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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Learis on Wed, 13 March 2024, 21:26:47

Title: Keyboards with 5u spacebar
Post by: Learis on Wed, 13 March 2024, 21:26:47
Greetings everyone, been a while.

I'm looking for mechanical keyboards that have shorter spacebars around the 5u length. Basically, they go from the c key to the m key. This is very common in the laptop chiclet keyboards.

The reason I enjoy this layout so much is that it allows me to remap those modifier keys beside the spacebar to be special layer keys that I can easily reach with my thumbs. It's quite difficult to reach these keys with my thumb on the typical longer sized spacebar.

Does anyone have a list of some mechanical keyboards like this? Bonus points if it's low profile. Bonus points again for the compact 96 key layout.
Title: Re: Keyboards with 5u spacebar
Post by: wjrii on Wed, 20 March 2024, 22:47:38
I ended up with something similar to that with my DIY no-stabs boards, though they're definitely not low profile, and the 5.25u space area is really four keys.  Here's the second one. (https://www.keebtalk.com/t/post-your-keyboards/743/3545?u=wjrii)
Title: Re: Keyboards with 5u spacebar
Post by: Mandan on Wed, 03 April 2024, 21:06:00
Unicomp makes a keyboard with a 5U spacebar; they sell the spacebar separately.  I think it was originally for their Japanese-spec layout.

Those are for IBM buckling spring switches, so probably not helpful for you, but you might look at the spacebars made for Japanese-spec boards that take your switch type.
Title: Re: Keyboards with 5u spacebar
Post by: latnboy1 on Wed, 10 April 2024, 00:15:23
Unicomp makes a keyboard with a 5U spacebar; they sell the spacebar separately.  I think it was originally for their Japanese-spec layout.
Quick Draw (https://quikdraw.io)
Those are for IBM buckling spring switches, so probably not helpful for you, but you might look at the spacebars made for Japanese-spec boards that take your switch type.
yes, thank you for this information
Title: Re: Keyboards with 5u spacebar
Post by: LASERman Projects on Wed, 10 April 2024, 02:49:46
Split spacebar 2.75u+2.25u is more practical with many keycaps sets including those sizes.
It also gives you more functionality i.e. one can be used as Backspace.
Title: Re: Keyboards with 5u spacebar
Post by: Exquite on Mon, 15 April 2024, 13:08:33
I have never seen it but interesting. Maybe split space could be 5u.