New Cherry XS G84 range

[Chloe]

http://www.cherry.de/english/products/compact_keyboards.htm

I quite like the look of the G84-5200, this would be my ideal layout. If only Cherry could make one like this with MX switches!

[Eclairz]

Really nice find cherry hasn't invented any new layouts(for mechanical keyboards) for a very long time now.

http://www.cherry.de/english/products/compact_keyboards_XS_Complete_Keyboard.htm

This one is almost perfect for my needs, with my only annoyance is the arrangement of the home, end, pgup, pgdn, insert,delete key arrangement. to be honest i dont care too much about pg up and pgdn and I got used to the G84-4100 arrangement of the delete key near the space bar but home and end keys are always difficult to get to and are really necessary for my programming workflow.

[Eclairz]

http://www.cherry.de/english/products/compact_keyboards_SPOS_G86-61400.htm

I think if cherry would make this keyboard with mx switches, remove one or two rows of the programmable/relegendable keys, and make the keyboard in a european format i would be might interested in it. Looks about the same size as a macally mk96 width wise but due to extra rows of programmable keys looks fatter in a way.

[Chloe]

I can't really tell if these XS are lacking the right Control. I miss that when I am on the G84-4100 and have remapped Delete to it. I like the arrangement of Home, PgUp, PgDn and End in a single row.

They don't seem to have the option of no Windows keys on this new range. I find the bottom row on the G84-4100 too cramped with them, the keys are slightly smaller width than the alphabet keys to fit 14 keys. On the XS it looks like they have just added left Win and Appskey to the G84-4400 (10) so it might not be so bad.

[Eclairz]

To be honest i've never used the right control but then again i've used many compact keyboards which tend to omit the key in question. The only bad thing about ML keys is shorter travel and you have to type more correctly.

If you still hankering for longer travel keys then maybe an alps might suit you instead I own two alps based keyboards

A left hand keyboard which has advantages of shorter travel between mouse and keyboard but still retains the numpad

http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=162&d=1221911672

http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=161&d=1221911665


And a macally spacesaver mk 96 keyboard
http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=163&d=1221911677

But I think if you really like the way the new cherry g84-5200 layout then the best solution is a cherry based DSI

http://cgi.ebay.com/DSI-White-Modular-Mac-Keyboard-Mechanical-Tactile-Keys_W0QQitemZ190269512308QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20081126?IMSfp=TL081126113001r21644

almost the same but with the option of brown/blue? cherry switches and addon numpad/joystick later. Unfortunately not available in london without paying for customs and alot of postage/packing

[Chloe]

I don't think I will be able to live with US layout. I might if it had blank keycaps. I'd want it to come with them if I were to spend that much.

I don't mind the ML switches. I can type on them without bottoming out. My G84-4100 still has the plastic friction noise/feel but the compactness makes up for it.

I'm so used to the Compaq MX 11800 now, it would have to be really special for me to switch. I think my ideal keyboard would be a UK layout MX-1800 without Windows keys.