Looking for a very specific setup

[debo]

Hi everyone,

I do apologies if I’m asking something that was already covered in the forum but I didn’t exactly know how to effectively word search keywords based on my requirements. So, to the point in subject. I’m currently an input club k-type owner but I feel the need to go more compact and I’m looking to move to a 60%/65% ANSI layout. In the off the shelf market my eyes went to the ducky mecha mini or their SF but I’m weighed more towards the mecha because of the aluminium construction which is a nice to have requirement for me. But what am I really looking for? Here a bullet points list:

• I use OSX as operating system so the keyboard needs to be compatible more on this in the next point.
• I mainly use the keyboard for coding and typing which means the backtick and the tilde character are equally important to me as the ESC button (with the exception of vim where I can use other escape combinations to get out of insert mode); keep in mind that, being an OSX user, the combination CMD+backtick has an important place in my productivity workflow and I don’t want to lose that one.
• Arrow keys, and thus a 65% layout maybe my preference, but I suppose I can learn to have them on a dedicated layer.
• An aluminium metallic case build would be very welcome and preferably I’d like to stay in the white/silver/space grey colour tones for my theme.
• Hot swappable switches would be a nice to have too.
• I’d like some backlighting it doesn’t need to be RGB, ice/white will do (not a deal breaker also because in that case the keycaps choice is highly reduced).
• it would be nice to have mac os themed key caps but especially standard caps so to broaden my pool of choices.
• If there is nothing out there of the shelf I can consider go the DIY kit route.
• Last but not least, “easy” to get in the UK.

I think that covers pretty much all the things I have in mind at the moment of typing and I will kindly and genuinely welcome any info you could share with me.

Thanks a lot in advance for your time and help.

D.

[treeleaf64]

Keychron K2? Not sure if it's HS or not, but should fit most of your needs.

[debo]

Keychron K2? Not sure if it's HS or not, but should fit most of your needs.

Hi treeleaf64 and thanks a lot for your reply, I saw the keychron during my searches, the only thing that put me off a bit about it is that in many reviews people are complaining about how thick it is with the consequent distress on the wrist during long typing sessions and the other thing was that the key caps even in ANSI aren't fully standards so customise and replace them didn't seem too easy. Surely if I can't find other viable alternatives it remains a super solid choice and recommendation, thanks.

[Maledicted]

Keychron K2? Not sure if it's HS or not, but should fit most of your needs.

Hi treeleaf64 and thanks a lot for your reply, I saw the keychron during my searches, the only thing that put me off a bit about it is that in many reviews people are complaining about how thick it is with the consequent distress on the wrist during long typing sessions and the other thing was that the key caps even in ANSI aren't fully standards so customise and replace them didn't seem too easy. Surely if I can't find other viable alternatives it remains a super solid choice and recommendation, thanks.

Personally, I have never understood people's obsessions with wrist angle, etc. I haven't seemed to have had any problems with literally any keyboards at all in terms of ergonomics, even with heavy amounts of typing. I'm using an F AT at this very moment, which sits fairly high with no wrist rest. You could maybe get one of those gel ones to put in front of the Keychron?

[debo]

Personally, I have never understood people's obsessions with wrist angle, etc. I haven't seemed to have had any problems with literally any keyboards at all in terms of ergonomics, even with heavy amounts of typing. I'm using an F AT at this very moment, which sits fairly high with no wrist rest. You could maybe get one of those gel ones to put in front of the Keychron?

That's probably because you are lucky yourself or maybe others are the more susceptible ones to some of those issues; ergonomics, posture, etc. are very subjective thing, perhaps obsession for some but a real issue for others.

[Maledicted]

Personally, I have never understood people's obsessions with wrist angle, etc. I haven't seemed to have had any problems with literally any keyboards at all in terms of ergonomics, even with heavy amounts of typing. I'm using an F AT at this very moment, which sits fairly high with no wrist rest. You could maybe get one of those gel ones to put in front of the Keychron?

That's probably because you are lucky yourself or maybe others are the more susceptible ones to some of those issues; ergonomics, posture, etc. are very subjective thing, perhaps obsession for some but a real issue for others.

Maybe a combination? I have always made sure that my posture was good, since there have been back problems in my family.

[debo]

Maybe a combination? I have always made sure that my posture was good, since there have been back problems in my family.

Absolutely, but even then what works for you might not work for others. I'm not saying the keychron won't work for me, but knowing myself I'd rather look for alternatives first before trying my luck and then need to add workarounds to improve on possible issues.

[Maledicted]

Maybe a combination? I have always made sure that my posture was good, since there have been back problems in my family.

Absolutely, but even then what works for you might not work for others. I'm not saying the keychron won't work for me, but knowing myself I'd rather look for alternatives first before trying my luck and then need to add workarounds to improve on possible issues.

Sure, makes sense. Those wrist rests sure are nice though, even though I haven't used one in at least 15 years.

Welcome to Geekhack by the way.

[debo]

Maybe a combination? I have always made sure that my posture was good, since there have been back problems in my family.

Absolutely, but even then what works for you might not work for others. I'm not saying the keychron won't work for me, but knowing myself I'd rather look for alternatives first before trying my luck and then need to add workarounds to improve on possible issues.

Sure, makes sense. Those wrist rests sure are nice though, even though I haven't used one in at least 15 years.

Welcome to Geekhack by the way.

Thanks appreciated. So I understand you might have been in the "business" for quite a while... nay good pointers on what's out there beyond the keychron that I can look at? It doesn't have to be prebuilt, I'm ok with doing some assembly, I'd prefer hot swap but if I have to gear for soldering I'm up for the challenge. I'm just a consumer of mech keyboard so far but I fell like it's time to geek out and I don't know what's the current state of the art/industry other than the 60% layout seems to be the most trendy and I can understand why.

[Maledicted]

Maybe a combination? I have always made sure that my posture was good, since there have been back problems in my family.

Absolutely, but even then what works for you might not work for others. I'm not saying the keychron won't work for me, but knowing myself I'd rather look for alternatives first before trying my luck and then need to add workarounds to improve on possible issues.

Sure, makes sense. Those wrist rests sure are nice though, even though I haven't used one in at least 15 years.

Welcome to Geekhack by the way.

Thanks appreciated. So I understand you might have been in the "business" for quite a while... nay good pointers on what's out there beyond the keychron that I can look at? It doesn't have to be prebuilt, I'm ok with doing some assembly, I'd prefer hot swap but if I have to gear for soldering I'm up for the challenge. I'm just a consumer of mech keyboard so far but I fell like it's time to geek out and I don't know what's the current state of the art/industry other than the 60% layout seems to be the most trendy and I can understand why.

Honestly. I would have to do some research. My smallest boards are 75%, and I primarily like retro keyboards with long-dead switch types. One board I looked at getting myself, which seems to tick most of your boxes, is the Drop Alt. It is hot swappable, has RGB, an aluminum case, dedicated arrow keys, a small form factor, and it is programmable through QMK, so the lack of a tilde should be basically irrelevant. Should just be able to pick up a key cap set of your choice, arrange keys how you like, and program accordingly.

[debo]

Honestly. I would have to do some research. My smallest boards are 75%, and I primarily like retro keyboards with long-dead switch types. One board I looked at getting myself, which seems to tick most of your boxes, is the Drop Alt. It is hot swappable, has RGB, an aluminum case, dedicated arrow keys, a small form factor, and it is programmable through QMK, so the lack of a tilde should be basically irrelevant. Should just be able to pick up a key cap set of your choice, arrange keys how you like, and program accordingly.

Thanks a lot for the advice that does and I'm not surprised, basically that's my k-type but in 65% format, and I say not surprised on purpose because drop sc****d input.club over big time with a dirty patent/intellectual property situation, so I'm not particularly inclined to buy from them again. With that said, great suggestion, I wasn't aware they made a sff of the the k-type.

[Riverman]

It's not a 60% layout, but have you looked at the Mistel Sleeker?  It has Mac and Windows keycaps, it's backlit (but not with shine-through keys), and has an aluminum case.  UK availability might be the kicker for this one, though.

[debo]

It's not a 60% layout, but have you looked at the Mistel Sleeker?  It has Mac and Windows keycaps, it's backlit (but not with shine-through keys), and has an aluminum case.  UK availability might be the kicker for this one, though.

Thanks for the suggestion, not bad, but I'll have to pass on that one because it's pretty much identical to my k-type. I definitely want to downsize especially for portability.