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
To start, I’ll preface this by mentioning that I purchased this keyboard because I was drawn to the sensational “thock” that topre and it’s derivatives made when typing. Since I was not ready to shell out the money for genuine topre, this board appeared to be the next best option for me. Ultimately the MX cap compatibility is what sold me on it, with help from the RGB lighting. Stock, this board I found was wonderful to type on, and thoroughly enjoyed the silenced clack of the upstroke. Much softer and springier than the matias that I was using before it. As others have mentioned, it does come with some defects so to speak, which seem to vary between one and another. For mine, it was two things:
-First, key registration was not consistent with the tactile bump, the “K” key being the biggest offender. If I am not careful, simply resting my finger on the key will result in a long string of k’s. -Second, the caps lock key stopped functioning about a month after I got it. The light wouldn’t turn on, but I circumvented this issue by using fn+ctrl to swap places with the caps lock key. Strangely the caps lock key worked perfectly normal as a ctrl, and vice versa. Just when I got used to the layout, the caps lock key started functioning correctly again, but now I can no longer swap caps and ctrl back to that layout.
When I came across the existance of the Hi-Pro, I was curious to see how SA caps would fair on this board. Months pass and when signature plastics released their Ice cap SA PBT keyset, I decided to jump on it, as I’ve never tried PBT nor SA before. Soon after receiving the set, I wanted to try lubricating the sliders and removing the O rings. The process was extremely tedious, but resulted in an extremely and satisfyingly loud clack, much deeper though somewhat muted compared to the Hi Pro from videos. Needless to say it is now extremely smooth to type on, and the lubricant helped silence the majority of stabilizer rattle that I got from installing the SA caps. It may be of worth to mention that removal of the O rings resulted in pretty noticeable key wobble, though for me this was a non issue, coming from the matias.
While I may not own nor have tried real topre, I have yet to tire of this keyboard and am more than happy to have purchased it, faults and all. A little modification seems to go a long way in terms of key feel and overall experience. Below I posted two videos of me typing on this keyboard. The first video is only with the PBT SA caps, and no further modifications. The second video with O-rings removed is also when I lubed the stabilizers and sliders. Unfortunately the second video does not to the clack justice, it sounds more muted/dull than it is in real life. Apologies for the phone quality