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
(No hurry, obviously, since it’ll be quite some time before I need to have a device upon which to attach my fancy Scrabble keycaps!)
My first mechanical keyboard was the CODE keyboard made by WASD Keyboards, and I've been really pleased with it. It uses Cherry MX switches, which are compatible with these keycaps. They also make the "Mechanical Keyboard" (creative name, huh?) that's basically the same but without backlighting. They offer a barebones version of it without keycaps: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/mechanical-keyboard/wasd-v2-104-key-barebones-mechanical-keyboard-1251.html
You'll have to pick the type of switch, which completely changes how it feels to type on the keyboard. Since you like the Model M, you probably want either Blue or Green switches. If you want something similar but a little less noisy, maybe get Clear switches (which I've got in my CODE keyboard). It's really hard to pick a switch without being able to try them first. In an ideal world, a friend or coworker has a keyboard you can borrow for a few days. I already owned a Model M and had used a keyboard with Blue switches: I knew I didn't want one as loud as either of those. Based on that and checking out videos and forum/blog posts, I made a lucky guess that I might like Clear switches.
There are cheaper keyboards with MX-compatible switches, as well, but I'm not aware of any other barebones boards.
Watch out, though, mechanical keyboards have a nasty habit of multiplying and it can really drain the wallet.
So far the only modern mechanical keyboard I’ve tried is one they have set up at my local Target, a Razer something-or-other that I didn’t look too closely at, but it wasn’t nearly as loud as I imagined it would be. (It also had some sort of hyperactive backlighting that should probably have an epilepsy warning on it – the salesguy said you could adjust the backlighting to your pleasure, though.) I tend to spend more time on new hobbies than money, and I’ve justified this purchase by asserting that I’m never going to have to buy a keyboard again, but I can already tell this is a dangerous interest. But if you’re going to use something all day every day, shouldn’t it be the best it can be? Decisions, decisions!
If you don't have access to different mechanical keyboards to test out different switch types, I highly recommend a switch tester. While not the same as typing on a full keyboard, it does give you an opportunity to compare the feel and sound of different switch types. Various testers are available periodically on Massdrop, and you can find them elsewhere too.