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
I am very interested in this, does the quality warrant the price? I am in Canada. Just wanted to get thoughts from the people who have used GMK. I know their key Caps are Top Tier.
Any input would be help full :)
Short answer: for me, this keyboard is worth that price.
GMK keycaps are fantastic, not only because of its profile but their QC. When I received Nautilus back in October, I checked every single detail of my caps. Not even a single one has scratches, marks, or any other kind of bad finish, their weight is perfect for me and the profile is awesome. When I'm in need of a keyboard and I need to type for hours and hours I pick one with GMK caps.
Now, let's talk about the board. People might expect a $300 to be RGBs, acrylics, etc. This keyboard doesn't want that, this is a keyboard that wants to look simple from the outside but it is truly one of the best (if not the best) on the inside.
For starters, let's talk about the USB-C and USB Micro. The C70 has both and you can swap the connector, no soldering required. Having a connector like this also allows to do something subtle that no one on the discussion tab has mentioned yet, which is having you cable parallel to your table, creating a more pleasing effect and reducing "stress" on it.
The indicator lights are a core feature of the C70, but they don't make the keyboard walls "thicker", ruining its clean design. Instead, GMK has done them properly: no light leaks, no enormous holes that change the original concept, and RGB. The indicators are truly a sign of what can you expect of a german design: clean and functional.
Let's talk about the case and plate, if you have been following some of the keyboard group buys over the past year, you'll see that making cases right isn't as simple as it might seem. Many people receive cases with anodizations hooks, bad anodization, or scratches. That's definitely not the case for GMK products. Just like the keycaps, GMK takes very seriously QC. I have a Q100 at home and it is probably the best anodization you can get.
Some other feature that I really appreaciate is switch top opening, which allows you to swap stems and springs or lube your switches. This feature is a must have on any good board, and the C70 needed to have it.
Finally, some detail that people forget is that you are not only getting a programmable PCB, but Uniqey Control. A keyboard configurator with a graphic user interface. Its setup is just point and click, no need for third party programs to make it work. It's as simple as it gets, you program your board, remap keycaps, create macros hit upload and done. Did you reinstall your OS and want to modify the layout of your board but forgot to save it in your backup? No problem, you can download it from your board into the Uniqey Control.
So overall, this keyboard might not look that impressive on the outside, but it is made out of many many small details that make it stand against any other boards.