10mo ago

Updated Qazimodo prototypes arrived this week!

Made some design updates based on feedback I received from a couple fellow keyboard designers and I just received the first two prototypes this week. Super happy with how they turned out.

More photos here.

29 comments

Looks funny and elegant, but typing appears to be a nightmare on this layout.
- The joke of this board is that the "QAZ" layout is not uncommon in "40%" and smaller keyboard, but leaves the user with extra keycaps. Most folks who would try using this board would configure it so that "Esc," "Tab,", and left "Shift" do Q, A, and Z respectively. The whimsical keys on the right would be for macros, navigation, or whatever the individual prefers, though IIRC @cloffwrangler@lemmy.world tried it with them mapped to the letters, like the mad lad he is. :-)
  
  Haha you are correct, I have used it with QAZ on the right side.
- It’s very ergonomic, I swear.
- No numbers, important keys shoved out of reach.... OP expects you to bind OTHER IMPORTANT KEYS LIKE ESC/TAB/SHIFT TO BE BOUND TO Q in order to function.....
  Might as well just grab a macropad at this point. You'll almost never use the keys for one thing anyways and you'll be doing Ctrl+/Fn+ combos constantly(except you don't even have those buttons, so what are you making combos out of anyways?).
  I wouldn't even use this for an emulator. WASD is completely borked and the buttons you'd bind them to instead would then be lost as well and those need to be rebound too. A controller is more useful than this ever would be.
  
  Does this mean you won’t be joining the GB?
WERTY layout????
- It’s my daily driver. I was using the original prototype up until this one was delivered. Same layout, just a slightly different case design.
Damn it, why do I want it so bad??
I am curious about the layout. Why is it like this?
- My friend always says my Vault 35 doesn’t have enough keys so I made this layout on Keyboard Layout Editor as a joke and then he said I should make it a real keyboard and then I posted it on the 40s discord and they said I should make it a real keyboard and next thing I knew I was making 3d printed prototypes and shopping for manufacturers.
  
  Oh no!
- Not OP. I guess that it is for someone missing a finger on their left hand
Oh, this chonky boy is gorgeous ! I especially love the QAZ placement.
- Thank you!
Why QAZ? Aren't your brain looks for those keys on the left side?
I always found the idea of small keyboards peculiar; I always wanted MORE keys. Could you explain the idea?
- The QAZ keys on the right is a joke. This keyboard layout is called a QAZ/35% layout, where the Q, A, and Z keys are gone. The Esc, Tab, and Shift keys on the left side default to typing Q, A, and Z respectively, with further keys hidden behind chords and layers.
  I believe OP is making this keyboard as a response to someone's reaction to the QAZ board, right here on Lemmy.
  To answer your question, many people prefer smaller keyboards mainly because 1. they're gamers and want more space for their mouse, and 2. smaller keyboards minimize hand movements and therefore are more ergonomic.
  
  Smaller keyboards are also more easy to take with you!
- I first got into 40s because I wanted more free desk space and then I moved to a 35%. My friend always said my 35 didn’t have enough keys so I designed this layout as a joke but enough people liked it that I decided to actually make it.
  In my default layout, QAZ are mapped to Esc, Tab, Shift and I use the keys on the right for macros.
I absolutely don’t need (nor can I afford) another QAZ but this is just too good and I must have it 🤤
so insane

29 comments