I tried to fit the famous Japanese M-system keyboard in a 60% case. This is the M-System board:
My constraints:
- must fit in 60% form factor
- more letters on the left size to accomodate Dvorak, Colemak, and so on
- no stabilisators, so no keys bigger than 1.75u
- symmetrical
- ergonomical
As a result of the constrains plus the wish to modernize / improve, it looks quite different from a real M-type....
Some considerations:
- I felt that one big line F-keys needs some space inbetween, to make touch typing easier (find the right key without looking)
- There was no room for shifts and enter in the traditional places. Plus I felt that these are better typed with the thumbs.
- DEL feels more logical next to BackSpace; INS next to Enter. Of course all keys can be assigned other meanings.
- I had to get rid of 1 row (60% case constraint).
Your thoughts? Is this "M-Type squeezed in a 60% case" better than, for instance, these two ideas?
Here is the
Keyboard Layout page for the 60%MType.
