3 years ago I built my first
Katana prototype. It was angled, tilted and glorious to type on, just like the
MSNEK4k which is was my main influence.
In my efforts to make a mechanical version of the MSNE4k, I tried a few different designs and discovered that it was possible to fit an approximation of that layout in a standard 60% board - the Katana60 was born.
Since then, I've discovered that there have been many others who have pursued the symmetrical, staggered row layout, such as these:
Mtei's project stood out for me.
Being someone who makes heavy use of symbol layers, I couldn't appreciate the importance of providing a sensible default layer for people who just want to buy and use a Katana60. I see now the importance of that for the success of projects in the community.
Mtei semi-ergo layout proposal is fairly comprehensive and valuable because he considered many challenges which most of us in the community never consider - like ISO layouts, alternative language layouts, mac/windows alternatives and more - while also providing flexible solutions to these challenges. Mtei if you're listening: I'm a fan of your work!
One particular layout stood out for me though, one which is forming the basis of a new Katana board: the 'Draft of MacBook/lMac US key set mapping':
https://github.com/mtei/SemiErgo_Layout/blob/master/draft_for_real_systems/mac/SemiErgo_draft_mac_us.pngImproving the Katana60Modern Apple keyboards are 14.5 keys (units, or just 'U') wide. A standard 60% keyboard is 15U wide. That 0.5U changes the gap widths in the middle, such that row 2 has a 1.5U gap, row 3 has no gap and row 4 has a 0.5U gap. Those gaps can be filled with keycaps in the correct row profile. That is an improvement over the original Katana60.
So with this as a starting point, I started sketching ideas in KLE for a new iteration of the Katana60:
Based on the HKKB, this variant would require a lot of custom keycap sizes and legends, and would be expensive to realise:
This variant uses only existing keycaps in the correct row profile, although the correct legends do not exist (yet?):
The meta key (♢) provides access to a text editing layer, with quick access to text selection, home, end, page up/down, as well as cut/copy/paste and the f-row.
I'd love to hear feedback on this from you all, to get some second opinions on the layout - especially regarding the bottom row, before going through with a first prototype PCB.