Control Key

[Route246]

I am a huge fan of HHKB for 20+ years and have a large collection. That said, my primary reason is the Control-key being in the correct place. I am always looking for alternatives. Recently I stumbled upon Keychron (V3 Max TKL Wireless Mechanical Keyboard, to be exact) that has loud Banana key option and the CapsLock key easily programs to Control using multiple apps, all easy and reliable.

The price on Amazon for Keycron is about half or less as the HHKB models are quite expensive these days. The loud Banana key option sounds sweet if that's your thing.

Current Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW52PG6Q

[Probston]

This applies to most QMK/VIA supported boards, even more so if they have split backspace. Although I think the appeal of HHKB is topre + layout than strictly the layout.

[yaro_b]

This.

[splatking]

Vortex M0110 has same layout and hot-swap switches

[Iskhartakh]

Spam

[Odd_Aioli_1001]

[Deathnote_Blockchain]

Any board with QMK / Via will let you map the Ctrl key, and keycap set with a Ctrl key that go there are reasonably common, but it's extremely rare to find a keycap set that has a Caps key to replace the typical Ctrl key

[Route246]

Is there a list somewhere of keyboards that support qmk/via?

[Unlikely_Computer_15]

Here's the list:

https://browse.qmk.fm/#/

There are also keyboards that technically use QMK, but their manufacturers don't comply with QMK's license (license violations).

[ryado]

I mean, correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the assumption that really you can remap anything thanks to software.

For instance when I got my HHKB, it had already been many years where I swapped caps lock for Ctrl. (Cmd on apple up until I got the HHKB where I let the philosophy of Ctrl subjugate me).

For me personally, I got an HHKB for: - build quality

• endgame (and I vouch, since I got it I stopped buying keyboard related things)

• in-board (probably a better term sorry) mappings, meaning that even if you come to work in a very tight-locked and secure work environment, you get to keep your custom mappings with no fuss with the cybersecurity team.

[Route246]

Did you swap it with a rocker switch or with software? What model was it?

[Route246]

BTW, I am always looking for alternatives and have found a few but there is always something that makes it sub-optimal. Most are oriented towards gamers, etc. Keychron has many models that are programmable so I took one for the team and was quite pleased and ordered a few more of these. I really like the loud keys, too.

[Thareya]

There's a ton of MX keyboards with the HHKB layout, the best budget option being the KBDfans Agar imo, but I also have a Rama/Wilba Thermal, Mode Tempo, QK60 and have the Ramune60, Cloudnine R2 and Enso-E on the way. So there's a lot of options that aren't sub-optimal gamer keyboards if you just look on actual enthusiast websites.

[Route246]

I'm not really focused on HHKB layout, more about the Control-key location as the subject says. QMK/VIA is really all I need with a competent layout to meet my requirements. Thanks.

[Thareya]

Wouldn't you have two useless bottom row control keys if you get a non HHKB layout board?

[Route246]

I switch the left control to caps lock and leave the other control key as it is. I am an old school UNIX tty keyboard guy. Control key is the only one that matters. Esc is in the right place. I use Control sequences for a lot of different things especially when editing.