I thought a fun little Xmas project would be to add a virtual numeric keypad to a ten-keyless keyboard. In my case, the DROP CTRL. But it should work with any 87 or 88 key keyboard (i.e., has the insert/delete/.../PgDn cluster and cursor keys). I chose a TKL over a full width keyboard because I don't need the numpad all that much and having it there pushes my mouse too far to the right to my taste. Should I really need a numpad for a few hours, I'd use a different keyboard. If I should ever need one very often, I'd get a separate numpad so I can put it whereever I want. But... there are times where this is overkill and it's still nice to be able to type numbers a bit more easily than using the number row. I'm a pretty good touch typist but using the number row is still a bit too error prone. Especially when copying numbers from paper or another window so you're not looking at what you're typing. Ok, so what's the deal? Simple: create a layer with the following key...

Figure 1: Nope, not a single one of these is necessarily better than the rest... For no particular reason, I’ve been spending more and more time over the past few months in and around various mechanical keyboard help forums and servers. Despite having never really relied on their services back in my day when I first joined the hobby, I can kind of understand the appeal of them to new and curious enthusiasts as they generally seem like go-to places to connect with people who know a thing or two about keyboards. What I cannot wrap my mind around, however, is the sheer number of times that the exact same comments, questions, or concerns that get raised by the newer hobbyists get repeated. Even with FAQ or pinned set of questions, people seemingly only seem to think about and/or be concerned about the exact same set of things when it comes to their first keyboards. One of these types of questions that I find particularly concerning are those that are directly or indirectly...

Prototype QFRL100 by Thebloodyez with GMK ZX "It's just a keyboard." My Friends, Kate and Jaime’s Expressions After I Explained to Them That There Was Such a Thing as a Keyboard Hobby Many of us have heard this, either stated to us directly by a quizzical individual wondering why on earth we’d find our hobby interesting or as part of someone else’s conversation that we happened to have overheard. While there are certainly less mainstream hobbies than mechanical keyboards, it’s definitely not a common hobby, and it makes sense that those that aren’t in the hobby may not understand “what the point” of having a mechanical keyboard would be. While those same people may still not truly “get it,” even after attempting to explain to them what makes our hobby enjoyable, at least you’ll have introduced them to the hobby, and sometimes a glimmer of curiosity is all that it takes before they start their journey to become a keyboard enthusiast! Especially since it’s the...

Everyone has to start somewhere, and I started here. I've done my share of pre-built KBs and as I'm sure many of us here have noticed none are perfect. The keycaps are good but the keys are flaccid. The keys are good but the backboard is iffy. Building a full board is something I look forward to typing on. A combination of lubed Panda keys and dual-injection MT3 caps provide a muted feedback that's like laying back in a broken-in leather couch. The only downside being it doesn't want for rapid typing. The key cap design requires more "lift" than a flatter key, and the keys while fluid seem...laggy. overall a solid 4/5 overall.