4 ms·

I already have more staggered keyboards than I can use from 60% to full size. Not much incentive to buy more unless you are Chryosan22 and need all the keyboard

by shirro 6y ago

I already have more staggered keyboards than I can use from 60% to full size. Not much incentive to buy more unless you are Chryosan22 and need all the keyboards. But I don't have an ortho. I am curious to try one but I know from experience something like a plank would be too limited. I don't mind giving up the keypad but I like 6 rows and nav keys. I might be more likely to buy an ortho variant just for something different.

enriquto 6y ago
> I like 6 rows and nav keys. This has nothing to do with being staggered or not. I use a typematrix 2030 and it has function keys, arrows, and everything, in a split and matricial layout.
- shirro 6y ago
  Ideally I would be looking for an affordable and customisable mechanical with sockets and open firmware that is a matrix rather than a specialised ergo/split. Most "enthusiast" ortho mechanicals seem to be smaller like the plank and appeal to the people who like layers. I know I don't enjoy lots of layer shifting with smaller keyboards. I have been tempted to build something like an XD75 which is 75 ortho keys in a 60% size. I have also been considering doing a hand wire. More for the fun of making stuff than any necessity. There are bigger orthos aimed at point of sale and ergo users but their features are a bit different.
  - enriquto 6y ago
    I can vouch for the XD75; the version where you simply plug-in the switches is really straightforward to build. I'm still using the typematrix because my switches for the XD75 are too bulky and noisy, but may replace them in the future. Configuring the layout with qmx is also straightforward, and you don't need any layers with a large board like the xd75 (I only have one for the "firmware upload" combo).
  - dsr_ 6y ago
    Have you seen that X-Bows is pre-selling their 3rd generation, now programmable with QMK? - ortho - angled but not split - replaceable MX-style switches - 86 keys - lights, no whistles

by shirro 6y ago

enriquto 6y ago

> I like 6 rows and nav keys. This has nothing to do with being staggered or not. I use a typematrix 2030 and it has function keys, arrows, and everything, in a split and matricial layout.

shirro 6y ago
Ideally I would be looking for an affordable and customisable mechanical with sockets and open firmware that is a matrix rather than a specialised ergo/split. Most "enthusiast" ortho mechanicals seem to be smaller like the plank and appeal to the people who like layers. I know I don't enjoy lots of layer shifting with smaller keyboards. I have been tempted to build something like an XD75 which is 75 ortho keys in a 60% size. I have also been considering doing a hand wire. More for the fun of making stuff than any necessity. There are bigger orthos aimed at point of sale and ergo users but their features are a bit different.
- enriquto 6y ago
  I can vouch for the XD75; the version where you simply plug-in the switches is really straightforward to build. I'm still using the typematrix because my switches for the XD75 are too bulky and noisy, but may replace them in the future. Configuring the layout with qmx is also straightforward, and you don't need any layers with a large board like the xd75 (I only have one for the "firmware upload" combo).
- dsr_ 6y ago
  Have you seen that X-Bows is pre-selling their 3rd generation, now programmable with QMK? - ortho - angled but not split - replaceable MX-style switches - 86 keys - lights, no whistles