Submitted by QWERKey-UK t3_yvpi4n in MechanicalKeyboards
shubashubamogumogu t1_iwjuxpv wrote
Reply to comment by QWERKey-UK in We Need More 75s by QWERKey-UK
>Difficult to understand why though.
Are you talking about the resurgence of TKL's?
QWERKey-UK OP t1_iwjzmnf wrote
No... I like TKLs... I meant 75s
shubashubamogumogu t1_iwkjmvq wrote
Oh the decline in 75% popularity since last year?
I guess everyone (figure of speech) has had either a GMMK Pro or a Q1, so lack of interest maybe? Or maybe seeing so many of them just turned people off the layout? Like an oversaturated situation.
Don't get me wrong I use F keys often but I am still not a big fan of 75%. I wouldn't use the dedicated F row and since mapping my 60% Alice to only using the bottom 4 rows I've just trained my muscle memory for a multi layered home-row layout which I have been loving.
I do appreciate a good 75% layout keyboard when I see one though. I found the Paragon to be really nice design. Although I don't like the encoder in top right location I would have liked to see an F13 option but you can't have everything. And yeah by now you probably know I prefer non-exploded 75's, and preferably with F13 just for aesthetics.
Edit: And to answer an unasked question, Why were 75's so popular last year? My guess is it was something familiar and comfortable to move to for many newcomers who were coming from Gaming/mainstream/membrane TKL's and Fullsizes. Obviously it works out well if you are familiar with dedicated Function keys and I guess the exploded arrow cluster was also appealing because it was easy to locate?
I always had the feeling TKL's were lacking in popularity in the recent community because it reminded some users of "retro" keyboards which they thought was what their dad/mum would use so they were automatically "uncool".
Just my theory anyway. Kind of makes sense why the Logitech Pop keys and Nuphy Air 75 came out with their 75 layouts, I am guessing those companies saw it as a safe bet and a good seller. And Logitech seems to have doubled down on 75 with the MX Mechanical.
QWERKey-UK OP t1_iwko8up wrote
>I guess everyone (figure of speech) has had either a GMMK Pro or a Q1, so lack of interest maybe?
That's actually a good point.
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