What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
I'm actually typing this review on my second CTRL keyboard. The first (which was serial no. 12 /cry) had a dead, red LED in front of the space bar. This one (serial no. 84) is perfect, barring the apparently universally missing "LED Toggle Only modifier" mode...which to be honest, I'd likely never use anyway. Yeah, it's still the lighter case color when I wanted that dark charcoal shown in the renders, but it's still a nice color, and it's been growing on me. It also color matches rather well with my gray anodized Max Keyboard Falcon 8, so there's that.
Build quality feels solid, PBT keycaps have an interesting "sandy" feel - although HOW sandy is very inconsistent from key to key. Still, not a dealbreaker, especially if you don't plan to use the provided keycaps. I personally love the look of the legends - particularly the modifiers. Enough so that I am leaving the supplied keycaps on for now.
I did replace my ESC key with a Hammer Fidget Spinner Artisan keycap in Splaser, which is translucent pink/purple. If Massdrop sells it again and you use the rainbow scrolling LED option on this keyboard, BUY ONE. Seriously. The color changes that the base and spinner go through are just freaking AWESOME. It's also a surprisingly entertaining keycap, and I was never into fidget spinners.
I knocked one star for the much lighter color (vs. render) and the inconsistent texture of the keycaps. If I'd ordered it knowing it'd be the color it is (instead of getting a rather unhappy surprise), I'd give the keyboard a 4.7 (minus .3 for the keycap texture variations).
As always, Massdrop support was top notch (thanks, Dave R.!).