Keychron keyboard discussion

[transmaster]

My daughter says she just got a Keychron at work - she likes the feel and audible feedback from the switches. Her work computer is a Windows box and she decided she needed to swap out the Mac keys for the ones intended for a windows machine.

The Keyboard comes with the Windows key caps.

 

[IvyKing]

The Keyboard comes with the Windows key caps.

She said that she used the provided key caps (and tool) to make the change to the Windows layout. It didn't sound like it was a big deal to her to have to make the change.

 

[transmaster]

She said that she used the provided key caps (and tool) to make the change to the Windows layout. It didn't sound like it was a big deal to her to have to make the change.

The Keychorn keycap tools is a good one. for the switches, get the V2 version Gateron switch removal tool.

 

[transmaster]

I have the Beego keyboard cover. I LOVE IT!!!!! It fits completely over the keyboard, resting on the desktop. And there is also room for your mouse if you have a 96% or smaller keyboard. There is only one easy-to-fix issue. If you have one of the Keychron's with the control knob. The height at the back of the keyboard to the top of the regular keys is 38mm, and to the top of the control knob is 46mm. The cover just rests on top of the control knob, holding the cover a couple of mm above the desktop on the right side of my keyboard. I made up a spacer to elevate the back about 6mm.

 

[Wheel_D]

One of the bigger issues was getting add-ons for the browser. I never did like their method for changing themes and colors; to me, it was very clumsy. But a user has a ton of features to set, and today the browser is much better than many offerings on the market.

Vivaldi has at least one significant shortcoming worth noting. I prefer to put the Mac to sleep rather than powering off completely, and I usually leave the browser open. After several sleep-wake cycles--say, between five and ten--Vivaldi becomes unstable, necessitating a browser restart. (You'll know it when you have trouble closing a tab.) An overnight sleep-wake cycle will also affect Vivaldi's ability to display the day's browsing history; it can't seem to do so without a restart.

Also, for effective ad blocking, you'll likely have better results with an extension or app than with Vivaldi's built-in functionality.

 

[transmaster]

Vivaldi has at least one significant shortcoming worth noting. I prefer to put the Mac to sleep rather than powering off completely, and I usually leave the browser open. After several sleep-wake cycles--say, between five and ten--Vivaldi becomes unstable, necessitating a browser restart. (You'll know it when you have trouble closing a tab.) An overnight sleep-wake cycle will also affect Vivaldi's ability to display the day's browsing history; it can't seem to do so without a restart.

Also, if you want to block ads, you'll probably have better results with an extension or app than with Vivaldi's built-in functionality.

I never shut down my computers. I let them handle their power state themselves.

 

[Wheel_D]

I never shut down my computers. I let them handle their power state themselves.

It's likely the same caveats will apply.

 

[transmaster]

For the first time, I dropped some clean but well-used keycaps into an ultrasonic cleaner. I was amazed at how dirty they actually were. I have decided to add ultrasonic keycap cleaning to my regular maintenance. Ultrasonic cleaners are not expensive; check them out on Amazon. Amazon, because of the reviews. The Amazon Choice is a Vevor 6L Commercial. This one is so much better than the one I have, which is several years old. I am looking at the cleaning solutions, and they have several with an anti-bacterial enzyme.

 

[transmaster]

Checked it out, and you can clean switches with an ultrasonic cleaner. There are several electronic Ultrasonic cleaning solutions available. The threads discussing this say that ultrasonic cleaning removes all the lubricant, and this needs to be replaced to protect the switching contacts. Not sure how this would work with an HE switch.

 

[transmaster]

I have a new wired RGB trackball/mouse on the way, the PORLEI, which is a copy of the Logi MAX Ergo S. It costs $22. I needed a wired mouse for my mini PC, which I rarely use. I tried logging in, but it had a big update and was no longer paired with my Ergo. I couldn’t find my wired mouse for this PC. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the Ergo. The trackball is available in several colors

 

[transmaster]

I have a new wired RGB trackball/mouse on the way, the PORLEI, which is a copy of the Logi MAX Ergo S. It costs $22. I needed a wired mouse for my mini PC, which I rarely use. I tried logging in, but it had a big update and was no longer paired with my Ergo. I couldn’t find my wired mouse for this PC. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the Ergo. The trackball is available in several colors

View attachment 2630832

This is a really good cheap trackball. No Bluetooth hard wired. It reminds me of early Logitech hard wired M570. There are only 3 con’s. The trackball on the Mini PC is real twitchy, that can be adjusted in the settings. The palm rest part is slippery. And it does not have the angle adjustment of the Logi Ergo trackball. I specifically got it because it was hardwired, as I said above I needed a hardwired mouse to access the PC after a big upgrade and the Ergo is no longer paired. The Ergo is setup to pair with 2 computers with a push button on top.

The new Keychron is working great, the little PC sits right right next to the Mac Studio and I just plug it in. This is so much easier than wireless pairing.

 

[xraydoc]

This is a really good cheap trackball. No Bluetooth hard wired. It reminds me of early Logitech hard wired M570. There are only 3 con’s. The trackball on the Mini PC is real twitchy, that can be adjusted in the settings. The palm rest part is slippery. And it does not have the angle adjustment of the Logi Ergo trackball. I specifically got it because it was hardwired, as I said above I needed a hardwired mouse to access the PC after a big upgrade and the Ergo is no longer paired. The Ergo is setup to pair with 2 computers with a push button on top.

The new Keychron is working great, the little PC sits right right next to the Mac Studio and I just plug it in. This is so much easier than wireless pairing.

I have a Ploopy Adept trackball, and while I don't use it that much, it's pretty slick.

Whole thing is open source and 3D printed. Also fully supported by VIA so configuring buttons with macros and other features is a breeze (and requires no special drivers to be installed on your Mac).

And made in Canada, if that matters to anyone.

 

[transmaster]

The Ploopy Adept reminds me of the old IBM Trackpoint c.1990.