[[atreus.jpg]]
+Having so few keys, this board is pretty idiosyncratic. It works very
+well for the kind of work that I do, but it probably wouldn't be a
+good fit for you if you do a lot of numerical data entry or make heavy
+use of function keys, arrows, or home/end. If you primarily use
+programs with good key rebinding functionality, you're probably in
+good shape. For instance, there is no =tab= key, but in a terminal,
+=control-i= literally sends a tab keycode, and other programs can be
+configured to treat it equivalently as well. Similarly, =enter= is in
+a bit of an awkward position, but many programs treat =control-m= as
+the same.
+
** Layout
Only a handful of punctuation marks (and no digits) are available
-unshifted, and all the modifiers are on the bottom row.
+unshifted, and all the modifiers are on the bottom row:
+
+ : ' , . p y || f g c r l
+ : a o e u i || d h t n s
+ : ; q j k x || b m w v z
+ : esc paste super shift bksp ctrl || alt space fn - / enter
+
+The numbers and most of the punctuation are on the fn layer with a
+numpad-style arrangement under the right hand:
- : q w e r t || y u i o p
- : a s d f g || h j k l ;
- : z x c v b || n m , . /
- : esc tab super shift bksp ctrl || alt space fn pgup pgdn enter
+ : ! @ { } | || pgup 7 8 9 *
+ : # $ ( ) ` || pgdn 4 5 6 +
+ : % ^ [ ] ~ || \ 1 2 3 ?
+ : reset & || hwdv . 0 =
-The numbers and most punctuation are on the fn layer:
+An alternate layout has the numbers in a more traditional row across the top:
: 1 2 3 4 5 || 6 7 8 9 0
- : - + ( ) = || / [ ] { }
+ : - + ( ) = || . [ ] { }
: ! @ # $ % || ^ & * ~ ?
- : reset ins ` || hwdv _ | \
+ : reset & ` || hwdv _ | \
I type in Dvorak but prefer to do the remapping in software rather
than hardware so I don't have to change layouts when I switch to my
-laptop's internal keyboard. The =hwdv= key does provide a hardware
-dvorak layer for using other peoples' computers though. This is all a
-matter of firmware though; the layout is easy to change after the
-fact.
+laptop's internal keyboard. However, the =hwdv= key switches it to
+hardware dvorak mode, which is useful for attaching to computers that
+may not have software dvorak set up. The =paste= key sends
+shift+insert, while the =reset= button activates the bootloader,
+allowing easy reprogramming without opening the case.
+
+This is all a matter of firmware though; the layout is easy to change
+after the fact.
** Parts
This [[http://keyshop.pimpmykeyboard.com/product/dsa-pbt-blank-sets][DSA-shaped base set]] (spherical indentations on the key, same
profile for each row) from Signature Plastics has 52 1x keys plus a
-few extras we won't use. It claims on that page to contain only one
-deep key, but my shipment contained two, which I put under the index
-finger keys to help guide your hands without looking. However, it only
-contained a single 1.5x keycap, and the middle two thumb keys both use
-them, so you might want to pick up an extra.
+few extras we won't use. There are two "deep dish" keys in that set
+which you can place under your index fingers on the home row to help
+guide your hands to the right spot without looking. However, you only
+get a single 1.5x keycap, and the middle two thumb keys both use them,
+so you might want to pick up an extra.
+
+If you want labels on your keycaps, you can get a full labelled
+standard 104-key set from [[http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access#cherrymxkeys][Elite Keyboards]] as well. However, the
+modifiers in that set are larger than what the Atreus uses, so you'll
+have to place some mis-labelled caps on the bottom row.
** Case
- 50 MX Blue switches: $29.00 (mechanicalkeyboards.com)
- 50 diodes: $3.45 (radio shack, should be able to buy in-person)
-- Base DSA keycap set: $18.00 (signatureplastics.com)
+- Base blank DSA keycap set: $18.00 (signatureplastics.com)
- Teensy 2: $16 (pjrc.com or mechanicalkeyboards.com)
- Acrylic materials: $11
- Acrylic laser cutting: 7.5 at $3/min (varies by thickness of acrylic)
+- Labelled 104 keycap set: $20.00 (optional, replaces DSA set above)
- 5 MX Black switches: $8.50 (optional)
- 5 MX Red switches: $10.00 (optional)
- additional 1.5x DSA keycap: $1 (optional)