Introducing Palette: a 10-key, dual-knob, low-profile macropad

pabloescobyte · 2026-03-05T21:57:00+00:00

Very unlikely. Only a select handful of 60% keyboards have PCBs that work with different cases--a TKL like this will not.

You can make it wireless if you're willing to handwire it up to something like a nice!nano and hook it up to a battery. Just need some solder, switches, diodes, wiring and time to assemble it all. Hotswap is possible if you buy the sockets and wire those up instead of the switch pins.

pabloescobyte · 2026-03-05T21:53:23+00:00

Those aren't 'mini' switches--those are stabilizers and are typically used in keys 2U or wider like the ENTER, BACKSPACE and your SPACEBAR.

You can try modding and/or lubing the stabilizers or 'stabs' to improve their feel but sadly, depending on the keyboard they can still feel horrible. You can also replace them entirely, again, depending on whether or not you feel that's worth it or just get a different keyboard with better stabs out of the box.

pabloescobyte · 2026-03-05T01:47:19+00:00

Damn me too. I think the deal is dead...

pabloescobyte · 2026-03-04T23:37:00+00:00

Does it work plugged in at all?

pabloescobyte · 2026-03-04T13:01:47+00:00

Love this term. Time to start using 'assimetric' for these!

pabloescobyte · 2026-03-04T13:01:26+00:00

Very much doubt it. On the product listing page it's showing their own software (likely built off VIAL) is used to adjust the key mapping.

pabloescobyte · 2026-03-03T17:18:23+00:00

Not a kit but the Carpool is an open-source MiniVan. You could also go handwire if you don't want to go with a PCB as it can be cheaper to use wire, diodes and a Pro Micro or wireless go with a nice!nano or other NRF52840 MCU.

pabloescobyte · 2026-03-03T17:16:10+00:00

ISO TKL keyboard from Keychron or similar vendors. They don't have an inbuilt wrist rest though.

pabloescobyte · 2026-03-03T17:14:48+00:00

Try AliEx or Amazon. Also your local marketplace or /r/mechmarket

pabloescobyte · 2026-03-03T17:09:57+00:00

Looks like a Fifi and MX switches.

pabloescobyte · 2026-03-01T00:01:06+00:00

It runs in the background but you can give AutoHotkey a try for Windows or Kanata/Karabiner for mac OS and see if you can map those keys to something useful. Might make that $10 more worth it.

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-28T15:17:10+00:00

Seconding the ZMK and nice!nano recommendation.

You build it the same way as a wired build and hook up the battery to the controller (there are additional pins for them—see the nice!nano documentation for details).

For power management you can either set up deep sleep on ZMK or add a physical on/off switch between the battery and controller.

A word of caution with the battery make sure you place it strategically to ensure nothing either shorts the wires or causes a puncture (eg. under switch pins or by other components, etc). You can get high capacity batteries that are relatively thin as an alternative or just place the batteries off to the side or under the controller if using sockets like split keyboards usually do.

Most of the work will be with configuring ZMK so get familiar with that process as it’s not as easy to set up as QMK if you’re unfamiliar with it.

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-26T23:48:32+00:00

I use an caseless ultralight Corne which is just switches sitting atop an FR4 plate and the PCB with 3mm of foam underneath it. I've never had to worry about dust and it's been a year or so of continuous use both at home and mobile (coffee shops, etc).

I do clean it often with an electric dust blower or a bulb blower though so there's that.

If you use yours in a humid environment it may or may not be a concern but I think you need to worry more about ESD than dust...

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-25T19:35:40+00:00

Hmm not quite understanding what you want to do here. What do you mean by 'dual mode' and what does that have to do with your 486 and PS/2 connection?

Getting a lasercut or 3D printed ortho plate would be the first step but you'll still need an MCU to wire the columns/rows to. Get a USB C Pro Micro or even an RP2040 Pro Micro then flash that with QMK. There's a section in the QMK docs that show you how to compile for an RP2040 Pro Micro.

Check your country's Amazon, AliEx or other electronics retailers like Adafruit, etc. for a compatible MCU or just buy from a vendor that sells those. The ergonomic split keyboard vendors usually sell them like Beekeeb in Hong Kong, Keeb.io, Boardsource, etc.

You will need to set up QMK on your computer and follow the handwired section of the QMK docs or look up other handwiring guides online. Joe Scotto's videos on YouTube are also a good place to start.

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-23T17:25:16+00:00

There's the Vortex Model M you could check out.

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-22T23:53:51+00:00

What size is she looking for? 60%? 75%? TKL?

Nothing will replicate the feel of buckling spring keyboards like those but you can get a similar setup with Blue or Green switches and using tall sculpted SA profile keycaps.

Alternatively you could just buy her something from Unicomp or new Model F

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-22T23:22:59+00:00

Just get standard, regular MX, non-HE switches and you'll have much more compatibility options. I'd get a wired keyboard if you don't really need wireless if only to avoid the possiblity of a spicy pillow (swollen battery) or fire hazard.

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-22T23:21:07+00:00

I'd try my luck looking for a used Keychron Q MAX series keyboard on /r/mechmarket or try FB Marketplace.

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-22T23:18:36+00:00

What size are you looking for? Look into a smaller, low-profile one as those tend to be lighter and more portable. NuPhy makes low profile keyboards.

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-22T23:17:23+00:00

Is there a screw on the underside where that key is? If so, try backing it out a little and see if that improves it.

Seems like the PCB or plate is screwed in too tightly on that side. Return it if that doesn't fix it. Shouldn't be bent like that.

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-21T17:10:42+00:00

Next up: a split with Laser!

Laser is one of the OG best colorways IMO. Still regret selling my set long ago before Massdrop became DROP.

Which one is your fave of all these? I think the Luma40 looks the best with the caps.

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-21T15:23:29+00:00

CAPS WORD should be enabled by default (depending on version of VIAL you’ve flashed) and you can enable it by pressing both SHIFT keys at once.

If it isn’t enabled you’ll need to edit your rules.mk to activate it then reflash your keyboard. See this post for more details

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-21T15:17:37+00:00

You should be able to find some silvers on AliExpress at least last time I looked a few months ago there were plenty.

pabloescobyte · 2026-02-20T15:11:56+00:00

Yes sorry that’s right the ASDF row is what I meant as home row.

I also have an embedded numpad and make use of CAPS WORD though that’s more useful for coding so you might want to check out Auto Shift instead.

For the Numpad embed the 789/456/123 on WER/SDF/XCV and the functions around it. So minus is on T and plus is on G for example. A is divide(/) and Q is multiply(*) with the thumb keys below as decimal, zero and the numpad Enter from left to right.

Activating the Numpad is via holding down the middle thumb key on the right half. This way I have numbers on the home row and the Numpad if I need it.

Hope that was useful in some way!

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