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
My first impressions: - Looks good so far, though some of the keys have a shine to it on the surface (no parcitular pattern here, every key has a different reflection). Not sure if that will fade, these are my first dye-sublimated caps. See pictures below.
- The homing keys are pretty difficult to find, but I might get used to it.
- The sound on my Novatouch is the best I've had so far (compared to stock keycaps, thick pbt gradient keycaps, cheap tai-hao keycaps, thick blank pbt keycaps from aliexpress). Even the spacebar creates a fairly deep sound.
- The colors are pretty much what I expected, I like them. The orange on the bauhaus set does pop more than the blue green and red, and as explained by Miito they weren't initially created to fit in with those.
- My backspace key is crooked. Not sure if that's the key itself or my Novatouch to blame, will investigate further.
I will just drop tons of pictures in here as I'm sure people who are waiting can't get enough samples of what to expect. Notice the shine pattern on the left orange shift key, and it not being uniform across all keys.
The pictures are under different lighting conditions. Some are taken with sunlight, some with direct artificial light, and some with indirect artificial light.
Sunlight
Crooked backspace key
Different shine patterns, artificial overhead lighting
Bauhaus set installed, artificial direct lighting
Artificial indirect lighting
Profile shot
Overall I rate the caps a solid 9/10, and the fulfillment with delays a 4/10. Not sure if a 15$ discount makes up for it. But in the end I'd rather have nice keycaps and wait a couple of months, than have crappy keycaps within 2 months, given that I already payed the hefty price for them.
I can't wait to get my hands on the bauhaus icon set!
My jury is still out on what I will do with these anyway. I like the texture and font a lot but I'm not sure I like typing with them (kinda critical). It probably has more to do with the height of my desk than anything but the num row on my Pok3r seems far away.
I also just got a set of SA 1965 and those feel like they jump up to meet my fingers but are a lot louder and don't have any texture.
Nice problems to have though. :)