Minimalist gaming keyboard--not 60%

[vivalarevolución]

I'm on the search for a minimalist gaming keyboard.  My only requirements are Cherry Black or Red switches and arrow keys.  I want arrow keys because I like having arrow keys when doing regular computer stuff.

The only thing that comes to mind for me is the Leopold FC660M.  Anybody use that for gaming?

[vinzlr]

It has an odd layout but it satisfies your needs, you could get a Vortex Race II. I love mine in reds

[minho]

Keycool 84!

Relatively easy to replace keys, (only funky thing about it is extra 1x modifiers and a 1.75 shift, both of which can be found with Tsangan sets), and has dedicated function and arrow keys.

[vivalarevolución]

It has an odd layout but it satisfies your needs, you could get a Vortex Race II. I love mine in reds

Thanks for the reply.  I am not crazy about PCB mount boards, but that is an intriguing layout.

Keycool 84!

Relatively easy to replace keys, (only funky thing about it is extra 1x modifiers and a 1.75 shift, both of which can be found with Tsangan sets), and has dedicated function and arrow keys.

I heard the newest Keycool 84 boards are made with Kailh switches, a Cherry clone.  That makes me a little hesitant to purchase that model.

[Puddsy]

KUL ES-87!!

I love mine a lot...

[vivalarevolución]

KUL ES-87!!

I love mine a lot...

They are new on the scene, but I have been seeing them pop up a lot.  Do you happen to know how the quality and feel compare to Filco or Leopold, for example?

[Puddsy]

I have one. It's built really well. I'd get it over a Filco or a Leopold any day.

[dorkvader]

0.5 ergodox. Mine is excellent. I have it set up with arrowkeys (and pgup pgdn for video navigation in mpc-hc. I can do almost anything with one hand, and the other on the trackball / mouse. It's also really cheap with akmalamute's plates.


I found out that I do have a spare PCB if you need.

I have one. It's built really well. I'd get it over a Filco or a Leopold any day.

Interesting. Usually only TG3 and video editing keyboards get put on that shelf for cherry MX.
(I'd say the only higher is "special stuff" like military, and hall effect, etc.)

[sakai4eva]

0.5 ergodox. Mine is excellent. I have it set up with arrowkeys (and pgup pgdn for video navigation in mpc-hc. I can do almost anything with one hand, and the other on the trackball / mouse. It's also really cheap with akmalamute's plates.

Show Image

I found out that I do have a spare PCB if you need.

I have one. It's built really well. I'd get it over a Filco or a Leopold any day.

Interesting. Usually only TG3 and video editing keyboards get put on that shelf for cherry MX.
(I'd say the only higher is "special stuff" like military, and hall effect, etc.)

Spaghetti wiring to the second board! Semi-done with mine using IDE cables as proof of concept too!

@OP, this is one of the best choices around.

[Pacifist]

I use 75%, easy access to F# layer, handy arrow keys

[Oobly]

My custom DIY ergo board 

Dedicated arrow and edit clusters, completely natural finger position (including thumbs), independent left and right sections for adjustability, up to 62 programmable keys without moving your hand from home row position. Best gaming board I've ever used. (don't tell anyone, but I'm working on a second prototype with the aim to test production rate and ease of building of the design so I can sell a few)

A custom 'Dox can get you close to that, but the arrow keys won't be inverted T.

Commercial boards? FC660M, KBT Race II or perhaps an older Keycool 84 (Choc Mini and Pure Pro have weird size spacebars). Or you may have to go up to a TKL, then you have way more options.

[McWilloughby]

I'm currently using a Race II for gaming and would say that it is pretty good, and fulfils what you want besides being PCB mount rather than plate mount. Normally I wouldn't like this so much but with the Race II, I haven't found that it feels flexible at all. I own a G80-3000 as well and you can definitely feel that that is a PCB mount board but the only give-away with the Race II is the fact that its so light.

On the more obscure part of the spectrum, I recently got a 96 key (12 x 8 grid) Tipro board (don't have it where I'm living at the moment as I'm moving soon). While not as ergonomic as an Ergodox, or Oobly's custom board, I would say that the brief time in which I've used it has really shown its potential as a gaming board. It's small (I was actually very impressed with how small it was) and while you obviously sacrifice some typing functionality as it doesn't have any of the shaping of a normal keyboard (unless you can get one of the QWERTY variants) you could easily program it with a typing layout. That said, it also has a PS/2 port on the rear to allow you to connect a second keyboard so you could still have all the typing functionality by keeping a second keyboard stowed away somewhere close. I've found the board to be very solid (it has a metal plate that the switches are attached to and another one that makes up the bottom of the case) and the programming software is very simple to use. Given the price these things crop up on eBay (got mine for Ł8, have seen many go for less than that), I would say its worth trying one out if you can get a hold of one.

[vivalarevolución]

0.5 ergodox. Mine is excellent. I have it set up with arrowkeys (and pgup pgdn for video navigation in mpc-hc. I can do almost anything with one hand, and the other on the trackball / mouse. It's also really cheap with akmalamute's plates.

Show Image

I found out that I do have a spare PCB if you need.

I have one. It's built really well. I'd get it over a Filco or a Leopold any day.

Interesting. Usually only TG3 and video editing keyboards get put on that shelf for cherry MX.
(I'd say the only higher is "special stuff" like military, and hall effect, etc.)

Interesting!  I did not even think of doing that.  I have two Ergodoxen, so perhaps I will try that.

[remedyhalopc]

TEX Beetle!

[Pacifist]

TEX Beetle!

what benefit does that have for gaming?

[Puddsy]

TEX Beetle!

not 60%?

[Lain1911]

It has an odd layout but it satisfies your needs, you could get a Vortex Race II. I love mine in reds

Thanks for the reply.  I am not crazy about PCB mount boards, but that is an intriguing layout.

Keycool 84!

Relatively easy to replace keys, (only funky thing about it is extra 1x modifiers and a 1.75 shift, both of which can be found with Tsangan sets), and has dedicated function and arrow keys.

I heard the newest Keycool 84 boards are made with Kailh switches, a Cherry clone.  That makes me a little hesitant to purchase that model.

Old ones still cherry.

[katushkin]

I will vouch for another KC 84. There are plenty of old ones flying around with cherry switches, and the build quality is excellent.

[Pacifist]

One of my KC84's came with a pad lifted and thus a switch dead, but a quick solder jump fixed the problem

layout is almost perfect though

[FrostyToast]

Erryone is cray cray about the KUL 87 or whatever. It's TKL and apparently really well built.

[Puddsy]

DID SOMEONE SAY KUL?

[katushkin]

KC 84 is smaller, still got nav keys and arrow cluster.

KC SUPREMACY WHAT WHAAAAAT

[vivalarevolución]

I did end up getting a Korean custom off the forums, but thanks for your suggestions.  Go big or go home, I say.

[minho]

I did end up getting a Korean custom off the forums, but thanks for your suggestions.  Go big or go home, I say.

Helllll yea. What keyboard?

[cmadrid]

I did end up getting a Korean custom off the forums, but thanks for your suggestions.  Go big or go home, I say.

Sweet!  My wife would say you went big now get a new home..

[berserkfan]

I found out that I do have a spare PCB if you need.

Of course! It's the other half of the 0.5! 

Someone is going to have to use his right hand and hold the mouse in his left. 

[vivalarevolución]

I did end up getting a Korean custom off the forums, but thanks for your suggestions.  Go big or go home, I say.

Helllll yea. What keyboard?

Kaliet 22 mini.  It has the layout that I have dreamed of, but I am not crazy about the programming limitations.  Thankfully, the seller was kind enough to program it for me before sending it off.

I did end up getting a Korean custom off the forums, but thanks for your suggestions.  Go big or go home, I say.

Sweet!  My wife would say you went big now get a new home..

That's why I don't have a wife.

[OnTheBrink]

I'm on the search for a minimalist gaming keyboard.  My only requirements are Cherry Black or Red switches and arrow keys.  I want arrow keys because I like having arrow keys when doing regular computer stuff.

The only thing that comes to mind for me is the Leopold FC660M.  Anybody use that for gaming?

I own the FC660C. Although it is Topre, the build quality is superb. I'd imagine the M would be of equal quality.

If it were up to me and you need that arrow cluster, it would be a much better choice than the other small form factors that have it. It's also newer.

[vivalarevolución]

I'm on the search for a minimalist gaming keyboard.  My only requirements are Cherry Black or Red switches and arrow keys.  I want arrow keys because I like having arrow keys when doing regular computer stuff.

The only thing that comes to mind for me is the Leopold FC660M.  Anybody use that for gaming?

I own the FC660C. Although it is Topre, the build quality is superb. I'd imagine the M would be of equal quality.

If it were up to me and you need that arrow cluster, it would be a much better choice than the other small form factors that have it. It's also newer.

I looked into that one.  I am not crazy about the bottom row of that keyboard.  As a Mac user, I like consistently on both sides of the bottom row, so I can put the Command and Option keys right next to each other.  I do not have find modifier layout on the bottom row to be consistency or intuitive.  Perhaps I am being a Picky Penelope, but that's what I want.

And what they did with that left side of the keyboard.  Come on guys.  Insert and delete?  Please.

Take a cue from Matias on how to create a compact layout, with the modification of the F-keys under the number row: