Samwisekoi here, back in from the cold.
Of all of the sub-60 layouts I've tried, I have to say that the JD45 is the most useful on a day-to-day basis. I like my JD40 (and even had custom WASD keycaps printed for it), but the JD45 adds just enough additional functionality for daily use.
Samwisekoi's JD45. That bottom row "SHIFT" keycap has been replaced by a blank from SP.I've moved to using BOTH of the split spacebar keycaps as SPACE, and use the extra 1.25 keys on the bottom row for backspace and delete.
Top row is ESC, Q, W , E, R, T, Y...
or via NUMLOCK, ESC, 1!, 2@, 3#, 4$, 5%, 6^...,
or via FN ESC, F1, F2, F3...
Anyhow, it works very well as a layout, but I too struggle with a case. And keycaps. I have a set of Nuclear Data Greens on it now, and I think they are just too tall. I think the board would be better suited with DSA keycaps, but I don't have a set that includes a 1x FN, two 1.25x specials, and two 1.75x blanks. So it is SA/NDG for now.
For those (like me) who forget where the "&" symbol is hidden, I am considering a macro key that would type the following hint sheet into a text editor:
FN: ESC F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12
NUM: ESC 1! 2@ 3# 4$ 5% 6^ 7& 8* 9( 0) -_ =+
NORM: ESC Q W E R T Y U I O P [{ ]}
And maybe another hint sheet for the bottom row assignments.
The new case/PCB combo looks nice. I am still going to stay with through-hole for my designs, but for this board, the Teensy USB connection is .125" of pure annoyance. With a USB cable attached, it makes for a very tall wedge, even with the front flat to the desktop.
My project list has grown too long, so I have recently taken the decision to do no more parallel projects, and instead finish all of my open projects one at a time to clear the great pile of unfinished things in my office/lab. I recently finished a custom small form-factor high-speed rendering PC called "Violet Femme" for my wife, that I will probably post a build log somewhere. Currently on my plate is my refurbishment/re-engineering of a Model F-122 with a very custom "Super Soarer" protocol converter PCB. I'll post that build log here on GeekHack, probably starting later today.
And after that will be a case for the v.1 proto JD45. That I will post here!
Very best to you all,
- Ron | samwisekoi
Sig auto-typed by my GH36 LH keypad.