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
«I was guessing that your hate for ISO comes from the fact that you're not used to it, or that you've grown accustomed to something else. I personally am just the same way» — well, ok, "hate" was too harsh a word and was only meant as a part of the joke. for 20 years i've had a chance to use quite a number of different layouts, some really weird by todays standards (http://goo.gl/AB56GI http://goo.gl/Ne9r8J), including ISO's. but you're right, it's mostly just a matter of what one's used to (that's why i actually don't preach layouts).
«I'd be interested to hear what you think is worse with ISO, though, if you have any technical points to bring up. I like having a two-high Enter key, makes it so easy to press without looking, just like spacebar. Also don't find the need for a broad Lshift, so it's nice to tuck one more key in there» — i must have taught myself to touch-type on an ansi keyboard (can't be sure after all those years) because now i find that both ISO-style-narrow enter and lshift are much harder to reach without moving fingers a bit away from the base position. of course this is also just a minor personal preference.
by the way, i've googled a bit and found out that vortex/kbc do make their pok3r with (almost) ISO layout, it's just that massdrop doesn't propose those exactly as you note out — must be the influence of the US audience here =)