6 ms·

I think there should be a 100% remappable keyboard. I never use any of the legacy key functions, but the switches are precious on a fixed piece of hardware. It

by jfb 13y ago

I think there should be a 100% remappable keyboard. I never use any of the legacy key functions, but the switches are precious on a fixed piece of hardware. It is maddening to me that there are dead keys on my keyboards; having a completely soft layout would allow me to customize things exactly the way I want.

bhauer 13y ago
I'd like that too. Wasn't that the premise of that ultra expensive keyboard with individual OLED displays for each key [1]? I've never seen one first hand because I live in the world of mere mortals. Hard to conceive of spending that much and having to continue typing after all. If I had that kind of money, I'd have a keyboard chauffeur. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimus_Maximus_keyboard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimus_Maximus_keyboard
mike_h 13y ago
The Kinesis Advantage line is fully remappable, including macros. It's also premium hardware (nice switches) and a supremely ergo layout, with most keys within reach of the home row, and the thumb region divided up into multiple frequently-used (remappable) keys: http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/advantage.htm http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/advantage.htm Don't be cowed by the esoteric appearance; it's really just a tweak on the standard layout.
- jfb 13y ago
  Yeah, I've been using a Kinesis for more than a decade. I've never gotten around to doing the full remap, however.
- xntrk 13y ago
  Kinesis is so worth the money. I have been using mine for about 4-5 years. swapped my esc and capslock ages ago.
jerf 13y ago
"I think there should be a 100% remappable keyboard." You have one. It's the one you typed that post on. A keyboard just emits numbers, it's up to the computer OS to determine what to do with it. Exactly how to customize your keyboard is OS-specific, but it can be done in all the major ones, as far as I know. (Can't commit to Windows 8. Windows 7 did require some unpleasant registry hacking for changing caps lock.) If you want control over what your keyboard does, take it. Incidentally, the big key to trying things out is that if you remap a new function onto Caps Lock and you want to see if it works for you, be sure to demap the other copy of the key. If you make Caps Lock a new Backspace, you'll never use it. If you make Caps Lock a new Backspace, and then demap the current one, you'll literally be adjusted in a matter of minutes, and if you decide you don't like it, returning is also a matter of minutes. Once you work out what you need to do for your OS, keyboard layout experimentation is far more rapid than people realize, I think.
- numo16 13y ago
  On windows I use Autohotkey [1] to remap keys (capslock to backspace, qwerty to colemak, etc...), no registry hacks required. You just have to remember to run the script on startup. [1]: http://www.autohotkey.com/ http://www.autohotkey.com/
  - Marwy 13y ago
    Some time ago I used it to quickly change my layout from qwerty to colemak, and often it couldn't keep up with my speed (and I'm an average typist: ca. 65 WPM), which resulted in wrong order of characters. I tried both interpreted and compiled version - no difference. It wasn't a beefy machine, though, so with your i5s and 8 gigs it may work well ;-).
- moogly 13y ago
  On Windows, MSKLC is what you should use: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964665.aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964665.aspx
lcedp 13y ago
There are class of keyboard like [1]. They are used for specific operator cases but I find fascinating the idea of implementing your own layout from scratch. Usually they have more keys then standard keyboard has. So you could arrange Greek letters in a separate raw; or split alphanumerics to the edges and place arrows in the center; or have to enter keys for both hands; etc [1] http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/keyboards/POS/SPOS_Rows_Columns/ http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/keyboards/POS/SPOS_Rows_Co...

by jfb 13y ago

bhauer 13y ago

I'd like that too. Wasn't that the premise of that ultra expensive keyboard with individual OLED displays for each key [1]? I've never seen one first hand because I live in the world of mere mortals. Hard to conceive of spending that much and having to continue typing after all. If I had that kind of money, I'd have a keyboard chauffeur. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimus_Maximus_keyboard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimus_Maximus_keyboard

mike_h 13y ago

The Kinesis Advantage line is fully remappable, including macros. It's also premium hardware (nice switches) and a supremely ergo layout, with most keys within reach of the home row, and the thumb region divided up into multiple frequently-used (remappable) keys: http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/advantage.htm http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/advantage.htm Don't be cowed by the esoteric appearance; it's really just a tweak on the standard layout.

jfb 13y ago
Yeah, I've been using a Kinesis for more than a decade. I've never gotten around to doing the full remap, however.
xntrk 13y ago
Kinesis is so worth the money. I have been using mine for about 4-5 years. swapped my esc and capslock ages ago.

jerf 13y ago

"I think there should be a 100% remappable keyboard." You have one. It's the one you typed that post on. A keyboard just emits numbers, it's up to the computer OS to determine what to do with it. Exactly how to customize your keyboard is OS-specific, but it can be done in all the major ones, as far as I know. (Can't commit to Windows 8. Windows 7 did require some unpleasant registry hacking for changing caps lock.) If you want control over what your keyboard does, take it. Incidentally, the big key to trying things out is that if you remap a new function onto Caps Lock and you want to see if it works for you, be sure to demap the other copy of the key. If you make Caps Lock a new Backspace, you'll never use it. If you make Caps Lock a new Backspace, and then demap the current one, you'll literally be adjusted in a matter of minutes, and if you decide you don't like it, returning is also a matter of minutes. Once you work out what you need to do for your OS, keyboard layout experimentation is far more rapid than people realize, I think.

numo16 13y ago
On windows I use Autohotkey [1] to remap keys (capslock to backspace, qwerty to colemak, etc...), no registry hacks required. You just have to remember to run the script on startup. [1]: http://www.autohotkey.com/ http://www.autohotkey.com/
- Marwy 13y ago
  Some time ago I used it to quickly change my layout from qwerty to colemak, and often it couldn't keep up with my speed (and I'm an average typist: ca. 65 WPM), which resulted in wrong order of characters. I tried both interpreted and compiled version - no difference. It wasn't a beefy machine, though, so with your i5s and 8 gigs it may work well ;-).
moogly 13y ago
On Windows, MSKLC is what you should use: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964665.aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964665.aspx

lcedp 13y ago

There are class of keyboard like [1]. They are used for specific operator cases but I find fascinating the idea of implementing your own layout from scratch. Usually they have more keys then standard keyboard has. So you could arrange Greek letters in a separate raw; or split alphanumerics to the edges and place arrows in the center; or have to enter keys for both hands; etc [1] http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/keyboards/POS/SPOS_Rows_Columns/ http://www.cherrycorp.com/english/keyboards/POS/SPOS_Rows_Co...