Keyboards

Here I discuss keyboards, including boards that I've purchased as well as boards I have designed from scratch. I also try to provide some buying recommendations for those in the market for a new keyboard.

Typing

If you're looking for typing tests, my go-to and favourite site to cure boredom is monkeytype. You can essentially customize your typing tests down to every detail including using custom layouts to reflect your keyboard.

Custom builds

These are keyboards that I've built or purchased.

Wooting 60HE

This is likely going to be my endgame keyboard for the foresee-able. Hall-effect seems to be the bleeding edge of this input technology and until there is further innovation I don't think I will stray too far from this board (I may occasionally still build boards for the fun of it). Here's hoping that opensource keyboard software supports hall-effect switches soon 😊. List of mods (heavily inspired by Optimum's video):

• Tofu60 Redux case
• Blank side-print shine-through keycaps (looks blank but has the option to light up just in case).
• Hand-lubed stock magnetic switches

Wooting 60HE assembled w/ mods

My own build video

Epomaker TH40

This is the first 40% keyboard that I have purchased. It's a solid budget keyboard for those looking for a small form factor. Comes with a slightly thinner Wooting-style strap as well for the portable typists. With its gasket mounting and stock Wisteria linear switches, it sounds like a dream. The board also comes with VIA support making configuration a breeze to do on any machine.

After about a week of usage I can say this is a great 40% keyboard, but I haven't been able to commit fully to the layout. The reduced number of keys is isn't too bad thanks to the magic of layering, however the shift in placement of the /? and fn keys have made it less enjoyable for me. I'm sure with some remapping or more practice, one could really get attuned with this little beast.

Small but mighty

GMK67

Typing test

Iris Rev. 8

An split ortho-linear keyboard.

Keebio Quefrency Rev. 5

I found myself recently spending less time in games and more time with work, projects, surfing the web and just doing day-to-day activities. I've been eyeing the split + staggered layout for a long time and decided to finally bite the bullet. This kit comes from Keebio, whom I've purchased from before (See the Iris Rev. 8). The criteria I had in mind when looking to purchase this keyboard was:

• familiar layout: The golden range being 60-65% as it has the perfect middle ground of smaller footprint while enough keys that I'm not going mad with layers. Preferring a 65% as then I can get dedicated arrow keys (really handy for overall navigation sometimes)
• split keyboard: gives me the flexibility to move my hands around instead of forcing them into a single position when typing
• staggered layout: this is crucial to me, not necessarily due to preference, but because laptop/default keyboards nowadays are all staggered layout and I would prefer to not have to constantly switch between multiple layouts if possible
• QMK/VIA support: this is always a plus to me, no reliance on random one-off third party software

Overall, I am really pleased with how this keyboard turned out. It is a bit on the pricey side but it ticks all the bells and whistles that I needed for an everyday board. One thing I wished there was an aluminum case for this board, I reached out to Keebio who said they had drafted out a case but never ended up going forward with manufacturing. Though the community behind it is vast, which makes me hopeful someone will some day make an aluminum case for it.

Perfectly balanced

All together

Designs

These are keyboards I've designed from the ground up. With new innovations in the hall-effect switch space, I am eager to work on new designs with these switches. Just waiting for someone to open source software for configuring these keyboards. 👀

j6n43

j6n47