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Large Boards (Full-Size And Similar) And Why I Love Them

HubertTheMad

290

Keyboard Club Member

Feb 9, 2025122 VIEWS

Pikatea Long Boi

TL;DR:

Easy transition to mechanical/custom keyboards from outside of the hobby
Great way to get people into the hobby
Layout for almost every scenario you’d need a keyboard for
Not as common as other layouts, so they tend to garner more attention when released
Full-size layouts influence cool projects
I’d love to continue to see more $150-$350 offerings. CSTM100, perhaps?

Article Sections (CTRL + F To Jump To These Sections):

Intro (Why I Love Full-Size Boards)
Disclaimer
What IS a Full-Size Board?
Reason 1: Easy Transition Into Mechanical/Custom Keyboards
Reason 2: Bigger… Is Better?
Reason 3: The Keyboard Triangle And My Preferences
Aesthetics
Sound
Feel
My Wish(es) For Full-Size Offerings In Our Hobby
Conclusion

Intro: Okay - you got me. That picture of the Long Boi by Jack/Pikatea is not technically a full-size… But in terms of sheer size, it definitely would classify as one! Many of us started our typing journeys on a full-size keyboard. Personally, I remember taking Accelerated Reader tests on a computer with a full-size keyboard when I was in kindergarten. As I grew up, I was fortunate enough to have experienced middle school and high school with those colorful iMacs as well. My dad was a software engineer, so when I was at home, I was also around computers and full-size keyboards, playing those Arthur or Tonka PC games, or my favorite growing up - Disney Kitchen.

Raise your hand if you remember these during school. Courtesy of u/performancereviews on the r/VintageApple subreddit I never thought much about the keyboards themselves growing up, and until I became an adult, I didn’t even know that there were other layouts besides a full-size layout, and when I first started working, the office jobs and financial jobs that I had also had full-size keyboards. But that’s enough of a nostalgia trip for me for this article. The real reason I bring all this up is because, for the most part, we’ve been using full-sizes even without thinking about it. Whether it was during school or during work, at some point, we were introduced to the layout that the majority of keyboards in the world use! For some of us, when we got into the keyboard hobby, we tried to find a full-size one as well to start off with, because that’s what we were used to. But for the rest of us, we ended up going after other layouts from TKLs to 40%s. If you’re like me, however, things came full circle. Maybe it’s a nostalgia thing. Maybe it’s a work or school reason to want to have a full-size. Or maybe, it’s a little of both. No matter the reason, we still love full-size keyboards, and in this day and age, it seems like there’s been a resurgence with full-size customs being released more frequently than in years past. Before we (re)visit why we love full-size keyboards, let’s quickly touch on the disclaimer section of this article. Disclaimer:

QFRL100 prototype with GMK Sparta I’ll keep this short and sweet. These are my opinions and preferences, and it’s totally fine if you disagree with me or don’t like the same things I like! We don’t have to love the same things, and that’s what makes this hobby great. Please also know that I don’t get any sort of kickback or make any money off of any specific boards, designers, keycaps, or any items in general that I bring up in this article. No one’s paid me to talk about these items, no one’s told me what to say, and these are my honest thoughts. I don’t have any referral codes or get paid any sort of commission if you buy any of the items I talk about, even though I will link them on Drop when applicable if that’s where you can buy those items. Drop has given me an opportunity to write about absolutely anything and anything that I find useful when it comes to our hobby, but they don’t have any sort of editorial control or tell me what to say. I have complete freedom to write about whatever I want to, and I am truly grateful to Hoff for giving me that opportunity. So, thank you, Drop/Hoff! What IS a Full-Size Board?

ANSI full-size keyboard layout courtesy of Keyboard University Full-size keyboards have a function row (F1 through F13, print screen, scroll lock, pause), a numpad area, a navigation cluster (insert, home, page up, delete, end, page down), an arrow keys section, and the main portion of the keyboard, the alphas and mods. Some have one to four keys above the numpad area, such as the Keychron Q6 that I gave to my brother, while others have either engravings, blank space, or some type of aesthetic badge.

My brother’s Keychron Q6 with the first round of Cerakeys And that’s it! That’s what a full-size is. There are also variations that aren’t exactly full-size, such as the 1800 layout or a 96% layout, with those keyboards usually omitting some, or all of the nav cluster, or other changes to the traditional full-size layout. There are also keyboards that are also not full-sizes due to omitting the function row, like the QFRL100 from Thebloodyez that I’ve brought up in other articles, or some other variation like the Muramasa from Masjewerke.

QFRL100 winkeyless prototype with GMK Tribal, a “full-size” without a function row

Muramasa prototype with DCX Green Marble. No function row, basically an F107-esque layout While these may not be classified as actual full-size keyboards, they’re playful takes on the layout, and some individuals may like these designs more than actual full-sizes. That’s the great thing about full-sizes as well! They inspire other designs. Some designers put their own spin or tweak the standard full-size layout to meet their preferences. Maybe you don’t use a function row, but need a numpad and navigation cluster. Maybe you don’t use a function row or a nav cluster at all, so you enjoy something like the Petrichor by James/Alchemist Keyboards. But make no mistake. If you see a keyboard with a function row, navigation cluster, arrow keys area, numpad, and the usual alphas and mods “main” area of a keyboard, that’s a full-size. So, why do I love full-size keyboards? Let’s move on to the first reason. Reason 1: Easy Transition Into Mechanical/Custom Keyboards

One of the two that started it all for me. The G710+ My own personal mechanical keyboard journey started in 2017 with the first of two Logitech G710+ keyboards that I bought. The one above was modified by me a few months ago, but the original ones had Cherry MX Browns and Blues (yes, I loved the G710+ so much that I bought two of them). Without jumping too deep into the rabbit hole, I basically wanted a keyboard with a macro column in order to assign macros and keys for RuneScape. Specifically, whenever I trained my construction skill, my fingers got fatigued due to having to stretch and press various keys time and time again to build items and remove items. I thought that being able to have additional keys (that column to the left) would allow me to easily train construction. In hindsight, if I had gone further into the keyboard hobby at that time, I would’ve found out about QMK and wouldn’t have probably needed a full-size to play RuneScape, but we can’t change the past.

Keychron K5 with some random keycaps that I had years ago When I started buying keyboards that weren’t full-size layouts, many people who weren’t in the hobby asked me, “Where are the other keys?” or told me that they couldn’t imagine being able to use a keyboard that didn’t have all the keys. When learning something new, or joining a new hobby, it can be helpful to not feel overwhelmed if you find some common ground. Someone who’s used full-size keyboards for the majority of their life may want to dip their toes into the keyboard hobby by looking at other full-size offerings. Even if they’re OEMs or pre-built gaming keyboards that aren’t hot-swappable, it’s comfortable to use something you’ve used before in terms of layout.

This MSI keyboard was what my brother used to use, and when I asked him if he wanted to try a mechanical keyboard, he said, “Sure!” under one condition - The keyboard had to be a full-size. He didn’t want to have multiple keyboards, so he wanted a keyboard that he could do everything with (even after I explained to him layers, macros, and QMK/VIA) as well as something that he felt comfortable using. He didn’t want to learn a whole new layout as changing from a membrane to actual mechanical switches was a big enough switch for him.

The same thing occurred with my dad, allowing me to give him a modded Keychron C2 after using membranes for decades. Going from a membrane keyboard to a mechanical keyboard with tactile switches was a big enough step for him! I’d argue that out of all the layouts out there, those that aren’t in the hobby (and never want to be), or those that have just started their journey with mechanical keyboards probably feel more at home with a full-size layout. Okay, so it may be easier to transition into the keyboard hobby from the outside, and a full-size layout may result in someone not having to remap any of their keys, but what’s the next reason why I love full-size keyboards? The fact that they take up so much space! Reason 2: Bigger… Is Better?

Pikatea Long Boi (The SMALLER variant. Not the 7 foot 2/meter one!) This is EXTREMELY subjective, and I write this somewhat jokingly, but the sheer size of a full size (and, sometimes, how much they weigh) is definitely a selling point when it comes to full-size keyboards! And, again, I’m cheating a little here since the Long Boi isn’t exactly a full-size since the number row and function row aren’t present, but I just wanted to show you how comically large the SMALLER variant of the Long Boi was! At 29 inches, or 74 centimeters (roughly), if you don’t have much desk space, you probably wouldn’t buy this to actually use. However, the fact that full-size keyboards inherently take up more space than other traditional layouts, barring any uniquely designed boards, makes them aesthetically pleasing to me. They’re also slightly more ergonomic for me to use as well, as the distance between my shoulders is 24 inches or 61 centimeters, so even though I enjoy 60% boards, sometimes it isn't something I can stand for hours on end. Yes, the actual alpha and modifier sections of keyboards don’t change, but especially for work where I require a numpad, it definitely feels better for me to use a longer board. And when gaming, while I tend to use WASD with my left hand and my mouse with my right, there have been gaming situations where I’m thankful that I can remap my numpad area to function as arrow keys like some numpads used to be when not having num lock on. But I won’t lie and say that it’s mainly due to ergonomics. It may be a bit childish, but there’s just something that makes me inherently happy when I use a full-size keyboard (or similar). Innuendos and jokes aside, a larger, heavier, or longer slab of aluminum or plastic, especially if it’s a variation or a play on the full-size layout without being an actual full-size not only can be more aesthetically pleasing to me, but it’s just… “fun”! Since those that aren’t in the hobby will automatically be curious if a board doesn’t look like your standard membrane keyboard, or even an OEM, if you bring your board to work (or use it among those that aren’t keyboard hobbyists), it’s a great conversation starter.

Size (and length) comparison between the Long Boi and Muramasa. Not exactly full-size layouts, but just an example of how absurdly long the Long Boi is Yes, for the most part, we only look at the top of our keyboard when typing, but there have been many a conversation that I’ve had thanks to a side or back design of a full-size keyboard, a specific color or finish, weight (as in, “Wow, this is heavy!”) and so on. Especially with boards like the Long Boi, QFRL100 and Muramasa, which aren’t full-size, but a take on the full-size layout, as those boards definitely aren’t using a layout that many have seen before. Maybe it’s the same reason why things like large statues, monuments, giant battleships, and space shuttles make me happy. There’s something about being over-the-top, especially when it comes to layouts that were inspired by a full-size to be fun like the three boards I just mentioned, that I enjoy. Memes and jokes aside, it’s also somewhat risky to design full-size keyboards that aren’t mass-produced like OEMs. We see many 60%, 65%, and TKL offerings, and while the market may be full of similarly-designed keyboards, it’s also relatively safe to design those layouts since most of them sell like hotcakes since that’s what the majority of the hobby uses in terms of layouts. But I’ll get into that later in the “My Wish(es) For Full-Size Offerings In Our Hobby” section. Let’s get to my next reason why I love full-size keyboards - The Keyboard Triangle. Reason 3: The Keyboard Triangle And My Preferences

My second of the two G710+ keyboards that got me into the hobby. Shined away the QWER and ASDF keys long ago Please know that these are just general opinions. Of course, not every full-size or similarly-designed layout will look the same, sound the same, or feel the same, so take this with a grain of salt as there are always exceptions to the rule. Based on the full-size keyboards that I have personally typed on, however, I did make a few generalities and why I love full-sizes when it comes to the keyboard triangle. Aesthetics Since you have a larger keyboard to work with in general, you have an opportunity to add some unique design features to a full-size that you may not have been able to with smaller layouts or they may not be as pronounced on smaller layouts. Does a full-size need some kind of fancy-schmancy engraving or internal/external weight? Nope. I’ve referenced the Keychron Q6 and C2 in this article, and neither of them has engravings or weights. If someone simply likes the classic externals of those two boards, that’s totally fine. I get it! And, sure, it’ll help with costs if there aren’t those features on a full-size. I’m just saying that with a larger canvas, a designer has more room to play if they choose to do so. Again, this is not an advertisement for any of these four boards, just examples of what I’m talking about. The Bina103 had an engraving on the top right of the top case, which wasn’t necessarily why I loved the look of the keyboard, but the fact that it had a cool-looking through weight was something that I really liked.

Bina103 Geekhack link The Fossil from Carolina Mech also had something similar. An external weight of a fossilized dinosaur.

Fossil full-size Geekhack link The same goes for the Pangea and my most recent full-size group buy purchase of the Seal (to give to my brother so he can swap between the Seal and the Q6). You’ve got an enormous back area to do something fun with a weight or an engraving which can really be a prominent talking point when it comes to full-size aesthetics.

Pangea Geekhack link

Seal Geekhack link Yup, you’re absolutely right. You can’t see the bottom of your keyboard when typing, but others have opposite views as well. Heck, I can’t see the back of the Migra TKL when typing, but that doesn’t diminish my love of the board’s aesthetic one bit. Speaking of bottoms and weights, however, let’s move on to sound. Sound I have more experience with aluminum full-size (or similar) boards, and the only plastic full-size or similar boards that I’ve used are my two G710+s, the Keychron C2 that I modded for my dad, the multitude of membrane and generic OEM full-sizes and the Long Boi, so I’m not an expert by any means for plastic full-size keyboards. For aluminum full-size or similar boards, however, due to the actual length and weight of those boards, when you talk about acoustics, they don’t really tend to “need” an internal weight, let alone an external weight to sound “good” for the most part. I put “good” and “need” in quotations as it’s ultimately up to the designer and what they think looks and/or sounds best, but from my experience, internal or external weights aren’t needed as much as other layouts may need them. Again, this is just a general statement from testing removing internal weights and external weights and having boards without one of the two or none of the two. You typically get a deeper sound signature from full-size boards as well as opposed to smaller boards, but we all know that there are many factors when it comes to sound, so it’s always going to be a combination of not only layout or size, but mounting style, case material(s), one or two-piece case assemblies and so on (not even taking into consideration keycaps, switches, plates, typing surface and so on). You can, of course, still get a loud sound from a full-size, and I love my Muramasa and QFRL100’s sound signatures (yes, yes, not full-sizes but similar), but due to full-size keyboards having more space in general, unless there’s too much space (which can lead to a lot of reverb, which is why some designers do choose to include internal weights), you do get a deeper sound signature and a louder sound, generally. Have a listen to my QFRL100 (function row-less full-size) and/or my Muramasa (F107-inspired XT column function row-less full-size) sound tests as an example. QFRL100 with GMK ZX (Picture)

Muramasa with DCD Hunded Acres (Picture)

Feel Wow. Until I had typed on the QFRL100, I had thought that most full-sizes or boards that were similar generally had a harder type implementing a softer typing feel due to either the mounting style of the board or just because of having to deal with a big PCB. But that all changed when I typed on the QFRL100 and how Thebloodyez implemented the bottom mount on that board. Absolutely a fantastic and soft typing experience. QFRL100 bottom mount, PP Plate with GMK ZX

And, sure, maybe the designer will split the PCB in order to allow for a softer typing feel instead of having a one-piece PCB (some boards will have a separate PCB for the numpad area for example), and sure, the Keychron Q6 had gasket mount, but it’s one thing to be able to press hard and achieve flex or bounce and it’s another thing to be able to type normally and actually experience a soft typing feel. Besides the QFRL100, I wouldn’t have classified any full-size keyboard as having a soft typing feel that you could actually notice when typing normally. I’m sure that I’m wrong since only Siths deal in absolutes, but just based on my experience and typing on full-sizes, I’d say that you’re going to get a firm, yet not super soft typing feel with full-sizes. You can play around with plates if the board has soft plates available, but even then, it’s dependent on how the mounting style is implemented and the PCB itself. So, for those that like a firmer typing feel, or don’t really need a soft typing experience, a full-size is a great middle-ground or a slightly firmer-feeling typing experience. Feel itself isn’t a selling point for full-sizes for me personally, because I’ve made do with boards that have had a very stiff typing experience, and the one board that I absolutely could not use was a flex-cut 1.2mm PCB plateless JRIS65 configuration, so when it comes to the keyboard triangle, it’s a very distant third behind sound and aesthetics with aesthetics being the most important part of the triangle for me when it comes to full-sizes. Nevertheless, I wanted to mention feel since it’s part of the keyboard triangle. So what do I, personally, want for the future of our hobby when it comes to full-size offerings? Allow me a few more minutes of your time, and I’ll explain! My Wish(es) For Full-Size Offerings In Our Hobby

QFRL100 prototype with GMK ZX First of all, I am not a designer, I have never sold items to the keyboard community, and this is just one man’s opinion. It’s not more important than any other person’s opinion, and this is just how I feel. Someone designing a full-size keyboard will have to deal with the actual costs to make a larger layout and the best way to price it to make it appealing to us, the community. Most of the full-size keyboards we see that require a specific MOQ to be hit are pricier than other layouts, which absolutely does make sense given more material needed to machine those full-sizes. However, this is where something like the Intro S100 can make a name for itself. Yes, Keychron, Akko and other brands do have a good amount of market share with their sub-$200 full-size offerings, and things like the Pangea and Seal are nice offerings in the $350+ category of full-sizes, but something in between like the Intro S100, especially for what it brings to the table, can be a game-changer for those that may not necessarily want the cheapest full-size, but don’t want to spend more than $250. The community has been clamoring for a really nice value proposition between $150 and $350 for a long, long time to compete with boards like the Keychron Q6, and not many took the risk to try and release a board like the Intro S100 to fit in that price range. And no, this is not an ad for the Intro S100, especially since the group buy has not even begun to fulfill and we don’t know how the production units will be received, but I do give that board kudos for trying to fill that gap in the market. And, if we’ve learned anything in these past two years when it comes to budget offerings or keyboards that are $200-ish or below, it’s that there is a huge market compared to those that are willing to spend upwards of $350, $400, and more. I mean… I guess it makes sense. Obviously, if something costs less, there will be more people that can afford it automatically, even if they aren’t interested in it because it’s cheaper. I’m interested in two things when it comes to future full-size offerings in our hobby. The first is for there to be competition for the S100. Imagine if there were more full-size aluminum offerings around $200. It doesn’t hurt to have close ties and a relationship with a manufacturer (STR/Vertex) and to be able to sell many units to bring overall pricing down of course, and we shouldn’t expect every single designer to be able to offer a full-size around the same price point without the same capabilities as STR/Vertex has, but I’d really like to see either designers or bigger brands come out with competitive offerings. Yes, the QK101 is a thing, but… as much as aesthetics is a selling point, it also can be a reason why someone wouldn’t want to buy a board. The QK101 may seem too busy or matrix-looking for some. The race to the “bottom” is heating up with many companies realizing that there is a lot of money in lower-priced offerings and many more individuals being able to afford a cheaper item, so hopefully, we’ll be seeing more and more actual full-size or similar boards being released that can compete with the S100 and QK101. And you know what? If other companies see how well either of the two sells, it’ll incentivize them (hopefully) to also come out with competitive full-size offerings to take advantage of that portion of the keyboard market ($200-ish full-size offerings).

Qwertykeys QK101 And, since we’re on Drop’s website, the second thing would be a CSTM100 offering, not only for myself but as a way to get others into mechanical keyboards. Yes, Keychron came out with a C Pro series, and the C2 Pro improves on the old C2, and Drop won’t be able to beat Keychron when it comes to price alone, that’s for sure. But what does the CSTM offer right now? An affordable plastic keyboard line that allows the user to change top cases magnetically, dealing with screws instead of snap tabs for easy disassembly, and it does have a little bit of artistic (and acoustic) flair when it comes to being able to switch out external weights. And, the BIGGEST selling point when it comes to Drop keyboard products is being able to use a DKC coupon on top of pre-order or sale pricing. I want to make it very clear when it comes to the DKC (Drop Keyboard Club). I dislike subscription services, but only when I don’t get my money’s worth out of them, and only if they aren’t absurdly priced or prevent you from functioning without them. I’ve paid for my DKC membership out of my own pocket, and I have gotten my money’s worth so many times over (you just need to use it twice at its full value of $30 off to get your money back). I wouldn’t be bringing up DKC coupons if I, myself, don’t pay for it and don’t use it on the regular. It’s never a requirement, but imagine not only being able to buy a CSTM100 for pre-order/sale pricing but also throwing on a minimum of $30 off (up to $100 if you’re lucky) of that. For what the CSTM line offers, I think it can be a real competitor in the $100-$200 full-size plastic keyboard category. The more options the better! Plus, it being in-stock would be a huge plus. Do I know whether Drop will release a CSTM100? Absolutely not. But the fact that we don’t have a full-size option currently being sold by Drop, whether it’s a Drop product or not, is something that I think Drop should take advantage of. Conclusion:

Probably the one keyboard that I’ve shared pictures of the most - Muramasa Prototype with DCD Hundred Acres Sorry about reusing some of the same pictures I’ve used in my other articles. It’s freaking cold in Iowa with snow and ice, and I didn’t feel like going outside and taking new pictures. Overall, I think it’s fantastic that we’re getting more full-size or similar offerings. Out of the dozens of Geekhack or zFrontier ICs that get posted a month, it’s rare to have one of a full-size. I think we’re going to see more and more affordable full-sizes come out, especially if the Intro S100 and QK101 (or at least, the Intro S100) sell successfully. Competition is great, especially since the full-size part of the market, especially the affordable full-size part of the market, has a lot of room for more offerings. Will we see a full-size offering from Drop, specifically their CSTM line? Maybe. Will we see QK’s most “famous” competitor, Meletrix, finally come out with its full-size offering? Possibly. Will we see these newer vendors and brands like Bowl and STR/Vertex stepping up to the plate? We can only hope. 2025 is shaping up to be an interesting year, and who knows what’s in store for us over the next 10 months. But no matter what, please remember to be financially responsible, and it’s okay to just save without having a specific reason to do so other than just not wanting to spend money on keyboards. Maybe by the time you save up a few hundred dollars, a full-size offering that interests you will be released, and by that time, you’ll be ready to decide whether it’s a worthwhile purchase or not. I hope you’ve enjoyed me talking about full-sizes, why I like them, and how I got introduced to the hobby through them. Please let me know if you share the same thoughts, or if you also predict that we’re in for a surge of affordable full-sizes in our hobby by the end of 2025! Thanks for reading, I love you all, and catch you next time.

(Edited)

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Feb 9, 2025

We love long long bois. Great article

HubertTheMad

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HubertTheMad

Desoldering, Mill-Maxing, and Why You Might Want to Learn Both

Thanks to StoryboardTech’s fantastic article, you finally learned how to solder! Or at least, you’re committed to learning. So, what’s next? Well, if you’re brave enough, why not learn how to desolder as well? And when you feel confident with that, how about Mill-Max? You don’t necessarily have to know or learn how to solder before learning how to desolder or Mill-max, but in my opinion, getting comfortable with soldering is a great step towards learning how to do the other two, and if you know how to solder, you can practice desoldering and mill-maxing to your heart’s content since you’ll already have the tools from learning how to solder! Well, at least most of the tools. Let’s start off with the good ol’ disclaimer section first, however. Disclaimer These are my own opinions and my own thoughts, and if I’ve learned anything in life, it’s that we all do things in slightly different ways. Whether it be deadlifting, desoldering, Mill-Maxing or even baking...

Jan 13, 2025

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