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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: PTRS on Sun, 20 December 2020, 10:38:26
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Hi
So i will have 60% keyboard but i need also function keys
i dont want to use fn+numbers its unconfortable.
Where i can buy keyboard with funciton keys only.
I just put it above ma keyboard and i will have 60% kb+ function keys
Also i want to ask about usb-c port
is it problem for u to have keyboard with usb-c port ?
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I think this is what you're looking for but it's sold out.
https://keeb.io/collections/frontpage/products/the-stick
The closest think you can easily get right now that know of is this:
https://www.gboards.ca/product/butter-stick-limited-edition
But it doesn't have the fit or finish, nor does it have MX switches.
However, making just an f-key keyboard is pretty simple. Arduino Pro Micros are easy to find for under $10 (Amazon) and you can easily hand wire that to the switches and modify someone's QMK firmware. For a housing you can use a chopped up switch tester or plate (add stand offs), have something 3d printed or laser cut or simply chop up an old keyboard. If all else fails, get a cheap 60% tub and a plate with F-keys and go at them with a Dremel/saw and some glue. A Pro Micro will use USB Micro B, but you can use a magnetic cable (which makes the port irrelevant) or instead of the Pro Micro use a Sparkfun Qwick Pro Micro, which is an Arduino Pro Micro with type-C, though they do cost a few extra bucks. You can also add a magnetic cable to that. With no experience you can knock out something pretty nice over a weekend if you really go at it hard.
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Hi
So i will have 60% keyboard but i need also function keys
i dont want to use fn+numbers its unconfortable.
Where i can buy keyboard with funciton keys only.
I just put it above ma keyboard and i will have 60% kb+ function keys
Also i want to ask about usb-c port
is it problem for u to have keyboard with usb-c port ?
I do have to ask... why are you buying a 60% board if you need function keys, and intend to add function keys with a separate, giant, clunky macropad?
Why not just start with a 75% board from the get go?
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I do have to ask... why are you buying a 60% board if you need function keys, and intend to add function keys with a separate, giant, clunky macropad?
Why not just start with a 75% board from the get go?
60% are incredibly common, cheap, and pretty well standardized, being the most popular format
75% is much rarer, rather more expensive, often lacking in features, and really not at all standardized
so yeah can make sense to go for 60%, i personally went for 60% + numpad though
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You'll have to get something with a layout like the rama zenith. Perhaps the LFK 78?
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I do have to ask... why are you buying a 60% board if you need function keys, and intend to add function keys with a separate, giant, clunky macropad?
Why not just start with a 75% board from the get go?
60% are incredibly common, cheap, and pretty well standardized, being the most popular format
75% is much rarer, rather more expensive, often lacking in features, and really not at all standardized
so yeah can make sense to go for 60%, i personally went for 60% + numpad though
Blergh, in that case, OP should just bite the bullet and get a TKL.
60%+weird macropad is kind of the worst of both worlds. I can at least appreciate 60% + numpad, that makes sense for heavy Excel work, and I recently went back to a keyboard with a number pad as well. Come to think of it, it's essentially 65% + numpad (in a weirdassed split ergo kind of way) as I haven't gotten around to adding function keys to it.
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I do have to ask... why are you buying a 60% board if you need function keys, and intend to add function keys with a separate, giant, clunky macropad?
Why not just start with a 75% board from the get go?
60% are incredibly common, cheap, and pretty well standardized, being the most popular format
75% is much rarer, rather more expensive, often lacking in features, and really not at all standardized
so yeah can make sense to go for 60%, i personally went for 60% + numpad though
Blergh, in that case, OP should just bite the bullet and get a TKL.
60%+weird macropad is kind of the worst of both worlds. I can at least appreciate 60% + numpad, that makes sense for heavy Excel work, and I recently went back to a keyboard with a number pad as well. Come to think of it, it's essentially 65% + numpad (in a weirdassed split ergo kind of way) as I haven't gotten around to adding function keys to it.
what i am saying is try to get a TKL with VIA and ISO support or an Alps TKL, and you will either end up spending a lot more, or not get anything, you have far less options with TKL especially with custom keyboards, true if you get a gmmk the difference from 60% to TLK is only the form factor, and well a 12 key macropad is not that giant, a numpad is 22 keys, although a 12*1 unit macropad may not be that stable