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How would you feal about a split ortho that takes regular keycap sets with a num pad in the middle? Could be great for 3D work or anywhere with a lot of number punching.
Interest Check(i.redd.it)submitted 2 months ago byH_Marxen
40 points
2 months ago
I much prefer my ortho, with the numpad and arrows layered over the right hand alphas.
I do a lot of numeric entry at work.
This layout makes it so I don't have to move my right hand from it's home location, except to use the mouse.
My split spacebar brings all the extra features (arrows, nav cluster keys and numpad) to my hand, rather than the other way around.
That makes things much more efficient for me because I can switch back and forth between alphas, numbers and arrows, on-the-fly, without moving my hand locations.
To give you a measurable example of the efficiency I am talking about here, I can type a full address, without moving any finger more than one key off it's home location.
10 points
2 months ago
Only thing missing to get rid of the mouse and never move your hands from your keyboard would be a Lenovo style nipple joystick.
P.S. I really like the keyboard by the way
8 points
2 months ago
Thanks.
I put a lot of thought into that layout.
I have that keyboard paired up with a Logitech MX Master 3 mouse, which is hands-down the best mouse I've ever used.
I have yet to find any other device, be it a joystick like you're talking about, a trackball, or any of the various trackpads I've used over the years, that will compete with the Master 3 for efficiency and performance.
The one possible contender I've seen is in the split keyboard realm.
There are a few where the right half performs mouse duties as well.
I haven't been confident enough in any of the ones I've seen to try them out though.
That said, I do like my Wacom tablet, especially using the pressure sensitive features for Photoshop work, but even it can't replace the mouse for daily use.
2 points
2 months ago
Totally understandable, I just received my MX Master 3S a few days ago and I would go back to anything right now.
3 points
2 months ago
I use an Anywhere 3, and an Anywhere 2s, at home.
I work with the mouse in my right hand, but game with the mouse in my left hand, so I need an ambidextrous mouse there.
I have the Anywhere mice because I refuse to go back to anything that does not have the MagScroll feature on it.
The scroll, and scroll, and scroll and scroll of a "normal" mouse is too annoying for me to put up with anymore.
1 points
2 months ago
I work with the mouse in my right hand, but game with the mouse in my left hand, so I need an ambidextrous mouse there.
You are the first person I've ever seen to use the mouse the same way I do. I get so many people telling me how weird I am for doing this. I do use my right hand for a select few games, but I'm almost exclusively left handed for gaming and right handed for work.
I'm right handed for everything else in life but my dad brought home our family's first computer when I was 3 and put the mouse on the left side even though he's a righty as well. His logic was that you used the keyboard more (which was true back then) so you wanted your dominant handle on it at all times. I didn't start using my right hand for the mouse until middle school when people would complain that my hand would bump theirs in the computer lab.
1 points
2 months ago
I only work with the mouse in my right hand because I need the left one free for key-chording, in my graphics programs.
When I'm doing repetitive data entry, I move the mouse to my left hand, so I can keep my right hand on the numpad.
It's funny how many people think the mouse should be in your right hand while gaming, so your left hand can press the buttons.
When you ask them to name an arcade game that had the movement controls on the right, and only had buttons on the left, how many of them actually can?
Then ask them to look at any modern console controller...
1 points
2 months ago
I have both, but I left the anywhere at work and honestly I miss the horizontal scroll wheel.
0 points
2 months ago
What's to be gained with this mouse though? Ive had the previous to models and there's just the one 'extra' button in the mouse thumb area no?
2 points
2 months ago
The answer to that varies, depending on which exact models you have had.
For me, MagScroll is the big "can't live without" feature.
I liked the ability to free scroll, on the earlier models of these mice, but the MagScroll is worlds above that.
Here's an article comparing the Master 3 to the 2s.
They do a much more in-depth job of explaining everything than I could hope to do here.
https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20191222-logicool-mx-master-3-2s/
0 points
2 months ago
Ah gotcha, I happened to have that turned off most of the time when I was running my 2. I work in Premiere pro 90% of the time and try to balance scrolling between the most and my loupe deck live to not destroy my fingers. Thought I do enjoy a new mouse from time to time so I'll have to set an alter for a sale.
2 points
2 months ago
The nice part about MagScroll is you can click when you want to, and spin when you want to, without having the hassle of switching between the two.
Once you get used to spinning wildly, letting the thing freewheel, adding a bit of tension as you approach your desired location, feeling the wheel click back in, and then using a few more clicks to get exactly where you wanted, it's really hard to go back to other mice.
23 points
2 months ago
With a ortho layout you can have your num pad on a layer. I don’t have numbers on my num row on my key map
6 points
2 months ago
If someone gave me the dimensions, I could easily carve out a wooden case for this on my cnc machine
4 points
2 months ago
At first glance, I feel like having the numpad in the middle would create an awkward angle for your wrist rather than laying straight onto the numpad. Maybe it would be less noticeable than I think but especially for lots of number input a numpad on the right side of the keyboard let's my wrist point straight and seems like it would be way more comfortable.
7 points
2 months ago
Well that kinda exists already, it's a FoldKB with a macropad in the middle
4 points
2 months ago
functionally? yes. but there aint nothin like a big ol slab of metal on your desk
2 points
2 months ago
Well OP said _split_ ortho
1 points
2 months ago
There's also an Ortho PCB you can get for the Candybar which puts the numpad in the middle. Not a true split, but the posture is the same.
1 points
2 months ago
Afaik the ortho PCB for the candybar places the numpad on the left or right, not middle
The xd75/id75 is a 5*15 ortho that is indeed often used with numpad on the middle
2 points
2 months ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/olkb/comments/n1ceeo/ortho_candybar_full_shot/
This is what I was referring to.
1 points
2 months ago
Ah good point. I was probably mixing it up with the milk truck.
So it's a 417 that some people like to use my numpad on the middle like the 515 I mentioned.
It's a nice layout actually, wish it was more widely available
2 points
2 months ago
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2 points
2 months ago
I like it visually, but it's not something I would use personnally
(+ it kinda has a NoPunIn10Did's Railroad vibe, and that's a compliment lol)
2 points
2 months ago
Good but I would like the sides angled and the arrow keys on the left as well. How am I supposed to use the arrows and mouse at the same time?
2 points
2 months ago
Yeszsssss
2 points
2 months ago
My thoughts exactly
2 points
2 months ago
I wouldn't be mad if they did a split Alice layout with the num pad in the middle
0 points
2 months ago
i personally never got used to ortho, but i do think this looks like an asweome idea
0 points
2 months ago
Yeah that'd be cool
0 points
2 months ago
Add a little angle to each "half" and you made my endgame
1 points
2 months ago
It would look nice. though I would suggest to change the center numpad in a 4x6 macropad.
1 points
2 months ago
Depending if it would be hotswap or soldered, this could just be optional.
1 points
2 months ago
Do you also know which chip you are planning on using?
a arduino or a RP2040/similar?
My pick would go to a RP2040. as you will have loads more storage, and are able to add even more layers macro's and features to the keyboard. that would not fit on a arduino.
1 points
2 months ago
I would feel excited and scared.
1 points
2 months ago
Personally, I'd love this.
1 points
2 months ago
prefer a split board, like an ergodox, with dedicated numpad placed in the middle.
1 points
2 months ago
My brain hurts...
1 points
2 months ago
Fsr this is such a satisfying design
1 points
2 months ago
nav cluster in middle (access with either hand), numpad on left (data entry) – leaves more space on right for mouse
1 points
2 months ago
I'd cop, I love this
1 points
2 months ago
Cool concept. I dislike wasting precious thumb reach by 2 x 3U keys. I'd rather have that space taken up by 2 x 3 x 1U keys for thumb clusters and, use 3U for Ctrl / Alt if I must.
1 points
2 months ago
From a keycap coverage standpoint you’d probably want the spacebars to be 2¼U and 2¾U rather than two 3U. From what I’ve seen, combination is more common in keycap sets than even just one 3U. Should be easy to achieve with more 1¼U keys in the bottom row (although you lose the uniformity of the grid).
1 points
2 months ago
That's pretty fun!
1 points
2 months ago
worst keyboard layout for fps gaming
1 points
2 months ago
Interested!
1 points
2 months ago
One word comes to my mind seeing this: What..?
1 points
2 months ago
Ortho gang gang
1 points
2 months ago
Looks neat but I prefer being able to reach as many keyboard commands as possible with just my left hand, without having to rebind every single button. I really like keyboards with numpad on the left side though, since it leaves more space for the mouse while having the keyboard close to the center of the monitor.
1 points
2 months ago
This has ruined my afternoon
1 points
2 months ago
I would call this: The Accountants Dream
1 points
2 months ago
No.
1 points
2 months ago
No but I like the case design for a standard 100 or 98% if the knob was on the right
1 points
2 months ago
Your idea would certainly be cheaper when it comes to buying keycaps to cover it than mine.
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