If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead

Re:If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead by ithkuil on Sunday December 15, 2019 @03:15PM (#21798680)

I also struggled with the otholinear layout and ended up switching to a http://www.mistelkeyboard.com/md650l-barocco/

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead by gen220 on Monday December 16, 2019 @01:33AM (#21801183)

I’ve been using the smaller version (no arrow or function keys) for about a year now. It took a little bit of adjusting to get used to no arrow keys, but it’s a great experience now! The `fn` key could perhaps be better placed, but other than that I have no qualms.

I used to get a lot of back pain, which I realize now was from scrunching my shoulders together to keep my wrists in typing position for X hours per day. The fact that it’s a quality mechanical keyboard (the quietest switches, brown I think, are just fine for an office) is an extra bonus. I’d recommend giving it a try for anybody considering it. It’s a good in-between, being an ergonomic keyboard that isn’t particularly “funky”, in terms of layout.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead by souterrain on Sunday December 15, 2019 @06:37PM (#21799732)

I was looking for something close to this design, particularly with low profile switches. Thanks.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead by souterrain on Sunday December 15, 2019 @07:15PM (#21799893)

Alas, it is presently unobtainium. I guess I need to consider building my own split keyboard using Cherry ML switches.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead by sezna on Sunday December 15, 2019 @07:44PM (#21800018)

This is similar and in stock, if you’re okay assembling it. They have great build documentation.

https://keeb.io/collections/keyboard-pcbs/products/quefrency...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead by souterrain on Sunday December 15, 2019 @09:00PM (#21800286)

The build looks reasonably straightforward. I suspect I wouldn't be able to use low-profile switches with this, but I'll fully admit I'm not well versed in keyboard assembly.

Thanks for this. I'm getting closer to what I'm looking for.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead by ianhowson on Sunday December 15, 2019 @10:04PM (#21800521)

I bought an MD650L and found the switches to be unusably bad. I, too, wished for a low-profile Quefrency.

I'm comfortable designing and assembling PCBs but don't really have time to debug a brand-new design, so I've ordered a low-profile Lily58 kit. The Lily58 is most of what I want and has open source PCB, schematic and case. If it doesn't work for me, I'm expecting to modify it to something more like Quefrency.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead by eyeball on Sunday December 15, 2019 @08:04PM (#21800100)

https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead by stevenicr on Sunday December 15, 2019 @05:43PM (#21799488)

no pricing info, or anything else to suggest any way to get one of these from what I see. Maybe it's the English version that suffers in this way? They look cool. If they could make one with no need for wire between the two halves I'd dig deeper on how to get one I suppose.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:If You Can't Buy the Keyboard You Want, Build It Instead by ithkuil on Monday December 16, 2019 @05:11AM (#21802023)

I bought mine on (mass)drop

[ Parent | on HN ]