RK100 owner here. I need my numpad.
this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2023
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Mechanical Keyboards
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Hnnng... So damn good looking!
96% is the best layout. All the convenience of not having a bunch of dead space between your arrows and nav cluster, with all of the convenience of having a numpad with all the nav keys your heart can want. Yes I want Home and End right there on the first layer, I’d have to go mad not to.
You only need to choose one key to sacrifice, and I happily tucked Insert one layer under Delete. Print Screen is non-negotiable.
I’m always so surprised to see how unpopular 96% is.
As someone not into the hobby (although I have a cookie cutter mechanical keyboard), what is the point of having that few keys? Portability? Otherwise i find it more cumbersome than efficient having to constantly use modifiers to access the full range of keys I might want to press.
Edit: this was meant as a reply to the guy with a 60% keyboard
As a user of a small TKL keyboard, I can say from my own experience having a small keyboard makes it easy and less strenuous to switch between the mouse and keyboard since they are so close together. I also find I don't really miss the extra keys, I can do my job just fine if not better without them, because of the added benefit of moving fast.
I currently do a data heavy job and almost never use my keypad. Just can't come to terms with letting it go. 96% might be the step that gets me to ditch the numpad!
I use my keypad a lot for my job so I’ve always been kind of jealous of the people who can use the slimmed down keyboards. This is a cute little compromise and I’m glad to know it exists!
To me the main advantage of having less physical keys but a full layout available via modifiers is, that your hands won't have to leave the home-row. Working like this is not only much more comfortable but also a lot more efficient. (At least for me)
I have a 100% but close enough right!
Why Yes I am!
That looks nice, wasnt even aware of such 96%s. Numpad for life
I can’t live without a numpad.
Why not? What do you do that inputting numbers is so important?
I personally work in finance. It's essential, especially for calculations.
Similar here. I do a lot of budget management and data entry as part of my job, not having a numpad is a hell of an inconvenience.
Accountant checking in, numpad is indeed a necessity.
Are these new-ish? I was into it a good few years back and since getting my two full size boards I haven't really looked back.
This layout seems really interesting, I don't want to sacrifice the practical side of full size layout but this saves a bunch of space whitout removing anything, looks great.
Nah, they've been around a while. I got a zz96 from a GeekHack group buy in 2017 I think.
No, but I might want to be.
Me: I'm going to learn Blender!
My 65% keyboard: HAHAHAHAHA.
YMDK Melody 96 over here. Absolutely my favorite layout I've ever used.
YMDK truly does the 96% right. I have two of them that are my daily drivers. One for business and one for gaming. Both are basically endgame grails for me.
Nice keyboard! I am from team 65% :)
Since a couple of days! Is that the Keychron K4? If so then I have the same!
Although my keycaps aren't as nice..
I've still got my logitech orion spark. Thing is amazing!
Rise up!!!
I'm 65 here, but that looks tempting. I think I'm gonna go 75, I feel like it's the sweet spot.
Getting my Keychron V5 soon so hopefully joining this club! What mods would you suggest for it? I'm getting Brown switches with it.
I’m using browns, but might get a few reds for my space, return, shifts, etc.
That might be a good idea. I could look into something like that.
Where'd you get that right angled coiled cable?
It’s a Keychron one. Got it on special offer from a third-party reseller here in the UK.
96% 4lyfe
Edit: is yours a k4 aluminium also? That’s what I have.
Yeah, K4 Alu- love it!
Love your key caps!!
Here is mine: 
Hells yeah! Although my 96% is a bit roomier than yours. I'm rocking the AJAZZ AK966; pretty much stock, other than the switches. I replaced the stock Kailh Creams with Akko Yellow Sponges (Spongebobs). For a prebuilt, it feels amazing.
My other one is a DasKeyboard Professional with custom keycaps, but quite honestly, I find the AJAZZ to be more impressive. I'm shocked Das Keyboard uses costar stabs. There's cheating out, and then there's cheaping out. You'd think for $300US they'd splurge on half-decent stabs!
Mine looks a lot like this (stock keycaps): https://i.redd.it/rfyg5s106bf91.jpg
I ordered a 96% yesterday!
Well how about 98%. Looks the same except a 1/2u space moving the numpad to the right.. Keychron K4Pro. I actually carry it back and forth to work so it is my daily driver and I still haven't quite gotten used to the placement of Del/Home/End. I sort of miss the Insert key, I need to check the mapping and see if it is on or can be added to another layer.
Yeah, happy these have taken off more recently because they're a good setup. Nice compromise between the space of TKL and keeping the nunbpad of full sized keyboards.
60% forever!
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