compact or mini kb for a writer

[wordfool]

I write a lot (no gaming) and I'm in the market for a compact wireless mechanical keyboard (60% or 75%, not TKL) that has a layout and key sizes best suited to typing and is as far under $200 (inc. shipping) as possible. Would like backlit, would love bluetooth, want cherry Brownbs or Clears or equivalent (or damped blues), would prefer both del and backspace keys, and definitely don't want a column of keys to the right of the enter (I have tried that layout and it's infuriating to constantly hit PgDn instead of Enter or home instead of backspace).

If anyone who types a lot could chime in and give advice/feedback I'd appreciate it. It would be my traveling KB, which is why wireless would be preferred and internal battery even better.

The perfect keyboard seems to be the Varmillo VB660M, but apparently it's a bit of a Unicorn keyboard right now.  Anyone know where to get one shipped the the US?

Other's on my shortlist:
- Rapoo KX (but has linear switches)
- Filco Minila Air (no backlight, tiny right shift key, and can only one of the Fn keys be turned off, or is it both only?)
- Matias Secure pro (not bluetooth, fugly, no backlight, mixed reviews of switches)
- Ducky Mini (not wireless)
- Leopold 660 (not wireless)

Any others I've missed?

[jdcarpe]

Filco Minila Air would probably be your best bet right now. I know NCIX has them in stock, or at least they did recently.

[Firebolt1914]

I would get the Leopold 660, as those aren't too hard to find. I would say that not having bluetooth is less of a disadvantage than a weird layout.

[wordfool]

I would get the Leopold 660, as those aren't too hard to find. I would say that not having bluetooth is less of a disadvantage than a weird layout.

I do like the look of the Leopold layout, but wireless would be handy since it'll travel with me a lot (edited my OP to point that out). Just wish I could get the Leopold 660M with backlight and bluetooth (aka varmillo) 

Filco Minila Air would probably be your best bet right now. I know NCIX has them in stock, or at least they did recently.

Any thoughts on that tiny right shift key, the double Fn keys and the 0.25 shift in the bottom row?

[jdcarpe]

You should get a Hemingwrite. )

I know, it's not available until next year...


Or Oobly's Writer's Portable Keyboard, also in development.

The JD45 is in prototype, and backlit, but not a production keyboard, and not currently wireless.

[Sygaldry]

Of your short list, the Filco Minila Air is my favorite.

I had one for a short while and really enjoyed the layout. Alas, it could never replace my HHKB and so it had to go.

[wordfool]

You should get a Hemingwrite. )

I know, it's not available until next year...


Or Oobly's Writer's Portable Keyboard, also in development.

  )

[ideus]

I have not know any other wireless small mechanical keyboard besides the air. I think you may consider others if you drop that as a requirement. Personally, I do not like the Hemingwrite but it may be your one step solution for writing, with no cables or connectors to be concern about.


I have an FC660M keyboard and it is very solid, I type all the time writing papers and academic documents so I can tell it works fine. I dressed it with some original cherry caps that you should consider if you are a heavy writing, I have tested some profiles and I always return to DS ABS Cherry caps.


What I do not like about the 660 is its lack of programmability but maybe that is not a concern for you, however for me I prefer some of the layout key positions of the HHKB, and besides an actual HHKB, that by the way may be in your list also, you will need programmability to use it. I am waiting for the infinity that has all I need in a 60% keyboard, I also need the delete key in my layout.

[wordfool]

I have not know any other wireless small mechanical keyboard besides the air. I think you may consider others if you drop that as a requirement. Personally, I do not like the Hemingwrite but it may be your one step solution for writing, with no cables or connectors to be concern about.

Yeah, I consider the Hemingwrite a bit of a gimmick (to put it mildly) and the reason I am after a bluetooth keyboard is to have the ability to use it with a tablet as well as my laptop when travelling. Since I also seem to find myself in dimly-lit place more than I'd like, a backlight would be very useful.

The HHKB is out of my price range, sadly. The 660 looks pretty nice layout-wise. If only I could find it's bluetooth-enabled, backlit cousin, the Vermilo 660...

[TopreFan333]

The HHKB is out of my price range, sadly.

I know it's expensive, but just to help you talk yourself into it -- it's the primary interface device you'll be using for literally tens of thousands of hours in the years to come. (I say this as someone who recently bit the bullet on that same purchase).

[wordfool]

I know it's expensive, but just to help you talk yourself into it -- it's the primary interface device you'll be using for literally tens of thousands of hours in the years to come. (I say this as someone who recently bit the bullet on that same purchase).

If I were to get another Topre board it would probably be the Leopold 660C because I kinda need the arrow keys (using them via Fn would drive me nuts). Along with price, it's another reason the HHKB is not on my list. Much as I'd like another Topre board, however, I probably won't end up with one this time around because I want definitely want wireless or backlit (or both) and AFAIK there are currently no backlit or wireless Topre options.

[spiceBar]

The Leopold FC660C or the Varmilo vb660m are probably your best bets, but both are difficult to get at this time. I'm personally quite eager to get my hands on a vb660m (my guess is that it will soon be on Massdrop - just a matter of days).

I would advise against the Minila Air or the HHKB because of their layouts.

I would like to point out the non-standard right Shift on the Minila Air, and the non-standard staggering. If you are a writer, I would bet you will notice and will constantly be annoyed by these.

Some people do like the HHKB, and only swear by it. However depending on the size of your hands and the strength of your right pinky, you may find it harder to use than you would think. It's a good keyboard, as long as you can get used to the layout, but the layout is a serious concern nevertheless. If you don't adapt to the layout, you will have to resell it (happens all the time here).

Matias has a Bluetooth keyboard that I find quite good: the Matias laptop pro keyboard. With Quiet Click switches, It's a very good keyboard. Their tactile feedback puts the Cherry MX browns or clears to shame, and it's not noisy. The rechargeable battery last for weeks, maybe months. It does have a dedicated Del key, not in the standard location, but this may not be a problem for you. Honestly, I like it.

Here it is:
  http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard/matias-mini-quiet-bluetooth-laptop-pro-keyboard-for-mac-usa.asp

But still... The Varmilo vb660m would be my #1 recommendation.

[wordfool]

Yes... Varmilo on Massdrop please! What gives you that hunch it's about to be mass dropped? And if it is I guess it'll probably take months to ship, which is not ideal. I am considering trying to get one through a Taobao dealer but I cannot for the life of me figure out what all the options mean in that weird Chinglish translation. "Blue gray hat green axis sublimation blue lights" ??!! I assume that means blue case, gray dye-sub keycaps, MX greens, and blue backlight, but who the hell knows?! I'm also curious what the battery life is like. The backlight must drain it pretty fast.

The Matias laptop pro is in Mac flavor only for some unfathomable reason, and it's not the most compact (or attractive) board I've seen, which is a factor when traveling. I've also heard mixed reviews of the Matias switches. Some seem to love them, others not so much.

My main concern with the Minila is indeed the staggering of the fourth row. The right shift key is not a problem since I rarely, if ever use the right shift key anyway. Same with the small spacebar... I always hit the spacebar under the v-b-n anyway.

[spiceBar]

Yes... Varmilo on Massdrop please! What gives you that hunch it's about to be mass dropped? And if it is I guess it'll probably take months to ship, which is not ideal. I am considering trying to get one through a Taobao dealer but I cannot for the life of me figure out what all the options mean in that weird Chinglish translation. "Blue gray hat green axis sublimation blue lights" ??!! I assume that means blue case, gray dye-sub keycaps, MX greens, and blue backlight, but who the hell knows?! I'm also curious what the battery life is like. The backlight must drain it pretty fast.

The Matias laptop pro is in Mac flavor only for some unfathomable reason, and it's not the most compact (or attractive) board I've seen, which is a factor when traveling. I've also heard mixed reviews of the Matias switches. Some seem to love them, others not so much.

My main concern with the Minila is indeed the staggering of the fourth row. The right shift key is not a problem since I rarely, if ever use the right shift key anyway. Same with the small spacebar... I always hit the spacebar under the v-b-n anyway.

Just go to massdrop and search for "vb660m".

There have been two polls where the Varmilo has come on top, by a wide margin. It has over 500 cumulated votes and someone on Massdrop said they were going to contact Varmilo to organize a drop.

I don't know how long it can take, but it's certainly worth waiting a little bit. Some drops do not take very long.

You are right about the Matias laptop pro being Mac-centric. I was about to write that it doesn't matter, but I have just checked with a PC and it's indeed a problem. The control keys do Control when connected to a PC, but the keys around the space bar do not do Alt. They are the "Windows" (Super) key. The Alt function is on the Option keys. So to use the keyboard on a PC, you would have to also use an utility to remap these keys. Frankly, it's not a show-stopper, but it is worth mentioning.

And it's true that the keyboard is larger than a FC660C or vb660m, and a little bit heavier than a FC660C. I cannot compare to a vb660m, but it may not be heavier, as the vb660m also has a big battery inside.

About the Minila: to be honest I also own two Pure Pro, which have exactly the same staggering on the bottom row. I have never found this to be a real problem: I almost don't notice when I type. It's just that the Minila has so many non-standard tweaks that the accumulation ends up being suspicious.

I know several people here have purchased the Varmilo, and you could ask how they did it, in another thread maybe so you can grab their attention. I'm pretty sure you will get some help.

[TopreFan333]

I kinda need the arrow keys (using them via Fn would drive me nuts).

Yeah, that's a legitimate concern. I am adapting as we speak: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=68298.0