this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2024
21 points (100.0% liked)

Mechanical Keyboards

8823 readers
14 users here now

Are you addicted to the clicking sounds of your beautiful and impressive mechanical keyboard?
If so, this community is for you!

Here you can discuss everything about mechanical keyboards (and only mechanical keyboards).

Banner by Jay Zhang on Unsplash

founded 4 years ago
 

Hi! New to all of this, but I've been following the community for a while and wanted to finally get my hands on a board after having figured out what (I think) I like. Still have some questions concerning multiple-language use case. I read through some of the posts on here but couldn't find a lot so I thought I will just ask...

So far, following one comment, I guess it would be best to go with anANSI layout and learn how to use US International layout, since the (Keychron) Keyboard I currently eyeball is also difficult to get as ISO fully assembled in the color option I want, ordering from Europe. I need this to run on Linux and I guess there's no way around getting into key mapping.

  1. I do work with several langues, so I would need at minimum Latin and Cyrillic alphabet, additionally some characters of Nordic, Slavic, Germanic and Romanic languages, so basically a lot of diacritics, but also a few extra characters such as ø, ß, ł. However, from what I read US International might not work with for instance Czech, which is a huge problem for me (š, č, ž, ů etc.). Anyone on here with experience and/or solutions regarding this?

  2. For those of you owning and using a Keychron on Linux, is keymapping a no-brainer? (I hope my biggest issue with this will just be using a Chromium-based Browser xD) --> If Keychron isn't advised, any ideas on other Keyboards supporting key mapping, preferably manufactured in and shipped from Europe. (metal body, 80%, wired, media knob, possibly macros, price point less important)

  3. Also looking for recommendations on where to buy aesthetically pleasing Latin/Cyrillic Keycaps! Preferably Europe-based Vendors and no sketchy and cheap (possibly toxic) chinese products.

Thanks a lot!

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I'm on Wayland. I still fear this part of the process XD but I usually figure things out somehow. There are indeed some characters I only use here and there, so the soultion might work for those cases, thanks for letting me know about your Layout. So what are the techniques to add characters to blank caps? Maybe DIYing would be an idea for the Latin/Cyrillic issue. I'd like some green/brown/yellow combo so maybe I'll just buy a bunch and see what I can do from there.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Here's a list of vendors. https://wiki.keyboard.gay/VENDORS.html#continental-europe I've used Delta Keys, Oblotsky and 42Keebs. All good.

Edit: another list https://kbd.news/vendors/Europe

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Perfect! I know what I will be busy with over the weekend :)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

https://github.com/y-muller/personal_configs/tree/main/xkb My notes about customising the keyboard in Wayland. It's brief but should get you started. And if you look around the repo, you might find a few other ideas. ;)

I keep my keycaps blank. It's simpler that way. I made pictures, as above, to help at first.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Thx for sharing, this might come in handy for a start!

I get the idea about blank caps and simplicity, I even considered this myself for a while but it just won't be useful when working between Latin/Cyrillic on one task or for longer periods of time on one of each and then switching. At least my experience.

If I remember right, there was even some post about DIYing somewhere on here, I need to take a look through the posts again.