Symmetry in the layout

[alosec]

For me, it's very important for a keyboard to have a symmetric layout on both sides of the board. In the Leopold fc660m, the windows key is smaller than the ctrl and alt key it is between. This is different on the other side of the keyboard where the ctrl inbetween the alt and fn key is the same. On the fc660c, the left windows key is consistent in size with the ctrl and alt key it is next to. I have both, and on the 660m this bugs the hell out of me.

660m pictures: http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,compact&pid=fc660mceb

660c: http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=leopold,compact&pid=fc660c

[Steven]

Talking about Symmetry layout, the 66% layout is already not up to the standard.

[Nakapfao]

This stuff annoys the hell out of me too. I don't know why, but I can't stand non-standard layouts.. Those Keycools with the FN keys directly above the top row..... Ugh.

[alosec]

Talking about Symmetry layout, the 66% layout is already not up to the standard.

Well... I disagree here. I like the 660m/c layout in general, I think it is the best to be found in a 60% (although I haven't tried a HHKB yet). The only thing that bugs me is that damn insert key! Very unimportant for general use.

[Pacifist]

This stuff annoys the hell out of me too. I don't know why, but I can't stand non-standard layouts.. Those Keycools with the FN keys directly above the top row..... Ugh.

Aren't all 75%'s like that?

[Steven]

Talking about Symmetry layout, the 66% layout is already not up to the standard.

Well... I disagree here. I like the 660m/c layout in general, I think it is the best to be found in a 60% (although I haven't tried a HHKB yet). The only thing that bugs me is that damn insert key! Very unimportant for general use.

I'm one of the FC660M owner out there, but it is 66% to be precise. Insert key is very important especially for me to do my daily email stuffs (if u r using Lotus Notes - yes I know this is sucks )

[tp4tissue]

Talking about Symmetry layout, the 66% layout is already not up to the standard.

Well... I disagree here. I like the 660m/c layout in general, I think it is the best to be found in a 60% (although I haven't tried a HHKB yet). The only thing that bugs me is that damn insert key! Very unimportant for general use.

I think you are too focused on what the keyboard "looks like"...

The functional aspect of the keys are in NO WAYS symmetrical between the two hands...  physical symmetry of the keys would only HINDER the allocation of  "functions"  on a standard keyboard,  because the typical board is not programmable...


On an ergodox, it makes sense to have symmetrical left right, because you can balance your functional workload between the hands by remapping commonly used keys evenly..

On a non-programmable staggered qwerty layout... this is not possible.... which is why they're NOT symmetrically planned...

[rowdy]

To me being able to relatively easily replace the keycaps is more important than symmetry.

Although really the only keyboard I have that comes close to symmetry is the HHKB.

[alosec]

Talking about Symmetry layout, the 66% layout is already not up to the standard.

Well... I disagree here. I like the 660m/c layout in general, I think it is the best to be found in a 60% (although I haven't tried a HHKB yet). The only thing that bugs me is that damn insert key! Very unimportant for general use.

I think you are too focused on what the keyboard "looks like"...

Ha! I don't think I am, considering I keep my boards stock and don't spend hundreds of dollars modifying them... :-) I'm just complaining for the sake of complaining - I know the problem is all in my head :-)

[rowdy]

If you feel more comfortable using a particular layout, for whatever reason, then the keyboard ceases to be an obstruction between you and whatever you are trying to do, and you can get on with your work.

Hence the constant search for the ideal layout, the ideal switches, the ideal keycaps etc.