My Favorite Mechanical Keyboard Layout for Productivity - Southpaw Keyboards Overview

[@noahhite1699]

I work in fusion 360 a lot, so having a numpad on the left is extremely useful. Love the southpaw layout!

[@mosk11tto]

With the mirrored numpad you are not supposed to flip key positions, it's just so the "+", "Enter" and "2u zero" are in same place as in right hand.

[@DropArum]

thanks, as a noob in mechanical keyboards, ur vid helped me to find out southpaw is the way to go for me. due to my work in architecture and cg which involves a lot of numbers.

[@DropArum]

the new epomaker gk96 also seems an option for me, tho it seems a bit more cluttered in komparison to the pricier EXT65 for example. i fear the epomaker dosnt offer that much customisability in therms of keycaps tho?

[@jimmynguyen973]

@@DropArum You should be able to change the keycaps of the GK96 southpaw fairly easily. From a quick look, it looks to be a standard 60% layout (+F-row) with a standard numpad layout. So I'd imagine any basic 104 keycap set will fit fine. The Wyvern is entering the GB stage soon and has a very similar layout to the EXT65, at a cheaper price point than the EXT65. geekhack.org/index.php?topic=105187.0

[@confusedwithmyself]

I was interested in the southpaw 65% for a while, but it's the first time I heard of the mirrored layout. The wyvern looks like a great option, especially because of the price point and config options.

[@jimmynguyen973]

For sure! I would totally get the Wyvern if I didn't have my EXT65. I may change the location of the numbers on my EXT65 to look like the Wyvern renders (standard number layout, 2u "+" and "Enter" keys on the left). I don't hit the wrong numbers as often anymore, but I still occasionally do it. Edit: Yep, this is way better for me. Should've done this a long time ago.

[@DeMangoxD]

I've been looking for a board with left numpad for the past 2 weeks haha. So thank you for the reccs! I also found an IC called the Viendi that's in prototype phase right now if you want to check it out! Love your videos!

[@gurindiadventures3810]

I also love the southpaw version of the candybar! 40% with a numpad on the left!!

[@jimmynguyen973]

Another fun note about Southpaw keyboards being used as a macropad: KAM Playground is currently in the Interest Check phase. There are kits for specific workflows like audio, gaming, content creation, and so on. KAM is a uniform profile, so any of the keys will work on any row. I think it would be pretty cool to use these keys on a southpaw keyboards. geekhack.org/index.php?topic=108517.0

[@genevaidk4774]

i really appreciate the information especially on the upcoming southpaw boards! i'm sad i missed the wyvern AND the sp-111, but i'll keep my eye out :) -a left handed keyboard enthusiast

[@JasmineChee]

Searched up southpaw keyboards after placing order for an Epomaker GK96LS. It definitely doesn't look as good as the options listed here, but it's also just USD 99 for the base kit-which wayyy more accessible. Hope to see more southpaw options in the future. X-Bows Knight Plus (ergonomic keyboard) has a detachable magnetic keypad that can be attached to the left or right, but it's not in the conventional layout

[@jimmynguyen973]

Ah yeah, I'm glad there's now a larger keyboard vendor who sells the southpaw layout. I do wish the GK96LS had regular arrow keys however.

[@JasmineChee]

@@jimmynguyen973 oh yeahhh, that's definitely a convenience that I'll miss. Fingers crossed that it won't be too annoying to use the arrow keys on the Epomaker 😅

[@katarixy]

I absolutely love your videos

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thanks for your support!

[@WillisJonny]

Interested to see how you use your keyboard with figma more!

[@decinos]

You can check epomaker gk96ls kickstarter. It has soutpaw, hotswap and bluetooth.

[@jimmynguyen973]

Yeah that looks pretty solid! Although the southpaw version does not have arrow keys unfortunately.

[@decinos]

@@jimmynguyen973 cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/763487306383491093/765798486414721064/unknown.png yes not dedicated, but with above image I think even better then most of the compact keyboards.

[@Schxndr]

I use ArcGIS pro and AutoCAD and this is a dream come true

[@kristian4243]

Really liked the buttons at 0:29 , where can I get those?

[@jimmynguyen973]

They're KAT Milkshake. The group buy for these are over so you'll have to find them in the aftermarket, or wait for a re-run (if it ever happens) novelkeys.xyz/products/kat-milkshake-gb

[@vincentzhang4355]

Is there any hotswapable options with any of these keyboards? I'm new to custom keyboards and I dont want to have to solder/desolder my switches

[@jimmynguyen973]

I don't believe any of them are hotswappable. You can probably get mill max sockets to make them hot swappable, but I've never used them so I don't know much about them (and you have to solder them in). Soldering switches is pretty easy and will allow you to build (mostly) any custom keyboard. Desolder is a pain for sure, one way around this is to have a separate hotswappable board to test switches on.

[@kegadk]

I really want one of these keyboards, but I haven't been able to get my hands on one.... I really hope I can get one soon

[@jimmynguyen973]

The GK96S has a southpaw version www.kickstarter.com/projects/epomaker/epomaker-gk96s-96-wireless-mechanical-keyboard

[@kegadk]

​@@jimmynguyen973 That is f'ing amazing. Thank you so much sir. But sadly it doesn't have dedicated arrow keys - but might just give it a try. The hot-swap feature is also nice, to test out various switches. Again, thank kindly

[@quartzshake335]

What are the keycaps shown at 0:23 ?

[@jimmynguyen973]

KAT Milkshake

[@trafficconecartoon]

unrelated but uh... where'd you get that mouse/desk pad? it looks dope

[@jimmynguyen973]

From a group buy novelkeys.xyz/products/milkshake-deskpad

[@basement8034]

plot twist: all full size keyboards were made for lefties

[@samiRetro777]

sorry what's that keyboard 5:39

[@jimmynguyen973]

EXT65 keyboardtreehouse.com/products/aeboards-ext65#:~:text=The%20EXT65%20is%20a%20streamlined,feel%20sturdy%20on%20your%20desk.

[@samiRetro777]

@@jimmynguyen973 ah ! thanks ! i wish i order it before ROG Claymore 1st edition not claymore II , oh no ! the numpad are totally mirrored here

[@pucancakes]

Can you do an updated southpaw list? Or sell me yours lol

[@jimmynguyen973]

im only aware of two atm: geekhack.org/index.php?topic=111231.0 GK96LS (no dedicated arrow keys) epomaker.com/products/gk96s

[@valiantzest]

Could you show off your other keyboards?

[@jimmynguyen973]

For sure, I'll be making a video about all the keyboards I've had & my current keyboards, but I've been waiting for the SP-111 to come in before I do that. Hopefully it'll ship out in late Oct

[@IrvanQadri]

best keyboard layout for blender 3D

[@v0ldy54]

I'd love such a layout but prices on custom keyboards are simply insane :(

[@bk2704]

What Mouse are you using

[@jimmynguyen973]

g703 for games, mx master 2 for work

[@simpson6700]

man, why does everything in this hobby have to be weird? the numpad on the left is cool, but why remove the F-row? this is a deal breaker.

[@samdeur]

Rather buy a num pad