> Minidox
I don't see a point in using a grid layout, unless it's on a POS keyboard like Tipro that was repurposed from a terminal.
> Atreus62
That's actually nice, unless you want tenting (at the cost of portability or usability for lap-typing). I've settled on using symmetrical stagger (see Katana60) in a standard 60% case for convenience, though.
> Atreus42
I could live without the number row, but not the outer (pinkie) columns. Too few keys imho—you should check what keys you need and where first.
> Iris
I really wanted to build one, but them made a layout prototype and realized that the thumb keys were closer than on a stock ErgoDox, the thumb keys below C and comma (US QWERTY) respectively weren't comfortable enough to use, and so I'd be de facto stuck with fewer thumb keys.
> Fourier
Had to look up this one. I'm not fond of standard asymmetrical stagger anymore, but I can see how it might appeal to some, who are afraid of radical change.
Anyway, my recommendations:
- Go with symmetrical stagger (columnar or row), if you can. Standard asymmetrical row stagger, if you can't. Skip grid layout, unless it's on minimum budget (like I've cut a point-of-sale keypad into something like a couple of Let's Split plates).
- Consider, whether you prefer a tentable fully split keyboard, or something that you can use in your lap or on top of a laptop keyboard.
- Think long and hard, which keys/functions you actually need and how you're gonna press various key combinations.