When COVID hit in 2020 a lot of companies sent their employee to work from home (WFH), even worse, some were laid off. I am lucky enough to still have my current job as a software engineer in a large private company in Indonesia. However, the work activities while the company was adapting to some new government’s regulations were a bit….lower than usual. I found that some of my friends were trying to learn new things that could kill their boredom. As for me, I found this mechanical keyboard hobby.
As a programmer, I sure do type a lot. I also consider my typing speed in QWERTY layout is not that bad, at least compared to my colleagues, who still looking at their keyboard while typing. More over, like a year before that I was already became a “mouseless” user that I would sacrifice mouse easiness in reaching screen areas with slower and definitely unproductive way by typing the keyboard. And of course, I’m a VIM user btw, so this keyboard thingy felt like a match for me in everyway.
I never knew that this was a thing, also that the keyboard I use every day has so many parts that are pretty interesting. Many people talking about the “sound” it produces that could generate a satisfying eargasm, and it got me in easily. I learned much from YouTube and “seniors” in this field explained pretty well in how producing the desired results according to each person’s taste. Whether we like it “clack”, “thock”, “creamy” and other absurd terminologies to describe the effect, we can find how to achieve it there.
The First
To begin with my journey, the first thing matter to me was it has to be mechanical. Of course, right? As a membrane keyboard all time user, the first thing I try to change is switching to mechanical. So, I searched some alternatives that are friendly with my budget, and Keychron K2 version 2 was the choice. By this point, I already knew that we could build our own custom mechanical keyboard, but as a beginner it would not be a wise decision to do it myself at the first time.
Keychron K2 is a 84% keyboard layout which came from a well-known keyboard maker would be a safe decision. What it means by 84% is that it has 84 keys instead of what is called as a full size keyboard, 104 keys. As I only watched YouTube as a reference, I never really listened directly to the sound of each switch option produces, and it was COVID. I decided to go with the blue switch labeled as the clicky one. And I was so happy at first the first time I got it in my hands and start typing. I immediately went to type training website like monkeytype.com, and I went there like in every possible chances I could.
After spending some time with it, I noticed that it was not the appearance that I enjoyed so much anymore. I didn’t really care whether it is colorful or just black. Instead, I was looking for more typing experience in the keyboard itself. But I didn’t know what experience it was exactly? How I want it to be? How many variations are available out there? And that was the beginning of my customization era. By this time, I was more into “switches”, “dampening”, and “lubing” and materials that whatsoever support to produce better typing experience, including sounds. The more I dived, the more I know that this sure is a vast subject.
The Second
As I was preparing with my Keychron K2 customization, alas, I noticed that I bought the wrong version of PCB. It was the soldered version. Meaning, I couldn’t switch the switches easily, it is not impossible, but not easy. It requires soldering parts. Well, I’m a software engineer, not an electrician. I’m not used to this kind of stuff, duh.
As a new hobbyist, another keyboard would not hurt right? Even more, how could one call himself a keyboard hobbyist with only one keyboard? I thought. So I bought my second keyboard with a cheaper price knowing that it will be my experimentation mouse. I made sure it is hotswap. It is a China based company called Fantech, Maxfit61. Yes, 61 means only 61 keys and it is even smaller than my first one. But I didn’t mind, because I would customize it to the maximum I could do.
Not long until it reached me and I did various modifications. I changed the switches, lube them, filmed them, change springs type, dampened the body, infamous holee-mod, tape mod, stabs clipping, keycaps material change, layering up with more dampeners such as poron foam, silicone, well basically many common mods mentioned by many YouTubers were done. What’s the result?
I found that the most significant change I felt is what’s many people pursue also, the sound. After all, the reason why blue switches are banned for office use is because its sound. It is so loud that could cause distraction to others around us. Well, working beside someone with a very loud clicky keyboard noise is annoying. I found out about this later and also realized that choosing blue switches on my Keychron K2 was the second mistakes I made purchasing this keeb.
As my mods met its end, it came up with better deeper sound and good typing feeling than it was before. I used Outemu Red linear type switches, Krytox 205g as the switch lube, sewing machine oil for the spring lube, and PBT double shot keycaps. Now if these names confusing you as it sounds unfamiliar, no worries. They don’t really matter anyway. I just feel they are needed to be mentioned in a keyboard customization article. With better sound, better typing experience, better keyboard appearance, and even more attention from my colleagues, I’m satisfied.
And finally, I decided to give more efforts into this arena by applying these mods to my Keychron K2. Yes, I finally did the soldering. I even successfully made it hotswap with mill-max socket.
Got it done, and my two keyboards are (were) now much more better. I used my Keychron for WFH, and the MaxFit61 for WFO (Work From Office).
The Third
In 2022, I received my third keyboard, an Indonesian local brand called Pressplay Voyager68 LightYear Edition from my wife as a birthday present.
It came with prelubed Gateron Pro Yellow switches, full aluminum body case, and producing quite satisfying sound out of the box. And it is 68 keys, 65% layout. Still smaller than my Keychron, but 7 more keys from my second one. I decided to play with the keycaps since I didn’t like the original keycaps color.
As time went by, I found out that somehow I prefer smaller keyboards. Thus I use my MaxFit61 keyboard more than the others. I even gave my Keychron to my wife to be used in her office. These are my day to day keyboard choices.
A hole in my heart
Done with various modifications, learning and watching even more YouTube videos, recognizing more brands, more expensive price, more unique customizations, made me even more devastated because I realized that this hobby knows no ends (what hobby does?). After reaching this point, I never found my finale keyboard that would tell me “OK, this is the one”. There’s still something missing that I felt unsatisfied with. But what is it exactly? I haven’t found the answer yet.
Reflecting back to my new year resolution(s), which I committed to be a minimalist (well, I tried), I felt the need to declutter my life. It started from my belongings, my clothes, my digital life, my shopping list, and……down to my new hobby, keyboards. I knew I need to at least not being consumed by this hobby anymore. But I haven’t found “the one”. I know that I want a “minimalist keyboard” if that’s even exists.
The search began and surprisingly it concluded to a smaller keyboard is what I want as the one. I was interested in 40% keyboard size that I considered it would meet my minimalistic dream, even though I was not sure it would be the answer (it is surely not!). Researching for a 40% keyboard, I found an interesting word that leads my journey to the end, “ortholinear”. “What the heck is this thing?” I asked. After spending some more time digging more information regarding this term, I found some keyboards with this criteria that intrigued me.
Drop + OLKB Planck
Designed by Jack Humbert, the OLKB Planck is one of the most popular ortholinear keyboards currently on the market. The keyboard comes in a 40% layout with a 47 or 48 key set-up.
Alice 40% Ergo Keyboard (this is not an ortholinear)
Euis 40% Ergo Keyboard is custom build keyboard, built by an Indonesian local keyboard maker called Keyboard Kasep Co.
To cut it short, my search actually ended with their keyboards. From their Instagram posts, I found another strange keyboard layout like this.
This keyboard layout is definitely unusual from any angles. It is split two halves, it has two screens, weird keys placements, not perfectly horizontal, and very few keys. What is this?
Until I reached this point, I’ve tried more keyboards of my colleagues. Thanks to YouTube once again for bringing the trend among developers so that nowadays it’s common in our office. It’s nice to try other brands, people’s mods keyboards, and other unique customization. I finally got a chance to try other brands such Akko, RK, Weikav, and even Logitech. Even though I’m happy to see more upcoming keyboards I will see in my community, mostly they share a same & boring characteristic. The shape. Commonly it will be in square shaped, staggered keys layout. Recently, knob and OLED can be seen in most keyboard nowadays. And this was the time when I finally understand how I really want my finale keyboard to be. It has to be different. It has to be made to fit my personality, lifestyle, taste, and my needs.
Seeing and trying some other keyboards with more complex customizations doesn’t really make one unique. Other than keycaps that creates different visual appearance, we need to pay give attention to know what one differs from another, for example the sound, the type feel, the tactility, etc. YouTube videos are also mostly showing how brands shipped their products into stunning boxes, unboxing process, and start assembling. They mostly talk about different materials, different sounds, different aesthetic aspects like putting goldy, shiny, woody, or other unthinkable materials to put on a keyboard. But still, there’s no significant difference in my opinion.
The End Game
Now that I know the goal is to create a keyboard that accustomed to me, I found that this splitted keyboard is the one. It is a Corne keyboard a.k.a CRKBD.
Look wise, I don’t think I have to break it down for you. It is absolutely not an ordinary keyboard. Not a “normal” user will use this kind of keyboard. As for me, I see it as a beauty. It’s so geeky, nerdy, hackery (if that’s even a word). It’s just cool. I know it may look strange at first, but this keyboard is amazing!
The main benefit from this keyboard is so that we can position it however we feel comfortable typing. At first, it feels weird. But after sometime and a lot of typing practices, I think it’s even better that “staggered” layout. I even think it’s hard for me to type on normal keyboard now without making typos.
This keyboard offers ergonomics which I think pretty huge deal as a programmer who type a lot, even though I haven’t really feel this benefit. I think I have a bit different hand position when they are on the keyboard, which people also might see it weird.
Button wise, this is a small keyboard, with only 42 keys, and NO STABS. There are a lot keys missing, but it plays with “layers”. Mine can store up to 4 layers and amazingly it suits all my needs. I realize that there are many keys on normal keyboard or even my Fantech Maxfit61 that I don’t really need that much. So, this get along well with my minimalism mindset, kind of.
Talking about customization, this keyboard really needs one, if you want to make it “special” to you. With QMK firmware, it supports Via / Vial where we can customize as much as we like it.
We can even map keys to move mouse. Yes, you read it right, you can move cursor with keymaps. Although it is not that smooth. But this keyboard really suit me well as a mouseless comp user.
And above all, I think what most valuable aspect for me is:
The Corne is definitely a very maker-ly keyboard with a heavy DIY feel.
It feels like that keyboard tells everyone “I’m yours and only you who can use me”. That feels…special ❤️
The Dark Sides
Surely enough this keyboard is not for everyone. It is hard to use at first, it even breaks my muscle memory of normal staggered keyboard. Why would one choose to spend some days being unproductive just to practice typing other than how it is normally done? It was an unproductive times I admit.
Customizing it also does take more time than I expected it would. I ended up wasting more days configuring the keymaps, macros and special function keys to suit my needs. And then, I still have to remember them until it sticks in my muscle memory.
As for gamers, I don’t know much since I don’t really do games, but I don’t think this is a gamer keyboard. You tell me 🤷🏻
Now that is my story finding the finale keyboard that would stop me from sinking deeper into the no-end sucking hobby hole that would consume more energy, more time, and more money. Would I be enough with my split keyboard? Or I just want to find something different than usual? Whatever it is, I think my keyboard appetite has sunk down this couple weeks. I haven’t watched any keyboard videos so far, touch my keyboard kit, changing keycaps, or weirdly placing my ear as close as possible to the keyboard just to listen to the sound it clicks.
Good luck finding your end game keyboard fellas.
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