Cherry Key and my introduction :)

[paperWasp]

Hi,

I'm a complete newbie to mechanical keyboards but a professional user and a touch typist for 20 years. I had a very short experience with a buckling spring keyboard back in 1990s (IIRC it was a standard IBM Model M - not mine).

Although located in Europe I prefer the ANSI layout - not only wider left Shift and Enter key more accessible but also more meaningful single quote position (compared to ISO layout) in my native language.

I've been recently using rubber dome Microsoft NaturalPro keyboard (from 2000) because of my recent wrist pains. Could be great if only some of the keys weren't so hard to press when not hit in their exact centre. I tried applying all kinds of grease with no or very little effect.

While searching for a new ergonomic keyboard I discovered MX switch keyboards (unfortunately none was a split layout) and decided to give a try.

The MX brown switches in my non-RGB version of CHERRY G80-3000 S TKL feel great while I'm still a little playing with a debouncing value. My wrist is fine so far.

But I don't know what to do with the CHERRY key. The chaotic user's manual (mostly for the RGB version of the keyboard) tells me to install "Cherry Gaming Software" but Cherry-World.com offers only a pdf brochure for my model - no software.

The CHERRY key (while being held for 5s) sends a sequence of keystrokes:

RCMD C IF NOT EXIST APDATACHERASTCHERLNK START HTPRCHERCND ELSE START APDATACHERASTCHERLNK
(assuming first R is Win R).

So it's not dead. But it needs some software.
I'm not a gamer but having some pre-prepared macros might be interesting.
Am I missing something or is my CHERRY key really completely useless?

[Rayndalf]

I got my S TKL working by just downloading the software they offer on their US(?) site for their other keyboards.

Even if the S TKL is sort of nonsupported/ pulled from market or only sold in certain markets (China and parts of Europe), their software supports all their modern consumer boards (similar to how logitech's software still recognizes unreleased or discontinued mice).

By default the key tries to open a link to the Chinese Cherry website (to download the software), but the website (and a windows update) broke it.

[Bjerrk]

While searching for a new ergonomic keyboard I discovered MX switch keyboards (unfortunately none was a split layout) and decided to give a try.

There are numerous (!) split keyboards with MX switches. Check out the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard, Mistel Barocco, ErgoDox, just to name a few.

Here's an entire (opinionated) list of them:
https://gist.github.com/itod/ae27b30f75 ... 0c1d98bccb

[Rayndalf]

While searching for a new ergonomic keyboard I discovered MX switch keyboards (unfortunately none was a split layout) and decided to give a try.

There are numerous (!) split keyboards with MX switches. Check out the Ultimate Hacking Keyboard, Mistel Barocco, ErgoDox, just to name a few.

Here's an entire (opinionated) list of them:
https://gist.github.com/itod/ae27b30f75 ... 0c1d98bccb

Missing the Kinesis Advantage (by some miracle still in production, and the layout is worth the used market prices)... unless that doesn't count as a split keyboard

I can see leaving off boards that are out of production like the Marquardt Mini Ergo though, I was thrilled to find one myself, and it's pretty terrible (but oh so sexy).

[Chyros]

The CHERRY key (while being held for 5s) sends a sequence of keystrokes:

RCMD C IF NOT EXIST APDATACHERASTCHERLNK START HTPRCHERCND ELSE START APDATACHERASTCHERLNK
(assuming first R is Win R).

Cthulhu fthagn to you too! xD

[Rayndalf]

A bit off topic, but the Cloud Nine C989M looks like a split Microsoft "Wave" style mechanical keyboard, so it might be exactly what you're looking for, but it is a little expensive (but it looks very nice).

I haven't tried it yet, but sometimes I wish I could have purchased one before I started collecting every keyboard I could.

[paperWasp]

Thanks guys! I've just tried the cherry.cn (google translated, of course ) and it redirected me to cherry.de with no software for my model. Never mind. I've got a spare key. Tried "Cherry Keys" for a different model and it didn't make any sense.
Some of the split design keyboards in the list above look very tempting. I shouldn't have seen that!

[Rayndalf]

If you have the keyboard plugged in then launch the program then click the floating cherry logo and click the keyboard button.
I think it will let you program it (despite it talking about the user manual).
Let me dig my board up and see how it works. It works last time I tried.

Edit: the program is called "Cherry Assistant" not "Cherry Keys"

[Rayndalf]

I think this is what you need.
https://www.cherry-world.cn/cherry-util ... -assistant
This should work for the S TKL.

The software supports languages other than Chinese

[paperWasp]

Got it! Thanks, Rayndalf. It works.

I'd expect more sophisticated settings - not just a single key assignment but multiple key combinations and some more sophisticated settings like bounce time etc. - but OK.