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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: BareSphereMass on Wed, 19 October 2022, 19:03:47

Title: Best keyboard for working in a secure area.
Post by: BareSphereMass on Wed, 19 October 2022, 19:03:47

I got a job as a software engineer for a defense contractor and I work in a secure room.
This means I can't use any of my custom keyboards. I am currently using a $10 HP keyboard.  The switches are bad, but the normal 104 key layout with no layers is torture.

I am looking for a keyboard that:
- Is NOT programmable (no QMK, no VIA, no custom software)
- Does not need special firmware
- No Wifi / Bluetooth
- No ability to record anything

I would like:
- Split spacebar (Left: backspace, Right: space)
- IJKL arrow keys on a 2nd layer

Everything else is negotiable.
The IT people said that I can use a HHKB pro classic, but I hate how they do the arrow keys, and I want a split space bar.
I can't find anything that has a split space bar and is not programmable, so here I am. 

Any recommendations?

Title: Re: Best keyboard for working in a secure area.
Post by: Leslieann on Wed, 19 October 2022, 20:50:26

You're pretty much only going to get split spacebar on a custom.
Vortex has the Core (40%?) Cypher (60%), and Mistel offers the MD650L, a splitable 65%.

I doubt any of these use open source firmware but you probably won't find many more.

Title: Re: Best keyboard for working in a secure area.
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 19 October 2022, 21:22:31

If you are willing and patient enough (and willing to live with other pre-millennium oddities) to track down an NMB "Right-Touch" it has great switches and a split space bar.

Title: Re: Best keyboard for working in a secure area.
Post by: lakeboredom on Tue, 25 October 2022, 22:29:59

What does split-space actually do if you can't program it... Is this a comedy post? Do you simply want two buttons for spacebar? Lol

Title: Re: Best keyboard for working in a secure area.
Post by: BareSphereMass on Wed, 26 October 2022, 19:02:45

Quote from: lakeboredom on Tue, 25 October 2022, 22:29:59

What does split-space actually do if you can't program it...

Some keyboards have alternate layouts.  The best example is the HHKB that has layered arrow keys and the back space in an alternate location.  I was hoping the collective mind of the internet would find a keyboard that had split space bars for backspace and space, or IJKL arrow keys, already baked in, but I'm not too hopeful at this point.

Title: Re: Best keyboard for working in a secure area.
Post by: Nuap on Wed, 26 October 2022, 19:08:45

Just get a HHKB Pro Classic and call it a day...

Title: Re: Best keyboard for working in a secure area.
Post by: lakeboredom on Wed, 26 October 2022, 19:40:25

Yeah split space isn't a thing rlly. Vortex Cypher might be your only decent option. I think the newer vortex boards have better options for customizing layouts tho. They have onboard programming, that might fit your bill.

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