What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
Clears are strange. My first encounter with them was in a V60 that I got at Massdrop. I hated the switches at first - very heavy, mushy, fatiguing. I hated the tired feeling I'd get after repeated bottoming out on that increasingly heavy force curve as I'd reach the bottom of the stroke.
I ended up putting O rings on them and that made a huge difference. I enjoyed the tactility at top of the stroke, and the O ring would arrest the stroke before it got to the extra heavy, fatiguing bottom of the stroke.
After that, I now really like them. Still not my favorite feel - they still have a heavy spring feel to them that isn't as crisp as I like, but they're tactile, punchy, and accurate, and my hands don't get fatigued as they once did.
Interestingly, I later got two Poker 3s, both with clears and the heavy aluminum case. Wow, these clears feel different. In one board, they feel tactile, but much lighter and less springy feeling than those in the V60. Much closer to the "more tactile brown switch" that they often are described as. On this one I could type happily and fatigue free even without O rings.
The clears on my second Poker 3 falls somewhere in between the overly springy and heavy feel of the V60 and tactile and light feel of those in my other Poker 3.
I wonder if the heavy aluminum case may have some bearing on the better feel of clears in the Poker 3. If so, clears should be great in the DAS, as it's a solid, heavy tank of a board.
USB 2.0 is for the millions of mice that are available. Hence I don't get why you need to have USB 3.0 on a keyboard because there is NOT a single mouse made anywhere that is able to use it?