How do you do per-key RGB lighting on a Shift V2?
I saw the online configurator that lets you do this on the Shift V1, where it spits out a compiled firmware file to flash. The V2 doesn't seem to have this function in the Windows configurator, though. I can't imagine the answer here is "you're going to have to manually write the hex for every key in QMK, compile it, and flash that".
Apr 18, 2024
Would I want to put O-rings on it, or is the bottom-out weight sufficiently heavy? What's the deal with the pinging someone mentioned below? I love everything but the weight of the green switches on my current board, and haven't experienced any shine on the caps or anything like that.
In the morning I find the switches a bit heavy, but as my hands warm up they feel the right combination of sturdy/responsive.
I literally bought the Code Keyboard because of the Clears.
The new Ducky Shine 5 does let you decide which key is going to be the function key, which I really appreciate. I would probably use the right Alt key, or maybe the right Windows key, because I do like to have the Menu key around (I know, I'm weird that way). But there's no way to just have a standard bottom row as far as I can tell; one of them has to be a function key. Also, it appears to use the actual LED for the Caps, Num and ScrLk keys as the indicator light...which I absolutely cannot stand. It looks just awful to me. This is my primary beef with my current keyboard (1st gen GMMK); the Windows key is unilluminated when the key is active.
All that being said, I'm glad you're happy with your new keyboard. :) I know everyone's priorities are different. Unfortunately it seems like the things that drove me to the Code years ago are all basically still really good arguments for getting another Code. And I appreciate you making the recommendation even if it's not a good choice for me.
This is exactly what I'm looking for in a home keyboard, since this is basically what I have to use when I'm at work. The issue is that now I'm starting to wonder if I wouldn't be wiser simply spending $20 on the same Dell membrane keyboard rather than $140 on a keyboard that basically just gives me backlighting and the bragging rights of owning yet another mechanical keyboard, but at seven times the price... :/
The only keeb I won't have with clears will be the zeal pcb with LEDs I picked up a while back - where I'm waiting on some zealios switches since they don't make cherry clear with clear bases. The irony! :(
Source for dip switch settings ^
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2738
Product listing showing dip switches ^
I love to see more option, because I'm myself in the market for a full size clears w/o Fn.
The Ducky One with white backlight and clear keys has been on my desk for about a week.
DIP switches 1-3 allow you to select any of the bottom row modifier keys to be Fn. It can even disable the Fn key altogether and allow all seven keys to be standard, but of course you'd lose access to changing the backlight and other special features.
I am very disappointed to report that the keyboard does NOT include an extra "Menu" key in the box. I have seen Ducky unboxing videos where there was one, but the specific version of the specific board I have does not have one. I have confirmed with mechanical keyboards dot com that this is normal. I might email Ducky directly and chew them out but I'm not expecting anything to come of it.
Fortunately, the Vortex POM/PBT keycap set I recently received has a Menu key which is almost a dead ringer for what Ducky should have included (same font, same height, slightly thicker weight). The problem with this is that, of course, I had plans for those caps and $30+ is a high price to pay for a single cap that is almost, but not quite, the right match.
Despite all this, I really like the keyboard. My current configuration is the borrowed cap on the Menu key and the Fn key taking over the Right Alt key. I didn't think I used that for anything, until I tried to back up five seconds in VLC, and realized I totally did. :/ I suppose I could use the Right Win key, since I don't have a lot of reasons to lock (Win-L) my personal computer. I really hate that Fn has to replace one of the standard keys. I have a use for pretty much all of them (even if the only thing I think I really use Right Ctrl for is copying with Ctrl-Ins).
At this point, I'm rambling, so let me be specific. We are referring to this keyboard: https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2738
This keyboard allows you to choose which of the seven bottom row modifiers is to be replaced with Fn (including none of them). There is no matching "Menu" key in the box, which is a disappointment. If you have a Vortex PBT/POM set lying around, the Menu key is almost a perfect substitute. I am disappointed by the lack of replacement key but like the board otherwise. Mechanical keyboards are a fraught hobby. I think this is a very decent choice at $115.
And that's about it.
I am currently using 110. You could leave the key caps as they are with all three DIP switches on 1 with the Fn cap serving as the Menu key...and temporarily flip switches 1, 2, or 3 to assign Fn to LtCtrl, LtWin, or RtAlt to change the lighting (or other function) settings. This doesn't require unplugging the keyboard or anything, the changes happen immediately.