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60% or Tenkeyless - for designer

Apr 4, 20171207 VIEWS

I'm a budding UI designer (primarily work in Sketch, and I also do a bit of front end dev) looking for my first Mech keyboard.
Visually - I LOVE the look and simplicity of 60% keyboards. Less fuss, less muss. However, I'm worried about losing easy access to the arrow keys. Any designers out there who use a 60%?
Just wondering if I should choose form over function or function over form.
I'm thinking either this guy: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/mechanical-keyboard/wasd-vp3-61-key-custom-mechanical-keyboard.html or this guy: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/mechanical-keyboard/wasd-v2-87-key-custom-mechanical-keyboard.html
I appreciate any insight you all could provide.

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1.2K

fattmitch

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schwarzgrau

207

Apr 27, 2017

I don't know if this is still interesting, but I'm a designer (mostly After Effects and Photoshop) and bought a POK3R last year. I tried a lot of different settings for the arrow keys but in the end I put FN to Capslock (this way you could activate it with the pinky) and the arrows on WASD. I needed two weeks to get really familiar with it, but after that I REALLY prefer it to the usual placement, since you don't need to leave homerow and you can still use it with one hand. But the missing PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN keys are still annoying if you use After Effects a lot, especially if you like to use it with shift.

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fattmitch

Apr 27, 2017

schwarzgrauThanks for the input @schwarzgrau. I ended going WASD 60%, and set up wasd keys as arrows + function. So far, it's been great. I'm two weeks in and still loving it.

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schwarzgrau

207

Apr 27, 2017

fattmitchOh great. The first time it was kinda unfamiliar, but now I love it and use this configuration even on keyboards which have arrow-keys

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fattmitch

Apr 5, 2017

Thanks all for the feedback - I ended up pulling the trigger on a WASD VP3 61. (I had a gift card already). I plan on using FN +WASD for the arrows (I'm a lefty anyway). I'll let you know how it goes. I don't think this will be the last keyboard I buy. Next step is to build my own!

Vira

4118

Apr 4, 2017

On a 60% You'll still have access to the missing dedicated keys through the Fn key. If you're still worried about it, you could consider a fully programmable 60% keyboard where you can move or program each key to your suited needs.
Have you thought about 65% keyboard? They have dedicated arrow keys and such. Take a look at the Varmilo VA68M. The Clueboard, a fully programmable board that you could look into, but its a DIY kit. An off-the-shelf model is the Leopold FC660M but not fully programmable.

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fattmitch

Apr 5, 2017

That WhiteFox looks amazing!

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Vira

4118

Apr 5, 2017

A lot of the DIY kits are straight forward with most of the stuff pre-soldered on for you, the switches are what you have to solder yourself.
The saber68 that Raithmir just recommended is great too. Same for the Whitefox but you'll have to wait for the next drop if you want one or source it elsewhere.

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