bluGill

What you really need is a small keypad with a tab key [in a useful spot]. I don’t think anyone makes that, but it sounds like what you need. One nice thing about DIY - you can choose the layout and keys that make sense for your workflow.

Remember there is no rule the says you only need one keyboard, or even that the keyboards have to be connected to the same window (I actually had it working once where I had two keyboards that went to different windows - but it was tricky to setup and not everything worked - in the end I didn’t find it useful but YMMV)

Are you looking to get into it because you want a good keyboard that feels good; or do you want to get into it because you like the idea of weird layouts, building your own keyboard, trying different switches, weird color schemes, custom key shapes, or all the other interesting but not typing things you can do. Nothing wrong with that second group, even though you can probably tell from my tone that I don’t see the point myself (if this is you I can’t give good advice so stop reading).

Thanks, I was aware of the model F project but didn’t realize they had anything other than very large layout options. I have 4 original model M’s, (two are broken), but my desk is too small with my work and personal computers. (I tried a keyboard switch, but I gave up using it after typing to the wrong computer one too many times)

They use your standard Chinese cherry clone switches. Better than the rubber dome keyboards everyone gets by default, but nothing like a genuine model M. (the other reply linked to a model F which is likely better than the M but I wasn’t aware of that option until now so I’ll have to try it)

I wish I could get one in a 60% layout. My desk is too small for my big ones.

It wasn’t clear that windows 95 would beat OS/2, and OS/2 was clearly the better so I installed that over windows 3.1. Then in college I got introduced to BSD. I still prefer BSD, but sometimes linux has things that BSD doesn’t so I use linux in places.