Getting used to a 60% keyboard without arrows,home,end

[Faddish Coder]

Hi everyone,

 

Picked up an Anne Pro II.  It's a great little keyboard (and glorious RGB).  Problem is missing arrow keys. I didn't think I used them at all but wow...home, end, and arrow keys I use constantly.  Was originally looking for a 65% but it seems lots of similar keyboards like the Ducky One 2 SF are backordered or selling for premium.

 

I'm trying to convince myself I can get used to the function keys to get to wasd arrows and home/end is something I can adapt to.  Has anyone tried something similar? can old dogs learn new tricks?

[gloop]

The Anne Pro 2 has a feature where tapping the right CTRL, FN, ALT or Shift key will make it temporarily act as an arrow key.

[Kilrah]

These small keyboards do look cool but I know I would go bonkers without the arrows and 6-key block so I'm resisting buying one.

[BobVonBob]

5 minutes ago, Kilrah said:

These small keyboards do look cool but I know I would go bonkers without the arrows and 6-key block so I'm resisting buying one.

Yep, I can't even get by without an F-key row. I'd be throwing my keyboard out the window in minutes if I needed to use chords for everything like 60% and less boards.

[DailyProcrastinator]

26 minutes ago, Faddish Coder said:

I'm trying to convince myself I can get used to the function keys to get to wasd arrows and home/end is something I can adapt to.  Has anyone tried something similar? can old dogs learn new tricks?

You can remap functions and ad a second layer. Not sure what software it would use with this keeb but worth looking in too. I spent a lot of time adding custom layers to my 65% keeb to make up for missing rows. It takes a bit to get used to but it's not impossible! 

[kelvinhall05]

8 minutes ago, TheDailyProcrastinator said:

You can remap functions and ad a second layer. Not sure what software it would use with this keeb but worth looking in too. I spent a lot of time adding custom layers to my 65% keeb to make up for missing rows. It takes a bit to get used to but it's not impossible! 

Regardless of how fast you are with them, layers add complexity and time to type keys that aren't on your base layer. There's also the fact that you have to learn them. This is why I never suggest anything smaller than a TKL to anyone who isn't 100% sure they can live without dedicated nav and arrow keys.

[DailyProcrastinator]

Just now, kelvinhall05 said:

Regardless of how fast you are with them, layers add complexity and time to type keys that aren't on your base layer. There's also the fact that you have to learn them. This is why I never suggest anything smaller than a TKL to anyone who isn't 100% sure they can live without dedicated nav and arrow keys.

Oh yeah I 100% agree, for users who frequently use function keys it is a very difficult hurdle to get over. Depends on the users I guess and how familiar they already are with macros/alt functions. But I too would not go out there and advertise 60-65% (although 65% is a lot better) as a great all-round keyboard, TKL or 75% for most is definitely the better choice. 

[kelvinhall05]

2 minutes ago, TheDailyProcrastinator said:

Oh yeah I 100% agree, for users who frequently use function keys it is a very difficult hurdle to get over. Depends on the users I guess and how familiar they already are with macros/alt functions. But I too would not go out there and advertise 60-65% (although 65% is a lot better) as a great all-round keyboard, TKL or 75% for most is definitely the better choice. 

65% is alright but not very common. Either it's a very low-end board, or a very high-end one, at least in my experience. 75% moves a lot of keys around and I personally find it cramped, so if I have to relearn key positions I might as well get a cheaper, more common, and smaller board (even though I hate tiny keyboards and have space for huge ones, but that's besides my point).

[Faddish Coder]

46 minutes ago, gloop said:

The Anne Pro 2 has a feature where tapping the right CTRL, FN, ALT or Shift key will make it temporarily act as an arrow key.

Ah tapping MAGIC FN key and then can use the arrows. This is actually pretty fine except can't hold down the keys to repeat, only tap.  Any way to find out all the features like this? The manual just has instructions for setting up bluetooth...

[DailyProcrastinator]

5 minutes ago, kelvinhall05 said:

65% is alright but not very common. Either it's a very low-end board, or a very high-end one, at least in my experience.

Correct.

5 minutes ago, kelvinhall05 said:

75% moves a lot of keys around and I personally find it cramped, so if I have to relearn key positions I might as well get a cheaper, more common, and smaller board (even though I hate tiny keyboards and have space for huge ones, but that's besides my point).

Yeah 75% is really just for those not wanting to give up most creature comforts of a TKL but wanting a more compact layout, that's how I see it. 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Faddish Coder said:

Ah tapping MAGIC FN key and then can use the arrows. This is actually pretty fine.  Any way to find out all the features like this? The manual just has instructions for setting up bluetooth....

Not sure what you manual is like but there is a lot info in this if you read through it:

https://flashquark.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/AnnePro2_UserManual_en.pdf

[Faddish Coder]

3 minutes ago, TheDailyProcrastinator said:

Correct.

Yeah 75% is really just for those not wanting to give up most creature comforts of a TKL but wanting a more compact layout, that's how I see it. 

 

 

Not sure what you manual is like but there is a lot info in this if you read through it:

https://flashquark.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/AnnePro2_UserManual_en.pdf

You're a life saver.  No manual in my box at all like this.. Fun stuff.

[DailyProcrastinator]

1 minute ago, Faddish Coder said:

You're a life saver.  No manual in my box at all like this.. Fun stuff.

No problem, make sure it's for the the right version, but it seems to be!

[Kilrah]

Paper manuals are pretty much a thing of the past, first step for a manual is the manufacturer's website

[jiyeon]

I have used 60% keyboards for the past year and a quarter now, and I've gotten well used to it.

 

The main thing is getting used to using layers ala your FN key. It's all muscle memory, once you get to know the location of the Fn key plus where your arrow keys are mapped, it's as natural as a standard full-sized keyboard.

 

With constant usage, it will be second nature!

[geo3]

You just have to get used to it.  I find it easier to use now that I'm used to it, I don't have to go reaching for anything as they are all right under my finger tips already.

[Dr0y]

I just got a used anne pro 2 with (sadly ... seller told me they were red switches) cherry mx blue switches ... I also would have preferred getting some outemu ones.  I removed all the keycaps and had to clean them cause it was quite dirty.  The stabilizer were lubed but some are "sticky" specially the space bar and the right shift.  The space bar have a hard time to come back up (and some really annoying sound) when I press it on the right side and I always press it on the right side.  So far so good to getting used to the layout.  I'm not sure if I like that tap function yet so I leave it on. 

 

I was wondering if the gmmk 60% (already have a tkl one and I love it) would be better than the anne pro 2 in term of layout and function.  Also I don't use any software for the keyboard and I don't intend to for now. 

[Faddish Coder]

Update: the tap arrows and customizing some other stuff with the software did it for me! Canceled my return with Amazon. 
 

They sent me Box reds when I ordered Cherry, which probably explains the cheaper price, but since I don’t notice a difference (...sorry) I’m planning to keep it. 
 

Also bought an EPOMaker RGB 65% for my wife because she liked the RGB and wanted a fun keyboard too... so it goes. 
 

Thanks everyone. These forums are awesome. 

[Dr0y]

4 minutes ago, Faddish Coder said:

They sent me Box reds when I ordered Cherry, which probably explains the cheaper price, but since I don’t notice a difference (...sorry) I’m planning to keep it. 

box red like in gateron box red ?  ... if that so the it's a win for you.  

[seon123]

1 hour ago, Faddish Coder said:

They sent me Box reds when I ordered Cherry

Why would you order Cherry...? That's the worst of the 3 Red switch options. If anything, that's an upgrade

[Faddish Coder]

18 hours ago, seon123 said:

Why would you order Cherry...? That's the worst of the 3 Red switch options. If anything, that's an upgrade

I mean to say I totally know what I'm doing and did order the Kaihl Box Reds