Hi Senter - I was one of the buyers of the first Orange 80 TKL, and am really happy you are working on 75% kit also!
I have read your comments on design decisions to keep F-row separated and staggered and that you don't want it to be symmetrical. However, one of the main reasons I like 75% and 80% layouts is because I use nav keys and DELETE a lot on daily basis. The Delete key on the top right corner is one of the main reasons I prefer 75% as my main layout, and with that space being left empty for indicators/badge/empty space it is a deal-breaker for me, and I will have to pass. This makes me sad because I would love to have another Orange, and the first GB you did went so smoothly and quickly with relatively few issues. If there is any way for you to consider a design for top plate that will allow for top right corner key, I am 99% in.
I know that you had too many design options for the original Orange 80 GB, with small blocker, large blocker, and no blockers with many anodization and name plate options, and that caused some trouble and you want to keep things simpler. Is there any way you would consider multiple options for top plate/case with one for a Delete key, and one with indicators/blank space? It could be same PCB design but only require different top case design option. EDIT: If you shifted the F-row blocks to the left by .25/.5u, I would suggest maybe doing a matching metal blocker/badge that could fit in the space for the delete key if not used, and if user wanted delete key they would leave off the blocker/badge. (ex: https://imgur.com/a/W3001)
I would also suggest keeping the design from Orange 80 and give option to have name/engraved accent badge on top left corner. I think this gives a really nice option to completely personalize and gives consistency to the Orange design "family". Maybe also consider the same on numpad.
Hi Zuology, thanks for your suggestions. I remember everyone's id in Orange TKL group buy. I really appreciate your support for Orange TKL and now the opinions on Orange75.
You have read my comments so you know I have my reasons to keep the layout as is. There are several 75% keyboard projects out there and most of them have that key on top right corner. To be honest, I'm not doing it differently in purpose. I've considered
many layouts and the current two layouts are the ones I love most. The original plan was to provide both of them. As very few people showed interests in layout 1, the current plan is to only provide type 2. The more I look at type 2, I love it more. I will provide type 2 for sure.
As I mentioned, there are several other 75% keyboards are in the IC stage (SKBXX, SINGA, and Xeno) and they all have a top right key. I'm mostly interested in exploring more options and increasing the diversity, so I'm not interested in making a same layout as theirs. I suggest you to support their projects if you want a 75% keyboard and you need that key.
I'm planing to use orange75 as my new daily driver. For me, F12 is in the perfect position since I always bind my terminal window to F12. I won't set the right 4 keys as home, end, pgup, and pgdn. I may set the top right key to Delete and the below three keys as 'display all windows', 'change to left workspace', and 'change to the right workspace'. You can also have a Delete key if you do it in a similar manner.
I will consider your suggestion on the badge.