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
These are Cherry profile keycaps from GMK. So the frame of reference is more like this: https://originative.co/products/dolch Or one of the other variants as mentioned: https://originative.co/products/sky-dolch https://originative.co/products/skidolcha
To add, GMK has a fairly limited selection of colors as well, especially compared to a company like Signature Plastics (who makes most of the DSA and SA kits you're likely interested in). They can and do make custom colors (this set has a custom yellow in the Extras Kit), but you'll mostly see set designers playing in the sandbox GMK built. Again, I don't see this as a negative. It's just part of GMK's brand.
The entire keyboard community is not represented by what you see on Massdrop.
Not sure why you're trying to quote the sets sold at this point in a drop that has barely started. It also didn't have any existing hype surrounding it like Laser did. The rest is just preference of aesthetics.
You've clearly stated this, addressing your belief that GMK needs to adapt or die. You also say you dont like non centred legends, what is your proof that they need to change this? GMK Laser sold 2100 base sets. DSA 2077 sold 140 base sets. Sales of this set have NOTHING to do with GMK, you're not addressing these FACTS. I'm not going to address the fluff that's in your post as that is also redundant.