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
Lead is sometimes used to stabilize and color plastics and paints, and its use is so common in China it's even in makeup.
I have medical training and was not aware of lead increasing risk for cancer. Stroke risk and high blood pressure is well known, but the main concerns are neurological. Lead exposure is definitely not good, and you want to avoid it if you can, but we should also be sensible about it. MOST cases are due to ingestion, but I understand that getting it on your fingers while typing could easily lead to ingestion of small (but significant) amounts if you bite nails/eat with hands etc.
Probably the most important question is whether or not the lead that is used to stabilise plastics has the potential to come off on your fingers in a form that can actually be ingested (if it's 'embedded' in the plastic, it probably wouldn't get into the blood stream). Keycaps are generally made of very durable plastic and don't wear down much (I understand ABS do moreso than PBT), and even if they did, the question remains: would this actually cause lead to be on your fingers in any significant amount?
Lead ingestion is a valid concern, but it sounds to be a bit of a stretch to me in this case. I'm open to the idea that it may be an issue though, and if you can provide some more info on it for myself and others, then that would be awesome!
ON ANOTHER NOTE, KEYBOARD QUESTION: Does this keyboard have plain white back-lighting? And if so, is it one of the 7 colours you can use for individual keys?
Thanks for the links to the other colours with the 87 key versions. I'm keen to see what the top right logo section looks like on the black 104 though! If it's the same as on the black hero then that's cool, found some pics of that.
http://thesoftlanding.com/is-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-abs-plastic-toxic/ says ABS is a stable plastic that shouldn't leach any toxic chemicals under normal everyday use, which is reassuring. That site doesn't look terribly scientific and doesn't go into details, but I found that summary repeated in many other places: http://www.quora.com/How-toxic-is-ABS-PLA
The only item of concern they bring up is: "It’s our understanding that flame retardants are often added to the ABS used in kitchen appliances and electronics because they’re plugged into outlets and present a fire hazard. We recommend contacting the manufacturer to find out which fire retardants are being used in your products. Hopefully it’s a non-halogenated/non-brominated retardant (they’re much less toxic), but if not, urge them to switch to a safer option."
Which then lead me to this article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/flame-retardants-in-consumer-products-are-linked-to-health-and-cognitive-problems/2013/04/15/f5c7b2aa-8b34-11e2-9838-d62f083ba93f_story.html
These chemicals have similar effects and vectors as lead, but aren't regulated much at all, so there's no reason to suspect a product intended for the Chinese market would have any more or fewer PBDEs compared to a product intended for the US market. Therefore, my conclusion is this keyboard probably poses no more a risk than any domestic brand, and I'll probably snatch one up, even though the logo is fugly.
Does anyone know if it's easy to change the colour of the lock LEDs? I want them to be white rather than blue, and I doubt they are RBG. Most keyboards have them soldered to the PCB from what I can see...
Also: The review suggests that there is NO WHITE LED BACKLIGHT mode. Can anyone confirm this? If this is true, it's a dealbreaker for me. So pointless having ROYGBIV and leaving white out of the colour options.