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 was really hoping that this keyboard would be the perfect TKL, with all the options that were in the description. This would be my second major keyboard purchase, the first being the whitefox. When I first got the keyboard, it was very stunning and it appears to be well built. It would also be my first hot swapable switch keyboard, which was neat and it had these crazy RGB options. I'm okay with a board with no RGB, but I just consider it a bonus.
Upon inspecting the board, I already noticed that a screw was missing. I immediately took pictures and hit up customer service with massdrop. They were quick to respond and the only option was either get a new board or refunded some of the money for the missing screw. I kinda liked the fact that my keyboard was a double digit number, so I decided to keep the board and take the money. I asked if they knew the type of screw the board used, they had no clue and to check any hardware store. I tried to no avail, so missing screw it is.
Besides all that, the typing experience was great. I got cherry browns and I much enjoyed typing on the keyboard. It also worked very well for games and adding my own pbt keycaps just made it better. Sure the color was a bit off, but that didn't matter to me much.
While typing on the board was great, there were some downsides. One being like everyone mentioned about the color resetting after unplugging from the usb. But that is remedied by setting the layer to the RGB style of your choice. I was too lazy to have to go through all that just to keep the pattern I had. It was much easier to just hammer through the options and then stop at what I had before. Another problem was how the keyboard stopped responding randomly. I had it plugged into a powered usb hub to ensure it has more than enough juice to power everything. The lights stayed on, but key strokes did not register. It was a pain when it happened and the only way to fix it was to unplug the board and replug it in with the hopes it would work again. Most of the time it did, once in a while I'd have to unplug and replug once or twice before it started working again. Then select the RGB of my choice again.
Those minor problems was enough to switch back to my logitech pro keyboard for a bit. During that time period I just bought a LE poker 3 RGB, with the frosted white boarder like the ctrl keyboard. I kinda admit, I'm kinda more happy with that than the ctrl keyboard.
Overall , it's not a bad board. It just has some shortcomings that lead me to look elsewhere for a daily driver. Would I buy it again? Not sure, it's tough to say. I do appreciate it for what it is though.