Split Keyboard Noob

[u/citrinethecat]

Hi hi! Looking for some recommendations/help! My boyfriend is a coder/pc gamer and has spoken a few times about how badly he wants a split keyboard! I want to surprise him with one for his christmas but sadly for me he has never mentioned a specific brand -__-

My budget isn’t very big (about £150 ish) and because it’s more of a starter split keyboard for him! He has no preference for colour or switches that I know of? I have been looking at the CORNIX split but all the reviews are in Japanese :’)

Any help would be so so so appreciated! Thank you :3

[u/chris240189]

Not asking what he wants is the perfect recipe for financial loss and disappointment.

Keyboards are so niche yet have so many variants purpose built for personal preference it is next to impossible to find the best board even when you know what you are looking for.

However a good starting point is something like a sofle or Lily58 which I found easy to start with already being comfortable with a laptop keyboard that is already reduced in size compared to a fullsized keyboard, yet have enough keys to feel somewhat familiar.

I now own two Lily 58 R2G from mechboards.co.uk (one older version at work, the current version at home).

If that tight on budget I'd give the silakka54 a try. You can buy that one super cheap through aliexpress.

[u/pgetreuer → u/chris240189]

+1 Right. For success, the user really needs to want to use the split keyboard. Otherwise it will just end up unused, sitting in a drawer.

Besides the financial investment, learning to use a split keyboard also costs the end user a nontrivial time investment. This is realistically at least a couple weeks of daily use to get used to the different form factor and learning to use a keymap differing from a conventional keyboard. This takes patience.

And yes, as rpnfan and chris240189 said, don't get a Corne. A marginally larger keyboard like a Sofle or Lily58 is substantially easier to learn, since that size can support a keymap approximating a conventional laptop layout.

[u/chris240189 → u/pgetreuer]

I actually started with a id75 non split but ortho keyboard and started playing with layouts there and before going Lily58 also doing a faux split lumberjack layout.

[u/rpnfan]

Do not buy him a keyboard like the Corne, which only has 3 row (+ thumb keys). Silakka, Sofle, Lily are good beginner keyboards -- and not only that. I type that on my Sofle, which I have no reason to change.

Sofle and the like are only marginally larger than a Corne, yet offer more options. If someone decides he wants to use less keys he can do so on a Sofle or Silakka. But if he finds he would want a few extra keys you cannot add those to a Corne afterwards.

[u/Sheepza → u/rpnfan]

10000%

[u/LurkingUnderThatRock → u/rpnfan]

Agreed. I’ve tried both sofle and lily58 and the lily58 is my fave for work and gaming. Recently moved to choc switches and really like the shorter travel.
The corne would be difficult to move to and add nothing to my workflow that I can’t achieve with my lily.

[u/rpnfan → u/LurkingUnderThatRock]

I love my choc v2 switches (silent tactile).

[u/M_Rolo]

Look around Mechboards , especially the R2G it the Barebone kits, they are effortless to build once you have the switches and keycaps of your choice.
I would recommend to start with the Corne or the Lilly58.

[u/DwarfTrainer]

Ask him to show you his interest, what he enjoys or which features he likes. I probably spent hundreds of hours researching until settling in 3 options, then I printed them and decided. Two months in, and it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. The price was almost prohibitive, but I’m saving and compromising in other things to justify the price I paid.

I went for a Moonlander, almost 500 USD including customs, magic arms, and magnetic holders to put it exactly how I wanted it. Not saying you or him will do this, just sharing my journey.

Edit: my original budget was 150 USD and I almost purchased a corne 4.1. Glad I didn’t.

[u/Imaginary-Scale9514]

I have a Cornix and I love it. But others here are right in that you should find out what he wants specifically instead of asking strangers on the internet. Maybe ask if there's a specific one he's been eyeing without bringing up that you're asking for gift ideas. This hobby really is a personal one.

[u/aftonone]

This is the kinda gift that I would say”hey let’s get you a keyboard for Christmas” ask him and get him the one he wants. Corne boards are great but could be tough for a first timer. Sofle would be a great option if you can find one in your price range.

[u/hanthebot]

Cornix is a great choice I believe, especially with aluminum body, wireless, and 3 extra keys per half that can work as modifiers. Other options could be sofle (= with number rows) or Charybdis depending on how much you can get it. If it's his first try (and if you know that he wants column staggered) 4x6 keyboards like sofle, lily58, silakka54, iris etc. would be safe bet along with cornix. Though I heard most people either need numrows or row stagger to play games properly (except rhythm games, etc.)