Split Backspace - How do you like it?

[Karura]

Hello,

Once again I am curious about a non-standard layout, to be precise, the HHKB "Split Backspace" layout.

What this consists of is:
1) Backspace moved down 1 space to the "\|" key.
2) Backspace location becomes two new keys, one for a 1u "\|", another for "`~" (Since Esc takes up the top left spot)


I am curious as to how people actually like this layout.

Like always, I'll go first. While I think it's a very cute idea to have extra keys, I'm pretty used to mashing the "top-right" button for Backspace, and I think it would throw me off to place the Backspace that close to Enter, maybe there will be mispresses. I don't actually own a keyboard in this layout, but I've demoed a HHKB in Japan for about 5 minutes.

Another trivial but interesting note, aesthetics wise, I think this is awesome, because it leads to a relatively symmetric keyboard.

When posting, please discuss:
1) Have you actually used this layout before? (Whether it's on a HHKB or some custom board)
2) If you have, explain what you liked about it, and what you didn't like about it.
If you haven't, explain why you think it is actually a good idea.

Discuss

[tbc]

i use it to hold 2 clacks on my minila

[mozaiq]

So far I only used a part of this layout. I don't own a keyboard with a split backspace yet, but I tried remapping backspace to |\ prior to joining the Infinity drop. My conclusion: I takes some time to adjust to it, but if you give it some time it becomes natural quite easily. So far I can't say that I prefer one layout over the other though.
Regarding the mispresses: if you don't hit Enter while hitting \| now, I don't see any reason why this should change. Also on ISO boards due to the two row Enter key, Backspace is right above Enter as well. And so far this was never an issue to me (I'm a native ISO user)

[jacobolus]

If you have a choice, splitting the spacebar and using one half for backwards delete is much better than putting it above the return key.

Along the lines of

Though the enormous return key is still unnecessary.

Here are two of my design sketches that I think would work better than a standard layout keyboard without totally invalidating existing muscle memory:

[mozaiq]

If you have a choice, splitting the spacebar and using one half for backwards delete is much better than putting it above the return key.

If you manage to rerun the Infinity with a split spacebar, I'll definitely join!

[jaredddm]

I've typed and gotten used to a vortex core and can't imagine that being that different. Think the 1u backspace is completely different to a large split backspace?

[Puddsy]

i dont like it so i use full backspace

[vegs]

10/10 necro

also split backspace is perfect for 60% boards

[josefadamcik]

I use it on my Katana60, just the keys which are at the original backspace location are mapped a bit differently. But I almost don't use them becasu both are also mapped to other keys which are more accessible to me. So I cannot judge the usability of those two new keys.

But I got used to the new backspace location really quickly and I like it. It's much easier to reach it with my piknie. There were more painful things to relearn on this board.

[Greywolf]

I am looking for this sort of layout myself.  It's not easy to find (understatement of the decade).  Everyone expects the BS key to be at the upper right corner rather than above the Return key [I'm old school, I call it "Return" and not "Enter"].

I would prefer the tilde-backquote and bash-pipe keys to be up there at 1u each instead of the double-wide backspace key that is there.  I've already remapped my keyboards (i have multiple in different environments) such that backspace is directly above the return key, and what was the Backspace key is the bash-pipe key.  I also prefer my ESC immediately to the left of the 1 key, Control immediately left of the 'A' key, and I have replaced the 'menu' key mapping with Caps Lock.

FWIW, I'm probably designing something close to this.  It's a WIP.

http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/5a00f2dd7f83324302ae3cf055595516

Hello,

Once again I am curious about a non-standard layout, to be precise, the HHKB "Split Backspace" layout.

What this consists of is:
1) Backspace moved down 1 space to the "\|" key.
2) Backspace location becomes two new keys, one for a 1u "\|", another for "`~" (Since Esc takes up the top left spot)

...

When posting, please discuss:
1) Have you actually used this layout before? (Whether it's on a HHKB or some custom board)
2) If you have, explain what you liked about it, and what you didn't like about it.
If you haven't, explain why you think it is actually a good idea.

Discuss

[tp4tissue]

Keyboards should be split down the middle into 2 halves.  They should include a Miter Saw with every purchase of single piece keyboards so you can fix that mistake the moment you buy it..

[Greywolf]

I wish this kind of layout was available on a full-size (104/105 or TKL-88/89) keyboard!  It's completely aggravating not to have this as an option.  Eventually I am going to be building my own keyboard just to deal with this issue -- oh, oops, I've already commented.

#imadork

Hello,

Once again I am curious about a non-standard layout, to be precise, the HHKB "Split Backspace" layout.

What this consists of is:
1) Backspace moved down 1 space to the "\|" key.
2) Backspace location becomes two new keys, one for a 1u "\|", another for "`~" (Since Esc takes up the top left spot)

Show Image

I am curious as to how people actually like this layout.

Like always, I'll go first. While I think it's a very cute idea to have extra keys, I'm pretty used to mashing the "top-right" button for Backspace, and I think it would throw me off to place the Backspace that close to Enter, maybe there will be mispresses. I don't actually own a keyboard in this layout, but I've demoed a HHKB in Japan for about 5 minutes.

Another trivial but interesting note, aesthetics wise, I think this is awesome, because it leads to a relatively symmetric keyboard.

When posting, please discuss:
1) Have you actually used this layout before? (Whether it's on a HHKB or some custom board)
2) If you have, explain what you liked about it, and what you didn't like about it.
If you haven't, explain why you think it is actually a good idea.

Discuss :)

[granola bar enthusiast]

for keycap set's with different colors on mod's compared to alpha's i really hate it when they use the alpha color on the keys that were in the place where the backspace would have been despite the escape key being the mod color, i think split backspace is best on a 60% but it's not really a plus or a minus for a keyboard to me

[suicidal_orange]

Split backspace is great - I use it on my 1800ish daily driver, though not mapped as in the OP and not using HHKB backspace.

Backspace is on the home row so easier to hit, Page Up/Down are closer to the home position as is Delete - the only problem is remembering everyone else's keyboard is annoyingly standard.

[Backspace2]

I use full backspace because that's what I'm used to. I've tried it before, but couldn't get used to it.

[LASERman Projects]

I used split backspace on 60% as pipe and Delete key and loved it. As someone with strong muscle memory it was surprisingly easy to adopt for smaller backspace one row lower, and Delete at the keyboard corner - very comfortable. It makes so much more sense than enlarged ANSI pipe key.

Although I have since moved to 65% due to lack of direct arrows and nav. keys, I'll soon embark on 60% and split backspace again. This time with 2U left Shift layout incorporating arrows and extra 2x 1U nav. keys on the right side while sacrificing RShift to make my ultimate compact yet still very usable layout. Hopefully ideal solution for someone who navigate web more (direct PgUp/PgDn keys) than writing essays and making lots of mistakes on both sides of the cursor .