Comment by bloopernova | Hacker News Reader

Comment by bloopernova | Hacker News Reader

I'm still using and enjoying my Keychron Alice-layout 75% Q10[1], Q0 Plus[2], and the 3D printed fully open source Ploopy Mouse[3].

All are configured via QMK, although I only custom compile a firmware for the mouse. For the keyboards I just use VIA, which is plenty capable.

For the numberpad, I have the macro keys and the numlock key assigned to A through F, so I have a hexadecimal keypad when I want it. On the Q10 main keyboard, I have macro keys assigned to ctrl-r and ctrl-t for fzf, plus alt-x, ctrl-g, and ctrl-x ctrl-s for Emacs.

The ploopy mouse is a marvel, although I wish its wheel was sticky/stepped and not freely-rotating. I wish I had the skills to design a vertical version of the mouse and transfer the guts to that, but I'm a complete idiot when it comes to 3D stuff. Having QMK on a mouse is game-changer though; you can use one button as a layer switcher, and expand the number of functions each button performs. Being able to do a plain text paste in macOS, or use the side buttons for page up/down and home/end, is really useful.

I highly recommend customizing your macro keys! Especially if you use something like Emacs or work in the terminal a lot.

[1] https://www.keychron.com/pages/keychron-q10-customizable-mec...

[2] https://www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q0-plus-qmk-custo...

[3] https://ploopy.co/mouse/

Wow, I haven't kept up since kbdfans discontinued the kbd75 (with split spacebar), but I'm glad something like this exists in case my kbd75 board dies. (recently I also found https://system76.com/accessories/launch)

So strange that it includes a Home key but not a End key (and there's space for it)

> macro keys assigned to alt-x, ctrl-g, and ctrl-x ctrl-s for Emacs

Wouldn't it slow you down a lot if you have to reach the far left for these?

I just have Shift, Ctrl, Alt all in the split spacebar cluster and sticky key enabled so I'm very comfortable with any key chords (plus I use leader key).

BTW I know you use VIA, and IIRC it doesn't enable the QMK macro recorder/playback keys. I used that a lot outside of Emacs.

Thanks!

I've found that muscle memory helps a lot with meta-x and ctrl-g, but the save combo is never used. This is because I USA Mac and just use command-s for save nowadays. Muscle memory also helps with the other 2 macro keys, which are at the bottom left of the keyboard and fairly easy to hit with a pinky or ring finger. You're absolutely right, it's a reach and I'd prefer that the keys were positioned below the space bars.

I actually swapped out and moved the upper right keys such that I have a home and end key as well as page up/down and delete.

It's still my end game keyboard. It sounds and feels great!

(I'll check out the macro recorder too)

I have a similar keyboard but the low profile k15 Alice layout https://keychron.ca/products/keychron-k15-pro-alice-layout-q...

The keyboard here looks like it adds a screen but will have worse ergonomics.

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