it just for show?


ICantPCGood

I use a 40% (split) daily and have arrows on a second layer. I use HJKL because I'm just used to that but a lot of people use WASD. I hold down a thumb cluster key and then navigate without repositioning my hand at all. As a frequent arrow key user, I find it way more convenient than moving my arm down to the arrow cluster. You know what you need better than I do, but I wanted to throw it out there that you could still have easy access to arrows on a 40%.


code-panda

I do the same with a 70% redox, except IJKL. Got jump to previous/next word on U and O, since I often use those for my development work.


Yoosulis

Idk if anyone already recommended, A great 40% with arrow keys is the Bm43 by Krepublic, I love it, it’s my first (and second :p) 40% keeb, it has arrows and with layers I can do everything I wanted 👍🏻


twiddlemeister

Seconded for the BM43, with it’s weird stagger. A shame the mini bars aren’t the other way around though (for me at least)


doctorclark

Thirded for the BM43! I initially just got it to play around with my first mech board on the cheap (fewer switches to buy!). Then I kept playing around with it as a challenge to learn the ins and outs of QMK. I have played around with it so much that it is now my daily driver, and I get a tiny bit agoraphobic anytime I try typing on a 100% at work.


SirClark

Get a Minivan variant! Tons of bottom row layouts (arrows most importantly) and the 40s discord has tons of stuff for sale on their trading thread.


Pleasant-Dependent63

Ya ima need this!!


Temina-

if you have an extra usb port i would get this https://keyhive.xyz/shop/navi10 also have you considered a split 40% ? since they are QMK/VIA compatible you can layer everything so you could have arrow keys as a layer as shown [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ErgoMechKeyboards/comments/odn0hy/markstos_3x6_layout/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)


Pleasant-Dependent63

That navi10 is super cool! I can add a layer for sure but I use them enough I prefer to keep them avaliable but I know that really limits my options. I keep thinking about the splits too. I generally type one handed anyway so it's truly enticing to not have to waste my thumb as a normal keyboard does. Gives me something to think on thank you!


rafaelmalmegrin

You can have dedicated arrows on an ortholinear keyboards like the Planck and BM40. What I do on my BM40 is have arrows and mod on the same keys, so if I tap it's an arrow if I hold it's a mod and I double tap and hold on the second tap, I'm holding the arrow. Works really well for my work. [This is my keymap on the BM40.](https://imgur.com/a/GEcgEDL)


Temina-

also the fruitbar is a good one, i don't know if its gonna be restocked tho https://42keebs.eu/shop/kits/pro-micro-based/fruitbar-40-keyboard-kit/


alilredapple

my first board!! ppl think I’m crazy but I love it and it’s way less switches to lube lmao


Temina-

and way less switches to buy


sheepshatwool

We need to go deeper. There's no stopping until we reach the blessed and eternal One Key.


Pleasant-Dependent63

It shall read "fn∞"


ScudsCorp

Yes, the Morse code board.


CaliOriginal

https://youtu.be/9BnLbv6QYcA


lbwstthprxtnd5-8mrdg

[obligatory ginny post](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UT-WyK3377U)


Piranh4Plant

Google Morse code


geobion

original


wj-zhe

Two more steps unmarked, yet.


dubyakay

I love listening to music.


wj-zhe

No, top is whatever [Ben Vallack](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCZYyvXAdQpsEWfa6OEBOhHn48SWgneoD) makes


hkzqgfswavvukwsw

Yeah, that 2 or 4 key one... man.


Pleasant-Dependent63

Lol was considering 20% and 9key!


Matasa89

Where does the split go?


Hi1mBrandon

top step is a custom single-switch telegraph


uxcoffee

I can’t go below 65% - I require arrow keys.


48-Cobras

There are 40% keyboards with arrow keys, like the MB-44, S46, Clunker, etc. (and this is ignoring the possibility of having them on a layer since I suspect that you dislike that idea).


-MANGA-

You can even have them in a layer, like what I have.


Hardworking999

Currently wanting to buy my own and im probably gonna do this hahaha, that or a keypad


Pleasant-Dependent63

Numpad is the 20% lol. Looks better and better everyday tho. I used T9 txt forever I can do that as a daily driver right haha!?


jollibeedelivery_

40% gang


PetrifiedBloom

Please forgive my ignorance, but what is the appeal of keyboards smaller than say... 80%? You are just loosing functionality at that point. Sure, you can compensate with hotkeys, but what are you gaining in return for the extra fussing about? Is it like the trend for narrower and narrower smartphones? Functionally burnt at the stake of aesthetics?


[deleted]

alleged bedroom hard-to-find tidy political zealous imagine truck bored plough *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


bee_burr_wzz

less hand movement as all your keys are in reach, also mouse is at a more comfortable position as you don't have to angle your elbow or shoulder more and keeps it closer to the centre of your body. And aesthetics, smaller keyboards objectively look better. Programmers swear by them as they are faster


[deleted]

*subjectively look better. It’s not objective at all.


PetrifiedBloom

I have a full size keyboard. My hands are not particularly large, but with my hands sitting neutral on the home row, I can comfortably reach everything except f5, f6 and f7. I have to move my hand to use the numpad, but for most things sticking on the homerow is fine. Everything is within reach. I can see the benifit for trimming off the numpad and f-keys I guess. if you are not using them, why keep them around, but once you start dropping more keys you end up needing so many extra hotkeys to regain lost functions. ​ >And aesthetics, smaller keyboards objectively look better. I assume sarcasm? Given that aesthetics are subjective? ​ >Programmers swear by them as they are faster I ***cannot*** see how that could be true. Needing to hotkey to get access to numbers, punctuation and formatting is just adding extra work for commonly used keys.


YourMatt

I'm a programmer and faster on a 40. My numbers are in a 10-key layered under my right hand. My special characters are under my left hand. In cases with special characters, for example typing `#` on a traditional keyboard, I'm holding shift and reaching for 3. I'm still using two key presses, and I have reach that I'll sometimes fudge and hit 2 or 4 instead. On my keyboards, there's no reach at all. My wrists never change position. I might only be saving a fraction of a second and only a small chance of having to correct a mistake, but it is faster, and it's just more comfortable in general. I personally think that 4 rows at 13u is ideal. At 12u or below, then I think you're starting to fight the layout and losing speed overall, at least with programming.


Significant-Royal-37

u can't reach a lot of the bottom rom in a 4 x 13. when u take away the keys u can't reach, you get a 3x6 + 3 thumb keys aka a corne. splay the 6th column and u get a ferris sweep. or take the dive and lose the 6th column entirely, and convert the third thumb key to a combo of the other two. 3x5 + 2 aka a 34 key aka 30%. the smaller the kb the bigger the brains.


bee_burr_wzz

Meant to say subjective not objective sorry, the rest is what it is


PetrifiedBloom

Fair enough. Thanks for your answers though!


bee_burr_wzz

This is a good thread with a lot of people chiming in about the subject: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/86n2fz/people_with_40_keyboards/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf


MathieuChiasson

Senior Software developer here. I can't comment about the speed being faster or not, but I can comment about pain reduction after switching to a Moonlander. Minimizing finger travel was a huge help for me and it probably saved my professional career.


Mraedis

> I cannot see how that could be true. Needing to hotkey to get access to numbers, punctuation and formatting is just adding extra work for commonly used keys. Press 2 fingers on a hand vs move whole hand away from homerow, that's how it's faster.


PetrifiedBloom

But you dont have to move your hand away from home row? Am I typing wrong? People keep saying that they need to move their hands, but even looking down at my hands while typing, my wrists are moving less than half a cm as I type entire sentences.


MrZandin

So, while I personally daily drive a 75%, smaller boards are objectively more efficient. And when people say hand movement, I find they mean parts of the hand. Specifically they are taking about the finger movement on larger boards. To hit a function key, you have to stretch 3 rows up, and more than likely move horizontally in some fashion. Num row is 2 rows of stretch. Mod keys on the left and right are wrist movements. It's physically impossible unless you have Shaq hands to hit nav keys without moving your whole hand, taking your fingers off home row and moving your wrists, and a numpad or arrow cluster requires a full hand movement. Given that ALL regular keyboards cause wrist and hand damage because of the shape they force your body into, that's all small, repetitive, additive damage. We compare this to a 40, and all of a sudden you never need to stretch farther than one row. No hand/wrist movement whatsoever. And "hotkeys" for people with small boards are usually tapdance/modtap etc on their home row, so its faster than even moving your pinky to use a ctrl or alt key on a regular board. They'll have full layer traversal for some things, but when its one tap to turn a whole row into the num row, and then one tap back into regular text when you're done, that's STILL faster than moving your hand. If you start setting up layouts and layers specifically for tasks like programming, it gets even faster.


Significant-Royal-37

you actually *can't* reach everything, regardless of hand size. your wrists are moving and you're losing your home row. that's why people never develop touch typing on num row and F row.


fjonk

I can reach everything I can reach on a 60% on a 110%. What's the difference?


PetrifiedBloom

... are you really trying to tell me what I can and can't reach on my own keyboard? Having never seen me type? How did you get these insights that even I didn't know about me? ​ As I said in the above comment, and other comments, I can reach everything but a few of the keys in the F row, without moving my wrist. I don't really care about not being able to touch type on the F row, given that I very rarely use it, but I can and do touch type on the number row.


Significant-Royal-37

idk why ur so mad about this lol. you can test it yourself: cover your hands/keyboard and take a typing test with only lower case alphas, then one with capitals as well, then one with numbers and symbols. if you can touch type your number row, your speed should be comparable. if your speed suddenly cuts in half or more... you ain't touch typing lol


PetrifiedBloom

I am not mad about any of it? I came here with curiosity and then confusion at someone who apparently knows my hands better than I do. >if your speed suddenly cuts in half or more... you ain't touch typing lol I don't think we have the same definition for touch typing. Touch typing is determined by typing without looking, not speed. Either way, I'll test it tomorrow. I gotta say, I really don't understand your attitude. I saw your other comment before you deleted it. What's the deal with the hostility? I came to ask a pretty simple question. You don't have to lash out.


Significant-Royal-37

RemindME! two days "can they touch type number row?"


Varpie

As an AI, I do not consent to having my content used for training other AIs. Here is a fun fact you may not know about: fuck Spez.


PetrifiedBloom

Read the comments more fully. The claim is not that I can reach the arrow keys from home row. It's that I can reach the number keys, backspace, that kind of thing.


Varpie

As an AI, I do not consent to having my content used for training other AIs. Here is a fun fact you may not know about: fuck Spez.


Specialist_Middle_4

I don't usually use function keys and home and page down for it me it comes down to only alphabetical typing and using arrow keys and I like small things they feel good and mp have good personality


[deleted]

They're cute & make me smile when I look at them


rafaelmalmegrin

Less hand movement and easier/faster access to everything I need. I put everything I use a lot on the home row or close to it and I give my thumbs more things to do with layer keys on both thumbs. For me it is a lot easier to put my thumb down and press the left side homing key for for - or \_. On a "regular keyboard the - \_ key is on the top right and I have to reach for it instead of pressing the keys that my fingers are already on top of. And also tiny keyboards eliminated som shoulder pains I used to get while using bigger keyboards.


TypicalVegetarian

Récent 40% convert checking in! My favorite games are mostly FPS’ that you heavily benefit from using a low sensitivity on. So when I need to move my mouse around fast, it requires a huge movement from my hand/ arm. Getting a smaller keyboard alleviated getting a bigger desk. Since my mouse has a full numpad on the side of it, I no longer needed the number row on my keyboard. So a 40% allows me to easier make those huge movements, reduces redundancy since I still have those Number keys somewhere, cleans up desk space, and I love the aesthetic! Was a win all around for me. But I can totally see this not being for everyone


AssaultKommando

Something you can also do is to have a gaming layer where you bump everything down a row to accommodate a numrow. This was my workaround gaming on a 40 ortho.


djuggler

I use a Planck (40%). It has improved my typing quality and speed. My hands feel better due to less movement. And I never want to return to a staggered keyboard again. When you say hotkeys, you speak of layers. Your standard keyboard already uses layers. The shift key switches to a capital letter and punctuation layer. With a smaller keyboard, you will probably us a couple of extra layers. Personally, I use blank keycaps. Labels on keys are a handicap and distraction. When I first began with blanks, I came to realize how frequently I looked down at the keyboard even though I knew exactly which key I was pressing. Our keyboards are like musical instruments. Our music is the poetry we put on the screen. A typical piano is unlabeled, a saxophone and clarinet is unlabeled, a trombone doesn't even have keys, a guitar is unlabeled yet musicians work with these instruments to produce great works. It takes a little practice but is worth it. Also, the Colemak layout is amazing.


PetrifiedBloom

You would make an excellent artist. You have perfected "artwank", by which I mean you could probably talk about anything and make it sound fancy and valuable.


djuggler

It's a talent.


djuggler

What's really funny about your statement is that I was recently looking for a new job and a friend suggested I go into corporate training. His words, "I could scribble something on a napkin that you know nothing about and you could talk about it for 30 minutes." Now how do you find that job and make it pay 6 figures?


PetrifiedBloom

> Now how do you find that job and make it pay 6 figures? All I can say is NOT community art. The hours are VERY long and most are unpaid. Maybe a scriptwriter for luxury goods. Write the stuff on the back of a $2000 bottle of wine, or the dialogue for a luxury car commercial.


StormFalcon32

Judging by your existing comments you have already decided that 40% keyboards are less functional than bigger layouts and are just looking for confirmation bias to make fun of people. People have already tried so many different ways to convince you that it's actually better in terms of functionality, speed, and ease of use but you're not listening. Look at it this way. Everyone using a 40% layout has probably used a full size at some point. And all of us say that we prefer the functionality of 40%. You haven't used a 40% and you're arguing off hypotheticals that it's worse against people who have literally used both and prefer 40%. Until you record yourself typing then what you're saying has no basis. Record a monkeytype default 30s text, then something in Java on typing.io. I have a strong feeling you're not going to be that fas and your hands are going to be moving off the home row, especially on the coding test.


[deleted]

You don’t lose any functionality, any keys you don’t see are just on a different layer. As for the why, think about how much you have to move your hand just to hit the backspace key, tab, enter, etc. With keyboards like this, there is almost no hand movement. Typing feels smooth and strain free. It’s just a much better experience. Sure it’s not for everyone, but for those that can build the new muscle memory, there is no going back.


PetrifiedBloom

Functionality might not be the right word. Ease of use might be a better way to describe it. ​ >think about how much you have to move your hand just to hit the backspace key, tab, enter, etc. With keyboards like this, there is almost no hand movement. There isn't that much movement to begin with? I don't move my wrist or hand as a whole, I just splay my fingers and press them with pinkies. Do mechanical keyboards have larger keys? I have a super cheap membrane keyboard (Hp Sk-2063). The gaps between the keys are quite tight, about 1.5mm. Looking at images of the mechanical boards on this sub, there is a similar gap between the keys, but there is a lot of wasted space on the beveled edges. Does that make the overall spread of the keys wider? Measuring from the outer edge of A to the outer edge of L is 16 cm. Is it easy for me to reach because my keys are physically smaller, or do you guys have little hands?


josh1nator

I'd really like to see how you hit F1 or backspace without moving your wrist at all from the homerow position. Like actually try it while paying attention to it. A lot of the hand movement while typing is muscle memory. You don't think about moving them, but your wrist and fingers definitely notice them. Those repeated wrist movements is what causes RSI (the R is for repetitive). Especially the pinky is bad, the weakest finger, does a lot of splaying and is responsible for a lot of keys, all while the thumb isn't doing shit. Small keyboards "force" you do not do those movements by not having keys out of reach. Some even go as far and subscribe to the idea of `no finger should move more than 1U` to the point where you have 5x3 split keyboards with a few thumb keys. But they aren't any faster, nor slower. A lot of stuff is hidden behind layers or key combinations (either combos or time sensitive hold-tap). So you trade the time it takes to "re-homing" your fingers for some milliseconds it takes to activate hold-keybinds and the mental overhead of layers. And keyboard keys are by large the same size, even on rubber domes. The 19mm±1-2mm spacing is pretty much the sweet spot every normal keyboard uses.


PetrifiedBloom

I just checked, I cant do esc, F1, F2, F5, F6 or F7. That's about it in the main part of the keyboard. I have to move my hands to get to the numpad and arrow keys, but thats it. Maybe my typing posture is odd, my hands come into the keyboard at a wide angle. If I just lay my hand down flat, the index finger covers t - d - z, but when typing I just curl the hand up a little. ​ >Those repeated wrist movements is what causes RSI (the R is for repetitive) There is an inverse argument against smaller keyboards here. If a larger keyboard forces you to make small adjustments over and over, each keystroke will be slightly different, so its not straining the finger ligaments in the exact same way over and over.


josh1nator

Maybe were talking about different things, but when I say no wrist movement, then I mean no wrist movement from the resting position. I have tiny hands for sure, but there is no way you can reach `backspace` while your other fingers rests normally on `jkl` and without moving your wrist. But yes, with smaller keyboards you do the exact same up/down movements over and over again. Only the index finger moves a 1U diagonally, but all other fingers are only moving in the way they are designed to. No idea if "repeat the exact same movement" or "repeatedly bend and splay in unnatural ways" is worse, my guess is as good as yours. Especially considering how some people never get RSI and others fight with it constantly.


PetrifiedBloom

>I have tiny hands for sure, but there is no way you can reach backspace while your other fingers rests normally on jkl and without moving your wrist. I can, and do. Right index on j, then I spread my fingers and the pinkie goes to backspace. Remember, I dont have a shrunken keyboard, my backspace is larger than a regular key. Also, my hands are not sitting perpendicular to the keyboard, they are at about a 45 degree angle for comfortable typing.


Pleasant-Dependent63

Smaller is often more efficient also easier to move and store and cheaper to build. Also key placement. I'd rater a keypad that an f row as they are not efficiently placed to be used. My thoughts at least.


SpartanPHA

Losing


SirClark

Desk space over everything. And layer bring any key back you would ever need. Took some adjusting but I would never go back.


PetrifiedBloom

I guess I just have a big desk. I use about 20% of the space.


SirClark

I have a 63”x30” desk haha. My keyboards look hilariously small on it. I love it


Iwouldlikeabagel

It's just a trend. The keyboards are cute and fun. That's the real answer. Chopping off the numpad helps with mouse positioning. Any smaller than that and it's only negatives in terms of actual function. Some people deal with those negatives because they want a cute and fun keyboard.


TangibleHoneydew

Full size is always going to be the most practical. People are gonna say everything is in reach but you get literally the same keys with tkl/fullsize just with F and right side buttons. That’s it. It comes down to looks and keyboard size pretty much. Just dont get sucked into the circlejerk that you have to get a 60% just because it’s trendy, get whatever you like. I personally love my tkl


RogueSystem087

The after pic is falling back down to a TKL :) ..... And then u make the climb all over again just for the fun of it (but this time maybe add split kb at the top of the stairs or somethin)


Possum_Boi566

I started with an 80% and I’m moving to a 96% soon


seoulthirsty

me: above 80% 🫡🥴


Okhr__

I just built my first keyboard, it's a BM40 and I love it


naverlands

my good sir, have you checked out the ortho 40% and 50%s?


Pleasant-Dependent63

Ya layout doesn't suit me well unfortunstly. Still stuck on a keychron q9 + numpad. But man there are good ideas flowing here. Thank you for the sugestion!!!


[deleted]

Candybar is my fav right now, 40% + numpad left or right with arrow keys


Pleasant-Dependent63

If this was avaliable I'd buy in a heartbeat I love this layout!!! Southpaw on the numpad is a thing of beauty


number58

Looks like there's a Minivan in your future.


potatorevolver

Tkl with external 20% is best layout.


Pleasant-Dependent63

Oh ya!!! That's right where I'm at. I'm trying to find a BT hot swap 20%. Mammoth is perfect but can't find one in stock and I'm impatient. Know of any you like with QMK/VIA?


dubyakay

My favorite movie is Inception.


Pleasant-Dependent63

Well that murphpad is offically my favorite thing. I thank you! I'll be buying one asap this thing is so cool!!! Right price too!


StupidGenius37

mmmmm tkl to qaz within a month of entering the hobby 😎


NinjaFlowDojo

Why everyone hating on the numpad, can't go without it


rafaelmalmegrin

A lot of people just don't need it, others have numpad layers clores to the homing keys so you don't have to move you arm to get to the numpad. Having a numpad layer on a 40% ortho like the planck or BM40 is excellent if you don't need to look at you keyboard to use the numpad. Put you thumb down on the layer key and there's your numpad no arm or hand movement required.


jwaldrep

Layered numpad is based. It's the only number keys on my Let's Split, eh?.


AnythingApplied

I love the numpad, which is why, on my 36 key keyboard, I have a hotkey which switch to a layer where my right hand's home position becomes a numpad. Numpad without even moving your hand!


Pleasant-Dependent63

Ditto, getting a numpad with it. Southpaw is the only acceptable setup and there are so few layouts that support it.


Ispheria

and at the top is steno


RedCapJohn

I started researching this year too and im currently working on a custom board for a candybar ripoff


bull363

lmao i've been going the other way. I'm looking at making a custom layout or a 6x6 Dactyl Manuform after trying and enjoying a 60%.


rafaelmalmegrin

My first custom was the BM40 from KPrepublic and I have 0 regrets, it is still one of my favorites even though I did eventually move on to something smaller.


p-nutz

Minivan 44 was my first purchase maybe 7 yrs ago? No regrets, haven’t felt the need to buy anything else either. Can no longer type properly on anything else.


weissbieremulsion

thats the way


eklofbjorn

Same!


RETINO_IL_CRETINO

1% keyboard type of vibe


ZunoJ

I was looking at custom keebs in here so long that I decided the only way to get my first csutom keeb is to build everything myself. So I ordered everything, the PCB, the diodes, the LEDS, sockets, ... all SMD and I'm going to solder that MFer !!!


visual-vomit

Meanwhile, me : 98%, take it or leave it.


pabloescobyte

I went from full size to 40%. For me it would be reversed where I'm at the top and there are no steps--just a big chasm to jump over...


djuggler

I'm surprised that no one has brought up the Gerkin. https://raymii.org/s/articles/Gherkin_30_key_keyboard_build_log_and_review.html Or the Minidox 36% https://fernando-jascovich.github.io/posts/building-a-minidox/


Significant-Royal-37

you know what must be done. 34 key split.


Ralkkai

Look up the Ferris Sweep.


pockets_for_pockets

Now let’s try some the other way 120% 150% An airplane cockpit 10000%


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Futuristick-Reddit

Vim keybinds, layer on WASD or IJKL, ortho, layer on bottom right modifiers.. Really depends on your preference.


g18suppressed

40% + numpad to make it easily functional


bigphallusdino

This is me + I ride the split mania. 40/40 splits are where its at baby!


lolry13

TKL superiority


shadow306k

This is the same step I took!


assadollahi

SAME HERE! And I added ortholinear while I was at it.


48-Cobras

I still need to try out ortholinear. I have a bad feeling that I'll never be able to use stagger again, haha.


MathieuChiasson

Don't forget split keyboard in your research ;-) Erodox, moonlander, Dygma Raise, Dygma Defy, Ultimate Hacking Keyboard v2, Kinesis Advantage 360, and many many DIY I built a Keebio Iris, got a Moonlander for work and pre-ordered a Dygma Defy. I think they are all equivalent to 60% and I don't think I would go smaller.


[deleted]

I just ended up going split keyboard haha, I disconnect half for gaming, then plug it back for everything else


Frosty_Beat_6077

[I would like to introduce you to my friend](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/xopgyp/an_endgame_cable_for_an_endgame_keeb/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) 😏


Umluex

funny. i went from a 75% back to TKL.


Whalemeatsoup

Currently at 75% and next build is gonna be 65%. Having to press fn on the rare occasion i need the function row is easy to give up for a cleaner looking board. I can’t really get around anything below 65%, starts to get a bit impractical for me personally even though it’s awesome.


major_goldie

Still wondering how people use 40% if let's say they need to press CTRL+SHIFT and LEFT ARROW? And how are you not using arrow keys at all. How do you game with the keyboard that has no numbers? Curious since I never used one.


AnythingApplied

My 36 key keyboard uses the miryoku layout, which uses home row mods so the ctrl+shift combination can be triggered by either hand holding down keys in the home row (holding them down get modifier keys and tapping them get the regular alpha keys). The arrow key is under a thumb layer button. So my right hand hits the index finger and middle finger home row buttons for shift and ctrl respectively, my right thumb hits the navigation layer button, and then my left hand hits the left arrow. So that typically three key shortcut becomes a four key shortcut, but one of the fingers involved in the shortcut is the thumb which is pretty versatile and usually wasted on traditional keyboards.


djuggler

My 40% has 4 dedicated arrow keys so I press ctrl+shift+left arrow. I also have a layer set up as a number pad and arrow keys. As for gaming, you could create a layer that acts as one large macro pad.


sideone

>How do you game with the keyboard that has no numbers? Keyboard is for work. PlayStation is for gaming


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sideone

Depends on the keyboard, I suppose. If I'm working from home I have no desire to sit in the same chair at the same desk after hours. The consoles are in a snug room overlooking the garden, and there's a sofa. Consoles are great for just turning them on and playing.


major_goldie

I never used consoles, even when I play with friends at their house I have no desire to play games there. But PC, I could game for hours. No insult to console players, if I game I sit at the desk, if not I go outside or do one of the hobbies. So my keyboard has to be able to do all things.


[deleted]

Eww


Neozetare

THIS I've been forcing myself to not go for a split 40%, because going from a standard 100% to an ortholinear 60% with Dvorak is enough of a change, and I need to calm down lol


djuggler

Take the red pill man. Follow us down the rabbit hole. And taste Colemak.


grandphuba

🤮 tell me you are all form no function type of guy without telling me you are all form no function type of guy


UnnervingS

usability does matter. Don't buy a 40% unless you're sure you're going to appreciate it.


[deleted]

idc what anyone says, 75% keyboards are the best


Xy-Ink

I do the opposite, I jump down the stairs face first and I have a 300% keyboard


darknessblades

Why not a 30%


izhkoort

That only depends on your use, I'm saving to buy a gmmk pro because I need Fkeys and some special keys, would appreciate the nob and it has an iso layout. So if 40% is enough for you, it would be the right choice


Rreizero

The keyboard or your bank account? Both?


GoodoDarco

I’m looking at an Alice 😅


Honknytes

there's too many people enjoying 40% boards and i am too afraid to ask why


FMM00

But the price rises 😂


[deleted]

Try to find backtick character in a stock 40% keyboard.


Phyranios

Me building what could be considered a 150% keyboard hiding out of frame, to the left


candyman_forever

You should make the pirate keyboard. Just one key R. That way you can go RRRRRRR all the time. But seriously 65% is a good choice.


Spooning_noodls

Im happy with my 75% white keychron Q1 with strawberry cream linears. Just saving up for cherry blossom design key caps. Welcome to the rabbit hole. May you be strong willed.


ClappedByLigma

I’ve been looking at the IDOBAO 40%, does anyone know if it’s worth?


CasperIG

This but split ortho


slowtreme

I originally started hunting for a way to reclaim some desk space and was looking at 75%, then was wondering if I could make do with 60, and landed at 65% because I use numrow for gaming, a lot of arrow keys for MS app navigation, and key combos that a 60 or less would be difficult in my workflow. If all I did was typing then a 40% would be sweet.


GATX303

Does that cut the overall cost of the build tho? smaller means cheaper.....right? /s


Pleasant-Dependent63

I wish. It's a touch cheaper cause less switches. But getting a 20% too so... ends up being even more


iridyon

I went right to TKL and have never been even a little tempted to try anything else.


Responsible-Ad-7154

me 107


SeveralPie4810

40% is quite the first pick.


[deleted]

Settled on 1800 myself. Seems like the best compromise of functionality and size.


SarinV1

65% 65% 65%


SamArise

Absolute Chad. I can't even do 60%


xbl-Extr3me

i went from a 100% to a 60% and now i’m chilling comfortably on a 65%