geekhack

geekhack Community => New Members => Topic started by: cdownard on Thu, 03 April 2014, 12:19:12

Title: Well, I couldn't resist joining
Post by: cdownard on Thu, 03 April 2014, 12:19:12
I've been lurking for a while as I decided on a keyboard. I used to game extensively but haven't for years. I work full time as a software developer and also do freelance work so I do a lot of typing. recently my hands have been sore after particularly heavy coding days and I managed to realize the keyboard I was using was pretty stiff.

A friend recommended mechanicals and it took about a month to be convinced it was worth the money. After typing on them I was sold. I wanted blue because it's such a throw back in sound/feel but I work in a corner office with two others and didn't want to drive them crazy so I got browns. My purchase was the CM Quickfire XT (has the ten key which I use pretty frequently so I didn't want to lose it). The difference between my current keyboard and this one is quite simply astounding. I haven't put enough code time in on it yet to see if there's a difference but based on how my hands are feeling my problem might be solved.

I have a couple of questions for everyone, as I'm new to this realm.


At any rate, I love the form and have really enjoyed seeing all the unique things people come up with. I have a feeling my first purchase might be the blue/white vortex keys (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773 (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773)) from MechanicalKeyboards.com.

I have had this keyboard for all of 15 hours and I'm already considering buying a QFR in blue to keep at home. So I guess that's a "good" sign.

At any rate, it's very nice to meet everyone and I look forward to continuing to lurk and get some insight.
Title: Re: Well, I couldn't resist joining
Post by: Vibex on Thu, 03 April 2014, 12:24:15
Quote from: cdownard on Thu, 03 April 2014, 12:19:12
I've been lurking for a while as I decided on a keyboard. I used to game extensively but haven't for years. I work full time as a software developer and also do freelance work so I do a lot of typing. recently my hands have been sore after particularly heavy coding days and I managed to realize the keyboard I was using was pretty stiff.

A friend recommended mechanicals and it took about a month to be convinced it was worth the money. After typing on them I was sold. I wanted blue because it's such a throw back in sound/feel but I work in a corner office with two others and didn't want to drive them crazy so I got browns. My purchase was the CM Quickfire XT (has the ten key which I use pretty frequently so I didn't want to lose it). The difference between my current keyboard and this one is quite simply astounding. I haven't put enough code time in on it yet to see if there's a difference but based on how my hands are feeling my problem might be solved.

I have a couple of questions for everyone, as I'm new to this realm.

  • Is there a way to re-map the keys on this keyboard so that the super (windows) key can be switched with Alt to match Mac? I work in .Net development at work but at home I do a lot of Python and have been starting iOS so it'd be handy to be able to switch between those realms.
  • The spacebar...not sure what I don't like about it but it has kind of a weird feel. I'm still trying to figure out what it is. I have noticed I only hit the spacebar with my right thumb. But I don't know. I don't like it. I might need to switch it out. It feels almost flimsy to me. So I'm wondering if there's a spacebar that would give a heftier feel to it without changing switches or anything like that.

At any rate, I love the form and have really enjoyed seeing all the unique things people come up with. I have a feeling my first purchase might be the blue/white vortex keys (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773 (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773)) from MechanicalKeyboards.com.

I have had this keyboard for all of 15 hours and I'm already considering buying a QFR in blue to keep at home. So I guess that's a "good" sign.

At any rate, it's very nice to meet everyone and I look forward to continuing to lurk and get some insight.
Always nice to have new members! :D
You can use ahk to remap the keys if you are on windows.
Title: Re: Well, I couldn't resist joining
Post by: cdownard on Thu, 03 April 2014, 12:45:10
Thanks!

 I'll search the interwebs for AHK. What can be used to remap on OS X?
Title: Re: Well, I couldn't resist joining
Post by: Vibex on Thu, 03 April 2014, 12:49:06
Quote from: cdownard on Thu, 03 April 2014, 12:45:10
Thanks!

 I'll search the interwebs for AHK. What can be used to remap on OS X?
Sorry, I'm a linux and windows man. Don't really know what to use on OSX.
Title: Re: Well, I couldn't resist joining
Post by: Demetrium on Thu, 03 April 2014, 15:44:20
Quote from: cdownard on Thu, 03 April 2014, 12:19:12
I've been lurking for a while as I decided on a keyboard. I used to game extensively but haven't for years. I work full time as a software developer and also do freelance work so I do a lot of typing. recently my hands have been sore after particularly heavy coding days and I managed to realize the keyboard I was using was pretty stiff.

A friend recommended mechanicals and it took about a month to be convinced it was worth the money. After typing on them I was sold. I wanted blue because it's such a throw back in sound/feel but I work in a corner office with two others and didn't want to drive them crazy so I got browns. My purchase was the CM Quickfire XT (has the ten key which I use pretty frequently so I didn't want to lose it). The difference between my current keyboard and this one is quite simply astounding. I haven't put enough code time in on it yet to see if there's a difference but based on how my hands are feeling my problem might be solved.

I have a couple of questions for everyone, as I'm new to this realm.

  • Is there a way to re-map the keys on this keyboard so that the super (windows) key can be switched with Alt to match Mac? I work in .Net development at work but at home I do a lot of Python and have been starting iOS so it'd be handy to be able to switch between those realms.
  • The spacebar...not sure what I don't like about it but it has kind of a weird feel. I'm still trying to figure out what it is. I have noticed I only hit the spacebar with my right thumb. But I don't know. I don't like it. I might need to switch it out. It feels almost flimsy to me. So I'm wondering if there's a spacebar that would give a heftier feel to it without changing switches or anything like that.

At any rate, I love the form and have really enjoyed seeing all the unique things people come up with. I have a feeling my first purchase might be the blue/white vortex keys (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773 (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773)) from MechanicalKeyboards.com.

I have had this keyboard for all of 15 hours and I'm already considering buying a QFR in blue to keep at home. So I guess that's a "good" sign.

At any rate, it's very nice to meet everyone and I look forward to continuing to lurk and get some insight.

Welcome! I'm new here myself. I have a CM Quickfire myself (reds) which I use at home. I'm a Win user myself so I can't help with the Mac question, but good luck and welcome!
Title: Re: Well, I couldn't resist joining
Post by: Vibex on Thu, 03 April 2014, 16:28:32
Quote from: Demetrium on Thu, 03 April 2014, 15:44:20
Quote from: cdownard on Thu, 03 April 2014, 12:19:12
I've been lurking for a while as I decided on a keyboard. I used to game extensively but haven't for years. I work full time as a software developer and also do freelance work so I do a lot of typing. recently my hands have been sore after particularly heavy coding days and I managed to realize the keyboard I was using was pretty stiff.

A friend recommended mechanicals and it took about a month to be convinced it was worth the money. After typing on them I was sold. I wanted blue because it's such a throw back in sound/feel but I work in a corner office with two others and didn't want to drive them crazy so I got browns. My purchase was the CM Quickfire XT (has the ten key which I use pretty frequently so I didn't want to lose it). The difference between my current keyboard and this one is quite simply astounding. I haven't put enough code time in on it yet to see if there's a difference but based on how my hands are feeling my problem might be solved.

I have a couple of questions for everyone, as I'm new to this realm.

  • Is there a way to re-map the keys on this keyboard so that the super (windows) key can be switched with Alt to match Mac? I work in .Net development at work but at home I do a lot of Python and have been starting iOS so it'd be handy to be able to switch between those realms.
  • The spacebar...not sure what I don't like about it but it has kind of a weird feel. I'm still trying to figure out what it is. I have noticed I only hit the spacebar with my right thumb. But I don't know. I don't like it. I might need to switch it out. It feels almost flimsy to me. So I'm wondering if there's a spacebar that would give a heftier feel to it without changing switches or anything like that.

At any rate, I love the form and have really enjoyed seeing all the unique things people come up with. I have a feeling my first purchase might be the blue/white vortex keys (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773 (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773)) from MechanicalKeyboards.com.

I have had this keyboard for all of 15 hours and I'm already considering buying a QFR in blue to keep at home. So I guess that's a "good" sign.

At any rate, it's very nice to meet everyone and I look forward to continuing to lurk and get some insight.

Welcome! I'm new here myself. I have a CM Quickfire myself (reds) which I use at home. I'm a Win user myself so I can't help with the Mac question, but good luck and welcome!
You use the word myself a lot. :D
Title: Re: Well, I couldn't resist joining
Post by: ephrog on Thu, 03 April 2014, 22:14:12
Re: #1 You can change this in your keyboard settings. (System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Modifier Keys (select your keyboard). That is, of course, assuming you just want to change the positioning of the two modifiers. I switch between mac for work and windows at home, and that's what I used to do what I think you're describing.

Oh, I'm new here too. Welcome to the newb club :D
Title: Re: Well, I couldn't resist joining
Post by: Belfong on Thu, 03 April 2014, 22:26:47
For Mac, the best app is called KeyRemap4MacBook. I use that all the time. It's excellent especially if you are using a 60% keyboard. URL: https://pqrs.org/macosx/keyremap4macbook/‎

And welcome to Geekhack.
Title: Re: Well, I couldn't resist joining
Post by: cdownard on Thu, 03 April 2014, 22:58:08
Ah, thank you very much. Refactoring a Django site in Linux at the moment but I'll pull out the mac for that when I finish and play with some Obj-C.
Title: Re: Well, I couldn't resist joining
Post by: atlas3686 on Fri, 04 April 2014, 08:24:31
Quote from: Belfong on Thu, 03 April 2014, 22:26:47
For Mac, the best app is called KeyRemap4MacBook. I use that all the time. It's excellent especially if you are using a 60% keyboard. URL: https://pqrs.org/macosx/keyremap4macbook/‎

And welcome to Geekhack.

Yes this is the way to go for OSX and it works really well. Welcome to Geekhack!