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
It's very programmable. Full macro suite built in. Software doesn't require install. Just press a button on the keyboard. The combination of it being split, plus the tenting kit you can optionally buy make it the only keyboard I've ever really thought was comfortable. I keep the two pieces together, but angle them out a bit with a very high tent.
Keycaps are abs. I've swapped the keys on the majority of the board to PBT, but I don't know what I'm going to do about the spacebars. I don't even know what size they are. 3.25U??? It's not just that they are abs, it's also the profile. I could've got used to them, but just decided to swap since I don't like abs anyways. Only blue backlighting and only 3 switches to choose. I wonder how difficult a switch swap would be for this? The USB cables are thick and don't have much flex.
I love this keyboard. I have a few duckys, pok3rs and coolermasters that I don't use anymore. My next keyboard must have a split design and tenting after using this.
It replaced a Matias Ergo Pro. I preferred the feel of the Matias, but it had keychatter issues and was out of warranty. The Kinesis is much more programmable than the Matias, which is useful. E.g. macro 1 types "$PWD" and I've replaced the right spacebar with "backspace" as the normal key, and it brings up Spotlight when I hit alt-space. It took a couple weeks to get used to the fact that the right edge of the Kinesis is home/end/pgup/pgdn while the Matias is backspace/backslash/enter/shift. The moved 6 key didn't affect me at all.