I'm curious - I don't think I've seen any conversation around the knob... anyone know if there are plans to add anything special? These renders with those customs got me feelin' some type-a way...
But to reply to LordHaveMercy:
I'm not sure whether a single space or split space would be right for me. But, given I tap space with my right index finger, maybe a single space would work for me... Anyone wanna chime in on this?
I'm sorry in advance for the impending rant, I'm actually really excited to talk about this and hear everyone else' opinions I think where you press your spacebar (and therefore your fn/layers) will determine your ease-of-transition into a 40% board. Hear me out....
I've thought alot about this because this will also be my first 40%, and I'm considering both options but heavily leaning towards dual space because of where I press the spacebar, and with what finger.
So if you're going to do a dual spacebar I think it makes sense to recognize what side of the spacebar you press dominantly (for me, that's my left thumb on the left side of the spacebar, for you that's your right index finger in the middle I think) and make that your primary space. Then, you can use the other spacebar as a function button so you can get to all the things you need to get to with a thumb press + (likely alpha) key, while maintaining the integrity of your dominant spacebar position. Or, If you're going single space, you can run the common Up Layer / Down Layer buttons flanking the single 2u space if you vibe with that center spacebar pressin' life, you madlad. That'll give you even more options to trigger with your thumbs, instead of having to do some complex chord to get to a second function layer, and will also maintain your original dominant spacebar positioning. To each his own, but after mimicking the way you'd have to press the spacebar with your right index, I think single space might make the most logical sense for you, and should make your transition less painful.
I am not a doctor this is not medical adviceI plan on it being
really weird for like 3 weeks, and after that it'll just become second nature.
I traditionally use a 65% layout (sometimes a TKL if I'm feeling saucy) but I decided to bust out my Model M for gits 'n shigs. Being that I primarily work on a Mac, a missing GUI seemed like quite the challenge to overcome. But I simply rebound the CMD key to the caps lock key and... I was surprised just how quickly I took to it, and how wonky it felt to go back to a more standard layout. I imagine you experienced something similar with the HHKB - 'tis a nonstandard layout, after all!
All that to say, I think if you get a 40% board you have to
commit to it like...
really commit to it, otherwise you're going to get frustrated and bail. It'll take some getting used to I'm sure of it, but when you've got everything
sooooooo close together, I think it'll be super enjoyable.
p.s. the only thing I'm bummed about is that I intend to go dual space for this build, but the dual spaces are 2.25u (edited from 2.75u oops) a piece, and that's a
really weird keysize and hard to find doubles of in lots of spacebar/40s kits. So keyset kitting for that layout might also be a limiting factor. I'm... still gonna do it, but I'll probably have to "settle" on a keycap set because GMK Peach blossom doesn't have kitting for this board and I just really really want an entirely pink keyboard and my heart is fkn breaking