How much programmability do you want out of your keyboards?

[wuqe]

The only feature I've seen on this list that hasu's tmk firmware doesn't address is on-the-fly macro recording and assignment. You can do macros, but it must be at build time, and not nearly as convenient as on, say, a Kinesis. That said, with the constant reflashing I do, I'm not sure how long the remappings would last in memory anyway...

[aref]

I'm a minimalist: give me 8 to 10 programmable keys and let me have at it. This was the one, and only one, feature I liked when I bought a Logitech K750, I was waiting for a two new mechanical KBs to come in and needed a keyboard. The K750 now sits boxed after one month of use. Nonetheless, the programmable keys are a nice addition to a keyboard. The keyboards I use now have zero programmable keys, but the key switches are fantastic.

[angelic_sedition]

Hasu's firmware can take advantage of the JP layout additional keys (I believe that's what you are using). Hasu is from a place where those keyboards are all around!

I've got my converters directly from him. I do not know if he wants/can to sell more of them. I cannot speak for him, you should contact him directly by PM as he is a member of this forum.

The configuration is not super easy because, as I said, you need to edit a C file. You've got a text file with a table, and you fill this table with key names. Generally you start from an existing layout that you start to modify, so you use the original layout as an example. You look at how it's done and you start by moving keys around. Generally there will already be a second layout in the original file, so you will just have to adapt it as well. Then you can create additional layouts yourself.

What I did not mention is that you then need to compile the firmware (which is a single command in a terminal box) and then reflash the converter (another command). You can do that with Windows, Mac or Linux (I used Linux). Oh and before you can do all of that you need to install a few utilities (the compiler and the flash utility). Almost everything is documented, but not perfectly. Under Linux I had a little bit of guesswork to do (I had to find the name of the packages to install).

All of this may not be a problem for you, it depends on your skills.

Also, I think you can get help from this forum. I believe there are a number of people here who have dealt with this already.

Even if it's difficult at first (which it may not be actually), the pleasure of being able to totally reprogram any keyboard is worth it!

Oh and if you can you should get two converters: one for your usual computer/keyboard and another one that you put in your bag so you can use it on the move.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that my japanese layout keyboard isn't PS2 compatible though. I've had no luck finding a good mechanical one either. 

I mostly use linux and am not too worried about the configuration or compiling. I'm more worried that if I have to get a teensy and make the converter myself that I'll screw  up. Is yours shrink wrapped? Would you be willing to post pictures or have you posted any? Now I just need a PS2 compatible keyboard. Do you know if the quickfire tk is PS2 compatible? I'm pretty sure that the quickfire rapid is but the tk isn't. I might have an old PS2 board somewhere...

[spiceBar]

Hasu's firmware can take advantage of the JP layout additional keys (I believe that's what you are using). Hasu is from a place where those keyboards are all around!

I've got my converters directly from him. I do not know if he wants/can to sell more of them. I cannot speak for him, you should contact him directly by PM as he is a member of this forum.

The configuration is not super easy because, as I said, you need to edit a C file. You've got a text file with a table, and you fill this table with key names. Generally you start from an existing layout that you start to modify, so you use the original layout as an example. You look at how it's done and you start by moving keys around. Generally there will already be a second layout in the original file, so you will just have to adapt it as well. Then you can create additional layouts yourself.

What I did not mention is that you then need to compile the firmware (which is a single command in a terminal box) and then reflash the converter (another command). You can do that with Windows, Mac or Linux (I used Linux). Oh and before you can do all of that you need to install a few utilities (the compiler and the flash utility). Almost everything is documented, but not perfectly. Under Linux I had a little bit of guesswork to do (I had to find the name of the packages to install).

All of this may not be a problem for you, it depends on your skills.

Also, I think you can get help from this forum. I believe there are a number of people here who have dealt with this already.

Even if it's difficult at first (which it may not be actually), the pleasure of being able to totally reprogram any keyboard is worth it!

Oh and if you can you should get two converters: one for your usual computer/keyboard and another one that you put in your bag so you can use it on the move.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that my japanese layout keyboard isn't PS2 compatible though. I've had no luck finding a good mechanical one either. 

I mostly use linux and am not too worried about the configuration or compiling. I'm more worried that if I have to get a teensy and make the converter myself that I'll screw  up. Is yours shrink wrapped? Would you be willing to post pictures or have you posted any? Now I just need a PS2 compatible keyboard. Do you know if the quickfire tk is PS2 compatible? I'm pretty sure that the quickfire rapid is but the tk isn't. I might have an old PS2 board somewhere...

Here is a picture showing two identical converters (the keyboard underneath is a SpaceFN keyboard, a French AZERTY one).

The USB end of the PCB has both a micro and a mini-B plug. They are wired together, so you can use one at a time.

On the other end you have the PS/2 plug.

The converters are shrink-wrapped. You can also see the pushbutton that is used to signal to the controller that you want to reflash it.

These converters have been built by Master Hasu himself.