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Comment by kisamoto | Hacker News Reader

Personally I've been really happy with my split 60% keyboard from UltimateHackingKeyboard [0]. It also has open source electronics files and firmware

I backed them on CrowdSupply some years ago and although it took a while to be delivered have used it extensively since and even purchased a second one for at home & the office. A huge positive while waiting for it was the regular, informative status emails from the founder.

Now they are on to v2 [1] with backlighting and better keycaps.

The "Agent" firmware is also regularly updated and makes customising the keyboard a breeze. I won't go extensively into the functionality here but it's worth checking out.

I am in no-way affiliated with UHK but if anybody is looking for a split, open source, customisable keyboard I would highly recommend.

[0] https://uhk.io/

[1] https://ultimatehackingkeyboard.com/blog/2020/11/05/introduc...

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For those that have a UHK or are thinking of getting one, we have an unofficial Discord server at https://discord.gg/b4z4rfv which is also tunneled with ##uhk on Freenode. Welcome if you want to discuss any UHK matters. :)

Personally I am very happy with my two UHKs (one for the office and one for home, though for obvious reasons they are both home now). I have stopped using a mouse and use the mouse layer exclusively now for working, though on my work one I have a prerelease version of the trackpoint module that I use. Being a split design has made it easier for my hands and finally forced me to learn proper finger technique.

I'm currently waiting for a trackball module and I am curious how they fit into your usual keyboard usage. Is it difficult to get used to it? Do you use it as a scroll wheel or as a normal mouse?

I used the trackball module as a mouse but I prefer the trackpoint. If I didn't have the trackpoint, I would probably use the trackball more than the mouse layer. Both were pretty easy to get used to, a few days.

I scroll using the mouse layer mostly. There is a mini trackball in the key cluster module that is handy for more accurate scrolling but it easily also scrolls horizontally. I would assume they'll make it configurable.

UHK looks fabulous - thanks for sharing!

Could you explain how dragging works with the trackball module? The website says that the trackball is not pressable and I can't imagine how I would control it and press one of its keys with the same hand.

And one question about the trackpoint, if you have time. I tried trackpoints on my Thinkpad laptops, but couldn't get used to them because they were too stiff. Have you ever come across any alternative tips/nibbles? I would love to have one that feels like a PS controller stick :-)

For the first question, you would use some other button on the keyboard to click while dragging. I use the trackpoint which is also not pressable, but I use the mouse layer key to click. My mouse layer is activated with the mouse key in place of caps lock and a left click is with F. Since the UHK is completely mappable, you can find the best key combo for yourself. Only your thumb is occupied on the trackball so you have 4 fingers left for clicking on that hand alone. :)

If you get the left side key cluster module, it has clickers on the edge, so you can use those for clicking with your left hand while dragging with your right. Personally for me it wasn't the most comfortable choice so I stick to my mouse keys.

This is actually my first trackpoint that I really use, so I haven't searched for any alternative tips. I do admit a PS controller stick could be nice. :D Maybe a bit too light to touch?

That looks great! I built a similar one and really enjoy it, the quefrency v2 (https://keeb.io/products/quefrency-rev-2-60-65-split-stagger...). All in, might have been slightly cheaper though also took plenty of time for soldering and assembly.

Before building this, I had tried a split ortholinear and was eying a moolander. Unfortunately, since I have to use a standard laptop for work (and I’m moving around a lot during the day), I just couldn’t reprogram my fingers on an ortholinear ... I found switching back & forth very challenging and in the end, not worth it.

I have been using an ortho-linear for years now. I programmed it in a way so that the layout is not too different from a regular keyboard. I like it very much, but because I use a laptop I often switch to a "regular" keyboard (MacBook Pro 2016). I find this ok, and I still appreciate the comfort of the ortholinear.

Was not aware of this product when I was originally looking for a new mech split keyboard.

I did stumble upon the Moonlander [0] but couldn't justify the price point.

Further looking brought me to the Koolertron split keyboard which so far I've been liking for a small "cloffice" used during the lockdowns. I even did a full write up here of what I thought: https://twitter.com/alexpotato/status/1350530940561457155

[0] - https://www.zsa.io/moonlander/

I've been using it since 2 weeks now. It's a great keyboard. I was using the redox-wireless before this which is also really good and quite a bit cheaper. but the moonlander helps with my RSI and CTS more than the redox did. Got the white moonlander and a white trackball going now. Great for ergonomics and lessening the strain.

If you can spend the money on it I highly recommend it. If not you can try looking into self-building a redox (I'd recommend non-wireless as the wireless has some quirks atleast mine from falbatech does, falbatech has nice tenting and bamboo casings for split keyboards. You can buy separate parts and kits or buy them pre-built.

Typing on it now. It's nice. Justified it as the last keyboard I'll ever need due to it's customizability. That it can replace a mouse by using modifier keys is a giant boon.

Swapped the pinky keys to ones with lighter springs and that is a great ergo boost.

Also not affiliated at all and seconding this, love mine and would have bought another by now if I still had to go to an office and also work sometimes at home. I've tried all kinds of keyboards - the microsoft ergonomic ones, full size mechanical ones like the das, split ones like the kinesis and the ergodox. UHK I can honestly say is perfect in my opinion and the best of them all. Excitedly awaiting some of the attachment modules for a trackball / trackpad

If UHK would make a bluetooth/wireless model I would buy one in a heartbeat

It has a USB-C port, so could buy a separate adapter. Best Buy's Insignia brand usually has them for < $20.

But how do you power the keyboard?

Powerbank?

Ha, I realized this an hour after I posted that response. I wonder if there's a USB-C battery pack with an additional USB-C port?

I really would like to get one of these nice split keyboards but I have not been able to find one with ISO Nordic layout (Swedish/Finnish if printing the keys).

The UK layout is close but not quite there (enter is 2 rows tall in our layout and one extra key next to it)

http://www.farah.cl/Keyboardery/A-Visual-Comparison-of-Diffe...

Get a blank key ergodox-ez and program the layout yourself in QMK.

It has the same problem as any ANSI or normal ISO keyboard. Too few keys if I want them anywhere the normal position of the keys. I have no interest in learning new positions for the keys really (even less hiding them behind modifiers keys) that is why I want a fully nordic compatible one. You can't just magically program one or two more keys to a couple of the rows.

Basically after P I need at least 2 keys to the right of it (not counting enter). 3 keys to the right of L (again not counting enter) and one key left of Z (not counting shift).

And yes our enter key is 2 rows tall.

Really all I want is a normal nordic layout keyboard split in 2 with good quality switches and working tilting/wrist rests.

I've been looking for a month I think the Logitech g915 is the only low profile tactile UK layout in existence. It has been sold out all month.

I'm tempted to change the kicad on this to just take the low profile switches but I can't do the layout change

If I could put low-profile caps and switches (e.g. khail choc) without too crazy modifications, i would buy one in a heartbeat

The UHK is great. I have a V1 with a V2 on order. My only complaint is that my 2 year old ABS key caps have started to show some wear, but I’ve got the new set of PBTs that are for both versions on order as well. I’m going to give my V1 to a good friend who will appreciate it when the V2 comes in.

The UHK looks awesome. I'd totally use it if it had ortholinear keys.

Ergodox might suit you.

Or the Moonlander made by the same people

It looks like the Moonlander might be a bit better if you’ve got smaller hands. A common complaint about the Ergodox is that the thumb clusters can be a huge reach for those with smaller hands.

Personally I have the Ergodox Shine and I love it. If I had to do it again I wouldn’t do the shine though; the backlight just highlights how much cat hair is on my desk.

I ordered a v2! Seems to be a bit of delay due to upstream keycap manufacturing delays though.

Looks like an even more overpriced Kinesis Edge Freestyle/Gaming

Wait - it looks like you have to use Fn-Q or Fn-` for ESC?

Yeah, that is deal-breaker. I have Caps-Lock assigned to ^C and won't be moving that to Escape...

That's a big waste of the caps lock key. I use it as a modifier key for all kinds of frequently used macros. It's very easy to press two key combos with left hand alone like capslock+q or capslock+space, etc.

That's the original key mapping, yeah, but it's very easy to change in the software it comes with. I immediately re-mapped it so that the escape key works by itself.

You can change literally any key mapping you like, and do some wild stuff with it. I've got shortcuts for taking different types of screenshots mapped to key combos that are easy to reach, for example, because I take tons of screenshots for work.

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