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kc9hzn

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jun 18, 2020
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2,194
For a bit of background, I usually bring a Happy Hacking Keyboard (the Pro Hybrid Type-S) with me to work and use it for work from home on my work from home days. While I’m not totally sold on Topre, I’m quite fond of how quiet the keys are and the general layout. I plan on using this keyboard for the time being.

But the issue is with upcoming holiday travel. The keyboard, wrist rest, dust cover, and hard case are pretty chunky. Not so chunky that I can’t stand to bring it to work with me, but chunky enough that I’d rather not travel with it. So I’m looking for a slimmer profile keyboard that would be easier to travel with.

Here are my requirements:
• macOS/iOS and Windows support (being able to switch the alt and command keys, for instance)
• 60 percent layout
• Comfortable key switches (at least, better than most PC laptops, I probably don’t need particularly silent key switches, though)
• key customization in firmware (I won’t be able to run custom keyboard software on my work issued laptop, so I need a keyboard that can be reprogrammed at the firmware level, like the HHKB)
• Slim profile (doesn’t have to be Apple external keyboard thin, but thinner than my HHKB with its accessories and case)

And some nice to haves:
• HHKB layout, or close approximation, or able to be reprogrammed as such (particularly control key and backspace key, which are the two I have the most trouble with switching back to standard keyboards)
• Sub $100 USD (won’t replace my HHKB as my primary keyboard, so I don’t want to invest too much into it)
• Bluetooth and wired connection
• mechanical or Topre switches (I don’t need particularly nice switches, but I do need switches that have some degree of tactility, I can’t stand the keyboards at the office because of how mushy and spongy they are and how little feedback they give)
• HHKB style arrow keys, actual arrow keys, or an inverted T Fn layer (I’m quite used to navigation on the HHKB, but the keyboard I used before the HHKB had an Fn layer where Right Alt was the left key, Context Menu was the down key, Right Control was the right key, and ?/ was the up key, which was pretty nice, except for needing to press Fn to enter a backslash for UNIX paths)
 
Not a bad option, I used a keyboard with Gateron Brown switches before buying the HHKB, and I didn’t realize that there were low profile Gateron switches. I prefer MX Blue (it looks like the one with low profile Gateron Blue switches is out of stock) to MX Brown, but beggars can’t be choosers!

Personally, I do prefer a 60% keyboard, as I rarely need F keys and don’t mind using the Fn+Number combo for F keys in order to have a smaller board. That said, the 75% layout does minimize the need for reprogramming layers. Looks like Keychron does have some low profile 60%/65% options on their store, as well, and they can be reprogrammed with QMK.
 
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