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
It is an excellent travel size. When packing light, this fits much more easily into a laptop bag than a 60% in all dimension (length, width, keycap height).
Special chars and numbers take some getting used to, but people buying a 40% will know this going in. The layout documentation included in the Core doesn't match the actual keyboard, so I had to experiment to find the true layout. The keycaps top and side printing is already crammed with characters, so you'll have to memorize those not labeled. My model doesn't have ! and @ printed on any keycap, so I have to remember that they're Fn1+Shift+Caps and Fn1+Shift+A, respectively. Maybe they need to open up the right side of the keycaps for printing these extra chars?
The biggest drawback for me is no left Fn modifier and no DIP switch as in the POK3R to put an Fn on the Caps Lock. This makes the arrows mapping to IJKL useless. You either have to hit the Fn with your right thumb or move your left hand under your right. You can map Fn + WASD to the arrow keys however. There is an interesting mode to turn some right hand modifiers into arrows, but I use the right shift too much typing computer code to make this viable.
The version I have does not allow you to program the split space bar independently. For example, programming left space bar to Enter also programs the right space bar to Enter. I hope this will be fixed in a firmware update. The left space bar also doesn't have a stabilizer.
Finally, the cable is Micro USB.