QFR vs 60%?

[joostflux]

What's up guys? I've recently been looking for a replacement for my K90 (Desk-Eater) and have fallen in love with Blue switches and of course now my board with Reds just feels bleh. At first I was just going to buy a QFR and be done with it but then I found these 60% boards and they look really cool. So I'm stuck between saving a little money and getting a QFR or just making the jump and getting a Poker II or something. Keep in mind I'm a student so I'm not made of money haha. Any info and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[metalliqaz]

Are you a programmer?  Are you a gamer?  How do you usually use the keyboard?

We ask because if you switch to a 60%, you will suddenly lose several keys that you may be using often.  They will be moved and accessible through a Fn layer.  In my role as a programmer doing lots of text editing and command-line work, I cant' give up my arrows and six-pack.

On the other hand, people who do a lot of typing really like the fact that with 60% boards you don't really ever have to remove your hands form the home position while typing.  This allows them to get really fast once the keys have been learned by muscle memory.

[joostflux]

Are you a programmer?  Are you a gamer?  How do you usually use the keyboard?

We ask because if you switch to a 60%, you will suddenly lose several keys that you may be using often.  They will be moved and accessible through a Fn layer.  In my role as a programmer doing lots of text editing and command-line work, I cant' give up my arrows and six-pack.

Just a gamer/student (sorry for not mentioning that). I pretty much just use it for surfing the web, forums, occasional papers for school and gaming. That definitely makes sense. At this point I don't find myself using really any of the other keys, besides maybe the home and end key but that's nothing really. Not gonna lie either, the main reason for me liking the 60% is purely looks.

[tp4tissue]

60% is "enough"...  but you have to do more work in Layers...  Once you create and learn your layers, it's not much of a hindrance....

So... objectively.. You're analyzing the cost to create and learn keyboard layers.. vs the space cost taken up by a larger keyboard...

^^  This is not an opinion, this is a fact.

[Linkbane]

If you really do like the looks, there's nothing wrong with getting a 60% for that reason. You won't be saving that much more space, but it is a noticeable reduction. I type and game, and I would rather not use anything smaller than a TKL. Because I enter some numbers every while, I prefer the TK, which is a TKL + 1 key (it has a numpad that contains the nav cluster and arrow keys, switchable via num lock).

[joostflux]

60% is "enough"...  but you have to do more work in Layers...  Once you create and learn your layers, it's not much of a hindrance....

So... objectively.. You're analyzing the cost to create and learn keyboard layers.. vs the space cost taken up by a larger keyboard...

^^  This is not an opinion, this is a fact.

Show Image

I had not thought about this aspect at all. Thank you for explaining it like that.

If you really do like the looks, there's nothing wrong with getting a 60% for that reason. You won't be saving that much more space, but it is a noticeable reduction. I type and game, and I would rather not use anything smaller than a TKL. Because I enter some numbers every while, I prefer the TK, which is a TKL + 1 key (it has a numpad that contains the nav cluster and arrow keys, switchable via num lock).

That definitely makes sense. I also remember seeing a board with that layout, so I will go back and check that out for sure.

Thanks for all you help guys. I'll look into all of those options as well. When it comes to 60% boards though, is the Poker II a pretty good start or are there others I should look into?

Now that I think about it, if I get the cheaper board, that means I have that much more to spend on custom key caps  ;D

[Linkbane]

60% is "enough"...  but you have to do more work in Layers...  Once you create and learn your layers, it's not much of a hindrance....

So... objectively.. You're analyzing the cost to create and learn keyboard layers.. vs the space cost taken up by a larger keyboard...

^^  This is not an opinion, this is a fact.

Show Image

I had not thought about this aspect at all. Thank you for explaining it like that.

If you really do like the looks, there's nothing wrong with getting a 60% for that reason. You won't be saving that much more space, but it is a noticeable reduction. I type and game, and I would rather not use anything smaller than a TKL. Because I enter some numbers every while, I prefer the TK, which is a TKL + 1 key (it has a numpad that contains the nav cluster and arrow keys, switchable via num lock).

That definitely makes sense. I also remember seeing a board with that layout, so I will go back and check that out for sure.

Thanks for all you help guys. I'll look into all of those options as well. When it comes to 60% boards though, is the Poker II a pretty good start or are there others I should look into?

Now that I think about it, if I get the cheaper board, that means I have that much more to spend on custom key caps  ;D

You're falling into the trap of listening to tp!
Kidding!

You're right in that. Consider, though, that most keycap sets are made for TKL, sometimes fullsize. Also, the TK is quite economical, as are most CM keyboards. If you get used to 60%, though, there are some excellent keyboards you can buy.

[Beca]

Ive been typing on 60% keyboards for a while, but I'm going back to TKL soon just because of the arrow keys and function keys. I need them for some gaming D: