![]() That’s how 40% keyboards work you just have a lot of functionality switched over onto other layers. In the same way that Shift or Fn change the functions of other keys to effectively introduce a different “layer” of keys, Lower and Raise each switch to alternate layers of functionality (and indeed pressing both Lower and Raise simultaneously provides a third additional layer beyond the base layer that’s printed on the keys). What it does have is those two extra keys to the left and right of the spacebar, which are called Lower and Raise. The spacebar is also just two units wide, instead of the more usual 6+ units. It has no numpad, function keys, or number keys. It has the alphabetical keys, arrow keys, and the modifiers - except for Caps Lock and the right side duplicates of Shift, Control, Alt/Option, and Command/Win/Super. I’m still learning, but it’s not holding me back. I think it helps if you’re a fluent and Home Row-focused typist to begin with. Typing on such a keyboard does require adjustment, but I was comfortable enough after a couple of hours, and by the time a few days had passed I wasn’t really feeling constrained by unfamiliarity anymore. Whether that all matters to you is your own business.įor my part, I love the look of the ortholinear arrangement of keys, and the completely interchangeable uniform keycaps. Also, our fingers are much stronger making vertical movements than horizontal ones. There’s a school of thought that says ortholinear layouts are more natural because when you curl and uncurl your fingers they stay in a straight line vertically. The staggered rows are probably just a historical artefact of typewriters having to avoid their levers smacking into each other, but we’ve replicated that quirk in computer keyboards without any need for such an odd design detail. First, this layout is ortholinear, which means that the keys are arranged in a grid instead of the staggered rows that are ubiquitous. There are two main things going on here compared to your usual keyboards. Let me tell you a bit about my new daily driver, which is pictured below. White, sleek, clean, ascetic that’s the vibe I like right now. Also, the aesthetic had to be impeccable, to earn a place on my minimalist desk with my iPad. ![]() What I really wanted was something contradictory: an even smaller keyboard that was easier to type on in terms of finger-stretching, but that still had all the functions I needed. I could configure it to have them, of course, but there’s still the issue of feeling I was reaching around too much to trigger various Fn shortcuts. I do have a 60% board here too (a Snowfox DK61), but the lack of arrow keys constantly tripped me up. ![]() ![]() There are many more sizes of keyboard available, though, but the smallest I was ever comfortable with was laptop-style setups which are usually in the roughly 65% category, like on a MacBook Pro or my iPad’s Magic Keyboard, which means a keyboard with around 65% of the keys found on a full-sized one. without a numpad but still with a dedicated set of cursor keys and Home/End/etc). The one thing I haven’t always liked is the size and heft of conventional layouts like full size or TKL (ten key less, i.e. I like the semi-analogue quality of the devices, and the percussiveness, and the customisability. I’ve been a user of mechanical keyboards for a few years now, and I love them. ![]() The Planck Keyboard - Matt Gemmell Matt Gemmell Books Podcast KESTREL Once Upon A Time Stories About Blog Contact Terms & Conditions ≡ □ MIDDLESHADE ROAD is out now! The Planck Keyboard Aug 2nd, 2021 ![]()
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