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PackYourJammies t1_iuhadon wrote

Highly recommend inverting the numpad so the enter, +, and 0 key are placed properly for the fingers that use them

I use a left-handed numpad layout often, and I found that inverting the numbers didn’t help me, but the 0, +, and enter keys are much better for the fingers that hit them when inverted. The top row too (and the order of numbers), but those can be reconfigured without any layout change from a regular numpad

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ForsakenWebNinja OP t1_iui4mui wrote

Thanks. A few others have mentioned this and I’m glad I asked for feedback. I never thought to switch them but it makes sense

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PackYourJammies t1_iui7c9u wrote

Sure! I would also recommend adding another mod to the left side that would come under C for usability (macs kind of do this, but they don’t place the mod as far over as another 1.25u key would - it’s super useful for a main mod like control because you don’t have to move your hand at all to access things like ctrl+C) and then splitting the spacebar

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ForsakenWebNinja OP t1_iui9lgs wrote

Thats a good point. I have a pc and a mac so I should plan for being able to use it with the mac as well. Although I doubt the fingerprint reader will work with a mac

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PackYourJammies t1_iuiovke wrote

Sure, but even with a Mac, you could theoretically use QMK/VIA to use a spacebar hold as cmd and a press as a space, if you didn’t want to add another button

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ForsakenWebNinja OP t1_iuiprhj wrote

That’s true. Although if I’m going to go through the trouble of making my own custom board I may as well include every key I want/need. I have a terrible memory and keep forgetting combos ive configured

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blueberry_sushi t1_iuita7v wrote

Yes! I've found this issue with my own attempts at using a numpad with the left hand. People frequently suggest for others to use a separate numpad and just move it to the left of your keyboard rather than having one integrated into the board itself, and the problem with that is that the numpad is designed for use with the right hand, and good luck trying to find a reversed layout numpad out there that isn't a part of an extremely limited/expensive keyboard.

To do a left-hand numpad properly, imo, the numpad layout needs to be reversed so that the thumb can rest over the '0' key, it feels really awkward and just un-ergonomic to scrunch your hand up and hit the zero with your pinky.

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PackYourJammies t1_iuj68c9 wrote

Yes exactly using pinky 0 on a right-handed numpad with your left keyboard is awful. The + and enter placement isn’t as bad for the thumb, but I still greatly prefer it on the left for use with the pinky or ring finger

Also this is an elaborate solution, but you could try something like it. I use the left half of a split ortholinear keyboard (Keebio FoldKB) for a lefty numpad with the 0 set to the spacebar 1.25u mod to the left of the spacebar. It works really well other than having 1u keys for + and enter (I use 2 for + and 1 for enter). A macropad also might fit you

Edit: edited “spacebar” to the mod next to it

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