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
- Covers anything from 40% to full-size
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-mito-gmk-laser-custom-keycap-set Jamon Base: $90 @ 1,000 unities- Covers custom TKLs and 60%/65%
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/massdrop-x-zambumon-gmk-jamon-custom-keycap-set In order to achieve same compatibility from Laser you need the following Jamon kits:- Numpad: $28 @ 500
- Forties: $33 @ 500
This is already at $151 not to mention that Laser also covered UK so:- UK: $19 @ 250
Therefore, at 1,000 unities sold, we have:- Laser: $109
- Jamón: a whooping $170
Most people will try to justify that this is still worth doing because - "majority of people do not need the Numpad, and this is backed up by the fact that 250 people purchased the Jamon Numpad whilst 846 bought the Jamon Base kit." The problem with this argument is that it assumes that everyone who wanted the set and owns a full-sized keyboard agreed that paying $118 for Base + Numpad was okay. What if $118 was a deal breaker to many people and only a few (250) decided to fork the cash? Hard to tell. A couple other things to mention:- Godspeed MT3 modifiers sold 1527 unities (plus almost 700 numpads);
- Pulse SA modifiers sold 1228 unities (plus about 570 numpads);
- Canvas XDA modifiers sold 697 unities (plus about 300 numpads)
So I would argue that overall about 46% of the normal modifiers customers also have a numpad, unlike the 29% that Jamon made look like. Is this something worth doing? I find it hard to justify, because the same overall logic could be applied if you consider that about 55% of the customer base own 60% keyboards and the other 45% have a TKL, therefore we should only offer the core 60% modifiers corre plus a TKL extension kit.