I saw this video about 8 months ago...And I thought like who tf is this man, how can he use it and remember all shortcuts?!? Now after 5 months of using my Planck, I just want to say thank you very much for showing me this awesome thing! I've just ordered parts for my second 40% ortho :).

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

5 жыл бұрын

Wonderful!

"day 12 after googling mechanical keyboard for the first time"

@Cyromantik

3 жыл бұрын

It's a hella fun rabbit hole to go down. One year later for me and I have two handbuilts, one of which is a split from Keeb.io and the other an ortholinear from Drop. Then I found out I could plug these into my phone using an OTG cable... Oh ho ho! So now I'm taking this little rainbow keyed Preonic into the office rather than my laptop now. :)

@prophetdeceitful4444

2 жыл бұрын

Once you fall in, you can never get out

@astrofromthevoid

Жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣🤣 welcome my friend.

I think it would be more approachable if the keycap set were cooperative.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

6 жыл бұрын

I'm working on an intuitive layout and printing on keycaps that is easy to pick up on! Stay tuned!

@gytisi.1445

5 жыл бұрын

www.wasdkeyboards.com/designer/keyboard_data/models/87-Key%20Custom%20Cherry%20MX%20Keycap%20Set/layouts/38-87-vim-progdvor-black/87-vim-progdvor-blk-thumb.png

@seven9766

5 жыл бұрын

I saw this vid at a similar time. Here's my story: I wanted only one Keyboard, if i was gonna spend Money on it. Therefore i wanted it all: QMK, no RGB cancer, Split, ortho, 60% bc i didnt want to find i had not enough keys. Oh and the NEO Layout please, since i am learning that atm. To cut a long story short, i built a nyquist with custom wasd keycaps. I thought i was done for the next 10 years. Oh boy, was i wrong. I ordered a gergo kit 5 hrs ago, but with switches and keycaps included. Living in europe sucks for shipping from the us. I will go abroad for a year, and a friend wanted to play around with a macropad. Will probably take the gergo with me if i can build it in time, lend the nyquist to said friend. Original plan was to build a viterbi, but keeb.io doesnt accept paypal anymore.

@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017

3 жыл бұрын

@@TroyFletcherKeyboards I was just reading about DIY dye sub printing. Seems like a blank set would be fine for you anyway. You know all the keys from memory.

@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017

3 жыл бұрын

@@seven9766 The Corne keyboard seems ideal. I'm gonna build one of those suckers.

Probably the best explanation of the 40% keyboard I have ever seen. This is truly a terrific video.

"This keyboard scrolls into view like a Star Destroyer" - such a great line!

"I am a programmer and I use vim." That is all you needed to say to convince me to go 40% haha.

@pipila4826

4 жыл бұрын

I just heard vim and I was like this dude knows what he's talking about

@dedelabinouze5110

3 жыл бұрын

I've stopped counting the amount of time i've heard: 'Wow how do you work with a 60% ??! I NEED my arrow keys for VIM' Mate just press Fn + WASD.

@flexagonpark5467

3 жыл бұрын

@@dedelabinouze5110 arrow keys suck This post was made by hjkl gang

@handlechar568

2 жыл бұрын

@@JohnDoe-qz9ji I think you would have to do it a similar way on a 40%. You could have a toggle layer key that replaces the top row with F keys. Personally I use vscode and don't use shortcuts that complicated. Both my numbers and F keys are accessible from layers triggered by keys I hold down with my thumbs. I think you could also set up the layer key to function as both hold and toggle. Hold to hold. Tap to toggle. Or... you could arrange the F keys on a layer in a grid pattern (like a numpad) on the right side. So you could hold down the layer key with right thumb and hit the F keys with your right fingers, freeing up your left hand to hold down both option and cmd, etc. You have many options!

@handlechar568

2 жыл бұрын

@@JohnDoe-qz9ji Oh and I think you could also do things like put Cmd+Option on the same key on your F key layer.

Pain27 users: "Pathetic"

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

5 жыл бұрын

Always been a fan of the Pain27 :D

@ultimatecheeze9066

5 жыл бұрын

@@TroyFletcherKeyboards I need to find out how to buy one. I have always wanted a ridiculously overpriced paperweight.

@iLiokardo

5 жыл бұрын

LOL

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

5 жыл бұрын

I think you have to make one yourself. I think it could be used if you could do some alpha key tap/hold layering. I've wondered about that kind of layering for a while, but never tried it out. The Pain27 would probably force me to do it, and I could finally test it :D I theorized that you could do mods or layer changes on unused english bigrams (much like modal changes in vim using 'jk' or 'fd'), or you could do holding mods on double taps of certain keys. Imagine being able to hold z to change layers, but if you tap it, it's just z. Or if you type 'jkc' the next key you press would have CTRL as a modifier for it. Creativity is found in limitation, and I think there are few keyboards more limiting than the Pain27! :D

@EeYahe

3 жыл бұрын

@@ultimatecheeze9066 there is someone on etsy that sells kits, like 60$ when I got my kit.

dude so well narrated. convinced

from my gaming perspective as a leftie, i used arrow keys and buttons around them for ages now, and trust me, ortholinear is comfy! staggered layouts are so hard-wired into our minds, people need to focus on this and change it

I finally understand it. Everytime we see something that we dont understand, the first reaction is to think "this people is stupid" but if they do it that way, its probably for a reason. I am not saying I will switch to a 40%, because I dont have the need or the desire to, but, at least, now I know how it works and makes more sense.

Layers can seem scary, until you realise we all use layers on traditional keyboards, with shift and sometimes alt. Think how annoying it would be if every different symbol and even lower/upper case letter were its own key! You'd have like 150+ keys, massive, moving all over the place, super slow. 40% Planck keyboards basically just add another few layer keys to make it even more efficient.

For me, the biggest part of using a tiny keyboard is the mandate that your thumbs participate more in the action. Every keypress can be within one key of the home row, and it's your job to make that both memorable and easy. There's a lot of work that goes into figuring out what exactly works for you, but I think this video provides exactly the basis you need for that. No tutorials on setting up his exact key layout, no best practices for you to observe, just him telling us some cool things about his keymap and how he uses it.

5:03 “Wanna see me do it again”

great explanation, after owning a using a Anne pro 2 for a while now I am going to buy a PLANCK EZ. Layering is brilliant and I can never go back to full size.

Instead of reaching far away for key in vi, it is possible to just hit ^[ ( and opening square bracket). This works in vanilla vi and many other *ux command line tools.

This is the first mechanical keyboard video that I've seen that has talked about 40% ortho keyboards for the purpose of maximising efficiency. Very interesting video!

THE ULTIMATE VIM KEYBOARDDDDDDD!!! nice video keep it up 😀

What an awesome explanation. The background was absolutely great. I just started down the road to smaller keyboards. I have my first 60% in the mail right now and then stumbled upon 40%. When I was looking at 60% I initially didn't understand at all.... but this video even just made me understand that even better. It's also a cool idea to just use vim controls... everywhere..

Your video changed my perspective in many things. Being a designer, your quote that design follows the form resonates very well with many things we are conformed because of how its designed. And the potential of the human mind to change that landscape, to rethink, relearn. And I dont ever leave comments on KZread. You are my very first. Just cause, your very video reached out in many ways besides the title. Thanks!

You made sense of a lot of what Ive been wondering about with small KBs - but I have 20 years of muscle memory for my motion graphics and animation workflows!

@purplelord8531

2 жыл бұрын

yeah, good on you for recognizing the biggest challenge with these keyboards I've seen people online buy an ergo mech, try it for a week and go wHy IsN'T iT wOrKiNg. you need to be dead set on taking years familiarize yourself with these layouts - def. not for everyone

I still don't think i could commit but this is a very good explanation video on how you function key warriors are so efficient.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

6 жыл бұрын

The great thing is that there are lots of options available. There are tenkeyless (missing only the number pad), and 60% (only keys from ~ to backspace and below). Now, there are more that fall in between and include arrows, functions, and page clusters fitted into the 60% form factor. The real power is in the programmability helping you get your work done faster. You can get that out of a basic mechanical keyboard, even if it's full size.

@d3vastat0r89

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, seems a lot to cram, in addition to relearning to type.

@Sinehmatic

5 жыл бұрын

Wouldn't work very well for gamers, for example, or anyone who is using only one hand. A modifier key at one end of the keyboard and need the character while holding that modifier at the other end doesn't work too well when you're using one hand. I'm speaking specifically about 40%s and it might actually work for some people for specific games. I use a 60% because I don't use function keys in any of the games I play and I love the space it frees up and how easy it is to transport. But I definitely use my number row and I can't be moving too many fingers for one key press so modifiers to make my important, regularly used keybinds work is a no go for me. Some keyboard shortcuts such as push to mute, mute game, etc that are not intense gameplay keybinds can obviously use modifiers and more complicated keybinds but that's something else.

@seven9766

5 жыл бұрын

@@Sinehmatic To each their own poison. A QMK programmable full size board can do the same magic tricks. Just need to get creative with your spacebar. Chopping that up is long overdue

you made 40% make more sense in my head. I'm still not convinced that having dedicated keys for different things is not better but you opened my eyes to the possibilities!

This is probably the best explanation for an ortho keyboard I've seen to date. Thank you!

I just moved from a 60% to a 40% a couple weeks ago, and I don't think I could ever go back now. People always ask why it I would want something so small or something that is missing so much, but having the layers just makes far more sense than having a big ass keyboard.

I think you convinced me when I first saw this video. I'm now considering this to be my first build.

Love this and thanks! I always a proponent for vi because you don't have to touch the mouse or use difficult key combos to do every possible operation you'd want in an editor. So I logged keystrokes for a few hours (in vim) and watched how many times I hit escape ... I couldn't believe it. Sure I don't touch a mouse, but my hands are all over the keyboard in wasted motion. I remapped immediately and got in on a drop for a planck to help force the issue. It will take time to get used to ortholinear keys, but I am already reconfigured so my hands rarely move in my vim config and I can't wait to have extra keys close by for more layers.

I haven't added a 40% to my collection, but I think I will have 2 by the end of the year. I think the short time in getting used to the layout will be outweighed by the benefits. I don't thing I could use one for every task I do on a computer, but for some things, I am really eager to give it a try.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

7 жыл бұрын

My favorite thing to do with a 40 is to take it along with me so I have a handy keyboard I can use on my phone with a usb to go cable. Android phone support usb devices natively, and if I need to do some actual work on my server, I get all my macros, key combinations, and speed when I SSH into my server.

@nilssab

6 жыл бұрын

learning a layout is surprisingly easy when all buttons on the different layers are where it makes sense to you...

First time such a layout made sense to me. Thanks.

I got a 40% ortholinear keyboard because i wanted more desk space but still wanted a numpad. I can't go back.

recently moved to the 65% keyboard i needed dedicated arrow keys but this is by far the best explanation on 30-40% keyboards

at first I thought, "wow his keyboard is wonky", but not really, it's his keyboard.

I used to daily drive a 40% I made, but I wound up switching to an Ergodox because the thumb clusters make layer switching easier and the split design is a little nicer. The 40% is now a stenotype, with any keys not mapped onto anything in Plover pulled out alongside the switches.

Well explained, and you really did help me understand what the reasoning behind these keyboards are. But I still believe that this boils down to just a more extreme version of the Dvorak argument. You could make the case and demonstrate that typing on a 40% ortholinear makes things that much more efficient and whatever, but it's still a learning curve that may make sense for some but not most people. Short of your professional credentials directly benefitting from this kind of absolute efficiency to justify overcoming that learning curve, I still fail to see how an ordinary user could justify doing the same themselves other than because it'd make them look cool. Also, adapting this to gaming seems a stretch when you need function just to access the number rows, or having nontraditional placements for space and other modifiers.

I suggest starting with a 60% with double printed functions on the keycaps, or 40% with doubleprint. It will save you time learning the layers.

I've been thinking about how an ortho can work for me, since I also spend a lot of time in terminal and vim. Thanks for the tips!

You have a talent for making videos bro. Great voice, amazing presentation, & the way you explain things is very succinct and easy to comprehend!

I have been using my planck over the past year as a software engineer and I will never go back to any otger keybaord. It is awesome and I am using blanck keycaps.

switching between this video and Chyrosran22's video is amazing

Great explanation. Thank you!

Why u gotta be so smug

Nice thoughts. The idea of shifting things to the fingers resonates very well. Im currently making the adjustment from a 60% with a rather poor layout to a 30% with a focus on steno and vmk for programmability. I was tending to think about layouts in terms of duplicating what is already there... ie. number keys and fkeys up. shifting them to home row with a fast toggle or as a macro is slick. going to have to give this some thought,

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

6 жыл бұрын

There's plenty to think about! Eliminating motion is as much speed as it is ergonomics, so try to target any weird or repetitive (or both!) key sequence. I made a long and poorly recorded video going over my 40% layout: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qqOqzLWLZb3QZ8Y.html

I think you just convinced me to make the switch.

I had the privilege of typing on this at the Louisville meetup earlier this year. Very cool!

I feel like 40 percents are a whole new type of hobby itself, not only 40 but just something like a custom acrylic laser cut cases with wonky layouts that divert from ansi such as the lily or levinson/lets split. You start learning about how to program pcbs and manufacture a new one which is insane. You start learning how to cnc and just start looking over the aspect of group buys and modding a keyboard until it’s full of things that aren’t keyboard.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

2 жыл бұрын

I hope you're not talking about me specifically because that would mean more people are doing this. You are exactly right, and I think 40 percent keyboards are an invitation to rethink the concept of input devices. We've been far too long with then >100 year old design, and we're only not looking for ways to improve, and this is causing us to question all our preconceptions. "If I'm carrying around my custom keyboard, what else can I carry around? A USB drive? My passwords? An entire computer?" "My keyboard can do macros to automate basic functions and navigation on my computer, what else can it automate? Mouse movements? Combinations of the two? Can my macros change based on what program I'm working in at the time?"

Interesting. I don't ever see myself going to a 40% layout but your reasoning behind it makes so much sense. But why did you choose to have a grid-like layout for your keys when a 40% layout could have still kept the traditional 'diagonal' layout? The slight different in switching to a grid-like layout must have thrown off your muscle memory.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

5 жыл бұрын

Actually I found the transition from horizontal stagger to grid to be extremely smooth. ZXCV keys are notorious because they move the most, but after a day I was totally fine. I even went further and staggered vertically with my latest design, Signum 3 kzread.info/dash/bejne/qp2nuc6Efs3VhZc.html

ctrl + c also exits insert mode in vim, no need for escape :)

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

7 жыл бұрын

I knew about that one too, but typing jk to exit insert mode is extremely fast! imap jk

It requires a lot of shortcut memorization, but I'm sure over time it'll become muscle memory

I think I'm good with the extra exercise it takes to do literally anything at all without layers of modifiers to go through

This is like the same argument for minimalism, and although I kinda of get it. I like when buttons have a singular purpose. BTW, I have that same dell AT101W, and I linearized the switches.

Whole Time I Was Using This Keyboard Wrong. Now I Can Finally Rest In Peace.

This is great. You might want to consider Dvorak or another layout for more efficiency.

@Anon.G

4 жыл бұрын

Nobody should ever use Dvorak, it's inferior to colemak in everyway. Colemak is mathematically more efficient, and colemak changes less keys than Dvorak, so ctrl z x c v all work on colemak

If I can offer a counterargument: I do writing as a hobby, and I type at about 100 wpm. However, I spend quite a bit of time deliberating on which sentence goes next, such that even when I'm "really blazing" on a manuscript, I can only get about 750 words an hour. Which means that _at the very least_ I spend almost 90% of my typing time not typing. I could be going ten words a minute and still have comparable output. That's about as fast as I _write cursive._ This feels a lot like "what typing speed do you need to become a hacker". Unless you're doing a very specific job like-not like programmer, like _paralegal_ or something-you're probably going to be just fine with a typing speed in the mid-40s like everyone else. If you're worried about screwing up your hands there are ergonomic boards for that. If the 40% layout works for you, then good for you! It probably works great for a lot of people's setup. That and it's cool. But the aura of superiority I get out of this vid is kinda a putoff, and I'm _less_ likely to try one now.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

3 жыл бұрын

Don't shoot the messenger. Moving your hands less and typing faster is objectively better in every way. Concerning yourself with the aura of superiority you attain by improving your work task or hobby is like lifting heavy things with your back because the guy who said to lift with your knees seemed like a know-it-all. Programmers make the same argument; "I spend more time thinking than typing!" That may be true, but you DO spent time typing, and if that time at 10% or 50% of your work was shorter, everything would STILL be better. Check my Vim vs Emacs video for more talk of improving text editing workflow and speed. There's nothing bad about finishing more drafts faster.

@FourOf92000

3 жыл бұрын

@@TroyFletcherKeyboards I recoil at the statement that _anything_ is "objectively better in every way", especially something so subjective as which keyboard experience is more efficient or feels better for you. When I'm thinking between keystrokes, for instance, I lift my hands from the keyboard _anyway,_ because I think with my hands as much as I speak with them, which means I place a premium on being able to find my spot and place my hands in it, from a non-typing position, as quickly as possible. The 104-key ANSI layout does that quite well, such that I considered a switch from a TKL to it an upgrade. Again, if your setup works for you, I'm not going to knock it. It seems to; you made an eleven-minute video extolling its virtues. And I'm not going to say it doesn't have its benefits. But if you're going to say that because this steep-curved system works well for you, it will therefore work perfectly for everyone else with no drawbacks whatsoever-which I believe the statement "objectively better in every way" is equivalent to-I'm going to object, because with that you're claiming that the vast majority of people who just want to use their damn keyboards, myself included, are objectively wrong to do so. And that I'm not going to let stand without contention. (Granted, I also tried vim for a month and rejected it, so we're probably not going to be on the same page anyway.)

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

3 жыл бұрын

​@@FourOf92000 I'll say it again; Moving your hands less and typing faster is objectively better in every way. Learning curve is a weak argument. If it takes you something as excessive as 12 months to learn to use it, you'll still reap the benefits for the rest of your typing life. That said; maybe if you're 99 years old, it might not be worth it. You are more than welcome to continue lifting things with your back, but don't try to convince me or others that it's better.

@FourOf92000

3 жыл бұрын

​@@TroyFletcherKeyboards I am not saying that a 104-key board is _better_ than a 40-key board, in any objective sense; I _am_ saying that there are a whole lot of different use-cases for keyboards, and a whole lot of different types of user, many of whom have various legitimate problems with a 40-key layout (for instance, most video editing software has you pressing one of the control keys at least half the time). You have said now, _twice,_ that the 40% layout is "objectively better in every way". I took that to mean that it would be _measurably_ better for _every_ person's use case. I can think of several that wouldn't be, for example video editing (where everything requires multiple keystrokes anyway, so you're stacking keystrokes on keystrokes and thus burning time) or accessibility (it's a lot harder to use multiple function keys when you're, say, missing fingers, or physically cannot move your hands dexterously). I repeat: I do not care that you use 40%. If anything, I'm happy that you are happy with it. It means you've found your optimal means of interfacing with the computer. And if it works for other people, I have no problem with it. Let them try. But it doesn't work for everybody-it doesn't work for _me,_ for instance, for reasons I've already explained-and claiming objective superiority is elitist at best. Also, "don't try to convince me or others that it's better"? What, are you afraid I'll succeed?

Should have started off with the knight keyboard (like the Lisp machines had). It have roman numbers I-IV, a Greek shift key, a Front shift key, a Top Shift key, Control, Meta, Super, and Hyper, etc.

I love your vid and your voice 💕 Very helpful 😊 I am now thinking of switching to a 40%keeb

super inspiring video, thank you

I'm having troubles deciding to go Ortholinear or Staggered. Staggered would be easier to used to while the Ortho would be easier, more intuitive for the numbers.

I came for the 40 percent keyboard and stayed for the cool voice tune, I have big issues with auidio, and your audio was clean. Yes the quality might be bad, but it doesn not matter because bny the end of the day the most impornat thing is the audio, so thank you for making that be cool, and good enough to hear with out any issues!

I agree with you

couldn't agree more! typing is all about efficiency.

Thanks, this video was very useful for me.

I would totally get into new layouts and keyboard types, but the problem is that ai would be unable to work on a keyboard say, in a library, at school, at a friend’s house etc. Same thing happens when I change my bindings in games significantly and can’t play at my friends’ houses.

@iLiokardo

5 жыл бұрын

You could learn the new keyboard layout, then relearn QWERTY so you can still type on a standard keyboard. But look into it more if you actually want to switch. Or, take your preferred ortholinear or vertical staggered keyboard and your game key bind config along with you in a USB stick (don't forget it :) You could have your preferred key layout in that custom keyboard XD

Good video the are lots of build videos on these but not many explaining basic use, can you share your keymap file and do your have this on keyboard editor?

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

6 жыл бұрын

Yes, my keyboard layout is a bit of a mess, but only because I keep trying new things and tweaking what doesn't work. There are a lot of iterations here: www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/2b26cee77ba243e0e6b8e9d71efe7e21 You can also find a poorly recorded video where I discuss my 40% layout: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qqOqzLWLZb3QZ8Y.html

As a simple universal non-ESC way to escape, Ctrl-[ works exactly the same as the ESC key.

Having a numpad layer in the keyboard could be a reason to use an ortholinear keyboard.

@Cons-Cat

3 жыл бұрын

Numpad is actually useless. You want numbers ordered ergonomically on the row above home row, with 1 and 0 on home row index position. Ordered according to Benford's Law with Zipfian distribution.

@iLiokardo

3 жыл бұрын

@@Cons-Cat Have a number layer toggle then, with a key to exit that layer. (don't do one key do toggle, have to keep mental track of toggle, a waste). Then, you don't have to press keys with the same hand that is holding a key. Swap 1 2 and 7 8 keys. More efficient, and you keep muscle memory.

Awesome!

The keyboard I'm using now is a 'ten keyless' IBM model M (space saver). I'm running Linux, and I know it's possible to remap the keys in the OS, for example I could move the left control key to where the caps lock is (and visa versa). I like the tactile feedback of the IBM bucking spring switches. I was considering trying out the HHKB, which is not much larger than your design. It doesn't have as many 'layers' in its layout as yours, but by editing a few configuration files, the Linux kernel and drivers can do the remapping. I think that before anybody invests the time to learn a new keyboard layout, they should first make as much use of keyboard shortcuts as possible. VIM and especially EMACS are richly endowed with these.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

5 жыл бұрын

Congrats on the rare tenkeyless! They're really great! Xmodmap can do a lot for you in terms of keyboard control! I'd recommend rotating caps lock, left control, and left alt. That makes caps lock into alt, alt into control, and control into caps lock. Makes the more useful control more accessible to your thumb, and alt is tappable (you don't have to hold it down for most uses) on the pinky key. I know the HHKB, and I have a Leopold topre board, and while I do like the feel of the topre switch, I don't think I like the lack of sound. The board is n key rollover, so you can do layering on it with a custom controller. Yes, Vim and Emacs are both fully customizable input hogs. They'll pick up all your input no matter the keystroke (aside from some OS interrupt keys such as GUI and Ctrl+Alt+Del), but the goal should be to reduce chording wherever possible, or move to your thumbs where possible. This is why I like the custom ergonomic boards and the 40%, because your thumbs should be the only ones chording. But in Vim/Emacs environments, you should make use of modality (vim native, or evil in emacs) to assign regular old keys to your functions. Supplement this with a leader key layout like spacemacs does, and you can end chording entirely! If all of my work was in vim or emacs, I would have no problems. Unfortunately, I'm flipping through desktops, browser tabs, and windows, while trying to remember the keyboard shortcut for excel's recalculate formulas. The keyboard functions as a sort of translator to unify all your input across all these different things. You can program it with easy to remember shortcuts to Emacs, Chrome, Putty, and Excel. You can even set up layers specific to Excel so you have all your excel shortcuts on a layer you turn on whenever you're in excel. Tools like X-Mouse do this well by letting you change what buttons do based on the window you're in. So Mouse3+Scroll is a zoom in 3 different graphical programs even though each of those programs uses a different key combination for zoom. Unifying your input so you don't have to remember extra garbage.

@scharkalvin

5 жыл бұрын

Most people swap the caps lock with control, not alt, so that's a new one on me. I actually had three of these model M keyboards, two were found at a ham flea market for about $20 each NIB with the PS2 cord (detachable). The third was found on ebay for under $50, also NIB. One of them got zapped when the house was hit by lightning. I did manage to find a replacement control board, but one of the arrow keys and the left shift key never worked after that. Maybe something got fried on the key switch wiring. Anyway, I gave that one away to someone who thought they could fix it. So I still have a spare, but I might eventually have to replace the plastic rivets with screws according the the model M wiki.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

5 жыл бұрын

@@scharkalvin Yes, I did a caps lock to control swap for a very long time, until I realized that any chording on the fingers is not good. Ctrl on the thumb is easier anyway especially if you have to reach when doing a control Y or similar. Sounds pretty lucky on those model Ms, the bolt mod is very popular.

@yaboitroy4101

5 жыл бұрын

scharkalvin Autohotkey dude

Nice Dell AT101W. I have a black one. I didn't appreciate how great my planck was until I built a gherkin.

Good explanation. I personally hate everything other than full size or TKL. I don't mind moving my wrists much. Plus I'm not a touch typist so none of this makes sense anyways.

Well... Size doesn't matter for these things then... It's about programmability and I do love programmable keyboards. I'm using the WASD for the arrow keys and I can't go back to any non-programmable keyboard anymore.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

7 жыл бұрын

Exactly! I feel like so many people are using mechanical keyboards, capable of literally doing work for them, and they settle for the feelz, or the clack when they could be doing so much more. I'm planning on making a video with an introduction to some simple shortcuts for your programmable keyboard that save time and reduce movement.

60% is the sweet spot imo, and thats if your familiar with vim lol

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

5 жыл бұрын

I Vim and Emacs pretty hard on my Signum 3 40% :) I just can't get over the gigantic waste of spacebar. It should be one space, one backspace, and lots of modifier keys.

I didn't understand the true purpose of smaller keyboards. I thought they were made for either more space or to look better. Very helpful video thank you. I might buy a 60% now.

@MAGAIVER

3 жыл бұрын

More space is a thing as well, I'm graphic designer and I use a big drawing tablet next to my keyboard, if I use a full size keyboard I have to keep my arms open in an uncomfortable position and I end up with neck and shoulder pain, a smaller keyboard solves that for me. And is also good for extra mouse space too. Most of my keyboard usage is software shortcuts on the left side of the keyboard.

my biggest concern with a 40% is the lack of visualization of a layers keys, and constantly having to hold down a fn or modifier key while using a layer causing fatigue and pain in specific fingers. The arrow, numbers and function key layers make intuitive sense and can be used without even looking at the keyboard, but I feel I'd forget lesser used customer layers, and would need to lookup my setup frequently to figure out which key was mapped to what on my lesser used layer. The other concern is having to frequently hit and maybe hold fn keys to access layers and whether this could cause finger pain. I know from experience that frequently holding the shift or ctrl keys for shortcuts causes me pain in my weaker pinky finger. I would prefer for a way to lock a fn layer by single tap of the fn key and then unlock the layer by another tap, so I don't to keep the fn key pressed for longer duration.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

3 жыл бұрын

You sound like someone who has actual experience with this stuff! Part of the problem with holding down keys is modifiers in the wrong place on the keyboard. In my optimized 40% layout, the thumbs are used for all modifiers, as I've found the thumbs to be the best method of holding any modifiers. I've further improved any thumb holding with some paddles of my own design, making holding modifiers even less motion. kzread.info/dash/bejne/op5rl7pmdcawYag.html What keys/layers are intuitive and learnable vs forgettable depends very much on how your brain and hands work together. I tried dozens of layouts (particularly for the shifted number symbols) and finally found that assigning the symbols by mnemonics was easy to remember and fast to execute. Before that I tried all kinds of logical layouts and none of them seemed to work well with my brain. The other thing about these custom keyboards is they are programmable, so if you don't like the layout, you can change it. You should always try to build tools that make your work easier. kzread.info/dash/bejne/Zm2dp5VweLK8ks4.html Identifying the pinky fingers as weak for holding keys is very accurate, change those modifiers to thumbs, or make them tap keys. The custom programming for the keyboard allows for the opportunity to try out new and weird ways to activate the keys, layers, and modifiers. Having modifiers be "sticky" where you just tap them and then tap the text key without any chording is a long-supported feature of the custom keyboard firmwares.

@v0ldy54

2 жыл бұрын

40% from this video seems like a nightmare to me if you are using programs that require both mouse and keyboard to be operated, like Photoshop or video editing where you operate the keyboard with a single hand most of the time. I'd say 65% are the sweetspot, they give you great mouse space while mantaining everything except for numpad. A really underrated layout which I only found out about recently is the southpaw, which puts the numpad on the left side, that gives all the mouse space of smaller layouts while still giving you the numpad for excel or similar, plus even better it gives you the possibility of comfortably typing numbers with your left hand while changing textbox with your right hand using arrows or the mouse in a much more natural way compared to a normal keyboard. I'd love to get one but they seem pretty much nonexistend if you want Cherry switches apart from extremely expansive custom keyboards.

@MAGAIVER

Жыл бұрын

@@v0ldy54 I'm a designer and I spend all day long on the adobe software mostly illustrator and photoshop. I daily drive a 30 key keyboard, I started on a keyboard similar to the one on the video I loved it, but now that I'm used to working with the 30 key layout using the 40% keyboard feels weird and cumbersome. So it's not only doable but it's actually great. My next project is a split 30% keyboard so I can have a similar layout to my current 30 key keyboard but split in half so I can have my wacom tablet in front of me with each half of the keyboard on each side of the tablet.

the next steps are to split your board and get a little trackball to attach for either of your thumbs

After recently learning i3wm, I am convinced that learning vim is infinitely more accessible than I assumed to this point. Thanks for this, maybe this weekend will be the time.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

3 жыл бұрын

I have a video on Vim vs Emacs which has suggestions for getting started in Vim.

@scootergandoogle1278

3 жыл бұрын

@@TroyFletcherKeyboards awesome, I'll check it. Thank you, sir

Are these conway gliders ? Take my like good sir

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

5 жыл бұрын

Penny for the Guy! The Glider was adopted as a symbol for a group of computer users years ago, and I've been carrying it forward. I love the concept of an emergent complexity or behavior off random inputs and simple rules. Like the Mandelbrot Set.

So happy that I stumbled upon this video. What relatively inexpensive 40% with layers would you recommend? I like a brown or a speed silver switch.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

4 жыл бұрын

Cheapest 40% I know of is the JJ40, but you have to solder it yourself. That's part of the fun and ownership though. :)

Can you press Ctrl+Esc on the keyboard? I like when a key has one function when pressed and another when held but I don't want to trade off the option to pres some weird key combinations. (Not because I use them but because I like being able to press any key combination.)

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

6 жыл бұрын

I design my layouts maintain modifiers on every layer possible, so you would go to the target layer (the one with escape), then hold the modifier, and press the key. This can get weird for combinations like control+alt+delete, so for common key combinations, I recommend programming one key to be control+esc, so you don't have to think about it too much.

Hey for a keeb that is semi programmable is the vortex core. (Ordered one! Should get here today.) It has some cool stuff like the function stuff the second use is in the front of the keycaps. Cool stuff

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

5 жыл бұрын

I like that Vortex added programmability without software, but I can't go back after QMK and EasyAVR. There are just too many features in there. It makes the Poker's and Vortex's programming look like nothing. Obviously, it's a bit more complex though! Look up Easy AVR to see how easy it can be, and look up QMK to see how powerful it can be! There IS someone who installed QMK on his vortex...

@saladalt4999

5 жыл бұрын

@@TroyFletcherKeyboards well I bought the vortex for gaming. I'm not disappointed 😂

i won a let's split kit from a meetup and im waiting for my switches to build it and im so torn on the 40% life... im investing some nice money into to really build a sweet keyboard (im used to the 60% with the caps used as FN layer) and i keep going back and forth on the let's split... im worried i wont like it but im really excited at the idea to fully customize the layout to my own liking making it very logical to my own brain. I find that making layouts for anything if you made it yourself and spent time coding it, you'll have a much better time rmembering where everything is rather than having to learn some generic layout someone decided was the best..

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

6 жыл бұрын

Great! Good luck with the 40! I recommend being aggressive with your layout, and being quick to change things to try different configurations. The more iterations you go through, the better things will get!

I used to think 40% keyboards were cool and all but then I got a Gherkin and now my 40% keyboards feel too big. With well setup home row mods there's no need for dedicated modifier keys. I still use my 40's and even a much bigger 75key ortholinear from time to time but the Gherkin is my favorite tiny keyboard, at least until the Corne-ish Zen comes, that one is supposed to be the end all be all of tiny keyboards for me.

AT102W, i still have one of these, these are good boards, it's my spare board now mind you

Nice explanation. Got one on order from Drop.

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

3 жыл бұрын

Drop? As in Massdrop? I hope it goes well. Let me know if it doesn't! There are alternatives.

@vatinp

3 жыл бұрын

@@TroyFletcherKeyboards Yes Drop.com or formally known as Massdrop. I got a Preonic kit from them which is excellent. Just got Plank kit on order expecting the same quality. Both of them feature interchangeable switch PCBs.

you should etch or paint in the numbers and shortcuts to make it just that more simple!

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

6 жыл бұрын

Since my layout has settled down some, I've been thinking about getting some keycaps printed with the first few layers. It seems like it would really help people out.

I scoffed at these when I first heard about them. 2 years later after using an 87 key with layers, I find I am using less that 50 of those keys. Plank EZ is on the way.

I'm currently trying to design a 65% split Ortho keeb (I know it's still a weight class above) but I'm spotting some of the same philosophies. I made capsLock enable the fRow, numPad and a bunch of special characters. I really couldn't do without the 5th row - my language uses a ton of diacritics (ěščřžýáíéťň etc), but I did my best to consolidate the rest

This was like meditation vi started getting stressed that I don't have the keys on my newly ordered keyboard

Too bad I need the number row for all the special characters in my language. OLKB Preonic has those extra keys so I might consider getting that one. Anyone has any other tips for a 50% keyboard like the Preonic?

I like that thing... I really like it and I like the idea!!

How come some of the bottom row keycaps are upside down?

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

6 жыл бұрын

Keys at different parts of the keyboard have different profiles, so they slant more or less depending on how high or low they are on the keyboard. I took the keys with the most slant and turned them upside-down so they slant toward your thumbs. This way you don't get a pressure point on the edge of the key where your thumb normally meets the key. Further, the slant is contrasted with the high profile F1 and F2 keys, which make it easier for your thumbs to feel the peaks and valleys of the different keys so you can feel the keys more easily without looking.

you said the flanck was designed to be sat on top of a laptop keyboard. is there a program you use that turns off the laptop's built in keyboard that you use?

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

6 жыл бұрын

There are issues with disabling the keyboard completely depending on the OS. After fighting with a number of solutions, I just figured that to have a keyboard that is light weight and distributes the weight evenly (as in a full bottom mat, rather than 4 rubber feet) sits on the laptop keyboard and can be used without pressing any laptop buttons.

Hey bro, i do want to see more video on the tiny keyboard, it look nice. Hope to get one , but what is your keyboard brand? Didnt know any of it...

Great vid, small keyboards still boggle me :) I'm one of those remap capslock folks

HI great video. I really want a tiny keyboard now. By the way, what software do you use to reprogram your keyboard?

"Moving keys to fingers and not the other way around" never thought this way!

You really just convinces me to build a corne split

dude you have a sick model m

Looks like a great way to make typos very fast

@iLiokardo

5 жыл бұрын

Learn it.

a 40 percent board is a bit much but i can understand your arguement. I am a software developer and I use a POK3R 60% board everyday at work and it is SO much better than a full sized. The caps lock button is my function layer key, and arrows are on IJKL which is actually WAY baetter than having to move my hand off the home row. having dedicated buttons for things i never use like function keys and insert and delete, is simply not worth the wasted desk space. I think the 60% board will become the new standard in a few years.

I love this, want one

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

6 жыл бұрын

I've got a few 40% builds on my site here: troyfletcher.net/keyboard_sales.html There are already some Signum kits available, but I'm working on a run of Board 40s (same build as the one in the video), so send me an email and I'll let you know when they're available!

Nice!, please do a follow up video showing how you use this one (and other ~40%s) with Vim, really interested in that!

@TroyFletcherKeyboards

6 жыл бұрын

Interesting! I don't really think it's that much different! What did you have in mind? My macros? My vimrc? Honestly, once you learn the board it's just like a full keyboard. There are some limits as far as double modifiers with rarely used keys, but I don't think it's that much different. Maybe I'm too close to it!

@DanielPianoful

6 жыл бұрын

Troy Fletcher Well, I've never considered a 40% before watching this video, but I can help but worry about how vim's default mappings were originally design looking at a standard ISO (Edit: I mean ANSI), so using bracket movements, markings, leader mappings, etc. Might be cumbersome (?). Maybe going through everything: vimrc, mappings, how the layout on the keyboard matches the vim workflow, and a big etc; will make an awesome series of videos!