JD40 Layout Idea

[finleye]

I just ordered a JD40 from [CTRL]ALT, and I'm attempting to design a layout that will work best for me. I'm a Vim user with a lot of CTRL based commands. CTRL+hjkl vim window navigation and so on. I also frequently use ctrl+tab for list navigation. I currently have control left of A, in standard QWERTY, and I don't think I could live without that. I'm looking for any suggestions or criticisms, or anything I flat out forgot.

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[jacobolus]

I highly recommend laying out your numbers in a numpad-type arrangement, and figuring out some logical-to-you arrangement for the other symbols, using one or more shifted layers.

Numbers-all-in-a-row is a really terrible design which sort of made sense in the 1870s but doesn’t today, and when you have full control over your keyboard firmware there’s no good reason to copy it.

[Vibex]

I would flip Shift and Fn. It just puts Shift in a more natural position and allows you to switch between a 40% and full size more easily.

[finleye]

I would flip Shift and Fn. It just puts Shift in a more natural position and allows you to switch between a 40% and full size more easily.

That's a good point. I'll try it out!

[Vibex]

I would flip Shift and Fn. It just puts Shift in a more natural position and allows you to switch between a 40% and full size more easily.

That's a good point. I'll try it out!

Thats what I did on mine. It just feels better overall.

[jacobolus]

It’s not at all the same kind of layout as a JD40, but just as an example, this is one of the ideas I’ve been fiddling with:

[finleye]

I highly recommend laying out your numbers in a numpad-type arrangement, and figuring out some logical-to-you arrangement for the other symbols, using one or more shifted layers.

Numbers-all-in-a-row is a really terrible design which sort of made sense in the 1870s but doesn’t today, and when you have full control over your keyboard firmware there’s no good reason to copy it.

Thats a good idea! Something like this? I really like being able to use WSAD for directional keys.

[jacobolus]

Yeah, something like that. Though I’d put an 'fn' key on your left hand somewhere if you’re used to typing on a numpad with your right hand, so that you can easily hold the fn key down while you type your numbers. (e.g. the key in the bottom left corner looks like a good candidate for another fn key.)

[finleye]

Yeah, something like that. Though I’d put an 'fn' key on your left hand somewhere if you’re used to typing on a numpad with your right hand, so that you can easily hold the fn key down while you type your numbers. (e.g. the key in the bottom left corner looks like a good candidate for another fn key.)

Good idea.

[finleye]

I would flip Shift and Fn. It just puts Shift in a more natural position and allows you to switch between a 40% and full size more easily.

That's a good point. I'll try it out!

Thats what I did on mine. It just feels better overall.

I've seen on your JD40 you have an enclosed case, as opposed to the housing plates and standoffs that [CTRL]ALT and most others I've seen have. Did you make this enclosure yourself? I'm a big fan.

[Vibex]

I would flip Shift and Fn. It just puts Shift in a more natural position and allows you to switch between a 40% and full size more easily.

That's a good point. I'll try it out!

Thats what I did on mine. It just feels better overall.

I've seen on your JD40 you have an enclosed case, as opposed to the housing plates and standoffs that [CTRL]ALT and most others I've seen have. Did you make this enclosure yourself? I'm a big fan.

That's a prototype of the sorbothane gasket from the smallfry GB. I've since had to remove it because it was to sticky and kept attracting dust.

[GL1TCH3D]

Interesting layouts. I'm not really familiar in theory behind efficiency for keyboards but I ordered the JD40 secondhand from another user here and I'll probably like to change the layouts more to myself. I use windows so it's probably not overly applicable (I'd mainly just be moving around modifier keys compared to you)
I liked the recent FN layout you posted. Personally I don't need volume keys on my keyboard since I have an external setup so I'd change those to something else on my own.

[finleye]

Interesting layouts. I'm not really familiar in theory behind efficiency for keyboards but I ordered the JD40 secondhand from another user here and I'll probably like to change the layouts more to myself. I use windows so it's probably not overly applicable (I'd mainly just be moving around modifier keys compared to you)
I liked the recent FN layout you posted. Personally I don't need volume keys on my keyboard since I have an external setup so I'd change those to something else on my own.

Something external for media controls would be great, but I haven't been able to find anything I'm happy with. Do you have a suggestion?

[GL1TCH3D]

Interesting layouts. I'm not really familiar in theory behind efficiency for keyboards but I ordered the JD40 secondhand from another user here and I'll probably like to change the layouts more to myself. I use windows so it's probably not overly applicable (I'd mainly just be moving around modifier keys compared to you)
I liked the recent FN layout you posted. Personally I don't need volume keys on my keyboard since I have an external setup so I'd change those to something else on my own.

Something external for media controls would be great, but I haven't been able to find anything I'm happy with. Do you have a suggestion?

Ah when I meant that I meant more that I have a $900 amplifier sitting on my desk to control volume with a knob.
Since it uses the teensy I wonder if you could mod in a volume knob and or buttons on the side of the case for media control?