to add to Nadger's fine layout, i propose a Cursor key...
when Num Lock is on, hold the Cursor key with your thumb and use the cursor keys normally :)
(ignore f0, this version is masquerading as an hhkb ;)
Show Image
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13942&stc=1&d=1292048521)
That particular layout messes up the editing block again. That starts on the NumLock/*- row.
I think that instead of having an OS lock you could have a Numpad<->Editing/Arrow toggle.
I like that layout a lot too, although switching capslock and pause/break as Robo said is iffy. An extra backspace or control would be cool.
Mostly nice, but I strongly object to the pause/break position. It really ought to be something useful like ctrl or backspace.. It's easy to get used to because it's just 1 key change and it's so much better.
Another pause break dissenter here (ctrl or backspace would be my preference)...but that's about all I'd change really.
The point of switching them was to allow for a new key to bind in games. Having another ctrl there would just be a duplicate binding for a key you can already reach with your left hand.
Backspace may be another option as that would allow for an extra binding, but then where do you put pause/break? I suppose you could stick it next to esc or in place of the . del on numpad. So backspace may be a viable key to put there.
So you might say why not put ctrl in caps lock and put backspace where ctrl is located? That would screw a lot of people up with common ctrl macros like ctrl+c and ctrl+v. The point of the board is to have very little adaptation required to enjoy a compact layout.
I like how it says "Nadjestouch" on the front lol.
I like that layout a lot too, although switching capslock and pause/break as Robo said is iffy. An extra backspace or control would be cool.
I just had an idea, what if there were another modifier key, call it "super duper" and then you can bind key shortcuts. Instead of saying "ctrl + C" for copy you could use "super duper + C". Would be great for gaming or using something like Blender too, could have that many more shortcuts and still have a small board. Would probably need some software though.
Plus if you get really mad at your computer you can "super duper + ctrl + alt + del"
That would cause issues with compatibility in some software and games. It may be possible with the right firmware and drivers installed but the best you could do is have your new modifer key simply be ctl+alt or something. Im not sure you could completely make up your own scan code and have it work.
And yeah i threw the nadjestouch in there for fun.
to add to Nadger's fine layout, i propose a Cursor key...
when Num Lock is on, hold the Cursor key with your thumb and use the cursor keys normally :)
(ignore f0, this version is masquerading as an hhkb ;)
Show Image
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13942&stc=1&d=1292048521)
Yeah i use the upper editing block delete quite a bit, that would mess me up.
Also i wouldnt move the numlock button as some people who use the numpad switch it on and off as part of their numpad operation. Wouldnt it be easier for day to day use to just hit numlock when you want to use the numpad? I guess i dont understand what this edit modifier key would accomplish. Is it so you can have numlock on and still have access to the edit keys? Wouldnt it be easier to just toggle numlock on and off at that point?
help, somebody update the numpad with Nadger's latest fixes!
(OpenOffice drawing attached and hereby released into public domain :)
Ah i dont have open office installed on my laptop so i cant take a look. When i get back to my apt i can always upload the .psd if anyone wanted to make changes inside photoshop.
Agreed. But isn't that a long backspace in your image ?
Yes, sorry if i wasnt clear. I wanted to make sure it had a long backspace as per the standard US layout.
Accidentally enabling caps to me won't affect my gaming. I rarely even accidentally acivate it either. But the windows would and i sometimes do press it by accident. Anyway i rather prefer if the pause/break and caps lock were switched back to their original positions.
That area is prime real-estate being next to the wsad keys. Having it remain caps lock poses a problem in mmorpgs for example. Because you type a lot in mmorpgs, so you cant bind capslock to cast root or something, because the next time you go to talk to your friends, caps lock will be on and you will be yelling at them.
So your using a non standard sized ctrl ? Wouldn't this impact compatibility with other key sets e.g. Geekhack doubleshots or not ?
Good point, i never really thought of it that way. Might be best to stick with standard sizes then. Cause i originally simply made the left windows/fn key the same size as the main home row and had alt be standard size and ctrl be a little over standard to use up the extra room that was freed up by using home row size key for FN. But it wouldnt be keycap replacement friendly then =(
Yeah i use it too. Yes i am aware of alt + tab also minimizes; but sometimes i prefer using the windows key as well. Sometimes one method doesn't work; i use the other and it manages to minimize.
I too use it to minimize while in games sometimes too. Plus windows + tab for 3d alt tabbing or windows +d for desktop switch or windows + + - for zooming etc. So i def want to keep it in there.
I prefer it if the windows key was on the left side; so you can use the FN on the right to toggle windows key lock.
Yeah the os lock is already there so it could be switched to make it useful.
Makes sense. I like this idea how you managed to incorporate the numpad into a 10keyless design. It's brilliant !
Its stupidly simple, i dont know why we have not seen it yet.
Font maybe like Cherry keyboards. Also preferably doubleshots like cherry keyboards as well; but knowing that is impossible i'd settle for doubleshots from Signature plastic same like White Rice's previous MO.
Regarding the color scheme; the black and white is nice and standard; but i prefer if it was using the same dolche color scheme like White rice's double shots. It looks less boring that way; and yet still professional looking without any weird colors like red/green/purple etc.
Yeah, aesthetics are something tricky to pin down that everyone can agree on...as seen in the double shots round 2 thread. it also depends how much it would add to the cost of the board itself. It might be nice to have 3 different versions. Basic, HQ keycaps, and backlit. Each being their own price point.
I agree with most of your design except the ones i highlighted out previously. This seems an excellent option for those wanting numpad features but still able to have a 10 keyless compact keyboard. Kudos.
Thanks, you had some good points and feedback.
But to truly be the perfect keyboard to me; it would have to have led lighting similar to the Razer black widow ultimate; and NKRO to usb (but preferably NKRO USB for convenience sake)
Aye, ideally that would be an option like i said above. I like backlighting too, but i also really like the otaku look which is like the exact opposite. Choices are always good. I like how razer has their two versions.
What would I change? Well, tbh I'd revert to standard caps lock as well, and I think widen the gap between the numpad and the rest - visually it would look great if that gap matched the gap between number row and f-keys, and the gaps between e.g. F4 and F5. A bigger gap would also be quite handy for feeling your way into position on the numpad.
Why not split Insert and '+' into two keys each? It would allow you to put the cursors on the bottom row if you wanted. Personally, I like the standard cursor arrangement on the numpad (with 5 remapped to down), but with a custom controller you could have two modes - standard numpad cursors, and tenkeyless style cursors.
The gap i actually did widen a bit in the mockup. But i also dont want to get the board too wide. Id like to keep the board below 35cm wide. So it would depend a lot on how wide the board ended up being.
You cant split insert because numpad users hit insert with their thumb. Thats why its wider than normal.
I will explore some of the suggestions you guys mentioned and see if i can come up with another layout to address some concerns and make it a more universally acceptable arrangement.
Not that there is any point to it, but its still kinda fun.