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/
view the rest of the comments
I just moved from a one-piece ergo keyboard (Truly Ergonomic) to a Sofle RGB after spending Way Too Long comparing the available options. It's pretty good so far. Some early thoughts in case they help:
All in all, I'm happy with the Sofle and anticipate using it for a long time.
This is good info -- thanks. I've also been looking at the Sofle 2.1 or the Lily 58 as a traveling keyboard for my laptop. My daily driver for my desktop is an Ergodox, and I hate having to use the laptop keyboard when I travel.
How do you have the Sofle connected? I was thinking about using BT to keep my USB ports open (my phone is usually connected as my hotspot), but worry about the battery drain and whether I can/should use the OLEDs and key lighting that way. Maybe a USB C hub is the better option.
Oleds don't play well with wireless. They tend to use too much power. There is a power power alternative in the nice!view. Same with rgb except there is no alternatives for that one.
Doing wireless you'll likely be using zmk which is harder to debug, with worse documentation and fewer resources. I've been using a wired lily58 recently and it's been quite easy to work with. I would recommend a wired build personally.
Also, this is subjective, but I found the pinky stagger on the lily to be not enough, so I'm building a chocofi shortly. Although you have the experience with your ergodox so maybe more pinky travel isn't something with any appeal to you lol
This is excellent information. I think you have sold me on the Sofle. I want to use the encoders for scrolling and volume/muting video calls. I am more curious than anything.
Curious, what do mean regarding the rotary encoders and the lily58 getting it right?
Lily58 has regular keys in those spots by default (I think they're
[and]), which is more straightforwardly useful than the rotary encoders. There are surely some great uses for the encoders, but I have yet to discover themVolume! And zooming, I guess? I have a Q1 and the knob being closer to the thumbs makes a lot more sense to me than having to reach up to the upper right corner of the board.