deskthority

If keycap availability weren't a concern, what bottom row layout would you prefer? This is assuming a 86/87/88 or 103/104/105 layout.

Applications of some of the existing layouts:
1.25-1.25-1.25-6.25-1.25-1.25-1.25-1.25: Cherry, some Alps
1.5-1.25-1.25-5.75-1.25-1.25-1.25-1.5: Unicomp old 104
1.5-1-1.5-7-1.5-1-1.5: Unicomp 103, Topre 86/103, Apple ANSI Extended, Matias

I left the insane new Unicomp 1.5-1-1.5-6-1-1.5-1-1.5 layout out.

Bit of a pain to respond to this poll without pics
EDIT:

Here, try this.

I like 1.5|1.5|7|1.5|1.5 (wkl) and 1.5|1|1.5|6|1.5|1|1|1.5

No love for HHKB no vote!

1.25-1.25-1.25-2.25-2.25-1.25-1.25-1.25-1.25

It's a waste of space, sure.
But, it's symmetrical

wheybags wrote:It's a waste of space, sure.
But, it's symmetrical

no problemo, asymmetric can also
i think 7bit make spacebar stingy

Other: The HHKB layout. 1 - 1.5 - 6.0 - 1.5 - 1
I don't need any additional Ctrl keys, Super keys or any Application key.

I think now, what would be perfect for me is 1.5 1.5 5.5 1.5 1.5 1 1 1.5.
No Windows key in my way on the left, an extra key on the right for Fn instead of loosing anything that should be there.

I just love 1.25 mods. They feel the perfect size to me. The space bar is the bit I disagree with on the standard modern layout. 6.25 units is way too much. I'm grabbing some smaller space bars in Round 5 for experiments. 4 units looks compelling, and I'm getting a 3 unit, too.

I'd still surround a smaller space bar with a ton of mods, in any case. I like the HHKB's minimalism, but I use all three mods all the time on OS X (Control, Option and Command) and I've ideas for what to do with more keys within easy thumb's reach. Two mods on each side isn't enough for how I work.

The big 1.5 mods on my IBMs feel luxurious, but I'm forever having to use both thumbs to hit combinations, with the shortage of mods on those guys. (I have the bottom row mapped to Control-Command-Space-Command-Option.) But then I do have a Kishsaver now, waiting for a controller. Three mods on each side of the space bar, on my smallest IBM! Symmetric 1.5-1.0-1.5 I think.

Fun fact: the keyboard that all of the Windows key layouts are based on, the Microsoft Natural, is 1.5-1.5-1.5-fucking huge (because it's curved, counting the number of units is hard)-1.25-1.25-1.25-1.25.

And, yes, the Kishsaver is 1.5-1-1.5-7-1.5-1-1.5.

This is what I settled on for the bottom two rows of my Round 4 130% keyboard: Meta == Command == Windows
Alt == Option
Symbol == AltGr

I suppose I could have done it with 1.5u in the bottom row as well.

4 units the future! (3 units is just a bit too small for me). Does anyone know what the predominant hand is for the spacebar? I seem to use the right pretty much exclusively.

Been playing around with layouts. This one is closer to existing keyboards; funny it's gotten closer and closer to a HHKB. But I really think it's about time the left-ctrl to take place of the caps lock

I only use my left hand for space. I blame learning FPS's before learning to type. I also only use left shift except when doing combinations with AltGr.

^- same as HaaTa.

HaaTa wrote:I only use my left hand for space. I blame learning FPS's before learning to type. I also only use left shift except when doing combinations with AltGr.

My left thumb pretty much only gets used for Alt (unless my right hand is on the mouse and I need a space), but if the spacebar was shorter it could potentially be used for another key. I'm a left-shifter as well.

I would like to try 1.5 across the entire bottom row
http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/# ... 2c03b8c53d

very interesting, domo. especially the keycaps

I did not get in on the retro dsa gb but I am always on the lookout for people that are looking to sell them

HaaTa wrote:I only use my left hand for space. I blame learning FPS's before learning to type. I also only use left shift except when doing combinations with AltGr.

same on shift, but oddly I do use my eight thumb for space . never use any left mods though.

Nice layout, Domo. Space is in the right place: I hit it between B and N mostly too. I think what would throw me off is your Enter. I'd keep winding up with tilde.~

Spearman's looks no problem at all. An improved HHKB!

I hit space with my right thumb maybe 90% of the time. But both thumbs are busy with their symmetric groups of mods. Left Command is my instinctive key, I head to it before I even realise I'm thinking of hitting a keyboard shortcut. That's why even on my IBMs, Command is in command. Really miss my Control and Option on both sides with them, though.

I'm no fan of Caps Lock. I use that key for Function. Perhaps I should try Control there. But I do Control+Command and even three mod chords quite frequently (tons of custom menu mappings) which is why a host of regularly spaced mods works so well for me.

As for space bars: I'm experimenting with 3, 4 and 4.5 units this time. Might as well take the opportunity. If 7bit did 5 unit or 2 unit, I'd get those too. Perhaps I'll grab one of his own preferred tiny ones.

I am waiting For the gh60 to try split enter. I am still not sure about it. After I try that I want to have a custom plate fabricated based on my experience with the gh60 max keys layout and adding a 1.5 bottom row.

Does the GH60 pcb allow to do this?

derp

No GH60 does not allow for such things. It's too bad neither I nor anyone else remembered to push for JIS support for extra keys on the bottom row in the design phase.

IvanIvanovich wrote:No GH60 does not allow for such things. It's too bad neither I nor anyone else remembered to push for JIS support for extra keys on the bottom row in the design phase.

I don't want to go to far off topic but the reason the gh60 won't do it is because that is where all the chipsets sit.

It's on topic, I think.

JIS is the Japanese alternative to ANSI and ISO layouts, and looks like this:

The extra mods are for typing Japanese characters. I think it's pretty smart, and I'm taking notes for my own creations.

For small custom keyboards, and apparently the GH60 included, the room under the traditional space bar is typically a good place for the controller to sit. Not so great when you want a smaller space bar, however.

Oh, wait a minute: 1.25+1.25+1.25+1.5+4.5+1.5+1.25+1.25+1.25 = 15 = the magic number.

Damn it, I'm going to need HONEY/APPLE150 for my 1.5 Commands.