Support for Alternative Layouts
This is a summary of how alternative layouts have been supported by kits such as Colevrak and Homing. It is not a discussion of alt layout performance and development, but if that interests you I highly recommend starting with Pascal Getreuer’s A guide to alt keyboard layouts (why, how, which one?). It’s a concise and comprehensive overview with links to some great sites that go deeper. He also has a separate Links about keyboards page. The Keyboard layouts doc he recommends explains layout goals and metrics in detail, summarizing the alt layouts discussed here as well as more than one hundred others. Sculpted-profile The majority of custom keycap sets are sculpted-profile (Cherry, SA, MT3, KAT, etc. - more on profiles generally here) so let’s start there. Because each row has a unique keycap shape, alt layouts require a unique keycap for each legend that moves off its QWERTY row. At first there were two The Dvorak layout was patented in 1936 by August Dvorak & William L....
Apr 23, 2024
If you want really only for gaming you probably should choose red/black (linear) – it is super smooth but without any additional feedback during typing. Also there are new Cherry MX switches prepared especially for gaming (silver ak speed) but sadly are not available it this drop.
For example a lot of people recommend Cherry MX Reds (linear) or Browns (light tactile) for gaming, but I can't stand either. With linear switches like Reds I have no indication as to when they hit the actuation point, which means I have a habit of hammering them down all the way, all the time. Browns are better but the tactile bump is small and feels more like a bit of grit in the switch to me.
MX Clears are probably my favorite overall switch for typing and gaming, because it's a heavier spring than Browns, and it has a larger tactile bump inside the switch so it feels more like the switch is actually engaging rather than just getting caught on some dirt or something. Unfortunately this board wasn't availablr with them.
I also really like Greens but wouldn't recommend them for gaming as they're a *very* heavy switch. Fantastic to type on though.
For this drop I went with Blues because they have a similar weight to Browns, but more pronounced tactile feedback as well as their audible 'click' when pressed. Some people find it annoying, but I like the clickity chatter when I type, and I use the red o-rings from WASD keyboards to quiet down the excess noise. I also think they're a happy medium between a satisfying typing experience and a decent switch for gaming when Clears aren't available.
Anyway sorry for the wall of text but I wrote this to try to show just how much personal preference is involved when it comes to which switch is best for what.