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 own experience with the different weighted Realforce keyboards and the 45g Novatouch has been of disappointment and resentment. The keyboard's are well made there is no question about that. Though the major problem with the capacitive switch is the impact against the metal plate when bottoming out the key. I can stand about 10 to 20 minutes general typing on RF/Nova keyboards before my fingers start hurting. The pain itself is similar to using a Cherry MX red, blues, blacks, and reds when bottoming out the keys, but is more is more snappy and sudden due to the key not being a linear switch like the cherry mx keys. The best description of the feeling for those who haven't typed on a topre is it's like playing a grand piano or a piano in general. You over-come the initial inertia then key continues on a effortless distance until it bottoms out.
It also worth pointing out, that where with a cherry mx brown's, and blue's you have the ability after some practice not to bottom out the key and reach the actuation point and lift your finger (This is somewhat helped because the switch is linear in nature). You really don't have the ability to do the same with a Topre key switch, its kind of all or nothing baby. So you're going to bottom out if you like it or not. You can install O-rings and padding onto Real Force/Nova touch keyboards though for the price tag, why bother? If the shoe doesn't fit find another shoe!
For the past two months my daily driver is the RC930 Gen1. Granted there is a slight scratchy sound, that I hardly pay attention to it (Some people hate it some love it, I don't care). The build quality is good but about 90% of the RF or Novatouch. Granted to say the slider smoothness is less and could be worked on compared to the RF and the Novatouch. The tactile bump at the start of the key stroke is not as pronounced as the RF/Nova. The Tolerance of the actuation point is only -+ 5 compared to RF -+ 15. So in my mind you're getting a closer to the advertise key weighting of the board!
The best thing about the RC930!! NO FINGER PAIN or discomfort. Yes the RF, and Novatouch keyboards are well built but what use are they if they're sitting on the bench behind me collecting dust over the past 2 months? I occasionally pull them out and type on them but still go back to the RC930 after a couple of minutes.
As a side note, after I sell my Nova/RF on ebay over the next couple of weeks I will be ordering another RC930.
P.S. I did also purchase the Plum84 35g Topre Clone keyboard too. I don't use it as my daily driver due to the fact that it is more suited to typist than general computer usage. My bread and butter is Web/C/C++ development work with databases and Linux administration. For my taste I found the 35g Plum to be too light for what I needed during the day. Though when writing large reports and documentation I would rather to type on the plum84 due to the keyboard being soo effortless and after two minutes it feels like it isn't even there!
(And again -- not bashing Topre in any way, just pointing out that the RC930 happened to work out better for me.)