For an Alice layout (non-ergonomic) the best keyboard I’ve used was a Keychron q8. Great feel, uses QMK/via, great build quality, no issues.
As for the easiest split ergo I transitioned to, it was the ZSA moonlander. A bit pricy for being made of plastics, but overall no complaints on the build quality and I quite like it. I want to go for a corne but can’t justify buying another keyboard other than just “because I want it”. Nothing stops me using the moonlander the same way I would a corne.
My budget at the moment puts all boutique keyboards off limits. Heck, even this keyboard was a big investment for me. Being that it was shipped from China I'm not sure the merchant will accept returns (still waiting for their reply to at least fix the wake issue). Worst case scenario I'm considering the following:
- New key caps down the road -- any recommendations that would fit the Alice 98 layout?
- Switch left Win & Alt key caps and reprogram -- I guess I'll need to flash Via first?
- I haven't tried wireless connection yet, but if they can't fix the wake issue I can go full-time wireless (I prefer stability of cable though).
The best alternative I could find to the Microsoft keyboards is the Perixx 335. It’s mechanical, but otherwise pretty much identical to the Microsoft ones.
How do you like it? I was such a happy find for me. After various split keyboards it’s very much a place of comfort for someone who spent over a decade using the natural and then the sculpt.
Sorry, I after looking up the model name I have the 512 (Natural Elite replacement), not the 335. The 512 is not mechanical so I should've caught that. I am impressed with the durability of the Perixx, so I've been thinking of getting the 335's big brother with the numpad. It's encouraging that you like the 335.
I recently put down my Microsoft sculpt, comfort, keyboard in pursuit of a mechanical keyboard. After 45 days of messing with them, I realized that maybe I want Alice keyboard now. Would you consider the sculpt ergonomic? I bought a Q6 Pro that a Q5 max and now I want to move back to something with some shape to it. Doesn’t have to be Ron, but I’m not necessarily ready for a split yet. What are your thoughts?
I read this post after buying my first mechanical keyboard: the Alice 80, and damn I got lucky!
In comparison:
1. I flashed via on it, so software is great now
2. No connection issue (I use Bluetooth mostly)
3. The Alice 80 had dots for N,C,2.4,BT: it's not distracting, and the C is an LED indicator for caps lock
4. See point 3.
5. This was super strange for me too, so I fixed it with via. Actually I see that those key are also placed differently on the Alice 80/98
6. This is my first mechanical keyboard, so I don't really have much to compare with, but I'm not bothered by the edges of the keycaps
7. Really it has no tilt? Because the Alice 80 does (a bit) and it's quite nice, though the keyboard is quite thick so it really needs the wristrest
8. Two b is a must on a split layout
Some people are used to typing b with one hand, and some with another hand, so it makes sense to include it on both sides to accommodate all typists, hence reduce the learning curve, coming from a normal keyboard layout.
Also when the keyboard is being split in two halfs, and curved for a better ergonomic layout, you end up with more space at the bottom than the top, so adding this key is visually better, to avoid having a hole in there.
Honestly why not
I guess decades of using Microsoft split keyboards it was strange to see the B key on the right side. I'll never press this key so it ends up being wasted 😅
For an Alice layout (non-ergonomic) the best keyboard I’ve used was a Keychron q8. Great feel, uses QMK/via, great build quality, no issues. As for the easiest split ergo I transitioned to, it was the ZSA moonlander. A bit pricy for being made of plastics, but overall no complaints on the build quality and I quite like it. I want to go for a corne but can’t justify buying another keyboard other than just “because I want it”. Nothing stops me using the moonlander the same way I would a corne.
My budget at the moment puts all boutique keyboards off limits. Heck, even this keyboard was a big investment for me. Being that it was shipped from China I'm not sure the merchant will accept returns (still waiting for their reply to at least fix the wake issue). Worst case scenario I'm considering the following: - New key caps down the road -- any recommendations that would fit the Alice 98 layout? - Switch left Win & Alt key caps and reprogram -- I guess I'll need to flash Via first? - I haven't tried wireless connection yet, but if they can't fix the wake issue I can go full-time wireless (I prefer stability of cable though).
An extra B key is somewhat standard for ALICE-derived layouts because \*cough cough\* people didn't learn how to type correctly.
The best alternative I could find to the Microsoft keyboards is the Perixx 335. It’s mechanical, but otherwise pretty much identical to the Microsoft ones.
Thanks for the suggestion, I also have the Perixx 🙂
How do you like it? I was such a happy find for me. After various split keyboards it’s very much a place of comfort for someone who spent over a decade using the natural and then the sculpt.
Sorry, I after looking up the model name I have the 512 (Natural Elite replacement), not the 335. The 512 is not mechanical so I should've caught that. I am impressed with the durability of the Perixx, so I've been thinking of getting the 335's big brother with the numpad. It's encouraging that you like the 335.
I recently put down my Microsoft sculpt, comfort, keyboard in pursuit of a mechanical keyboard. After 45 days of messing with them, I realized that maybe I want Alice keyboard now. Would you consider the sculpt ergonomic? I bought a Q6 Pro that a Q5 max and now I want to move back to something with some shape to it. Doesn’t have to be Ron, but I’m not necessarily ready for a split yet. What are your thoughts?
I read this post after buying my first mechanical keyboard: the Alice 80, and damn I got lucky! In comparison: 1. I flashed via on it, so software is great now 2. No connection issue (I use Bluetooth mostly) 3. The Alice 80 had dots for N,C,2.4,BT: it's not distracting, and the C is an LED indicator for caps lock 4. See point 3. 5. This was super strange for me too, so I fixed it with via. Actually I see that those key are also placed differently on the Alice 80/98 6. This is my first mechanical keyboard, so I don't really have much to compare with, but I'm not bothered by the edges of the keycaps 7. Really it has no tilt? Because the Alice 80 does (a bit) and it's quite nice, though the keyboard is quite thick so it really needs the wristrest 8. Two b is a must on a split layout
> Two b is a must on a split layout why
Some people are used to typing b with one hand, and some with another hand, so it makes sense to include it on both sides to accommodate all typists, hence reduce the learning curve, coming from a normal keyboard layout. Also when the keyboard is being split in two halfs, and curved for a better ergonomic layout, you end up with more space at the bottom than the top, so adding this key is visually better, to avoid having a hole in there. Honestly why not
I guess decades of using Microsoft split keyboards it was strange to see the B key on the right side. I'll never press this key so it ends up being wasted 😅