As an academic exercise, what can you do with 58 keys?

[__red__]

I have 58 beamspring modules... as an academic exercise, what would your ideal layout look like for such a thing?

Here's my first stab:
http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/# ... 57e29a788e

[codemonkeymike]

Not sure if you have seen this resource but its pretty damn good https://www.massdrop.com/talk/947/keybo ... group_open

[seebart]

Your missing a couple of switches for this but I would go along the lines of the original:

IBM_3277_Beam_Spring-_keyboard_profile.jpg (163.09 KiB) Viewed 4049 times

[alh84001]

IBM 5140 keyboard has exactly 58 SKCM Browns, so you may take that as a starting point.

[__red__]

Thanks for the resources and feedback thus far, enjoying reading the links...

[ideus]

[alh84001]

That one has 59 keys

[emdude]

Heh, if you are willing to part with the split Right Shift it's 58 keys again.

You do lose the function key of course, but one could perhaps remap it to what the Alt Gr key would be.

[Sigmoid]

In your place I'd go for a 40% layout, and save a few switches for spares.

With 58 you can make a kinda bad 60%, in my opinion unworthy of the awesome beam springs, but it'd be more than enough for an epic 40%.

[zslane]

This is easy: a standard ANSI-61 minus the three rightmost bottom row modifier keys. I never use 'em anyway.

[davkol]

alphas: 2 (hands) × 3 (rows) × 5 (columns) = 30 keys
digits: 2 (hands) × 5 (columns) = 10 keys
modifiers: [shift, control, alt, super, alt-graph, function] × 2 (hands) = 12 keys
spacebar = 1 key
control characters: escape, return, delete, backspace, tabulator = 5 keys

symmetrical row-staggered or columnar layout with a bunch of thumb keys, optional hand separation

Like this, minus a pair of keys:

[Chyros]

Keep saving switches until you get 101.

[Sigmoid]

This is easy: a standard ANSI-61 minus the three rightmost bottom row modifier keys. I never use 'em anyway.

Like this, minus a pair of keys

Well "minus a pair of keys" can make or break a layout. I wouldn't mess with the modifiers. They might seem useless for certain tasks, but their lack can really hurt when eg. you need to type on an opt layer on Mac OS, or are using a European layout with AltGr. Also, a 60% really needs an fn key not only for function keys, but for arrows.

Of course you don't need ALL the bottom row keys, like I've never seen anyone use the Menu key for anything. I'd say it's safe to have Alt and Cmd (or "Gui") on both sides (ie. two modifiers on both ends of the Space bar), and Ctrl in place of Caps Lock. As for Caps Lock, I'd just put it on an Fn layer. I have it redefined as Cmd on my MBP and I haven't felt the need to re-enable it over more than a year.

A 40% can be fitted with a "num lock" key that allows you to enter numbers in a numpad-like manner over [iopkl;,./], to make it more comfortable for numeric entry. Besides, it's really portable, and a beamspring 40% would be absolutely hipsterlicious.

[__red__]

a beamspring 40% would be absolutely hipsterlicious.

... this is the most compelling argument I've heard thus far

[y11971alex]

Keep saving switches until you get 101.

That would be rather wasteful because most beam spring keyboards have fewer than 101 keys. In fact, the only model that I know to have that many is the Japanese typing system.

[seebart]

Keep saving switches until you get 101.

That would be rather wasteful because most beam spring keyboards have fewer than 101 keys. In fact, the only model that I know to have that many is the Japanese typing system.

It might also take years...

[davkol]

Well "minus a pair of keys" can make or break a layout. I wouldn't mess with the modifiers. They might seem useless for certain tasks, but their lack can really hurt when eg. you need to type on an opt layer on Mac OS, or are using a European layout with AltGr. Also, a 60% really needs an fn key not only for function keys, but for arrows.

Well…

modifiers: [shift, control, alt, super, alt-graph, function] × 2 (hands) = 12 keys

That's effectively more than on a typical keyboard.

The pictured layout has only a pair of extra symbol modifiers for typing "special" symbols from the missing "standard" keys or without reaching for the number row, but those could be accessed via alt-graph (many national layouts do that, after all).

There's also the option of using dual-role keys (e.g., hold spacebar for alt-graph, or tap control for escape).

Furthermore, some of the present special keys like backspace, tabulator or even return aren't necessary, thanks to classic control characters on *nix systems/terminals (e.g., control-h for backspace or ctrl-j for return). See the original HHKB layout, after all. (And no, arrows aren't strictly necessary either under those circumstances.)

[czarek]

Pretty easy actually. If there was an apocalypse and I only had 58 switches to build a keyboard, I'd probably go with layout like this:

58keys.png (15.6 KiB) Viewed 3871 times

[Chyros]

Keep saving switches until you get 101.

That would be rather wasteful because most beam spring keyboards have fewer than 101 keys. In fact, the only model that I know to have that many is the Japanese typing system.

It was really more of a troll post than anything else .

[drevyek]

Pretty easy actually. If there was an apocalypse and I only had 58 switches to build a keyboard, I'd probably go with layout like this:

58keys.png

Basically what I already have for my 60% (different mod assignment, but same keys). Looks great, is great.

58 switches all you need for a rad 60%.

[subcat]

HHKB layout minus right alt and meta.

[czarek]

Pretty easy actually. If there was an apocalypse and I only had 58 switches to build a keyboard, I'd probably go with layout like this:

58keys.png

Basically what I already have for my 60% (different mod assignment, but same keys). Looks great, is great.

58 switches all you need for a rad 60%.

Not to mention it's super easy to accomplish with readily available GH60 and virtually any keycaps set you can get.

[belowgeek]

Not sure if you have seen this resource but its pretty damn good https://www.massdrop.com/talk/947/keybo ... group_open

This keyboard layout is actually looking pretty nice.