Some of this will be old info I dropped at the "New Members" thread, but this seems more inline with the
why of why I'm here, so here goes! Anyway, I've been researching mechanical keyboards for the passed month. it all started when I decided to build a "sim-pit" for Kerbal Space Program. I have some nice hardware for the project (6 inch edgewise meters, 4 inch 3/4 circular meter, LED displays. dual 3-axis joysticks, toggles, big red buttons
), but wanted a compact keyboard that could still sit in front of me, and not take up so much space as to interfere with the joysticks.
Knowing I had one somewhere, I dug out an Apple //c keyboard I had packed away. It's the one that uses Alps SKCM Amber switches. I LOVE the feel of that keyboard, and always wanted to put it to use, so I considered mounting it into my control panel, between the two joysticks.
I realized two things though... Having a keyboard front and center takes up a LOT of space... Space that I want for things like toggles and big red buttons that say [ABORT]... Second, I like fully featured keyboards. That's when I discovered the 75% layout.
I decided that I needed to focus on a PRIMARY mechanical keyboard, and forget my //c keyboard as a main device. I'll probably turn the //c keyboard into a wireless mechanical keyboard. One of the push to toggle switches at the top will toggle the top row between numbers and functions. The second push to toggle switch will probably just be the power button. I'll make a compact case for my Apple //c keyboard and wire up a battery and bluetooth module to it, and make it into a highly portable mechanical keyboard with wonderful, wonderful clicky Alps switches!
For my primary keyboard, I decided on two major details: I'm purchasing the awesome looking "Danger Zone" keycap set (on Massdrop), cause I love the aviation theme, and feel it'll compliment my Kerbal Space Program controller well. Second, I've put together a modified version of the 75% layout. I was not satisfied with only 4 extra keys. Most 75% layouts offer 84 keys, which is nice, but I wanted all my navigation keys,
and volume control keys plus more. The Danger Zone keycap kits I'm buying will have some really nice keycap options for me to use. By adding two columns to the right of the Backspace/Return/Right Shift keys, instead of just a single column, I can do a few very nice things:
A: I can slide the arrow keys over 1u to the right so it does not interfere with the shift or modifier keys.
B: Because the arrows no longer interfere with anything,
ALL the keys can be standard keys from a
basic TKL set. 1.25u modifiers, 2.75u right shift, 6.25u space... It's ALL normal! Populating the altered 75% layout no longer requires a strange shift size, or 1u modifiers. This makes buying custom key cap sets VERY simple for this modified layout, as a typical ten keyless set probably has enough keys for the whole thing. If it doesn't have enough to cover everything, then you can drop a 1u custom design cap or a 1u blank as your final key.
C: In addition to the normal 4 buttons that a 75% gains, this layout offers 8 extra keys. At 88 keys, this layout offers one more key than a stock standard 87 key TKL, but is only 2u wider than a stock alpha+mods section.
I have simply been calling this a "75% + 1". Don't know if it's already been done, but I'm trying to get a plate made for me, and will hopefully be throwing it all together in the next few months. The Danger Zone keycaps won't show until February at the earliest... At least it gives me time to hand wire the matrix.
I'll do a separate number pad as well. I'll probably get something relatively basic for that one. Since I DO have a bunch of extra keys, I might add an extra column, and make it 6 rows (5x6). Thinking of using a few of the extra modifiers on the number pad so I can access extra characters or something. I want to be able to shove one or both keyboards aside to focus on my Kerbal Controller when playing.
As for what I'm typing on now... Prepare yourselves... I have a first gen iMac membrane keyboard with the 78 ui jk and m, columns shorting together, and multiple worn keys that jam up if not hit perfectly straight downward... You can't imagine the editing this post required to not look like garbage! There may still be a few errors...
NEED MECHANICAL KEYBOARD SOON!!!
My layout shown below is actually slightly modified from my "standard". Since I will use this on a Hackintosh, I wanted to use Mac key layout, so Alt and Win are swapped. Furthermore, on a Mac, the Command key (what would be the Windows key on a regular keyboard) is the most prominent modifier. I happen to have available to me, a 1.5u key from the Danger Zone set that I want to use as my Command key. My standard layout has an 0.25u gap between the right most modifier key and the left arrow. By absorbing that gap, I was able to widen the left command key to 1.5u. The standard configuration would feature six 1.25u modifiers. Alternately, by making the right three modifiers 1u, instead of 1.25u, you are left with a 1u gap, perfect if you want 4 modifiers on the right, though that may force you to buy more than a basic TKL keycap set to fill it out.
Here's my "75% + 1" layout:
