Is there something you're missing from time to time? Like arrow keys? Or dedicated delete key? F row? If so, in what situations? Or is everything golden?

I'm looking for a keyboard more compact than my current TKL, and a 65% layout looks best to me, but there are simply so many more 60% keyboards available so I'm starting to consider one, but I'm not yet convinced...

Hi guys,

Instead of studying for an exam, I decided to draw up the perfect 60% layout for me and was curious, how many people out here use the right hand shift/ctrl/alt/super/menu keys? Personally, I never use them and would happily replace them with discrete arrow keys.

Check out the layout

I have just ordered a mechanical 60% keyboard.

Waiting it to be shipped, I was curious to see typical usage experience, so I looked for some videos on youtube. But I did not fine anything! A lot of reviews, where they press only few keys, just to hear the sound. Anyone know about a video with "real life typing" on a 60% keyboard?

That's the one I bought.

Hello,

i just changed from normal keyboard to 60% keyboard. Until now i have not figured out how i can change the layout. Eg if i press the " \ " key below backspace, i get a "#" (i assume it still has normal QWERTY-Layout from the normal keyboard. Is there any other way to "get the input i type with my keyboard" other than edit the keys in Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator and copy-pasta every single key assignment to the actual assignment?

I know theres a website called keyboard-layout-editor with the default 60% keyboard layout but i dont think you can download it as a file that can be used as new usable layout.

This is not about which layout is objectively better, I just want a better understanding, not trying to get people pissed off

When looking at 60% keyboards, one thing has always intrigued me, why do most manufacturers generally go for a 61 key layout, when 63 or 64 key layouts seem more useful?

The way I think about it is what programs specifically use right ctrl key? The only one I can really think of is Virtualbox for its host key, and most people I know don’t use right ctrl for standard shortcuts, while the arrow keys are used for a ton of stuff like moving the cursor, moving the player in a lot of 2D games, cycling through previously used commands in a terminal, and many more.

Or in the case of the menu key, that either needs arrow keys to navigate, or the mouse at which point the right clicking is more convenient

So I guess what my question is, is why is 61 key standard for 60% where what it offers are more oddly specific keys, putting more common keys behind modifiers, when a 63/64 key layout just has those keys there already, and if for some reason a program absolutely needs a right ctrl key, then that can be behind a modifier as it’s not as commonly used.

And yes, I know that you can just reprogram it on lots of keyboards, but then it would intrude on the slash key, which is also very commonly used

Currently I'm just using it for simple username/password macros for work and LED control but I haven't been able to find examples of what else I can map with them. Or if there's a layout that's more efficient and neater

Hey, what is the best 60% layout for you?

1. Tsangan

2. Tofu 60% with dedicated arrows

3. GK64

I have sightly preference for Tsangan, GK64 isnt bad either.

Tofu60, [?] is missing

What about your own preference? Does anyone have tried these layouts?

Thanks

Hello All,

Am about to jump down the rabbit hole :)

Looking for a 60% Keyboard to start (Second hand, or new).

Ideally a board that is the most 'universal' custom wise, so that I can play with switches, layouts, keys, etc... until I find my favourite feel, and eventually move on to another board.

Use: Mainly Typing and writing, no gaming mostly.

Must have:

Mac Os Compatible

Good Quality and trusted brand (Respected by the community, good support or doc available)

2.4ghz and wired. Good Solid Minimal Body (Clean Look, wired/wireless switch outside the body?)

Compatible with Via (This seems the way to go?)

Switches - Comfortable (not too much pressure), smooth?

Sound Profile - Rain sounds good indeed, but comfort prevails.

Keycaps?, is Cherry the way? (I guess this relates to board profile, etc)

Am thinking of starting on the lower profile side for comfort? Are round edges more important for the case?
your recommendations are welcome.

Been using apple keyboards for the last 20 years ;)

Many thanks!

Y.

I have been lurking this subreddit quite a bit and became determined to build my own keeb. However, I wanted to make one smaller than full size and had my heart set on TKL as a base to start with. But with all these dope ass 60% sized keebs, I thought that maybe that is the route in should go, but I'm still unsure. So like the title implies is it hard to transition to a 60% from a full or TKL keeb?

Im new to keyboard building and i decided to go with 60 percent keyboard but when i was about to get the stabs i saw a lot of sizes and was wondering which one should i get (im gonna use matrix keycaps)

I just finished building my PC and I have a really old mouse & keyboard. I’d love to upgrade to something nice preferably with a backlit keyboard. Does anyone have some recommendations that won’t kill the bank?

Hello all, How are you all doing? When it comes to keyboard size I am fan of 60% mechanical keyboards. What is your preferred size/why? Ducky Mini 3 is my daily driver & use it for gaming.

12 August 2019 - please take a look at https://www.reddit.com/r/olkb/comments/coz5wa/help_me_start_a_collection_of_qmk_macro_and/

There are several posts on this subreddit that ask questions about coding on 60% & 40% keyboards. However, none of the replies go into details about the users’ layout, tips, or tricks in various IDE’s or specific languages.

I would encourage coders on this sub to share their experience,

Not so much which switches or keyboard models are best, as I think we all agree that is a personal preference. However, layouts, layer snippets, codes, program mapping, every good or bad idea that you might have.

I know it would be of great help to other coders and especially to people that are new to the smaller sizes and might have their doubts about how to get the most out of the smaller layout's. Perhaps we could all learn a thing or two from each other that could help optimize our productivity.

To start with here are some links to videos that explains some of the advantages to the smaller layout:

• Ted Morin, showcasing java script on a steno keyboard YouTube

• Chris Sean on HHK2 YouTube

• AndEcho shares his thoughts on Planck YouTube

- I will edit the post as information starts to accumulate.

Coders Unite 🤓

I was wondering if anyone had experience in using a 60 percent keyboard in. Programs like blender photoshop, unity, visual studio etc and weather it lowered your productivity by using a keyboard with less buttons. And if so what type of layer set up do you use. Thank you

First things first, I'm not hating. But I genuinely don't see the appeal. Help me understand. Except for more space what makes them so appealing?

I personally haven't had anything smaller than 96%, but went back to 100%. My mouse dpi is high enough to not need a smaller board. Again absolutely no hate.

so i have a 60% keyboard set on english language, the dierya dk63, and i often need to type the ~ symbol. this symbol is collocated on the Esc button with the apostrophe symbol. i tried press l/r shift +esc, l/r alt + esc, but it doesn t work, also i tried fn+esc, it types the apostrophe symbol, then i tried fn+shift+esc, it typed an horizontal L. is there a shortcut that i can try or is there a simile keyremapper that i can download?

Before I dive in, here is a full album of layouts that I'm going to be talking about (though I'll also link the individual layouts specifically as I talk about them.

The keyboard community tends to refer to a lot of layouts by name, which is often in the form of a percentage (roughly based on the number of keys with 100% being a fullsize 104-key board), the some layouts have non-percentage names either instead of, or in addition to, a percentage.

First off we have some standard layouts that are pretty well agreed upon: the fullsize, the tenkeyless, the (not very common) compact 1800 layout also sometimes called a 980 layout, the 96-key layout (which would be roughly a 90% layout, though I've never heard it called that), 75%, 65% (sometimes called a 68-key layout), 60%, and 40%.

Then we have some variants on those layouts...

I think most people would agree that a Happy Hacking Keyboard is still a 60% keyboard even though it is a key short. I also don't think many would argue that a 60% with arrow keys is still a 60% despite having a few extra keys.

65% layouts get a little weird because there are three fairly unique layouts that get grouped together here. I like to break them down into compact 65%, extended 65%, and 66%. I think usually when people say "65%" they are talking about the "compact" 65% layout, but I've also heard it used really broadly to describe basically anything that is roughly the size of a 60% but with dedicated arrow keys. Skully calls the clueboard a "66%" even though it has fewer keys than a 65% but it at least differentiates them.

Things get even weirder in the <60% space. I doubt anyone would disagree that the JD40 is a 40% keyboard but what about the JD45? I tend to call that one a 45% board because it has ~4 extra keys but I hear it getting lumped into the 40% category a lot. Then there is the Minivan, which those watching closely will note is actually about 1/4u narrower than the JD45. Does that make a difference? Is it a different layout? Then there is the Planck which takes up the same amount of space as a JD40, but actually has significantly more keys. Based on key-count the planck would be something closer to a 50%... Is area what matters instead of raw key count? What about this weird extended minivan thing I mocked up (side note Evan pls make this happen). By key count this should be ~a 50%, but if the Planck is still a 40% then maybe this can be, too?

Finally we have this abomination that I doubt anyone would hesitate to call a 75% (if a particularly bizarre one). But then there is the Red scarf II Ver. B which to me is a really weird 75% layout, but others seem to think is a 65% + Fkeys.

Overall I think a percentage system falls apart really quickly and isn't a very good way of clasifying layouts. I'm not really sure what a better system would be but maybe by getting a conversation going about the failings of the current system we can come together to build a better one.