Doo & Do.25
Hi everyone, this is ises.
I'm thrilled to see you all on Geekhack without any 403 errors lol.
Today, I'm excited to introduce my very first personal project from Vida.— the Doo&Do.25.
Inspiration
This project draws its primary inspiration from the beloved WYSE keyboard.
I wanted to capture that classic vibe while simultaneously realizing a concept for an alternative layout.
The layout I've been envisioning all along.
The layout
Doo
As you can see, the original Wyse adopted the Digital layout, which is the grandfather of the 3-section split-block and inverted-T arrow keys design. I’ve preserved this F row less TKL section—including that iconic 2u 'DO' key in the function row (which is exactly why this keyboard is named 'Doo'). I then chopped off the numpad and added support for a 2.5U stepped Ctrl key, sourced from a full-size Wyse spacebar row.
Do.25
The seed of this layout was planted when I first encountered those vintage keyboards with their seemingly "odd" arrangements. Before the standard 104-key Model M became ubiquitous, keyboards were merely external input tools for mainframes and industrial equipment. There were no established standards, leading to a golden age of wild, diverse layouts.
As I studied the rise and fall of various brands during this era, I tried to decipher their logic. I realized that most non-standard layouts were tailored to the operating systems they ran on—a case, one might say, of software defining hardware.
History moves in a spiral, and the power of habit is undeniable. Long before the PC boom, the mechanical typewriter was the king of documentation. Due to mechanical constraints, keycaps had to be staggered. To prevent the typebars from jamming during fast typing, Christopher Latham Sholes invented the QWERTY layout to separate frequently used letter pairs, prioritizing stability and efficiency. This design became the fixed paradigm for staggered alpha rows that we still use today.
But have you ever noticed something peculiar? Even within the alpha block, the stagger offsets are inconsistent. The progressive offsets between the Number, Q, A, and Z rows follow a pattern of 0.5u, 0.25u, and 0.5u.I spent a long time wondering if this served any practical purpose beyond fitting keys into a rectangular case. After experimenting with ortho layouts (fun fact: the right side of a standard TKL is basically a Planck layout—wild, right?), I came to a conclusion: it probably doesn't.So, I decided to standardize the column spacing across the entire alpha and number rows to a uniform 0.25u
On this foundation, I played "Tetris" in the layout editor, exploring various mod configurations without restricting big key lengths. My idea is to attempt some subtle guidance while preserving the operational habits of the broadest possible audience. Crucially, I ensured that all key sizes can be found in standard large base keycap sets, so there’s no extra barrier to entry for buying keycaps.
Ultimately, this was successfully realized on this keyboard through a similar form of non-rectangular frame constraint.
- Due to the offset of the number row, the maximum width available for the Backspace key is 1.75U (within a 40% kit,and let's be real—who actually uses that size?) Taking cues from HHKB enthusiasts and fans of split-backspace layouts, I ultimately settled on a 1u Backspace.
- For those used to the HHKB’s backspace key placement, this transition will feel completely natural. Even for users coming from a standard 2u or split-backspace, there’s virtually no learning curve. In fact, it might even feel easier. Here’s why: when I move my wrist to locate the Backspace, my pinky naturally rests on the right outer wall of the 1U BS. Because the Backspace is slightly offset inward, my ring or middle finger can just glide into naturally the correct position. And if you still feel a 1u Backspace is too tight, I highly recommend trying the HHKB method—it genuinely works wonders.
- I’ve trimmed the Shift keys on the bottom alpha row. The left Shift is now 1.75u and the right is 2.25u. They really don’t need to be that long lol.
- For the space row, I balanced my personal love and HHKB lover with visual alignment.I kept the Left Ctrl for users who aren't ready to give it up and adjusted the width to 1U.
- This design choice not only preserves the standard size of the left WKL blocker, but also maintains the 0.25u offset across the space row—plus, it allows me to fit my favorite 10u spacebar! While a single-row 10u spacebar is undeniably beautiful, —plus, this layout looks very much like the Apple II.
I didn’t want this board to feel like just a display piece—it’s meant to be used and enjoyed!Design Concept
Top
Turning to the design of the keyboard itself, I drew inspiration from the WYSE Series design language to define the case's form and framework.
As you can see, the absence of a numpad and vertical alignment in the modifier area caused some visual imbalance. It created large areas of negative space—while the board looked unique, it lacked a sense of order. After much contemplation, I decided to use clean lines rather than additional decorative elements to reshape and define this area:- The line segmentation is based on dividing the rectangular mass while keeping the horizontal width constant, creating a clean framework.
- On the left side of the horizontally offset Number and Z-rows, I removed the block lines and lowered the surface height. This visually expresses the layout's offset and rich layering.
- The top-right corner features a similar treatment, with a section separated to house a light element as a subtle accent—this also avoids visual repetition caused by having the same width as the elements on the right side of the Z-row.
- For the engravings on the sides and bottom edge of the top, I adjusted the dividing lines inward from the center to make the width outside the line match the thickness of the top and bottom cases (excluding the seam gap).
- Engraved details have been added to the accent strip.
After multiple rounds of optimization, the final front profile largely avoids visual dullness and repetition, achieving exactly the effect I was aiming for.Back & Bottom
The first prototype featured a detachable F-row cover for installing keycaps. While I really liked this concept, it unfortunately triggered a series of issues that required extensive adjustments. These ranged from surface protection and assembly tolerances to the optimization of through-screw holes and the stacking of lines on the USB-C side.
For the USB-C side, the first prototype kept the original groove design. However, this made it difficult to maintain uniform chamfers at the corners and a smooth transition to the back. After that, i spent a significant amount of time refining each section. Although the problems could be mitigated to some extent, none of the solutions felt perfect in their respective forms. Therefore, I ultimately decided to cancel the detachable design. And now the curve lines from the cable outlet extend seamlessly to the rear, creating a clear division.
Internal Weights
The interior features two raw steel weights, along with four small, evenly spaced knife-cut patterns on the top surface, serving as a tribute to the WYSE logo.
Color option
Raw
E-coating
Anodized
Renders of the Anodized Dark Green and Anodized Gunmetal colorways will be updated later.
Specifications
• Dimensions: 383.05 × 145.57 × 40.00 mm
• Mounting Style: Top mount
• Typing Angle: 6.5°
• Front Height: 17.00 mm
• EKH: 21.18 mm (excluding feet)
• Weight: 2.6 kg (kit) ~3.1 kg (fully assembled)
• Materials: 6063 Aluminum / Brass / Stainless Steel / PC
• Manufacturer: Kezewa
• PCB:
o 1.6mm Hot-swappable (Non-ISO)
o 1.6mm Solder (Distinguished by dual top cases)
o 1.6mm EC (Excludes matching stainless steel plate)
Pricing
Supported Accessories & Keyboards
I am currently collaborating with metakeebs to offer EC accessories as add-ons, as well as a bundle deal with SENSY（BTW many of you may know me from my partnership with SENSY）for the WYSE keyboard (same mold for Doo). However, due to the complexities of order reconciliation and the lack of a unified platform across these agents, I have not yet finalized the details regarding any potential bundle discounts.
Current Progress
I have completed three rounds of prototyping and revisions. The design is now finalized, and materials have been pre-ordered to kick off production. I will place additional orders based on the Group Buy results to expedite the manufacturing process. The pre order Group Buy is expected to launch in late May or early June
Vendor list
USA：Divinikey
KR ：Geon works
SG：Ktechs
EU：Monakokeys
UK：ProtoTypist
VN：Soigear
AUS：Toro
CA：Unikeys
GLOBAL ：Kezewa
Others：TBD
Community
Please join our discord server for more updates and answers to questions
See u guys in group buy!
