I want some wireless ones because my desk is getting too cluttered and it's hard to route the cables.
Criteria
- Wireless
- RF or Bluetooth is fine
Willing to compromise and use a less-than-100% layout, I've determined that I don't need all the keys so I wouldn't be as annoyed as I initially thought
- Volume controls or easy macro combos for Vol Up/Down
- Can live without Fn keys as long as they can be macro'd like a Macbook
- Caps Lock still useless
- RAlt/RWin/Menu/RCtrl not needed, or can be remapped for stuff I do need
- Ins/Del/Home/End/PgUp/PgDn still used a fair bit, all of them
- Tilde used a fair bit, which makes a 65% layout a bit iffy
Options
Keychron K8 Pro |
$180 |
TKL, remappable with QMK/VIA |
|
Keychron K10 |
$160 |
fullsize wireless |
|
Akko PC75B |
$190 |
larger compromise, Fn and knob |
https://www.pccasegear.com/products/59901/akko-pc75b-plus-black-gold-wireless-rgb-hot-swap-wine-red |
Akko 3098B |
$170 |
near fullsize |
https://www.pccasegear.com/products/56149/akko-3098b-ocean-star-rgb-hot-swap-wireless-cs-jelly-white |
Akko 3068B Plus |
$140 |
65% layout |
Dealing with smaller layouts
I think I could make 65% work with not too many compromises.
- Tilde moves to Caps Lock
- Ins shares the key with Del, via Fn
Home/End shared with PgUp/PgDn, via Fn
- Bind F1-F12 to number row, via Fn
R-Alt, R-Ctrl, R-Shift can be used as extra modifiers, for macros, or extra keys such as PrtSc and Pause/Brk
Keycaps
- I really like the retro look of ASA keycap shape, with big central legends. The 3068B and 3098B come with that natively
Switches
- I want to try linear switches now. No specific opinions on weight, coming from generic MX Browns and Blues on current keyboards (TUF Gaming K7, 50g clicky switches)
- K8 Pro has Gateron Reds (hotswap)
- K10 has Gateron Browns (hotswap)
- PC75B has Akko Wine Red (linear, 45g, 1.6mm, 3.6mm)
- 3098B has Akko Jelly White (linear, 35g, 1.9mm, 4.0mm)
- 3068B has Akko Jelly Pink (linear, 45g, 1.9mm, 4.0mm)