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Al_TheEngineer
75
Feb 16, 2018
Guys, I just want to tell you that this keyboard is TRULY awesome if you are a coder, software engineer, typist, or anyone who uses the keyboard for a very long amount of time daily. The presence of the track point is actually GREAT, it helps you use the mouse while not even moving your hands off the keyboard! I have both YODA 1 and now YODA 2, both are amazing keyboards! The model 2 being completely re-programmable makes it extremely versatile. It can even save macros for you! It has 3 levels of "FN" keys which means you can have a BOAT load of combinations (if you so desire). All in all, it's a pleasure to type on and it is currently my daily driver at work. I have typed over a million lines of code on my YODA 1 (with green switches) and it maintained outstanding performance, comfort and ergonomics.
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FaceMcBashy
140
Feb 16, 2018
Al_TheEngineerHow close does it feel compared to one on a thinkpad? what OS do you use with it? how does using mechanical switch for mouse button feel? does it feel it takes too much effort to use the most buttons since you have to press down so much.
Al_TheEngineer
75
Feb 16, 2018
FaceMcBashyHow close does it feel compared to one on a ThinkPad? I'm assuming that you are talking about the track-point. It is VERY close and I would say it is even better because it protrudes a bit more and the bottom (left, middle and right) clicks (switches) are actually flatter and are angled a bit, making them more natural to use. They are LOWER than the space bar, so you will never hit them by mistake while using the space bar. The tips of the track-point are replaceable with standard ThinkPad ones. The Track-Point in this keyboard is really a Track-Stick! It is a longer-than-usual metal rod going as high as your entire key-cap and switches (to reach the surface of the keys, obviously), therefore it is sensitive and very accurate and I find it to be less fatiguing to use as it requires lesser force and lesser grip to actuate (when compared to my ThinkPad W510 and my ThinkPad T25 anniversary edition laptops).
What OS do I use it with? Linux (many flavors) & Windows 7 and 10, it works just fine, the YODA 2 is completely driver-less, you can even adjust the SPEED of the track-point WITHOUT a driver! It can be done in hardware (through re-programming and real-time using FN keys).
Using mechanical switches for mouse-buttons is honestly a great experience, it is tactile (I use greens and I dislike linear switches). It feels firm and you couldn't just click (press) it by mistake.
The following photo shows how the mouse keys are lower and angled compared to the space bar and the rest of the layout.
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txeni
2
Feb 16, 2018
Al_TheEngineerI'm very interested but I saw they changed the way to program it. Could you tell me if you can program Fn keys that turn a layer on and off? I use one of those for arrows and some other keys and I'm very used to it now, sometimes I don't want to keep pressing the function button to be able to use the arrowkeys... Thanks!
Al_TheEngineer
75
Feb 16, 2018
txeniYou program it online using their programming web tool located here: https://yoda2.tex-design.com.tw/#layout.
Visit it and see for yourself! It creates a configuration file that you upload to your keyboard. The configuration is then preserved no matter which computer you plug it into (as I said before, this is a driver-less keyboard)! You can configure 3 layers of FN keys + macros! You can pretty much change ANY key to do anything (with or without FN's being pressed). It is 100% re-programmable.
Explore the web configuration tool, click a key you'd like to edit and re-assign it to a different function and or macro, you will see how easy it is to re-program!
By the way, I have my right ALT, right MENU, right WIN and right SHIFT keys configured as right, down, left, and up arrow keys (in that order) - I matched the DIP switches settings from my YODA 1 since I got so used to it!
txeni
2
Feb 16, 2018
Al_TheEngineerThanks for the quick answer :) Unfortunately I looked at it and I cannot find a way to create a FN key that activate a layer by pressing once, and then deactivate the layer by pressing again, I don't know if I explain myself. I don't want the arrowkeys to be there all the time in the main layer, and I don't want to always keep the FN key pressed either. With the GH60 that I use I can configure an FN layer that works like a "capslock" of sorts, activating the arrowkeys when I need them to stay there, and deactivating them to use the shift, ctrl, menu and win the rest of the time...
mseaworthy
14
Feb 17, 2018
Al_TheEngineerYour feedback and experience with this board is very valuable. Wish I had it on all the boards I've purchase. Thanks for sharing.
Al_TheEngineer
75
Feb 17, 2018
txeniHey, so I reached out to Justin over at TEX and I asked him for you about the sticky FN key feature and he said he is going to implement this feature in the next 1 month or so! If you'd like to ask him any other question yourself, here is their Facebook page, they respond very quickly! https://www.facebook.com/TEX-Electronics-Co-Ltd-472792412756463/
Honestly, I'd still consider this keyboard if you see yourself using a Track-Point at all!
Al_TheEngineer
75
Feb 17, 2018
mseaworthyYou are very welcome! I'm glad my writing helped you in any way!
KailyJ
17
Feb 18, 2018
Al_TheEngineerI still not truly convinced that it can preform Neearly as well as a bigger keyboard (i.e 70% or TKL [mine]). I’m talking from a software engineer perspective; the Fn row, arrow (!) and page slide keys are under real load in my everyday routine, so I’ll be glad if you can shade more light on how it’s been for you, working without them. i can imagine what benefits in productivity / user’s experience you get from the track-point, but i navigate mostly though the keyboard anyway....
Al_TheEngineer
75
Feb 18, 2018
KailyJOkay any 60% format will have a learning curve, if you buy Pok3r, HHKB or any others, which is why I didn't discuss that in my original post. When I first moved to the 60% format, I came from a TKL as well. Yes, it took about 3 or so weeks to master it, but when I got used to it, It became way faster than my normal TKL. The 60% format is designed to where you have the least hands movement around or off the keyboard, and while yes to access the F1-F12 keys you'd need to hold 'FN' first, it's honestly not a problem at all. It's natural to me and I am very used to it by now and it doesn't bother me at all.
As I said above in my other comment, I have mapped my right ALT, right MENU, right WIN and right SHIFT keys as right, down, left, and up arrow keys (in that order). For page slide keys you can easy make them FN left arrow and FN right arrow (after the re-map above), or FN + '<' and FN + '>', and so on. Again it is 100% re-programmable and with ANY 60% layout, you're going to become an FN key master! YODA 2 supports 3 levels of FN BTW!
But yes, there is indeed a learning curve, and once you get there you will see how fast and quick it is and with YODA 2 having the track-point you'll never even need a mouse, even for little annoying things that cannot be done with keyboard shortcuts. I too use keyboard shortcuts for 98% of everything, the remaining 2% gets handled by the track-point, and it is a MUCH better experience than moving my hands off the keyboard to the mouse to do something simple!
fatpolomanjr
128
Feb 19, 2018
txeniIt is called layer toggling. And no it is not currently possible on the TEX Yoda II. They are still adding enhancements to the programmability and just recently added the option to map a single key to a macro. I really wish it supported QMK to get some of my favorite functionality I use all the time on my planck. Including layer toggling.
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