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
In my closet: I have a Topre Realforce 87u (55g Uniform), a KC60 with mx reds and some cherry profiled PBT caps, and a Pok3r with mx reds and some tai hao caps that I hardly use.
And my daily driver is my Leopold FC660M with mx reds, GMK Griseann, and some GMK mods. I can safely say that after using so many different combinations, this is the best that a keyboard can be for me. What about you, @hhkbp2 ?
EDIT: I totally forgot but I have a minivan as well (mx reds and unicorn puke DSA) it's a fun little package but hard to remember what which key does what when you start switching layers quickly.
Currently I have these keyboards:
HHKB pro2: The Topre switches(45g) feel really smooth and comfortable, with default PBT Topre keycaps. I tried both JTK Topre to MX sliders and Plum sliders(from Taobao KBDFans) on it. Get a HHKB which is ready to install and change different MX keycaps. It's good enough for daily usage but far from perfection, because there are flaws on both types of sliders.
Cherry g80-3000: color black, with MX blue switches, and default POM keycaps. No modification at all. It feels tactile on the switches and soft to hit the bottom, since this keyboard doesn't have the middle metal plate. I Like it, but seldomly use it because it takes much room of my deck.
GH60: Customized to HHKB layout, standard bottom row, with lubricated Ergo-Clear switches. The middle plate of it supports removing the top covers of switches without desoldering these switches. I change the switches from Ergo-Clear to MX Blue, or vice verse, from time to time. I would like to use SA keycap set on the Ergo-Clear, and DSA or GMK keycap set on MX blue. The low profile and the thin mold of DSA keycap amplifies the tactile of MX Blue switches. On the other hand, the high profile and thick mold of SA keycap fit really unique to Ergo-Clear. I like both combinations. This keyboard is my daily drive recently.
Ergodox: Fullhand, Ergo-Clear switches, DSA keycaps. It's a classical Ergodox(not Infinity Ergodox). I bought it from Massdrop about three years ago. Really ergonomic to type. I would love to use it anywhere I need to do the typing, because: 1. it's really ergonomic. It eases my wrist pain on long time usage 2. no one else would even tough my keyboard. The only problem is that it's inconvenient to carry them around. I couldn't find a proper carrying case of it. It's much easier to travel with a 60% keyboard.
Besides these keyboards, I get a bunch of keycap sets, which are collected from time to time in years: GMK carbon, Cherry charactered/blank pbt/pom 104, SP ABS DSA hana, royal navy, PBT granite, infinity dye-sub, and also SP SA Filco, Jukebox R2, Chocolatier, etc. Too many indeed I don't think I could remember them all at once. Yeah, that means a lot of money spent, on a bunch of plastic. Most of these money was spent on Massdrop. :-)