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
From the part of the contract that was released by Input Club it seems that Massdrop is in the wrong. To me, and I am no legal expert, it seems to say they can sell their own invention as long as they don't go to another large distributor, ie Amazon. Massdrop is starting to get a very bad rep with the community. Although because of the exclusivity of some of the enthusiast products on here, many people still buy from Massdrop out of necessity. Honestly, I've bought DOZENS of orders through Massdrop, and I don't think I've ever had even 1 without delays of at least 2 weeks, more often a month at the least. This whole IC dilemma is just a show of the true face of MD.
I think once upon a time MD was a company that really worked hard to bring products to the public that wouldn't be accessible otherwise, but it has turned into a corporate greed machine. If it wasn't, and it was honestly just trying to help small designers get their products out there, then it would have no problem with IC selling it's own design. This whole "shark club" analogy is stupid too, people on that show more often than not still own 50% of the rights to their product if not majority rights. Funding a product doesn't mean you own it in it's entirety, even if that is the norm it is not right. The fact that Massdrop sells itself on "community" especially makes this a giant sad joke.
The saddest part of this whole thing is, is that even if MD is in the wrong we'll never find out. A massive company like MD has the money to fight this until they can bleed IC dry. IC will probably have to concede their own design or risk being thwarted entirely by MD. At this point I'm truly considering never buying off MD ever again, no matter how much I want some enthusiast keyboard or keycaps set. I'll have to wait to get it 2nd hand or somewhere else just so I don't support this monstrous company. I suggest other people do the same, that way maybe Massdrop will start giving a f**k about their community again and get things right and on time. Also please again don't give the excuse "oh these drops take time to get perfect, there are always delays", if MD knows a manufacturer they've used dozens of times is always a week late, put the goddamn ship date later then to account for that. Nobody is going to cry about getting their orders sooner than the shipdate if there are no delays. You're telling me a multi million dollar operation can't figure this out? Please.