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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Learis on Fri, 06 November 2020, 16:22:29
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(https://i.redd.it/tojy2lcq3yy41.jpg)
I currently have this keyboard. It has a very unorthodox split spacebar layout. Most splits have the little portion right in the center, but this one has it to the rightmost.
I love this split-spacebar layout. Does anyone know if there exists any other split spacebar keyboards like it? I haven't been able to find any. It's fine if there aren't. I was just wondering specifically if there's more premium ones like it in case I want to go all out for an endgame keyboard.
Edit: Seems like the answer is nada. I shouldn't be surprised. Wanting a specific split spacebar layout in the keyboard community puts me in a niche group of a niche group of a niche group. It's nicheception!
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If you consider ergo keyboard with thumb cluster, almost all of them would suffice.
However, like you, I want a standard keyboard with split spacebar.
I don't want to adapt to ortholinear layout just for having access to thumb cluster, AND giving up inverted arrow cluster and page up/down home/end.
To answer your question, kbdfans DZ60 REV 3.0 60% solder pcb support 3 way split like so
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1473/3902/files/1_03_abb48769-9486-44bd-a761-7cd39d7e1bda.jpg)
KBD67 rev2 65% solder pcb
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1473/3902/files/1_b281d81e-2745-4dd7-b5aa-6f888cc09960.jpg)
kbdfans 75% pcb has the 2.75 1.25 2.25 fixed in one orientation (which fortunately favors the right thumb getting to 2 keys)
(https://cdn.shopify.cn/s/files/1/1473/3902/files/kbd75_96aecc4f-aee0-4c8f-9f46-f1c3884dc162.jpg)
they all require solder, and I don't have the time so I bought a complete assembled kbd75 keyboard from them and loving it so far.
Having alt, shift, space, ctrl all within thumb access and enabling one-shot modifiers/sticky key, and I'm in emacs heaven. (and also don't mind playing typing test on typeracer with Capitalized Paragraphs)
ymdk wings and other alice styled keyboards also have split spacebar, but the right thumb can only comfortably access one, and i want both thumbs to have access to two keys, so I personally ruled them out.
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PE8_SeCRgPE/maxresdefault.jpg)
also there are split staggered keyboard like this
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0006/5227/9869/products/HTB1iNgPSwHqK1RjSZFgq6y7JXXaG_2048x2048.jpg)
but this particular one suffers the same problem as alice style keyboard mentioned above.
ikki68 https://shop.wuquestudio.com/products/ikki68-aurora (https://shop.wuquestudio.com/products/ikki68-aurora) is another keyboard that is hotswap and supports yet a different split
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0403/9809/4489/products/pcb-layout_grande_d34b5d4a-59eb-4670-9c84-cd4411f2066d_1024x1024.jpg)
but it's only available through group buy. The split is still unfavorable for right thumb accessing two keys, but it's slightly better than the alice style.
finally there's another company similar to kbdfans at ymdkey.com that has a 60% minila pcb that supports this symmetric split
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0006/5227/9869/files/48.jpg)
I ordered one and it should arrive in 3 weeks, between this and the kbd75, both allow my left thumb to have access to "alt" + the first split (shift), and right thumb access to the last 2 splits (space, control).
I just wish it's not a 60% but a TKL, with this minila split.
Better yet, take all the space from the existing 1.25u alt + 6.25u space + 1.25u alt, and split them into
2u, 2u, 2u, 2.75u
or
2u, 2u, 2.25u, 2.5u
that would be perfect, as the traditional left alt 1.25u is barely reachable comfortably, extending it to 2u would be ideal, and the right alt is not accessible at all at 1.25u, so having that at 2.75u or 2.5u should fix it, while having the other split at a relatively easy to reach 2u.
I might be one of the fews that want a regular TKL with split space bar (aka thumb cluster).
If I am knowledgeable or resourceful enough, I'd run a group buy for such a design.
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just for completion sake, and for my own reference in the future :)
there's a TKL from kprepublic xd87 with 2 way split (if it is 3 way split i'd be all over it since i need 4 keys easily accessible under the thumbs (alt, shift, space, ctrl)
https://kprepublic.com/products/xd87-xd87-xd80-custom-mechanical-keyboard-kit80-supports-tkg-tools-support-underglow-rgb-pcb-programmed-gh80-kle (https://kprepublic.com/products/xd87-xd87-xd80-custom-mechanical-keyboard-kit80-supports-tkg-tools-support-underglow-rgb-pcb-programmed-gh80-kle)
(https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1rzLVDv1TBuNjy0Fjq6yjyXXaT.jpg)
I'd be remissed if I didn't mention this https://x-bows.com/ (https://x-bows.com/)
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0014/7623/1237/files/lightup_nature_1512x.png)
In addition to 4 keys under the thumb, it has two more (backspace & enter) keys in the middle for easier index finger access (than right pinky)
The only gripes I have with x bows is that it added gaps for the number row (r1), r2, r3 unnecessary.
I guess if you have NBA player sized hands that might be a good fit but totally unfit for the average consumer.
And of course if you use symbols the [ ] - + are even way further out.
They should have just split a regular TKL into two angled portion and add two 1.5u keys in the middle, keeping the staggered layout and regular key cap size (which is another minus for me. no keycap compatibility and it doesn't come with 1.5mm thick, shine resistance PBT caps)
I consider the x-bow with a staggered, non spread-out regular TKL split + additional 2 middle index keys my endgame for comfortable computing need.
finally kbdfans has a YD60BLE wireless bluetooth board that supports 3-way / 2-way split, but it's out of production and we need more people to appreciate the utility of split spacebar to drive up the demand so future products coming out will have these supported
(https://i.imgur.com/OKVScQb.png)
https://imgur.com/a/oxK9y (https://imgur.com/a/oxK9y)
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Edit: seems like this is too good to be true, there's some shady business with the company, read here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/m0zpsu/truly_ergonomic_cleave_keyboard_order_status/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/m0zpsu/truly_ergonomic_cleave_keyboard_order_status/)
Looks like I'm doing a monologue here :)
But that prompted another day of research and I'm happy to run into this
https://trulyergonomic.com/ergonomic-keyboards/best-truly-ergonomic-mechanical-keyboard/ (https://trulyergonomic.com/ergonomic-keyboards/best-truly-ergonomic-mechanical-keyboard/)
with a dream layout (3 keys under each thumb, with regular arrow cluster & f keys! unlike all the other ergo keyboard)
(https://trulyergonomic.com/ergonomic-keyboards/wp-content/uploads/Truly-Ergonomic-CLEAVE-Most-Comfortable-and-Best-Optical-Mechanical-Keyboard.jpg)
They even have a regular TKL with the dream 4 way split spacebar as I mentioned in previous post
https://trulyergonomic.com/ergonomic-keyboards/mechanical-keyboards/products/best-mechanical-gaming-keyboard/ (https://trulyergonomic.com/ergonomic-keyboards/mechanical-keyboards/products/best-mechanical-gaming-keyboard/)
(https://trulyergonomic.com/ergonomic-keyboards/wp-content/uploads/Truly-Ergonomic-Fasterini-Minimized-Windows-Menu-keys-533x187.png)
The only thing holding me back is the lack of QMK support (mod-tap, tap-dance, one shot modifiers, complete rearrangement of keys & layers).
I emailed the owner to see if he will consider that.
If he does, I will just sell all my boards and get 2 of each models lol
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Do you actually use the Menu key and/or Fn key? If, like many people, you don't, then you could probably get something pretty close with a little remapping (using any number of methods: qmk, autohotkey, sharp keys...)
For example, look at the 2nd-from-bottom row in this image that gh_pp posted:
(https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1rzLVDv1TBuNjy0Fjq6yjyXXaT.jpg)
Let's say you don't use Menu. Remap Menu to Fn, remap Fn to R-alt, and voila, you have a 1.25u key to the right of the 2x split spacebar that you can remap to Space or whatever you use it for currently. Buy a blank keycap for it in the appropriate color, and you should be good to go, unless I'm missing something.
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Melgeek Z70 Ultra
<https://www.melgeek.com/collections/mechanical-keyboard/products/melgeek-z70-ultra-65-rgb-custom-mechanical-keyboard-kit>
The Mark: 65
<https://boardsource.xyz/projects/5f46409bdce98063626dcb08>
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Marvelous65
<https://github.com/karnadii/marvelous65>
Nibble 65
<https://nullbits.co/nibble/>
Adélie
<https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=108732.0>