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
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ikbc-87-rgb-mechanical-keyboard
This video explains things better though. Skip to around the middle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScXf7zfwzcM
1. What the hell is the manual referring to under the Light Mode table for Fn + Blank = Pause current dynamic lighting/resume dynamic lighting. Seriously, wtf is "Blank". It's even mentioned again in the text under #3 "...press Fn+blank to pause current keyboard lighting". The only thing I can think of is it's a printing error, and "Blank" was a placeholder.
2. In the video at about 6:39 he displays a reactive mode that flashed the lights in "quadrants". I'm not seeing that mode on this keyboard. I know this is a different model, but they even include the manual to the F108/F87 with this keyboard, so I would have figured that they're indicating that the modes are the same. Is this mode missing in this model, or is my keyboard defective?
3. Speaking of the manual.....just wow, what a mess. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt as it appears to have been a best effort to translate into English. But, still, for a keyboard that has fairly complex lighting/RGB controls, and no software to control it, the manual is pretty vague and confusing.
4. Another thing that makes me think that this model is slightly different than the F108/F87: The manual states under "Speed mode and others" that the light to the right of the space bar will change with those settings. On this keyboard, the light that changes is in the Capslock. So, if that's different, what else is different?
5. Hey, another complaint about the manual: In the manual Fn+F4 only lists three modes. However, when you press Fn+F4 on this keyboard, there's five modes. So, great that we get five modes, but still makes me wonder what we'd know if we had an accurate manual.
Other than all that, I'm one of the lucky ones. I don't appear to have any issues with my keyboard. However, it's a bit disheartening to hear others are having issues. I don't remember how many people joined this drop, but my email from before it ended indicated there was at least 122 people. There appears to only be a "handful" reporting back in the discussion here about issues, but that doesn't factor in people that aren't reporting their issues, or don't know they have issues.
Anyways, all that said, I like the keyboard. It's very solid, and has a great feel to it. The lighting and RGB modes are pretty neat. Hopefully I'll either get answers to my questions above, or I guess I could become an electrical engineer so I can figure out the modes without - or in spite of - the manual.