Working in IT I always hated the feel of (cheap) membrane boards, so during the lockdowns I got a Planck (ortho 48/47 keys), switched from 25+ years touch typing QWERTZ to Colemak-DHm and got used to using layers. I went so far that for normal office work I don't use a mouse any more, I use a mouse layer on the keyboard, so I basically never leave the home row, no more stretches, no more brain juice eating switching from keyboard to mouse and back and forth, it's so damn satisfying. This also taught me many Windows (and Linux) shortcuts I was not aware before. Using a split space bar on normal keyboards I usually type numbers and symbols also with a layer instead of using the key that is present because I just became really lazy to reach for keys. This was however a process, it was also frustrating and I share your insecurities "searching" the key in the layer, I can totally relate. I also tried 30 % with toggled/stacked layers but that was a bridge too far for me, it slows me down too much. The next logical step would be a steno board - but I'm not there yet.
For the number layer issue, you can use the toggle function, so you press the Fn layer 2-3 times and the layer is shifted until you press it 2-3times again. That way you don't have to hold the Fn to press every single number.
I got myself a 40% ortholinear keyboard because I thought it'd look cool in my collection of keyboards. I figured I should probably attempt to use it a couple of times before relegating it to a shelf for display only, but I was in for a big surprise! Not only was it actually okay switching to the ortholinear layout of the alphakeys, I actually got userd to layers very quickly once I'd configured it all. Now it is my favourite keyboard to look at AND to use!
I laughed so loud when you just absolutely nailed the delivery on the facial hair / chest hair of 40 percenters. The generally serious talking points with the relaxed cadence and tone combined with just hitting me with that self deprecating joke out of nowhere had me unable to hear the next bits of content for a solid 15 seconds of laughter. Bravo, and great channel!!!
Appreciate your thoughtful take on this (and all the pop culture humor)! I’m down to a 65%, but use my arrow keys and navigation keys a lot for Excel (particularly when combining them with ctrl/shift), so I haven’t been able to downsize any further. Maybe I’ll figure it out, would love to be able to daily even a 60% for work, but I’m still a 75% guy at heart.
Thank you! 🙂 Glad you got a chuckle out of it 😅 and regarding downsizing, try it if you have a chance, might be a bit difficult at first but it is fun 😅
I have an ID42 with a dedicated arrow cluster! Works great for Excel :) From what I've seen, there are definitely boards and layouts in the general 40% space that will really fit your specific niche - you just have to find them. Since I've been wanting to downsize my "personal use" board from a 75% but can't as I need the number row for gaming, I've been looking around for something that could fill that void. First, I found the Embrace, but that was a tad too expensive for my liking - basically a 40% with a half number row. Then I found the Monorail and snatched a GB extra skeleton kit. Currently waiting for the case I've ordered to build it in; it's basically the same layout as the Embrace, just not as expensive. Also already have another build planned, which will be the Libra Mini, an acrylic sheet kit in a beautiful slightly tented Alice layout. Comes with a little joystick instead of arrow keys. The sky is the limit! :)
I’m on the 40% ortholinear journey myself (Drop + OLKB Planck) and I have very similar impressions. I think Planck’s layout helps to avoid finger twisting a bit better with two modifiers on both sides of the 2U spacebar.
Ortho was my first custom board (also Planck!) and even now I find the layout far easier to hit the keys I want. On a regular staggered board, I did, and still do (they I could stand to improve my touch typing) hit between characters. Ortho makes me feel more coordinated haha
I just wanna say that you are easily my favourite tech TH-camr. The cinematography is sensational and completely unparalleled. Your video on your desk set up particularly I felt was incredible. The way you used the absence of music in that video was great and really reminded me of watching the beginning of some kind of deep, interesting indie movie. I am genuinely blown away so often by watching your videos. The visuals, the content itself, the level of detail you go into, it's soothing and satisfying. I can only imagine these videos take an extremely long time to shoot and edit, as a creative person in my personal and professional life I appreciate your dedication to your art. I am sure your channel will continue to grow rapidly, but I hope you read this comment, because I hope you know that people not just enjoy and find your content useful, but also feel like they are watching art being made. Amazing work, keep it up!
This is maybe the first time I've seen small keyboards touted as something for faster typing, instead of just for better ergonomics/comfort, since if you look, you'll notice that for just regular typing (not navigation or even symbols) all the fastest typists just use a regular 100% keyboard
The problem with boards like this is that they are utterly pointless given how they exist in the current market. Let me explain: 1. Smaller board, you'd expect maybe it being a budget option. Reality is the exact opposite, these boards are very rare and far too expensive, the only thing you save on is switches as you use less. 2. The board being tiny is not useful or relevant to the vast majority of people. If the desk is THAT small it's likely something else needs to change before buying a exceedingly expensive mini keyboard. 3. The small layout brings ZERO efficiency benefit that can't be identically programmed in VIA on a larger board, and then on such larger boards you could use all of the extra keys for custom macros that you don't have to go into a deeper layer for. The things that actually make a layout more efficiency would be split space, split backspace, if not going full ortholinear. The board shown in the vid has none of those features except split right shift which doesn't do anything when the bottom modifiers are removed for the HHKB shape. 4. The boards often being solid aluminum, and/or often NOT wireless, heavily limits the benefit of being 'travel size'. The boards LOOK adorable, and are probably really fun to experiment and just put your hands on, being so different... but the fact is they aren't practical NOR affordable, and then don't DO anything for you if you do overspend on them. IF however a company made something like the Akko 40%, if it were wireless, gasket mounted, and like $30-50 like comparable Zuoya/Cidoo products (GMK67/81/87, Nebula, ABM066 Alice, etc) are, THEN it would be come a nice little option for some people, and just a fun little project board for others that don't expect to actually use it, which they can justify at $40 but not $150-500...
I recently got into this hobby very late, just last week. I had been using a TKL (tenkeyless) keyboard for over 10 years, so transitioning to a 65% layout as my first choice was definitely not an easy decision. However, as the video mentioned, now I have to think and plan about how I type and what kind of keymap I want to develop, grow upon, and learn. This has opened up something new in my mind, and the fact that it is on the same object that I have been using throughout my life, yet feels so new again, is truly conflicting in a positive way. I'm absolutely enjoying it, as it forces me to carefully plan how I will use it. This might be the way I type for the rest of my life, so any optimization here will accumulate over time. One game-changing feature that I have found is called mod tap. Since I still game a lot, I have to consider that aspect when trying out new keymaps. Giving the ESC and Enter keys the ability to mod tap has made the 65% keyboard feel just like the TKL I had before. And I'm only getting started. Being able to adapt to a smaller layout also gives me more freedom in choosing keyboards, which is why I am pushing myself to make the most out of the keys I have.
I built my ID42 for work with blanks. Having used those exclusively for a year prior, the alpha keys weren't too bad, I was already used to touch typing - but then came the numbers and special characters - hilariously, especially the @ sign. Took me ages to realize that I just didn't have it easily accessible in my board - using a modified version of the ISO-DE layout, I already had to switch between layers to get to my beloved ümläüts, but the @ was my nemesis for quite a while. I figured out that I needed to Shift+Alt to US, switch layers to type the @ and then go back to DE. In the end, I used VIA to make my life a bit easier. But the thrill of the hunt for all the special characters I'd find a need for in my day to day... while painful, it was also incredibly fun. Still only hit the number 7 first try 8 out of 10 times, though. I doubt that'll ever go away.
This is one of my favorites! I hope that people one day spend their Saturday nights rewatching my future keyboard videos while their family quietly sleeps.
If you have the opportunity to flash your neko with VIAL instead of VIA I've found it a lot easier to implement things like combos, tap dance and more as someone who doesn't have a high level knowledge of how to code in everything. I'm currently using a Preonic after briefly trying to use an ortho 40% (cstc40) due to the issue you mentioned of gaming and I honestly think 50% is my ideal form factor due to increased desk space and smaller modifier keys. If you have the solder pcb for the neko I would also recommend trying to use a split bottom row.
I picked up sub 60% on hard mode lol, learned touch typing for the first time, while learning colemak for the first time, on my first ortholinear board, which is a split board as well... I can never go back, the comfort of having everything on layers so I never need to leave home row, while having the split and ortho ergo benefits mean I have no pain after an entire day of work. If you haven't tried any of these alternative keyboard options, grab something cheap and give it a go, highly recommended.
I was thinking about this too after a while! 🙂 But since I opted for the Hot-Swap version I wasn't able to but for my next 40 I'll be sure to do that 😛
Wow, what a great video! You really convinced me to give small keebs a try. I always thought they were only for "display purposes" lol. I can't believe you don't have more subscribers as you're deserved to be recognized for your quality content.
If you commit to them, they will commit to to you :). That said, I wouldn’t go as far as a 40 % right away haha. The HHKB is probably as far as most people can go I think (if they commit) - and even then, it’s more of a layout for non-gaming needs.
I love my small boards... i started with the Alubolt and most recently picked up the D45 V2. Both have arrow clusters which made the transition a little easier but i also love the HHKB layout too so I think im ready for a true 40%
Smaller keyboards with Unix, HHKB or similar layouts are something I'd like to try eventually, but my keyboard journey has drifted the other way, as my most recent upgrade still is my massive New Model M. I am thinking of picking up an UHK as my next major upgrade, but that will not be soon as I do not need a keyboard upgrade and as both my PC, laptop and phone are due for an upgrade. In the meantime I have changed the layout of the alfanumeric cluster to a somewhat improvised Unix layout, which worked well until I left it a bit, now I have to rebuild the muscle memory. Perhaps I can map it like a HHKB and use that outside of the CAD work which I got the full size for, though that will sure take some remapping work. On a similar note, not sure if I commented on this before, but I've also fully switched to trackball mice. An Elecom HUGE at my desktop and an M570 for when my laptop's trackpad isn't enough, I suppose my Steam Deck's trackball emulation counts too. Similarly unique input that works surprisingly well after giving it a good try. P.S. I might have responded at 1:08 as if I were called by name
It's such a great sound... It's the kind of sound I really like!! Thank you for the good video. I will come back often in the future. Let's communicate!
@11:48 If it's faster, like you say it is, then that would be the reason for setting up layers on a standard board (speed), all while maintaining compatibility with those who don't know how to use the layers, or for times when you just want an alternate method of using the function or number keys. (No?)
Having moved to the HHKB layout, I certainly can appreciate that a smaller board bringing your keys to your fingers rather than the other way around is more efficient. But, at what point is there diminishing returns? I guess that will be different from person to person. But, as someone who will need to use alphanumeric combinations, I think I have already gotten to as small as I can go with the HHKB. There is also the muscle memory you want to retain for when you’re using a “normie” keyboard. Considering all of that, I wonder if smaller than 60% is that point of diminishing returns.
60 percent is the smallest I can go due to most the games i play requiring the number row. And removing the number row doesn't really provide more desk space.
I could never play guitar, however, piano is a completely different ball game. I never knew I was going to become this good this fast. BTW, I am now rocking an HHKB white snow blank, yes, exactly. Piano would do that to you.
As an avid 40s user, my favorite thing is people asking, but how do you type numbers? Also, I started as a big bar user. Then, I converted to split space bar with left being space and right being backspace. Just a few of the quirks of being a 40s user.
you think this is better keyboarding? imagine if all of the layering was mapped to your thumbs (hadn't finished the vid lmao) i can see you going down the second ergo rabbit hole... :) (one of us, one of us, one of us)
Thank you so much! 🙂 The keycaps are from Osume, the “Little Ghost” set to be more precise: osumekeys.com/products/little-ghost-keycaps?_pos=1&_sid=0845d6840&_ss=r&
Hello, I’ve watched this video several times and am thinking about trying a 40% and this seems to be one of the best and most unique. But, How do I actually go about getting one tho??? (I’m new this the whole buying out of stock custom keyboards and aftermarket stuff as I usually buy keychrons) I looked online and it says out of stock everywhere and I can’t find them sold anywhere else. Is there like a secret place or somewhere to look for them or what?? I hope that isn’t a stupid question but I would appreciate the help :) Also: I really enjoy your videos by the way 👍
Sorry for the spectacularly late reply, and thank you for the kind words 🙂 Regarding the Neko keyboard, that one is unfortunately gone. You might find some in the second hand market but it will take a bit of luck for someone to sell it just as you're looking for it. I would suggest trying to find another 40% that fits your criteria, best of luck out there!
Lol, thank you for your response :) i ended up getting the Idobao id42 which is a budget 40 percent keyboard just to see if i like the layout. It's definitely interesting... it has it's pros and cons but if i want to be productive i switch to another board. I'm glad i didn't pay $400+for it tho lol@@CheeseTurbulence
All of those look unusable, compared to an original 1980's IBM Model M. No bezels, no separate key groups that you can find by feel in the dark, no curve to the keys. All those "extra" missing keys that are not on it... yeah, I use those.
it's called HHKB and whoever can use a keyboard can see it. control moved to a way more ergonomic spot, removal of useless keys, convenient arrow keys in combination with Fn, absolutely endgame layout
A 40% keyboard helps you type faster... Until you need to type numbers. Or special characters. Or F keys. Or do math. Literally everything except typing speed tests or 'benchmarks' - which do not represent real world typing.
Cannot stand ortholinear. Fingers don't naturally align with vertical colums resulting in more finger twisting than staggered. It's literally painful to use.
@@maxarendorff6521 I'm not "wrong" as I'm speaking from my own experience. If you like ortho, go hard. I hate it and find it uncomfortable and unnatural.
Working in IT I always hated the feel of (cheap) membrane boards, so during the lockdowns I got a Planck (ortho 48/47 keys), switched from 25+ years touch typing QWERTZ to Colemak-DHm and got used to using layers. I went so far that for normal office work I don't use a mouse any more, I use a mouse layer on the keyboard, so I basically never leave the home row, no more stretches, no more brain juice eating switching from keyboard to mouse and back and forth, it's so damn satisfying. This also taught me many Windows (and Linux) shortcuts I was not aware before.
Using a split space bar on normal keyboards I usually type numbers and symbols also with a layer instead of using the key that is present because I just became really lazy to reach for keys. This was however a process, it was also frustrating and I share your insecurities "searching" the key in the layer, I can totally relate. I also tried 30 % with toggled/stacked layers but that was a bridge too far for me, it slows me down too much. The next logical step would be a steno board - but I'm not there yet.
For the number layer issue, you can use the toggle function, so you press the Fn layer 2-3 times and the layer is shifted until you press it 2-3times again. That way you don't have to hold the Fn to press every single number.
Oh, that is another thing I never thought about, thank you! 🙌
i lose count of presses after 1
R1 only novelties is the bane of my 40% existence
new keycap set goes live me: "ooo that have 40's" - sold out. "well at least they exist I guess"
DSA master profile!
I got myself a 40% ortholinear keyboard because I thought it'd look cool in my collection of keyboards. I figured I should probably attempt to use it a couple of times before relegating it to a shelf for display only, but I was in for a big surprise! Not only was it actually okay switching to the ortholinear layout of the alphakeys, I actually got userd to layers very quickly once I'd configured it all. Now it is my favourite keyboard to look at AND to use!
I laughed so loud when you just absolutely nailed the delivery on the facial hair / chest hair of 40 percenters. The generally serious talking points with the relaxed cadence and tone combined with just hitting me with that self deprecating joke out of nowhere had me unable to hear the next bits of content for a solid 15 seconds of laughter. Bravo, and great channel!!!
Appreciate your thoughtful take on this (and all the pop culture humor)! I’m down to a 65%, but use my arrow keys and navigation keys a lot for Excel (particularly when combining them with ctrl/shift), so I haven’t been able to downsize any further. Maybe I’ll figure it out, would love to be able to daily even a 60% for work, but I’m still a 75% guy at heart.
Thank you! 🙂 Glad you got a chuckle out of it 😅 and regarding downsizing, try it if you have a chance, might be a bit difficult at first but it is fun 😅
I have an ID42 with a dedicated arrow cluster! Works great for Excel :)
From what I've seen, there are definitely boards and layouts in the general 40% space that will really fit your specific niche - you just have to find them.
Since I've been wanting to downsize my "personal use" board from a 75% but can't as I need the number row for gaming, I've been looking around for something that could fill that void. First, I found the Embrace, but that was a tad too expensive for my liking - basically a 40% with a half number row.
Then I found the Monorail and snatched a GB extra skeleton kit. Currently waiting for the case I've ordered to build it in; it's basically the same layout as the Embrace, just not as expensive.
Also already have another build planned, which will be the Libra Mini, an acrylic sheet kit in a beautiful slightly tented Alice layout. Comes with a little joystick instead of arrow keys.
The sky is the limit! :)
I’m on the 40% ortholinear journey myself (Drop + OLKB Planck) and I have very similar impressions. I think Planck’s layout helps to avoid finger twisting a bit better with two modifiers on both sides of the 2U spacebar.
Haven't tried out an ortholinear besides the WorkLouder, maybe someday 😅 I actually love the way they look 🙂
Ortho was my first custom board (also Planck!) and even now I find the layout far easier to hit the keys I want. On a regular staggered board, I did, and still do (they I could stand to improve my touch typing) hit between characters. Ortho makes me feel more coordinated haha
I just wanna say that you are easily my favourite tech TH-camr. The cinematography is sensational and completely unparalleled. Your video on your desk set up particularly I felt was incredible. The way you used the absence of music in that video was great and really reminded me of watching the beginning of some kind of deep, interesting indie movie. I am genuinely blown away so often by watching your videos. The visuals, the content itself, the level of detail you go into, it's soothing and satisfying. I can only imagine these videos take an extremely long time to shoot and edit, as a creative person in my personal and professional life I appreciate your dedication to your art.
I am sure your channel will continue to grow rapidly, but I hope you read this comment, because I hope you know that people not just enjoy and find your content useful, but also feel like they are watching art being made. Amazing work, keep it up!
My humblest thanks 🙇♂️
Really appriciate it and it means a lot, thank you so much! 🙂
This is maybe the first time I've seen small keyboards touted as something for faster typing, instead of just for better ergonomics/comfort, since if you look, you'll notice that for just regular typing (not navigation or even symbols) all the fastest typists just use a regular 100% keyboard
The problem with boards like this is that they are utterly pointless given how they exist in the current market. Let me explain:
1. Smaller board, you'd expect maybe it being a budget option. Reality is the exact opposite, these boards are very rare and far too expensive, the only thing you save on is switches as you use less.
2. The board being tiny is not useful or relevant to the vast majority of people. If the desk is THAT small it's likely something else needs to change before buying a exceedingly expensive mini keyboard.
3. The small layout brings ZERO efficiency benefit that can't be identically programmed in VIA on a larger board, and then on such larger boards you could use all of the extra keys for custom macros that you don't have to go into a deeper layer for. The things that actually make a layout more efficiency would be split space, split backspace, if not going full ortholinear. The board shown in the vid has none of those features except split right shift which doesn't do anything when the bottom modifiers are removed for the HHKB shape.
4. The boards often being solid aluminum, and/or often NOT wireless, heavily limits the benefit of being 'travel size'.
The boards LOOK adorable, and are probably really fun to experiment and just put your hands on, being so different... but the fact is they aren't practical NOR affordable, and then don't DO anything for you if you do overspend on them. IF however a company made something like the Akko 40%, if it were wireless, gasket mounted, and like $30-50 like comparable Zuoya/Cidoo products (GMK67/81/87, Nebula, ABM066 Alice, etc) are, THEN it would be come a nice little option for some people, and just a fun little project board for others that don't expect to actually use it, which they can justify at $40 but not $150-500...
I recently got into this hobby very late, just last week. I had been using a TKL (tenkeyless) keyboard for over 10 years, so transitioning to a 65% layout as my first choice was definitely not an easy decision. However, as the video mentioned, now I have to think and plan about how I type and what kind of keymap I want to develop, grow upon, and learn. This has opened up something new in my mind, and the fact that it is on the same object that I have been using throughout my life, yet feels so new again, is truly conflicting in a positive way. I'm absolutely enjoying it, as it forces me to carefully plan how I will use it. This might be the way I type for the rest of my life, so any optimization here will accumulate over time.
One game-changing feature that I have found is called mod tap. Since I still game a lot, I have to consider that aspect when trying out new keymaps. Giving the ESC and Enter keys the ability to mod tap has made the 65% keyboard feel just like the TKL I had before. And I'm only getting started. Being able to adapt to a smaller layout also gives me more freedom in choosing keyboards, which is why I am pushing myself to make the most out of the keys I have.
Wow, I never knew such a thing existed, that's awesome, thank you! 🙂
I built my ID42 for work with blanks. Having used those exclusively for a year prior, the alpha keys weren't too bad, I was already used to touch typing - but then came the numbers and special characters - hilariously, especially the @ sign. Took me ages to realize that I just didn't have it easily accessible in my board - using a modified version of the ISO-DE layout, I already had to switch between layers to get to my beloved ümläüts, but the @ was my nemesis for quite a while. I figured out that I needed to Shift+Alt to US, switch layers to type the @ and then go back to DE.
In the end, I used VIA to make my life a bit easier. But the thrill of the hunt for all the special characters I'd find a need for in my day to day... while painful, it was also incredibly fun.
Still only hit the number 7 first try 8 out of 10 times, though. I doubt that'll ever go away.
i havent even thought about keyboards since i bought my custom one but glad i rechecked your channel great vid!
Thank you! and thanks also for stopping by again 🙂
This is one of my favorites! I hope that people one day spend their Saturday nights rewatching my future keyboard videos while their family quietly sleeps.
Really appreciate this take on the smaller form factor!
Thank you! 😊
If you have the opportunity to flash your neko with VIAL instead of VIA I've found it a lot easier to implement things like combos, tap dance and more as someone who doesn't have a high level knowledge of how to code in everything. I'm currently using a Preonic after briefly trying to use an ortho 40% (cstc40) due to the issue you mentioned of gaming and I honestly think 50% is my ideal form factor due to increased desk space and smaller modifier keys. If you have the solder pcb for the neko I would also recommend trying to use a split bottom row.
yes, vial is fantastic. i use autoshift on my non alpha keys for symbols on 40s. i try to avoid three finger key combos (eg shift+fn+q=!)
I never knew this was possible, thank you! Have to look into it and try this out for sure 🙂
Thank you as well! 🙇♂️
I picked up sub 60% on hard mode lol, learned touch typing for the first time, while learning colemak for the first time, on my first ortholinear board, which is a split board as well... I can never go back, the comfort of having everything on layers so I never need to leave home row, while having the split and ortho ergo benefits mean I have no pain after an entire day of work.
If you haven't tried any of these alternative keyboard options, grab something cheap and give it a go, highly recommended.
Gonna try yet another attempt to learn touch typing 😅 Thank you for the inspiration 💛
Good luck! 😛
Amazing video, ordered one aluminium case 40% and one acrylic just now. Many thanks, keep up the amazing production quality!
Thank you so much! 🙂
consider using split spacebar! its almost a requirement for using 40s.
I was thinking about this too after a while! 🙂 But since I opted for the Hot-Swap version I wasn't able to but for my next 40 I'll be sure to do that 😛
Wow, what a great video! You really convinced me to give small keebs a try. I always thought they were only for "display purposes" lol. I can't believe you don't have more subscribers as you're deserved to be recognized for your quality content.
Thank you so much, really appreciate it! 🙂
If you commit to them, they will commit to to you :). That said, I wouldn’t go as far as a 40 % right away haha. The HHKB is probably as far as most people can go I think (if they commit) - and even then, it’s more of a layout for non-gaming needs.
these are quite impractical if you are a programmer. Missing the ` and |, the f keys, numbers, etc
I love my small boards... i started with the Alubolt and most recently picked up the D45 V2. Both have arrow clusters which made the transition a little easier but i also love the HHKB layout too so I think im ready for a true 40%
Imagine one's 2FA being a different type of cheese every prompt.
That would be quite camembersome… (sorry…)
4:20 i forgot what full sized looked like, looks funny without the space between num pad and the 6 buttons about the arrow keys on its own.
little sneak-in of the konami code, respect
Smaller keyboards with Unix, HHKB or similar layouts are something I'd like to try eventually, but my keyboard journey has drifted the other way, as my most recent upgrade still is my massive New Model M.
I am thinking of picking up an UHK as my next major upgrade, but that will not be soon as I do not need a keyboard upgrade and as both my PC, laptop and phone are due for an upgrade.
In the meantime I have changed the layout of the alfanumeric cluster to a somewhat improvised Unix layout, which worked well until I left it a bit, now I have to rebuild the muscle memory.
Perhaps I can map it like a HHKB and use that outside of the CAD work which I got the full size for, though that will sure take some remapping work.
On a similar note, not sure if I commented on this before, but I've also fully switched to trackball mice.
An Elecom HUGE at my desktop and an M570 for when my laptop's trackpad isn't enough, I suppose my Steam Deck's trackball emulation counts too.
Similarly unique input that works surprisingly well after giving it a good try.
P.S. I might have responded at 1:08 as if I were called by name
It's such a great sound... It's the kind of sound I really like!! Thank you for the good video. I will come back often in the future. Let's communicate!
Thank you! 😄
If this had a super key it would be actually usable. Not sure why that's missing, there's space on the left!
@11:48 If it's faster, like you say it is, then that would be the reason for setting up layers on a standard board (speed), all while maintaining compatibility with those who don't know how to use the layers, or for times when you just want an alternate method of using the function or number keys. (No?)
That Diamond Arrow keys are really good.
I don't use them anymore as I use a Corne now, that's columnar so I don't have a diamond shape anymore.
Having moved to the HHKB layout, I certainly can appreciate that a smaller board bringing your keys to your fingers rather than the other way around is more efficient.
But, at what point is there diminishing returns? I guess that will be different from person to person. But, as someone who will need to use alphanumeric combinations, I think I have already gotten to as small as I can go with the HHKB.
There is also the muscle memory you want to retain for when you’re using a “normie” keyboard. Considering all of that, I wonder if smaller than 60% is that point of diminishing returns.
well to a 40% may stagered is not my thing, but must admit that is aesthetic af
I love my HHKB but losing the number row is just a step too far for me
60 percent is the smallest I can go due to most the games i play requiring the number row. And removing the number row doesn't really provide more desk space.
if you're going to go 40% you need to go ortholinear for a grid calculator layer my friend.
I could never play guitar, however, piano is a completely different ball game. I never knew I was going to become this good this fast. BTW, I am now rocking an HHKB white snow blank, yes, exactly. Piano would do that to you.
I haven´t learned to touch type yet and now you want me to memorize layers on top of that?! The 40% looks nice, but I´ll stick to my 65%.
That special character moment omg I almost fell 😂😂😂 thank you for you videos please keep 3m coming thank you
😅 Glad somebody did get a chuckle out of the video 🙂
As an avid 40s user, my favorite thing is people asking, but how do you type numbers?
Also, I started as a big bar user. Then, I converted to split space bar with left being space and right being backspace. Just a few of the quirks of being a 40s user.
That right spacebar as backspace is intriguing!
Adding a mouse with a thumb joy stick that adds + 5 bottons solves ALOT of issues.
Especially in gaming
you think this is better keyboarding? imagine if all of the layering was mapped to your thumbs (hadn't finished the vid lmao)
i can see you going down the second ergo rabbit hole... :)
(one of us, one of us, one of us)
No matter what, the best layout is 1800 compact
Actually u can delete the F1-F12
Since it's almost never got used
Great video and beautiful keyboard. What keycaps are those on the Neko?
Thank you so much! 🙂 The keycaps are from Osume, the “Little Ghost” set to be more precise: osumekeys.com/products/little-ghost-keycaps?_pos=1&_sid=0845d6840&_ss=r&
wish boards like this dropped to a 4u or even a 2u spacebar
is this good for gaming? lol ik im asking a dumb qus
Couldn't you get keycaps with numbers and symbols on them to ease the learning curve?
Yes of course 🙂
@@CheeseTurbulence I suppose sometimes good things don't come easy 😆
40% keyboard fanboys when the typeracer race includes a number and/or exclamation mark
Great video bro, I have never tried a 40% and I’m afraid to because what if I’m a dirty guy who likes them 😩
Thank you! 🙂 and it's not so dirty if you ask me 😜
i think you should get a 40 percent ortholinear now
Hello, I’ve watched this video several times and am thinking about trying a 40% and this seems to be one of the best and most unique.
But, How do I actually go about getting one tho???
(I’m new this the whole buying out of stock custom keyboards and aftermarket stuff as I usually buy keychrons)
I looked online and it says out of stock everywhere and I can’t find them sold anywhere else. Is there like a secret place or somewhere to look for them or what??
I hope that isn’t a stupid question but I would appreciate the help :)
Also: I really enjoy your videos by the way 👍
Sorry for the spectacularly late reply, and thank you for the kind words 🙂
Regarding the Neko keyboard, that one is unfortunately gone. You might find some in the second hand market but it will take a bit of luck for someone to sell it just as you're looking for it.
I would suggest trying to find another 40% that fits your criteria, best of luck out there!
Lol, thank you for your response :) i ended up getting the Idobao id42 which is a budget 40 percent keyboard just to see if i like the layout. It's definitely interesting... it has it's pros and cons but if i want to be productive i switch to another board.
I'm glad i didn't pay $400+for it tho lol@@CheeseTurbulence
HERESY
Thumbs up at the "heresy".
Use your space bar as the fn key space bar combo
🤦♂️ another thing I didn't knew or thought I could do, thank you! 🙂
@@CheeseTurbulence I found that out a few weeks ago. Changed the 40 game for sure
try 40% ft SA keycap, it's so cute :D
Good idea! 😛
I gaim on 40% keyboards
All of those look unusable, compared to an original 1980's IBM Model M.
No bezels, no separate key groups that you can find by feel in the dark, no curve to the keys.
All those "extra" missing keys that are not on it... yeah, I use those.
Maybe you could explain why you like the HHK layout. I've never understood it.
it's called HHKB and whoever can use a keyboard can see it. control moved to a way more ergonomic spot, removal of useless keys, convenient arrow keys in combination with Fn, absolutely endgame layout
@@foggytypes To me it screams of desperation to be different and pretentious BS.
@@JeffWaynee I imagine that, but one day you’ll learn to type and change that trash take
"you'll can learn to type"
@@Lishtenbird fixed, thanks. now go back and practice the unix control placement.
Translator's note: Neko means cat in Japanese.
A 40% keyboard helps you type faster... Until you need to type numbers. Or special characters. Or F keys. Or do math.
Literally everything except typing speed tests or 'benchmarks' - which do not represent real world typing.
...or use software where 4-key hotkeys are normal. Or wrote your own macros with Win as a modifier.
69th
first?
Second?
Third.
Fourth
Great, now experience the power of ortholinear fully-programable keyboards.
One at the time, one at the time! 😅
Cannot stand ortholinear. Fingers don't naturally align with vertical colums resulting in more finger twisting than staggered. It's literally painful to use.
@@nickthaskater You're wrong. It's superior to staggered layout which we inherited from typewriters and has no reason to exist anymore.
@@maxarendorff6521 I'm not "wrong" as I'm speaking from my own experience. If you like ortho, go hard. I hate it and find it uncomfortable and unnatural.
Ortho can be natural if they are split. But those aren't as cool in photos.
plank.. but for me splits is better