A Very Cool 40% Keyboard.

This is the Detour. It's a really fun 40% board with a bunch of layouts and some interesting ways to build it.
I normally don't like 40% boards since I find them tough to type on, but this one really stood out to me.
Also, this is not a sponsored stream. I have sent back to the board to RNDKBD and no money was exchanged.
✅ BUILD SPECS:
The in stock sale sold through, but there is going to be a r2.
Keyboard: Detour - rndkbd.com/pro...
Plate Material: Plateless
Switches: Lucy v3 Switches - rndkbd.com/col...
Keycaps: Key Kobo Retro Mixed Lights
Stabilizers: Cherry Clipins
Stabilizer Ranking Sheet: www.alexotos.c...
Note: Some of these are affiliate links and i get a kick back! They help support my channel.
◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️
Want some wallpapers from photos I've taken and art I've done?
ko-fi.com/s/97...
Here is how i lube my switches and stabilizers:
Stabs - • How To Lube and Proper...
Switches - • How To Lube Your Switc...
Find me live here: / alexotos
📷 My Streaming Gear: kit.co/alexoto...
➡️ My Building Equipment: kit.co/alexoto...
⌨️ Some Keyboard Parts I recommend: kit.co/alexoto...
➡️ What I use for keycap storage: amzn.to/3fGvdZq
◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️
⬇️ Sponsors/Affiliates⬇️
kineticlabs.st...
ordinarylabs.c...
spaceholdings....
bit.ly/3NRGa7W (CreateKeebs)
kibou.store/al...
omnitype.com/a...
modedesigns.co...
zepsody.com/
dangkeebs.com/...
www.antipode.s...
unikeyboards.c...
◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️
Discord: / discord
◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️
Remember to follow me on my socials, too!
www.alexotos.com
/ alexotos
/ otosalex
/ alexotos
/ alexotos

[@alexotos]

PS - I really don’t do a great job of letting people know, but I do have a build commission section on my website! So if you had a custom keyboard on hand you wanted me to build or needed some help sourcing parts for a future board from me, check this out: www.alexotos.com/keyboard-build-service/

[@on_spikes6867]

okay not even having every letter of the alphabet is insane

[@Linkman8912]

Honestly? Just use the layers. If you get used to it, it'll be way smaller

[@Linkman8912]

And nobody needs q anyway

[@sidequest_studio]

Seriously! Useless device

[@SianaGearz]

@@Linkman8912 Yeah but then why stagger layout, having the A key be extra heavy or extra wobbly due to width. Why huge space bar when that space could do modifiers and layer switching. This just doesn't make a lick of sense.

[@gryffinsyme6357]

guys, every letter is present on this keyboard

[@user-pt1kj5uw3b]

This is something I want but wouldn't use

[@prokopf-9332]

Exactly. Pretty but without split spacebar and unlesss youre a 40 regular its pretty more than anything 😅

[@Billy_The_Frog]

same, i would just put it on a display stand and never touch it

[@BartAssink]

You could if you learn one hand and 5 finger typing.

[@MaxPanic]

It's perfect for display. I love it!

[@aijokker]

Its true about 95% of stuff I own😂

[@lindis8030]

Damn, I'm not keen in getting boards smaller than 60 but this, this is cute and I like it ❤

[@scarcat2469]

Man if the LCD is customizable that might be an instant buy

[@exen900]

well its running QMK

[@Polymath2B]

Can program it to run anything… if you know how. Don’t think it’s that complicated, read up on it but never actually tried.

[@shenxi]

I think its an oled display as its more common nowadays.

[@exen900]

@@shenxiI never seen anything else but an OLED in this scene,especially the „old days“ 😉 off the shelf 0.91“ monochrome OLED.

[@shenxi]

@@exen900 Of course. thats what i was thinking about. great minds think alike! 🙏

[@BTMCLive]

ITS SO CUTE

[@now8990]

BTMC spotted

[@axys6771]

it is pretty cute indeed

[@salat_32]

no z - no osu

[@djchetcobra]

Got to try one at a meet yesterday, super cool!

[@aTtsb]

This keyboard looks sick. Im building a new one soon but this also looks cool. I need it.

This video taught me that always "Washer first before Nut" xD

[@Mcdude22]

It's so bizarre seeing such tiny keyboards that are still row staggered. As someone deep in the ergo split enthusiast community, it's hard to understand why you'd want to use a keyboard that makes so many compromises without getting the insane benefits of a columnar split design. I use a 38 key board as my daily driver, so I firmly believe that they're awesome, but man it's weird to see this bizarre parallel to the minimal ergo split community. All that said, this board has a real charm to it, and if I was going to go back to a traditional keyboard, this would be very high on my list

[@nickthaskater]

@@Mcdude22 because I hate split boards and I hate ortho layouts.

[@Mcdude22]

@@nickthaskater actually quite curious, why exactly do you hate them? I think I understand not caring for split boards, they require excellent typing habits to use properly, for me that took months to learn. What is it about “ortho layouts” though? Not even sure exactly what you mean by that, unless you just mean ortholinear/columnar layouts. If that’s what you mean, I’d be *very* curious what you mean by hating them. I legitimately cannot think of a downside besides being different, and it’d be a shame to hate something only because it’s different.

[@nickthaskater]

@@Mcdude22 I daily drive a rotation of a 40% "HHKB", a 65% "XT" and a vintage Model F XT. I don't have an aversion to "different." I find "columnar" layouts uncomfortable and unnecessary with the supposed benefits spurious. I find split layouts inconvenient and again, the supposed benefits to be spurious. I've tried both. I dislike both. "Hate" is too strong of a word, but essentially I'd never voluntarily purchase one at this point.

[@Mcdude22]

@@nickthaskater Ah, I see, and I honestly find that very interesting. I will say it took some time to get used to a columnar layout, but after I finally ditched muscle memory of a row stagger key placement, found it *leagues* more comfortable. I think I would find ortholinear to be uncomfortable, little better than a row stagger, but columnar and split, I found, to be the game changer. Different strokes, I suppose. I appreciate the insight

[@nickthaskater]

@@Mcdude22 100%. Preferences are real, yo. Trying without blind dismissal is what I value. Appreciate your insights and experiences, too.

[@CodeXCDM]

There's something ironic about a 40% compact board with an oversized space bar. Adorable, but ironic.

[@AusMedic89]

forget the small board, what is that wooden masterpiece above it????

[@yalhexander5641]

That thing would look so sick with the full metal keycaps

[@derkaiser9881]

I’ve used a 3D printed WoB QAZ for quite a while as my daily driver. Something like this looks so nice. Wish there were more metal QAZ cases out there.

[@rainybirb5298]

LazyDesigners Apricot going to have a GB later this year

[@derkaiser9881]

@@rainybirb5298 Ooh. I need to keep track of that. Jacky always makes cool stuff.

[@nobody-bt7mu]

I don't get why they didn't just add the ASZ column, it's just a few more mm after all. I get that there's a layout for this but this is completely unpractical. It' just 3 buttons to use layers for come on. The design looks quite nice though.

[@nickthaskater]

100%. I love 40s but QAZ is a bit annoying relative to the space saved.

[@exen900]

@@nickthaskaterHomerow mods are your friend

[@nickthaskater]

@@exen900 I use them.

[@dezmain3581]

if this had a qwerty layout i'd need this

[@Gouldylocksxxo]

I remember being so sad on missing out on the ave when it came out for GB in 2019, so I'm glad that there is something that came out that is similar!

[@theodorosanastasioy8846]

it's one cute 40 indeed ... i like a lot the tilt. The problem is, how may someone work with this. Looks cool for gaming i guess due to its small size moving the mouse right next to it.

[@nickthaskater]

What do you mean, how would someone work with this?

[@realbillgross]

dude this is... missing letters.

[@nickthaskater]

It's gaining efficiency

[@christiangonzalez6945]

@@nickthaskater yeah "efficiency" let me presss ctrl + shift + f to put a 1 very "efficient"

[@nickthaskater]

@@christiangonzalez6945 I use my left thumb to press the left spacebar and then press Q to get a 1. Way to use hyperbole in an attempt to cover your ignorance, though. 10 points. The efficiency is in reference to the small movement and ability to remain on home row rather than moving your hands across the board or reaching beyond the top alpha row.

[@polynotgone8349]

I think this metal rectangle has a few keys stuck on it.

[@s3rs312]

@@nickthaskater I wouldn't call having to learn multiple keystrokes only to type like a normal qwerty keyboard "efficiency," especially when the advantage seems very small. Unlike stenography, which improves typing speed immensely once you learned all the key combinations, this keyboard works similarly to a normal qwerty keyboard. If you know how to use it and gained 10% efficiency because of that, good for you.

[@account-pi3nj]

11:26, tell me he doesnt sound like pedro pascal here bro 🤯

[@nathanmirando7539]

That is such a cool board! Though while I’m open to the unique layout i couldn’t do a soldier board. I hope they make a hotswap version. I would pick that up so fast in hotswap.

[@Billy_The_Frog]

11:34 i just got the haimu heartbeats recently and they are awesome. I found the gazzew bobagums too dampened & mushy, so i really loved the stiff bottom-out of the heartbeats.

[@Tekkenfan-tp1kz]

Another banger video from alex 🎉 i wish more keeb yt’s had consistent uploads😅

[@Subbstron]

this guy is like the bob ross equivilant for mech keyboards and Im here for it

[@tommyjames4881]

Italian only uses 21 letters of the roman alphabet. I could see this working for someone who types in primarily italian.

[@Blyad12345]

bro 40% is crazy

[@exen900]

Wait until you see sub 40

[@christiangonzalez6945]

its fucking cancer. let me presss ctrl + shift + f to put a 1

[@essayharper]

i hve this keybord, very esy to type on, would purchse gin

[@lawndartlele]

Underrated comment 😂

[@erwickdsouza]

I do not understand a 40% with a top row. Kinda defeats the purpose. Sick keyb nonetheless, great video!

[@christiangonzalez6945]

yeah, let me have the most small keyboard, fills it with dead space and a stupid useless screen

[@zarraeal2788]

this is super cool

[@MichaelPham-oh6tz]

Does this keyboard have light

[@cooperbrahmsteadt5123]

I want to build this with Wuque Studio jades. I feel like the resonant clack would sound so cool with the look

[@Bobbakerfield]

I am a massive fan of this type of thing. I do believe I have built a split keyboard based off of other designs. At this point I see no reason why someone would want to turn their shoulders inward when typing. Typing should be a free expression and forcing people to rotate shoulders inwards needs to go away. Access for all. But the idea of the rotator knob still needs to exist unless you want to tab through a ton of stuff. I do also question the spot of the knob. Top left not ideal for people with limited mobility. Something close to the space bar/thumb area would be better IMO.

[@dysfunctionalism27]

Honest question. How do you type the A, Z, Q keys? LIke If I want an A do I hit the red key on the top right and then the S key?

[@eossoon]

I'm all for 40% boards especially with cool add ons like a screen + knob, but $220?

[@noway2633]

I dont have any space on my desk and my parents wont let me buy another desk so this is for me, its my birthday today btw

[@alexotos]

Happy birthday!

[@_LeMKo]

omG this son amazi g 😡😡😡😡

[@philb9550]

which brand is the orange wire?

[@G4f00]

WHY NO Q AND A AND Z

[@elaquen7]

I feel like 40%s are only for pure typists. There are too many essential keys on layers.

[@nickthaskater]

Once you get used to it, layers are second nature.

[@christiangonzalez6945]

@@nickthaskater let me presss ctrl + shift + f to put a 1 sounds like cancer. Also a programer would die using this shit. these are for dudes that a) Just play games so they are only using asdw I did grow up using keyboard shorcuts to navigate in teh computer intead of using the mouse, and this totally would eb cancer to me,

[@nickthaskater]

@@christiangonzalez6945 why are you replying to me multiple times with the same ignorant statement? You make it very clear you don't know what you're talking about.

[@solracarevir]

Reminds me of The Romac

[@angeloforonda]

very cool, also anyone know where the mousepad is from? i quite like it

[@inversebrah]

it's cool but the spacebar occupies too much space for my taste

[@OnyxIdol]

40s look like toys

[@justchillin508]

Already sold out or hasn't gone on sale yet?

[@pale_nimbus]

What is the name/brand of the deskmat?

[@scootinhootin6928]

it looks like it has a burnt bronze cerakote

[@emotionalavocado2336]

How do you type on this, some alphas are missing

[@derkaiser9881]

It’s not too dissimilar from a QAZ layout and I’ve used one of those for quite a while now. Tap/hold modifiers and layers are your friend. It’s not nearly as difficult to get used to as it looks. Oh, and the keys that are “missing” like Q, A, and Z are actually on the base layer. Escape, tab, and left shift are used to take up that space and often people put those on a layer under Q/A/Z.

[@emotionalavocado2336]

@@derkaiser9881oh neat, ok now im less afraid of 40%s

[@emotionalavocado2336]

@@derkaiser9881oh neat, ok now im less afraid of 40%s😊

[@zacharystrange8920]

What is this type of keyboard called not the layout or percentange but the shell I guess

[@nickthaskater]

RNDKB Detour

[@ShrimpyTodger]

DEEETTTTOOOUUUURRRRR

[@Silver-nm2if]

Its missing some letters

[@Psysso]

Dumb trend, make a 4 % keyboard next and overcharge all the digital hippies.

[@cristalypollo]

esta hermoso

[@cristalypollo]

normalmente entre mas bonito mas caro suele ser y pensar en los repuestos 😢

[@AmaroqStarwind]

This doesn’t even have the whole alphabet on it!

[@nickthaskater]

Your hands only have 10 fingers at best. This just gets you closer to 1:1 typing.

[@splitzkee_]

can i get this in a 60% and in this color :)

[@nickthaskater]

Look for a Saturn 60

[@jamesoniris2647]

why did he just skim over the fact it has no qaz?

[@RealBenitoMussolini1883]

Why r u so Canadian

[@proapplr765]

Where is Q, A, and Z

[@nickthaskater]

They took a wrong turn

[@debugboiz4383]

how does this "make more sense"

[@AquaPeet]

Why you no 14U spacebar?? **slaps back of your head**

[@revakriid]

I cant see why is there a market for 40%. I mean, to be able to use it in your daily use case you will be constantly switching to another layer. Also you would have to adjust your muscle memory in doing that

[@Linkman8912]

Yeah, but the space saved is a lot if you're taking it places. It really is preference.

[@revakriid]

@@Linkman8912 65% are the smaller than most 14 inch laptops. If you have a bag for that, a 65% will fit too

[@Linkman8912]

@@revakriid this is true, but on the other hand, silly little tiny keyboard

[@mikethespike7579]

Oh, come on! The housing looks like it's made of recycled compressed dog shit.

[@cpaquaiight6716]

225 dollars for 40% of a keyboard totally not worth dont even have an a key how r u going to type

[@su1tcase622]

I'm sorry but the idea of paying 225 USD and not being able to use configurations of your choice and having to solder yourself seems absolutely insane. Furthermore, this is just a prototype?! Maybe I am out of my depth but I'm genuinely incredulous. I have only recently gotten into the keyboarding hobby, is this a norm? Personally, if I am spending that much money, I should be able to customize this with little to no effort. Not trying to spread hate, especially towards alexotos, just completely stunned.

[@alexotos]

Hey man, thought I'd respond. So these smaller boards have a bit of a following, especially for how many layouts and what they are generally used for. I don't use smaller layouts myself, but the idea is you bind many things on many layers. Price wise, smaller runs of boards and low MOQ tend to run up the cost. Especially for runs of boards that vendors know won't sell well, like 40%. They are a niche item. We are talking under 50 units a lot of the time. Technically you can customize this with the same effort I did, which really isn't a lot. The board supports a lot of layouts, you just have to solder it in. It's a more standard keyboard project. I think you may be use to the widespread availability of hotswap these days. Also yes, it's very common for people to take a look at prototypes of units to weigh in feedback to make the project and product better.

[@armadilloneister]

what the hell is this

[@EaGilgamesh]

Useless keyboard

[@JScriptz]

useles

[@aTtsb]

prepare thyself

[@elbert5208]

givr me one plz

[@KaizenB]

No offense- but i'm not a fan of this gimmicky marketing type of thing. I'd wager that at 40% its not a great choice for anyone

[@nickthaskater]

I daily a 40% for work. No issue. Layers are easy.

[@KaizenB]

@@nickthaskaterHey if you're into it you're into it... to me, it seems counter-productive. Even as a programmer who prefers layers, I cant see the use case for something THIS small.

[@KaizenB]

@@nickthaskater Also out of curiosity is it just preference or do you actually gain something by using a 40% for your work?

[@nickthaskater]

@@KaizenB I go between my 40, my IBM Model F XT, and a 65XT, and I'm by far more productive and quicker on my 40 thanks to the efficiency of layers.

[@KaizenB]

@@nickthaskater For standard typing or for work? You didn't really answer my question(s) well.