Tenkeyless + Macro keys. Too obscure?

[Zustiur]

I'm caught between wanting Tenkeyless and wanting Macro keys. I currently use a Logitech G110, but I only make use of two of its twelve macro keys on a regular basis. I have those two set to CTRL-TAB and CTRL-F4.

What I want is
* Tenkeyless,
* With a wrist-rest
* MX Cherry Blue switches
* With a single column of macro keys on the left OR macro keys in the space around the arrow keys.

Is what I want just too obscure, or am I just on the wrong track? Should I be looking for some sort of programmable/'design your own' keyboards instead?


The design here: http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?24474-alternative-to-tenkeyless-idea/page4 is almost perfect to my mind. Just make the two blank keys of Nav Mode into macro keys...

[JaccoW]

I think you might want to take a look on this website:
http://www.piengineering.com/xkeys/xk16stick.php

They sell separate programmable keys.
You could pick whatever tkl you want and still have macro.

[Zustiur]

Wow. Thanks. That thing is pretty cool. Rather expensive, but still an option worth considering.

I'm very tempted to just buy the CM Quickfire Rapid and see how much I miss the macro keys. If it annoys me enough, I guess I can plug in the G110 and just have that elsewhere on the desk for the macro keys while I look for another solution.

[Zustiur]

Nope, I take it back. The Quickfire Rapid has the FN key where the Menu key should be. I use the menu key too much to accept that
Leopold FC700R has the same problem. Boy this is frustrating. I swear I will find the right keyboard eventually.

[CeeSA]

http://www.ebay.de/itm/TIPRO-Futuro-Kassentastatur-Part-No-30101-TMC-KMCV-C15-021-/320803623438?pt=Kassen_Abrechnungen&hash=item4ab162d20e#ht_3002wt_1142

Every Key is programmable in 4 layers. If you are in the US the shipping kills it, but if your are in europe, give it a try.

[anethema]

These are cherry blacks, and the keyboard is kind of weird lookin, but other than that fulfills what you want in a way:

http://www.aziocorp.com/product/keyboards/wiredkbmain/kb588u.htm

The number pad comes off. They keyboard is also water proof with drainage holes how about that.

EDIT: Sold here among other places if you couldn't find it elsewhere:

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=64471&vpn=KB588U&manufacture=AZIO%20Corporation&promoid=1360

[domoaligato]

download autohotkey and rebind buttons that you do not use.
I normally while gaming do not use Home,End,Page Up, Page, Down, insert buttons and rebind them.
you also normally have no use for scroll lock or pause break also.
http://www.autohotkey.com/

[Zustiur]

Excellent suggestions.
The Tipro Futuro breaks too many rules that I forgot to list in my original post, but thank you for the suggestion.

The Azio Levetron Mech 4 is extremely tempting, if hideous  I'm pretty sure my right wrist would sit exactly on the fold lines of the wrist-rest. I wonder why they did that. Pity about the blacks, but I can understand why they went that way. This is clearly a gaming keyboard. Again, thank you for the suggestion. I'll keep an eye on it. And see if I can possibly source it in Australia (unlikely).   On further inspection it also breaks one of the rules I forgot to mention, so without further ado; a revised list:

What I want is
   • Tenkeyless,
   • With a wrist-rest
   • MX Cherry Blue switches
   • With a single column of macro keys on the left OR macro keys in the space around the arrow keys.
   • Proper US ANSI layout
   • FN key not replacing winkey nor replacing menu-key
   • PS2 with NKRO
   • Minimal 'bezel' around the edges - I want Tenkeyless to reduce the size, I don't want wide funky borders taking up unnecessary room. (can you tell this one got added after seeing the Mech4?)

I keep seeing mentions of autohotkey, but I hadn't previously realized that you could rebind unused keys like scroll-lock. That sounds like a suitable solution, particularly given how few macros I use on a regular basis.

Also, in answer to my own original question, I had a thought this morning. Macro keys generally (always?) rely on USB connection. NKRO relies on PS2. Maybe that's why they seem to be almost mutually exclusive?
The Mech4 claims to be USB and have NKRO so maybe I've got my facts wrong.


I honestly think I'll end up getting a Leopold FC200R from overseas, or Filco Majestouch. Not sure if it'll be the Majestouch2 or the Ninja. Perhaps I'm being indecisive, but there is so little difference between these 3 boards that it's difficult to decide.
My original choice would have been the Leopold, but the only Aus store that sold them decided to start stocking the FC700R instead, which breaks my rule about the FN key.

Any opinions on FC200R vs Majestouch 2 vs Majestouch Ninja?

[All The Fire]

You use the menu key? Do you have a mouse with only one button?

EDIT: Also, I would take a look at the picture on PCCG's page for the 700R's.



You can access the menu key via FN+RCTRL. Personally, it just seems foolish to me to blow out the price on your keyboard due to shipping over a mere menu key.

[JaccoW]

The Keycool doesn't have that problem. It just forgoes the right-hand windows-hey for the Fn button and keeps the menu-key right next to it.

EDIT: whoops, saw your "Fn-key not replacing windowkey or menukey"-rule too late.

I'm curious, are you left handed or something? Because I never use the right-hand side windows key.

[Zustiur]

You use the menu key? Do you have a mouse with only one button?

No, it's more a case of, "Mouse? What's a mouse?"
I use keyboard shortcuts extensively.

You can access the menu key via FN+RCTRL. Personally, it just seems foolish to me to blow out the price on your keyboard due to shipping over a mere menu key.

I hadn't spotted that. Thank you.

The Keycool doesn't have that problem. It just forgoes the right-hand windows-hey for the Fn button and keeps the menu-key right next to it.
I'm curious, are you left handed or something? Because I never use the right-hand side windows key.

Now that you come to mention it, I think I only use right-Winkey for Win+L (lock PC) which I never use at home anyway. There doesn't appear to be anyone in Aus that stocks it... hmm http://ohmykb.com have it, but their shop won't work for me at the moment. I'll try again later to see if it starts working.

[Edit] Ohmykb.com seems to be broken. I just can't get the shop to work. However I found qtan's shop on EBay and ordered the Keycool 87 that way.

[JaccoW]

Now that you come to mention it, I think I only use right-Winkey for Win+L (lock PC) which I never use at home anyway. There doesn't appear to be anyone in Aus that stocks it... hmm http://ohmykb.com have it, but their shop won't work for me at the moment. I'll try again later to see if it starts working.

[Edit] Ohmykb.com seems to be broken. I just can't get the shop to work. However I found qtan's shop on EBay and ordered the Keycool 87 that way.

Exactly, I use it too but only at my internship. Qtan is good. Should be there soon for you.