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
Thank you!
Realforce, my number one for quality in build and material. My Leopold had been close, but i found the case (disassembled) at least one tier lower than Realforce. HHKB, i've had three, left is my most beloved JP, is just fine, good roadwarrior. RoyalKludge Clone, after some modding smooth like genuine Topre and for me the most pleasing Tock. The Plum, i like the layout for my gaming needs, 45 or 55g would be more pleasing for me.
If the Realforce price is considered to be fine, i do find the Leopold and HHKB overpriced. The RoyalKludge and Plum have a nice (better) bang for the buck for me, if you're willing to go with clones and even more after some tuning.
I wrote a bit here: https://www.massdrop.com/talk/963/don-t-shoot-me-i-m-only-the-piano-player Maybe some information that might be helpfull.
If you have another question, just let me know.
Edit: Have in mind, the 5.5u spacebar doesn't make it easy to go for different keycaps.
I agree. RK best clone Topre board, modded or not. I want the Plum just for pick up and go. Sadly 35g is too low. 55g or nothing!