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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: nrd on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:16:02

Title: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: nrd on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:16:02
Fiddling around with some of my hotkeys and trying to make my keyboard life a little more comfortable, I couldn’t help but notice that the spacebar is a huge waste of potential. It’s so easily accesible and takes up so much space yet it’s usually only used for a single function.

I already have a bunch of hotkeys around the spacebar (left shift + space, right shift + space, control + space and I’ll probably turn the latter into two distinct left/right control + space hotkeys) and it still feels like I could do so much more with it – if only it would be split so that I had a “left space” and a “right space” to work with. Actually I thought that splitting it into three keys would be even better, left, middle and center.

Are there any keyboards that offer this? Apart from ones like the ErgoDox and so on. Basically a standard ANSI/ISO layout with a split spacebar? If not … why not?!  :(
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: epzy on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:18:32
(http://i.imgur.com/buV0d.jpg)
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: Pacifist on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:20:34
g80-5k

edit: tooslow :(
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:33:53
They used to be more common.

Accountants, in particular, used half for space and half for delete.
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: nrd on Mon, 09 June 2014, 19:24:21
Quote from: epzy on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:18:32
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/buV0d.jpg)

That’s a bit more split than I was hoping for  :D

Quote from: fohat.digs on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:33:53
Accountants, in particular, used half for space and half for delete.
Interesting. The G80-5000 was discontinued long ago (and wasn’t in production for long to begin with) and apart from that I could only dig up some even more obscure/old pics and a couple of ideas for custom boards …

No recent models that are readily available, from what I can see  :(
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: Dubsgalore on Mon, 09 June 2014, 19:38:04
Quote from: fohat.digs on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:33:53
They used to be more common.

Accountants, in particular, used half for space and half for delete.

Like the M15 :P Left for delete and Right for space
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: jacobolus on Mon, 09 June 2014, 21:02:49
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271516494190
(http://i.imgur.com/f1GiCc4.jpg)
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Tue, 10 June 2014, 01:10:58
I've seen many more keys on that bottom row on other japanese boards.
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: Findecanor on Tue, 10 June 2014, 03:54:56
Quote from: nrd on Mon, 09 June 2014, 18:16:02
Basically a standard ANSI/ISO layout with a split spacebar? If not … why not?!  :(
Some vintage NMB keyboards with "Erase-Eaze" had a split space bar where the left one acted as Backspace. I remember seeing it posted on the forum.

BTW, the Matias ErgoPro allows either the left or right to be Backspace, but it is also a split ergo..

BTW 2. The USB HID standard actually has a special key code for the "Erase-Eaze" key. I dunno if it is supported by any OS without any special driver, though.
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: nrd on Wed, 11 June 2014, 11:52:32
Quote
I've seen many more keys on that bottom row on other japanese boards.
Yes, I’ve noticed that, too. Can’t really find much on Japanese boards in general, unfortunately. Guess it would help if I knew Japanese  ;D

I did find a Japanese Corsair board, but that came with a really weird bottom row in general.

Well … and then there’s the Filco Minila:
(http://www.keyboardco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/FFKB68MUKB_01.jpg)
Looks a lot like what I had in mind, except that it’s 60% and comes with an oversized left Ctrl instead of a second OS and Ctrl key. Too bad  :-X
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Wed, 11 June 2014, 11:54:22
The stock keyboard on my family's first computer had a split space bar. If only I knew the model number...

It was the keyboard from an old Compaq Presario from the Win95 era.
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: Findecanor on Wed, 11 June 2014, 13:33:40
This one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQpDHhJENRo)?
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Wed, 11 June 2014, 13:35:12
Quote from: Findecanor on Wed, 11 June 2014, 13:33:40
This one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQpDHhJENRo)?

YES! That's exactly it!

I think MSW still has that computer and keyboard, I'll have to ask him...
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: nrd on Wed, 11 June 2014, 13:44:37
This is exactly the layout I was hoping for! 1.25 keys for the bottom row and a split spacebar. (Well, almost exactly my dream layout – a 3 part spacebar would be even better.)

The more I think about it the less I understand why layouts with a split spacebar are so unpopular among manufacturers :-X

The “Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Keyboard” comes with a split spacebar but of course it’s not a mechanical:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61lBi1FUH9L._SL1500_.jpg)
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Wed, 11 June 2014, 16:31:35
Only thing about that one is that it probably merely sends either backspace or regular space scan codes, so it wouldn't be easily remappable how you want it to be.
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: dorkvader on Wed, 11 June 2014, 16:39:30
Don't forget the NMB erase-eaze.
(http://kbd.rzw.jp/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/NMB_RT8255CWPlus_01.jpg)
one of the few spacebars with a label

I contend that the IBM wheelwriter keyboards also count.
(http://www.typewriters.com/photos/1383200.jpg)
who needs SSKs? when you can get these for $10

Then there's always DIY:
(http://st.cat-v.ne.jp/pgr/keyboard/jpegdata/xmg33.jpg)
the BEST filco zero
from: http://st.cat-v.ne.jp/pgr/keyboard/filcoxmg.html

There's more but those are my fav.

Of course split keyboards like M15, G80-5000, kinesis and ergodox have split spacebars or can be set up that way.
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Wed, 11 June 2014, 16:43:05
What switches does the  IBM wheelwriter keyboard use? How easy is it to interface to PC?
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 11 June 2014, 17:13:22
Quote from: False_Dmitry_II on Wed, 11 June 2014, 16:43:05
What switches does the  IBM wheelwriter keyboard use? How easy is it to interface to PC?

I had one that was basic Model M-type buckling springs.
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: ideus on Wed, 11 June 2014, 18:52:13
Quote from: dorkvader on Wed, 11 June 2014, 16:39:30
Don't forget the NMB erase-eaze.
Show Image
(http://kbd.rzw.jp/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/NMB_RT8255CWPlus_01.jpg)

one of the few spacebars with a label

I contend that the IBM wheelwriter keyboards also count.
Show Image
(http://www.typewriters.com/photos/1383200.jpg)

who needs SSKs? when you can get these for $10

Then there's always DIY:
Show Image
(http://st.cat-v.ne.jp/pgr/keyboard/jpegdata/xmg33.jpg)

the BEST filco zero
from: http://st.cat-v.ne.jp/pgr/keyboard/filcoxmg.html (http://st.cat-v.ne.jp/pgr/keyboard/filcoxmg.html)

There's more but those are my fav.

Of course split keyboards like M15, G80-5000, kinesis and ergodox have split spacebars or can be set up that way.

Very interesting posts, thank you for the information. After seen these boards I feel more informed on keyboards.
Title: Re: Are there keyboards with split spacebars?
Post by: Findecanor on Wed, 11 June 2014, 19:05:56
Quote from: False_Dmitry_II on Wed, 11 June 2014, 16:43:05
What switches does the  IBM wheelwriter keyboard use? How easy is it to interface to PC?
You would need a custom controller, but I have seen already at least one other person has been working on it.