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
1. Does the back-light have a toggle? timed? permanently on? 2. Battery type / battery life 3. Can we use a wired connection vs the Bluetooth connection? 4. Any correct pictures to show the actual options we are given with? 5. Linux compatibility? 6. Someone mentioned a typing bug which effects this model (any information on this?)
He also already posted pictures in the comments and a few others linked some pictures as well.
So to your questions, (all answers are sourced from article, I make no claims to whether they are true or not) 1. The LED turns off after 5 min. 2. 600 hours without using backlighting 3. No wired connection available. The author states that he tried repeatedly and that allegedly, Varmilo will release a dual wired and Bluetooth keyboard next year. 4. IDK 5. IDK 6. IDK
With respect to Linux compatibility and the typing bug, we'll have to get back to you after talking to the vendor again.
Regarding the options available during checkout, the Grey keycaps and the Black case are as pictured in this drop. For the White case and White keycaps, some pictures have already been posted in this discussion thread.
If you'd like to take a look at how the White case and the White keycaps look please take a look at this drop https://www.massdrop.com/buy/varmilo-va87mr. The caveat is that the drop linked has orange LEDs and the only LED option available for this drop is white.
Please reply to this message as and when any other questions arise, and I'll try to respond to them promptly.
Thanks a lot guys!
Edit: I forgot to mention that the vendor has asked us to limit the drop to 150 units. I've updated the "Description" page as well.
Any chance you'll be offering this with blue, teal, orange, green or even purple LEDs in the very near future?
Gateron browns and clears might be the best choices if not for the LED problem you mentioned.
It also sounds as if LED light might bleed less with Gateron switches. That sounds like a good feature if you've got the color you want.