Typing these responses from board 1!
I would still prefer without sip sockets as soldering the switches are more secured to me.
Hope there will be an option to choose with/without sip sockets.
I may make this an option, although PCB mount switches are very stable and don't experience any wobble unless you press really, really hard.
Wow. This is a really good idea, and a pretty well thought-out design in lots of ways. I like how you've managed a 60% layout with arrow keys, and yet you're only using one nonstandard key--the short right shift--which is not even all that obscure. I like the shorter bottom row, reminiscent of the HHKB.
It looks like you've got HHKB backspace support, which is a huge bonus. And support for stepped and non-stepped caps lock, also good.
The only thing I don't like about the layout is that right shift. I use it all the time and I always hit it on the left. Having an up arrow there would ruin my day. Since it seems like your SIP socket design can support alternate layout options, any chance of adding support for a full-size right shift? And secondarily, the option for the short right shift with the 1U key on the right, HHKB-style. You could still have arrow keys, something like this:
Show Image
If you had that option I would not be able to pass this one up.
I might consider adding the option. The LEDs would be slightly off-center (in the original positions)- would that be fine?
This is actually a huge dream come true to me.
Been a big advocate of Khaannn's alternative arrowed 60% layout from the beginning (as some of you might know) and was already planning to risk sacrificing a rather high end pcb to build one.
So naturally an absolute must buy for me! :D
Is there any chance for supporting a 6.25 space and 1.25 mods bottom row?
This would be my absolute dream layout:
Show Image
Also the question still remains if this would fit standard 60% cases if you get a (preferably acrylic) plate cut by yourself?
I image since switches are swappable the pcb is standoff mounted, right?
Took a look and I don't think it can happen- the bottom row is already fairly crowded with LEDs and switch holes as is, and there's a bit too much interference. I really would've loved to maximize keycap compatability, but given that a 1.75u right shift is required no matter what, I figured that symmetry was a better goal to aim for.
The PCB is indeed standoff mounted, but I'm not super confident on 60% case compatability. The PCB has a bunch of stuff on the back (sockets and RGB LEDs), so cases need at least 5/32" standoff depth- not sure which cases have that. Additionally, the current (Round 0) PCBs don't have the right standoff holes or reset button position for third party cases; if I can verify support, I'll change that for Round 1.
Will it be possible to get the pcb and the plate alone?
Not for Round 0, at least; see answer to FoC_Tow above.
I love it, very tempted. I have some questions:
How secure are the switches on their sockets?
How well they keep tighten on them with no wobbling?
ISO Support? At least the ISO enter, I really do not care about the short left ISO shift, it is a pain.
PCB mount switches are very secure when typing- no wobbling unless a ton of force is applied. Plate mount wobbles quite a bit, but are still usable- that's what I'm typing on right now, actually. ISO is not supported on the current batch (Round 0), but will be supported on Round 1.
Would love to see pictures of the bottom.
This is acrylic plate, no?
Bottom has text + logos that still need to be cleaned up a bit- will be posting more pics next week. Yes, this is 1/16" acrylic plate.
I'd be interested, mostly for the programmability and hot-swappable aspects. I am accustomed to the HHKB layout, so I don't want/need arrow keys. I would prefer to have the customary mods on the bottom row. I also like a split right-shift with a 1x Fn key to the right of the right shift.
It would be really sweet if it could accept Alps / Matias switches.
The standard split right shift might happen- see response to njbair above. Alps support probably won't happen soon; from a glance at the pinouts, it seems difficult- if not impossible- to support hot-swapping both MX and Alps switches at the same time. (Besides, hot-swapping Alps is already a thing (kinda), whereas MX hotswap was only available on the dead Smart68.)