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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Naweo on Wed, 10 July 2013, 04:47:54
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So I use keycool atm. I am looking for compact versions, which means all keys as close together as possible. I have seen Keycool 84, Noppoo choc mini and KBT race. Which one has either advantage and why, or even which one is best?
I am right now tilting most towards Keycool. Does there exist any other compact keyboards with close-distance function keys?
ty
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Hi,
If you are looking for something that has the same keys as a tenkeyless but with all the clusters close together I think you have listed most there, except if you go for something custom like a MX Mini. I have just built a KBT Race and it's full backlight is impressive, the layout is annoying though because you have to use the original keycaps. For that reason I would go with a keycool 84 or MX Mini and I believe the keycool is plated also(correct me if I'm wrong).
If you don't mind using a function key to access your home cluster, arrow keys and function keys you could obviously also look at the Poker, GH60, Pure etc.
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If you don't mind using a function key to access your home cluster, arrow keys and function keys you could obviously also look at the Poker, GH60, Pure etc.
I agree. Most diminutive boards use function keys very heavily. If you miss arrow keys but still want a compact layout, then check out the F660M.
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Do you need a numpad or backlighting?
The numpad in the keycool or Noppoo is is not very fast to access which to me makes it a lot less useful. I also found the keys on the backlit keycool to be substandard in quality.
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Are there no other 84 key keyboards? The LZ-Mini is pricey and I'm not sure what the true advantage is. Who makes the F660M? How much quality difference is there between these boards? The chocolate mini is much less than the others; is the quality poorer?
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if you dont mind pressing Fn keys for F1-F12, arrow keys. I would suggest Happy Hacking Keyboard Professional2.
Or are you looking for a tenkeyless instead?
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I'm not looking for a tenkeyless board. I'm considering one of the so called "75%" boards. I miss the arrows and the PgUp and PgDn keys when I'm using my Poker.
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Have you looked at the Leopold FC660?
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seconded on the FC660 series
you can do either MX, FC660M
or topre flavor, FC660C
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Ge the FC660C, it's awesome.
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I have been in search of the ideal board in the 60% to 75% range. I have tried the following:
Keycool 84 White PBT Version. Seems cheap, but I like the typing feel as well as the feel of the PBT keycaps. Would like it much better if they had deleted the F-key row and put this in the Fn layer.
Leopold FC660M. Solid build quality. Nearly standard layout plus the addition of arrow keys. However, I don't like the asymmetry of the arrow keys and Insert/Delete. Leopold also needs to start using a spacebar with standard distances between mounting posts to facilitate keycap customization.
Matias Mini Tactile Pro 4. Excellent typing feel. Great layout, although would like it better if they removed top row of F-keys and put these into the Fn layer. Although I use a Mac, this board is overly Mac-centric; might prefer the PC version, but I have not tried it. Don't like the Fisher-Price styling; this could be improved by deleting the top bezel, straightening the contours, and changing the finish from glossy to matte.
Poker II. Smallest of the bunch, yet a standard layout, which is a plus for touch-typing and replacing keys. Miss the arrow keys, but I could get accustomed to using the Fn layer for this. Build quality could be improved.
Tex Beetle. Excellent build quality and beautiful appearance. 60% form factor that includes arrow keys, but to do this, the right shift has been reduced to 1x, and the z-row has non-standard staggering, which combine to reduce typing speed and accuracy.
My favorite has apparently not been made yet. I would like a Poker with the build quality of the Tex Beetle or perhaps a tweaked Leopold FC660M. It seems unlikely that the other suggestions listed above will be implemented anytime soon.
In the meantime, I am going back to my IBM Model M SSK.
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(http://acidfire.ca/keyboard/BDY14319.jpg)
Very promising.
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^^^^^^^^ x 100000
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If you want one of the production-ready boards mentioned above, choc mini has the best keycaps by far. It's thick Cherry-profile PBT/POM. Non-standard spacebar doesn't matter to me, because it's high quality out of the box, and altough lettering sucks, I don't care being a touch typist.
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Wait for jd's 40%