An HHKB with Cherry MX switches and an arrow cluster is essentially what the Noppoo Choc Mini is. You can even swap control and caps lock to have the same key configuration.
Not even close. The Poker is a bit closer, but nothing matches the HHKB.I'd agree with you if we were talking about the HHKB Pro 2, but he was talking about one with dedicated arrow keys. In that case I think the Choc Mini is a better fit, having dedicated arrow keys and swappable Ctrl and Caps Lock. Though, the Choc Mini is bigger since it also adds the F key row unlike the HHKB and Poker.
An HHKB with Cherry MX switches and an arrow cluster is essentially what the Noppoo Choc Mini is. You can even swap control and caps lock to have the same key configuration.
looking for a Mini keyboard that fits you? Check this out Dox KB (http://tinyurl.com/68m94xg)Actually I was just looking at that yesterday. I believe that will be my project in the future once I have a more stable income, since the project can cost upward of 200+ dollars. And I believe that I might actually add in the arrow keys also. So when I do that I will probably make a wiki or a sub-mod to show what I did different, but I will be trying to replicate the HHKB Lite II in cherry mx form. Also of course I will try to fit the arrow keys in comfortably since in the original they were made half-height keys. For example they put delete in the very bottom right, and that is probably where I would put the left arrow key to keep it very compact and expand right by 2 key lengths for down/up and then right arrow. But thank you for linking to that, I like how they make it a sort of step-by-step build your very own unique keyboard, and more people should see it.
I'd agree with you if we were talking about the HHKB Pro 2, but he was talking about one with dedicated arrow keys. In that case I think the Choc Mini is a better fit, having dedicated arrow keys and swappable Ctrl and Caps Lock. Though, the Choc Mini is bigger since it also adds the F key row unlike the HHKB and Poker.
Actually I was just looking at that yesterday. I believe that will be my project in the future once I have a more stable income, since the project can cost upward of 200+ dollars. And I believe that I might actually add in the arrow keys also. So when I do that I will probably make a wiki or a sub-mod to show what I did different, but I will be trying to replicate the HHKB Lite II in cherry mx form. Also of course I will try to fit the arrow keys in comfortably since in the original they were made half-height keys. For example they put delete in the very bottom right, and that is probably where I would put the left arrow key to keep it very compact and expand right by 2 key lengths for down/up and then right arrow. But thank you for linking to that, I like how they make it a sort of step-by-step build your very own unique keyboard, and more people should see it.right now a few of us are working on putting together pcbs and cases i plan to go with the layout below
right now a few of us are working on putting together pcbs and cases i plan to go with the layout belowIs there a equivalent of a group buy going on? If so I would probably jump on that band wagon as that would reduce the price enough that I might do it. Although I would make mapping tweaks I could live with that layout of keys as it is very nice. I would assume since it is a teensy controller we could still map the layout our own way. Although it is nice that you could use a 87 key set to get all but 1 of those keys, using the Up arrow key for the Fn key, it would just need a special one for the Shift key which could be hard to make.
*snip*
additionaly things added that are not on there: Z: mouse 2 (right click), X: mouse 3 (middle click), C: mouse 1 (left click), V: mouse 4 (back), and F: mouse 5 (forward).
An HHKB with Cherry MX switches and an arrow cluster is essentially what the Noppoo Choc Mini is. You can even swap control and caps lock to have the same key configuration.
Show Image(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v519/TheProfosist/GeekHack/HHKBCompetition.png)
right now a few of us are working on putting together pcbs and cases i plan to go with the layout belowShow Image(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v519/TheProfosist/GeekHack/HHKBCompetition.png)
additionaly things added that are not on there: Z: mouse 2 (right click), X: mouse 3 (middle click), C: mouse 1 (left click), V: mouse 4 (back), and F: mouse 5 (forward).
I just paused to think about this, when was the last time you (referring to anyone here, not a specific person) pressed any of the right modifier keys? I don't think I have used the right side Alt Win Menu or Ctrl keys.. ever. I looked at an old keyboard of mine and those four keys have absolutely no wear and tear. I can't think of any reason to have them other than making it even on both sides of the spacebar. In which case, the Up arrow could be used as a Fn key next to shift and the other 3 arrow keys could the be modifiers on the left side of the spacebar, less space used. That might just be my preference for the smaller keys from using the HHBK Lite.
esc over ~ please!!!!that was already in the plan i just didnt modify the picture to look that way because when I did it initially I was in a hurry
...Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/j7gFs.png)
Not so much. The cursor block should be either integrated or just be missing.agreed. also why does one need dedicated cursor keys? Even the current ones on the HHKB are really nice once you get use to them. I find my self trying to use them on a regular keyboard all the time.
agreed. also why does one need dedicated cursor keys? Even the current ones on the HHKB are really nice once you get use to them. I find my self trying to use them on a regular keyboard all the time.
I just paused to think about this, when was the last time you (referring to anyone here, not a specific person) pressed any of the right modifier keys? I don't think I have used the right side Alt Win Menu or Ctrl keys.. ever.
Still working on the HHKB redesign, but this is something I started on the side for curiosity sake. If it would be possible as I mentioned to create a 6 button usb addon. Would this be an good/useful design that would interest anyone.
default in black.
shift modifier in green.
Fn modifier in red.Show Image(http://i.imgur.com/j7gFs.png)
Then you can't press Shift+Home or Shift+End?What exactly do you mean by you can't Shift+Home or Shift+End? Personally I do not use "hold shift, press home, select whole line" I just use it for jumping to front and end of lines when I am coding, so shift+selecting a line of text, would not do me much good. Instead when coding I tend to do
If you want the 'extras' (like cursor clusters) get a 86/87/88 key board and live with the extra size (not that much of an issue - especially if you start cluttering the desk with extra USB mini pads).As far as what I was thinking, the size would end up being similar to the ins,del,pgup,pgdn,del,end 6 block, with just a close border similar to filco's extremely close borders.
In your original post you said 'Topre are not my thing'. What does that mean? You really prefer a RD to a Topre? That seems almost impossible to me unless you are factoring in cost.Here I am only saying that I do not prefer the feeling of Topre over Cherry MX. And ONLY in the case of the HHKB Lite do I prefer using it as a membrane until there is a alternative with the same/better layout with MX switches.
What exactly do you mean by you can't Shift+Home or Shift+End? Personally I do not use "hold shift, press home, select whole line" I just use it for jumping to front and end of lines when I am coding, so shift+selecting a line of text, would not do me much good. Instead when coding I tend to doas by that point I also have to reduce the length of the code by 1 line to remove empty space.
I dunno, I think I use Shift+Home and Shift+End. It doesn't have to be for the whole line (can be just the beginning or end) and it doesn't have to be for deleting (can be for copying). But no biggie, really, I think your mini keypad is a cool idea but I'm not in the target audience, so no skin off my nose.One thing is, perhaps it could be left un-programmed at first, or be "programmed to your order" that way anyone could have the 6 keys be anything they want.
I'd ditch the DIP switches myself.What DIP switches are you referring to, I was talking about pre-loading onto the teensy or similar that is inside of the device.
Too retro hipster.
You know what I'd be up for? A replacement PCB. You break open the HHKB, strip out its PCB, stick in the replacement one, leave all the springs and cups in place, close it up, and you find yourself with a programmable HHKB. How hard could that be?You don't need a hole new PCB, you can just replace the controller with a teensy like hasu did. (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:12047)
Looks very similar to my layout:I did place each piece myself off of the top of my head, your layout is similar and it is in some ways similar to the HHKB layout, that is going to happen regardless because there are only so many comfortable key positions on a keyboard, but do you actually like it? I think you have a very good layout going but I imagine it will be tough finding that smaller shift key unfortunately. The media keys and mouse keys could be interesting, I am curious if you plan to use your keyboard instead of a mouse in certain situations or something?
*snip to reduce length of post*
I did place each piece myself off of the top of my head, your layout is similar and it is in some ways similar to the HHKB layout, that is going to happen regardless because there are only so many comfortable key positions on a keyboard, but do you actually like it? I think you have a very good layout going but I imagine it will be tough finding that smaller shift key unfortunately. The media keys and mouse keys could be interesting, I am curious if you plan to use your keyboard instead of a mouse in certain situations or something?I wasnt saying that you copied me at all just noticed that it was similar. I dont actually have that layout yet but I made it for the DOX keyboard and will use a similar function layer for the Phantom. About the mouse buttons I made a ['url=http://tinyurl.com/bv9ml9p]external switch set for my trackball[/url] and ended up using those when I needed to be very precise because you dont have to worry about holding down the switch on the trackball after a bit of use I noticed I sometimes used it with my mouse.
Having a 2×1 key (a la backspace) in the top right corner would broaden the selection of keycap sets you can draw from. OTOH, if you're planning to only make one keyboard for yourself, this isn't a big deal.Actually having the two keys in place of the backspace doesn't require any special keycaps at all. You could easily just take any of the Esc, F1-F12, Ps/SR, ScLk, Pa/Br, Ins, Home, Pg Up. All of those keys would fit where the backspace was. (They are sculpted keys, the top 2 rows use the same profile, and the bottom two rows use the same profile. Thus why the arrow keys are all shaped the same. In my case I could purchase a 87 key set and have all the necessary keycaps to create my keyboard. Although TheProfosist would still need a custom size shift key on the right, but other than that they could do the same buying a 87 key set.
Why do both of you put your fn-layer arrow keys on OKL; ? Wouldn't IJKL make it more accessible?
(To be honest, I've considered for a while just training myself to type from a position where the index fingers lie on FK, not FJ, and then an OKL; arrow cluster would be perfect. I don't suppose you've had the same thing in mind?)