this post was submitted on 09 Feb 2024
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ErgoMechKeyboards

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Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards

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Keep it ergo

Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)

i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²

¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid

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Help me choose a keyboard (self.ergomechkeyboards)
submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by PeterPoopshit to c/ergomechkeyboards
 

I am in the market for a new keyboard. I really want something that is backlit, has a volume control and has the full layout with numpad. If I can't find something with those 3 features I'll just keep fighting with my shitty half working one because it's not that bad and there not being a better option will just motivate me into finding some new way to fix it probably. I kind of don't care if it's membrane or not, as long as it's not expensive. In my experience membrane keyboards last longer anyway.

There's a few cheapo options on Amazon that look promising but beyond that they only come with 2 out of 3 of the features I need. That's why I came here for advice.

I have a g910 thats old and starting to get all kinds of key bounce issues. I've replaced most of the switches and it's still doing it so it's either a circuit board issue or a chip issue.

Also, it's fucking bullshit that there's not a backlit mod for the ibm model m.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago

Hey you're in "ergo" "mech", both of which it sounds like you're not really after...

[–] breckenedge 5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Keychron has what you’re looking for, and it’s wireless. I have 2 of their keyboards and they’re pretty good and an excellent value.

https://www.keychron.com/collections/keychron-q-pro-series-keyboard/products/keychron-q5-pro-qmk-via-wireless-custom-mechanical-keyboard

As for a Model M with a backlight, yea I don’t think that would work with the buckling spring… there’s just nowhere to put the light. My daily driver is currently a Unicomp New Model M and I just don’t think the shape of the board would make it easy to do this without sacrificing all that makes it what it is.

[–] PeterPoopshit 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

After doing a little research, maybe I'll build a keyboard after all if I can get all the features I want. Where do I buy backlight compatible switches? Does "RGB switch" mean that the switch has rgb lights inside of it or are the leds usually attached to the circuit board? Are there cheaper ones I can buy that don't cost $3.99 each?

[–] breckenedge 4 points 4 months ago

LEDs are soldered to the circuit board. The switches then have a transparent channel that the LED shines through.