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
- The PCB is a hot-swap socket but only allows for 3-pin switches.
- The stock stabilizers are at best terrible.
- Case has a lot of hollow/pingy noise when you type.
- The RGB lights per key are north facing-- which I guess could be seen as fine since the design/marketing choice was to have this primarily as a light up RGB board.
- The configurator Drop provides to program the board is limiting and doesn't matter since you would need to re-flash every time you disconnected your keyboard.
The list can keep going on (i.e. keycaps but that's hugely subjective) but overall these were some of the issues with it. Since the launch of V2, a couple things have been changed. The hot-swap PCB now allows for 5-pin switches, the stock stabilizers are "upgraded" (more on this later) to their drop phantom stabs. Case noise should be reduced from all the foam they give out now and it only took maybe shy of half a decade but this thing is finally VIA capable. Although these changes are a great step in the right direction a couple of things still don't add up to have this board still be priced at $250. The new stabilizers for V2, look exactly the same as the one found from V1. The only difference is that the housing comes in white now. I can't see any improvements or really anything different from the previous versions stabs and the "new" drop phantom one. Great to see foam, but that isn't really such a huge upgrade, stupid-fish have already been providing great foam for the Shift. The update for Shift finally being VIA capable is something that is long overdue and should have been done years ago. So it's definitely weird seeing that as one of the big marketing points. When the Shift first came out years ago (still a bit pricey) it was almost a good deal and I really had high expectations for it as I am a fan of the 1800 layout and no one was really doing it back then. However, looking at the V2 and all the "updates" that were made, it is easy to say that you can pass on this board and not feel like you are missing out on anything. For the price point, there are boards everywhere that do it better right now. Something else to note, all the additions found in the V2 are 100% compatible with the V1. I was really excited about this prospect because I thought changing out the PCB and checking out the foam set would be something to look forward to. However, to my surprise the PCB and even the foam set were priced extremely high. Considering the biggest changes to the PCB were the addition of 5-pin switches and changing out the chipset (not even a wireless option!), it doesn't warrant that kind of pricing.