Author Topic: Tips for a full size keyboardist moving to an AT or TKL layout?  (Read 1432 times)

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Offline funkmon

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Hi guys. I always use full size keyboards, but recently I tried to prove to myself I could use the XT layout by using...the XT layout. I could, but eventually dropped it in favour of my full sized keyboard when updating a large table on the Model M subreddit. I figure I can do it on the AT layout, and try to keep it going using my Model F AT I just apprehended.

I can, slowly, use the built in navigation on the numpad. I do have the muscle memory, but it's hard to overwrite. I probably could with enough time, but at work, I have to use keyboard with a normal layout, so I don't want to **** with that.

I have a soarer's converter, so I can do some EZPZ remapping of my Model F. So, is there an easy way to remap the keys to basically have a tenkeyless layout when not numlocked, using a standard nav cluster, but when numlocked, go back to the normal keys?

Or, if not, of you full sizers who moved to an AT layout, do you find that redoing the whole thing to a TKL layout works better, or do you use the keyboard essentially as originally intended?

Let me know.

Re: Tips for a full size keyboardist moving to an AT or TKL layout?
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 16 June 2020, 09:53:37 »
Take advantage of layers. I have the numpad on a separate layer and the arrow keys on WASD. Just because you have less physical keys doesn't mean you have to lose functionality. That's the appeal of smaller layout keyboards, having all the keys you use closer to your home row just on layers.
Duck Viper V3 / Zilents 65g / GMK Git Oblivion V2

Offline funkmon

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Re: Tips for a full size keyboardist moving to an AT or TKL layout?
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 16 June 2020, 17:21:11 »
I can't believe it but such basic advice just did it for me. I feel like this thing is totally usable now. I have it set up so when I hit F7 I can use the arrow keys while it's on numlock. This is the best.

Thanks so much!

Offline frydaja

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Re: Tips for a full size keyboardist moving to an AT or TKL layout?
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 16 June 2020, 18:42:03 »
Just in case: Use Shift if you need to quickly access the numpad nav keys. Unfortunately the scan codes are different, so Windows search doesn't pick up arrows and such, AFAIK.

Otherwise.. The cross nav is muscle memory for me after using keyboard controls in OMSI (a bus simulator).  :-\
Anne Pro 2 w/ Kailh Box Browns | CM Storm Quickfire TK Stealth w/ MX Browns | Unknown Chinese keyboard w/ Outemu Reds | Compaq-branded NMB RT101 | Gigabyte Force K81 w/Kailh Reds

Offline funkmon

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Re: Tips for a full size keyboardist moving to an AT or TKL layout?
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 16 June 2020, 18:50:30 »
Is...is that built in? Have I been stupid my entire life?