I'm gonna leave this post up in the interests of fairness because they're not well signposted - but technically this is offtopic for this community and thus against the rules. You might better off posting on [email protected]. hopefully this community can still be helpful to you in this instance but in time we'll probably want to remove posts like this.
ErgoMechKeyboards
Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards
Rules
Keep it ergo
Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)
i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²
¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid
No Spam
No excessive posting/"shilling" for commercial purposes. Vendors are permitted to promote their products/services but keep it to a minimum and use the [vendor] flair. Posts that appear to be marketing without being transparent about it will be removed.
No Buy/Sell/Trade
This subreddit is not a marketplace, please post on r/mechmarket or other relevant marketplace.
Some useful links
- EMK wiki
- Split keyboard compare tool
- Compare keycap profiles Looking for another set of keycaps - check this site to compare the different keycap profiles https://www.keycaps.info/
- Keymap database A database with all kinds of keymap layouts - some of them fits ergo keyboards - get inspired https://keymapdb.com/
It's pretty funny, because from mechanicalkeyboards they suggested to post here because you have more knowledge on low profile keyboards.
Hm, maybe I'll make a lowpro keyboards community. There's a lowpro specific discord server after all.
Unfortunately, there aren't many options in the 60%+ range.
Cepstrum (sp?) From keebio is the most recent one I know of, but it's a split. There's the Chocolate Bar, mt-choc and Pete (of ZMK fame) is working on WarDriver - a choc minivan - but it hasn't been released yet.
edits: links and typofixes
When you say without the ergo split thing, are you looking for something that’s “row staggered” like Keeb.io’s new Cepstrum? https://keeb.io/collections/cepstrum/products/cepstrum-keyboard-pre-built It’s a more traditional 65% build, but still split.
Or are you just looking for something Corne-like and ergo, but as a unibody build? The Reviung41 LP rings some bells. https://mkultra.click/reviung41-lp-low-profile-keyboard-kit/
Row staggered but not splitted.
How much like the corne do you want it to be?
Like, one piece but with a small separation in the left/right sides?
https://github.com/beekeeb/zerosprey42
Like a normal keyboard but split?
https://keeb.io/products/cepstrum-choc-low-profile-65-65xt-split-staggered-keyboard
Some other thing entirely?
Also, how DIY do you want to get?
How much like the corne do you want it to be?
like a normal keyboard and not split
Also, how DIY do you want to get?
As long as no soldering is required I am up for everything
Sadly, I don't think there are any choc boards that fit your requirements. Not many choc boards over 40% and the ones that exist will require soldering of some sort.
I know you’re interested in using Kailh choc sunsets but if it’s really just the low profile factor and not the ergo-split part you’re interested in, have you considered any of the low profile options from Keychron? They make both a 65% and 75% low profile board: Keychron K7 Pro (65%)
I’ve heard that their banana and mint low profile switches are quite nice and very tactile.
One place to start looking is in the source code of the QMK firmware. They have subfolders for many keybaords, and most of them have a picture. https://github.com/qmk/qmk_firmware/tree/master/keyboards Most of them are hobby projects though, so soldering will be required.
Just an idea: you could attach the two halves of a split keyboard to a wooden board. The piantor is a corne-like split with hot-swap choc v1 sockets that has been designed to keep soldering to a minimum. Some soldering still required though.
Do anyone have feedback on this?
https://chosfox.com/products/chosfox-l75-keyboard-kit?variant=42798174732482
Looks promising