While their software for programming it only officially supports Windows and Android, the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard sure does look awesome. I need this. Supporting connecting up via USB, Wireless 2.4G and Bluetooth it has a range of options for whatever way you wish to use it.
Features:
- 87 keys
- Kailh Box White Switches V2
- Hot-swappable PCB
- Support n-key rollover
- Dye-sublimation PBT keycaps with MDA-like height
- Programmable buttons
- Fast-mapping on programmable buttons (no software needed)
- Top mount style
Hopefully at some point someone will be able to provide proper drivers for it on Linux, just like we've seen for various other vendors (like OpenRazer and ckb-next) to get the full use out of it. I always love the build quality of 8BitDo too and their 8BitDo Ultimate Controller is my current favourite gamepad.
It will actually be available in two different versions with the "N" and "Fami" editions:
Plus there's also those two huge red buttons you can connect up with it but they're an extra.
See more on their website.
Also it would prefer an IBM PC style.
And hopefully we can program the "win" key as a macro to "win" the game.
Last edited by jordicoma on 3 August 2023 at 10:43 am UTC
Last edited by ridge on 3 August 2023 at 12:01 pm UTC
So I'm definitely interested in one of these. I'd probably end up getting at least one of those huge buttons too, to act as a giant "mute", as I do a lot of video conferencing while working from home.
Those dials for booking look amazing too. Very impressed with this design. Love it!
Hopefully they land for the UK soon.
It has a hot swap board, a full version would be an instabuy for me, but nope.
Now a nice compact wireless keyboard 8 can use with the deck or Steam Link.... I think I'm interested... At 100$, that seems less expensive than other mechanical boards.
I've been TKL (ten key-less) for over a decade now and would never consider a keyboard with a numpad. The width of those keyboards makes my gaming uncomfortable because the keyboard ends up so wide.
I'm the opposite. For gaming I move my keyboard slightly to left and rotate it a bit. That leaves me with a good space for my mouse. The major benefit is that I can hit the outer keys of my numpad with my thumb while keeping my hand on the mouse. I usually bind non-action stuff there like quest logs on the plus or a entering/exiting a vehicle on the enter. In Witcher 3 I have calling Roach on the minus key. As a result, I'd never ever go TKL.
I love the grey one so much but i don't like TKL keyboards I want my numpad like others pointed here, I work with numbers and I can be very fast typing in a numpad, the TKL and small keyboard trend is not for me. And I don't want to use an extra USB port for a standalone numpad, I heard that before.
It has a hot swap board, a full version would be an instabuy for me, but nope.
On my ergodox, I just have a numpad layer activated by a button... The layout is the same on ortholinear keyboards, which I've also found to increase typing speed (and makes learning touch typing much easier). I can easily touch type on numpads and ortholinear keyboards, but never could do it effortlessly on "typewriter" staggered layouts, hence why I'm complaining about them, and will not consider any for a new keyboard!
But it does look cute.
A cable for the nostalgia... and then wireless for actually using it on the couch.
Not even a numpad? That doesn't make me optimistic about the quality of the device...
I did my best to see the connection between no numpad and quality and I can't, so please enlighten me.
On my ergodox, I just have a numpad layer activated by a button...
Same with my Moonlander (which has a cross-platform firmware configurator!). Also, these little keyboards are cute, but my shoulders hurt just thinking about typing on them.
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