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
- This is what you should try to search for: "侧刻透光键帽". Google Translate translates it to: "side translucent engraved keycaps", and the search results more or less match what you search for. Searching for this alone will yield many results that are basically just the keycaps of this drop. You can try adding "PBT" to it, but you'll still have trouble finding the keycaps (at least for me). Link to search: https://www.taobao.com/article/CmDHGiC-FnEsDADC.html (I haven't looked through the results yet b/c I just figured out the translation)
- Here's a link to the same ABS keycaps being sold in this drop, but with an extra option of light gray (and has a Windows logo instead of a star): https://world.taobao.com/item/528430628214.htm
- Looking through the related items, I found this: https://world.taobao.com/item/529788365996.htm This advertises itself as being "PBT", but I have no way of confirming that. (Also, I kind of doubt they are PBT b/c (a) they look the same, (b) the price is the same)
- I thought I might as well include a search index where I found the results above: https://www.taobao.com/article/ByAgEQBQG6DdA9AJ.html I only flipped to page 9, and will probably continue after I finish posting this. However, I haven't found any definitive side-lit PBT keycaps. This may be due to the fact that I am largely relying on pictures, as my Chinese is weak.
- BTW, the brand of the PBT side-lit keycaps someone got was "CMany" (or "IKBC" according to https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/4bn7yr/euger_h_ansi_104set_pbt_green_keycaps_tai_hao/) and the exact Chinese text on the box was "科曼尼机械键帽PBT双色成型透光键帽 " (image on page 2 by "wontonotnow").
- So, if you want to get these while the drop is inactive, and you don't know how to use Taobao (or just prefer Aliexpress): http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Mechanical-keyboard-keyboarded-personality-translucidus-keyboarded-abs-black-translucidus-keycaps-104-key-87-key-68/32682519686.html. These have hearts instead of the Windows logos <3 (added with EDIT 2)
- Extra: "1976" side-printed PBT keycaps: https://world.taobao.com/item/533231728263.htm (I thought these were pretty cool. I always digged the color scheme, but I'm a cheapskate, and Signature Plastics stuff is too expensive for me :P)
I will probably make another post if I find anything good. Please reply if you have any extra information for me.
EDIT: corrected page number, added username, corrected "exact Chinese text", noticed the logo difference EDIT 2: unfortunately, I have not been able to find a PBT version :( ...added link to Aliexpress