The Ideal Keyboard Layout for Professionals (Keychron Q12)

Thanks to Micro Center for sponsoring this video.
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AFFILIATES & REFERRALS
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OTHER PLATFORMS
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Jake and Betty, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program , an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and mechanicalkeyboards.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. All prices and star-ratings mentioned during the videos are at the time of purchase and what it was when we bought it, they may not be representative of the current data involving the products specified. Links starting with geni.us will most likely lead to Amazon.

[@SwitchandClickOfficial]

Thanks to Micro Center for sponsoring this video. New Customer Exclusive - $25 Off Your Purchase of $100 or More: micro.center/2aq (Same link as before) Check Out Micro Center's New Charlotte Store Coming by 2025: micro.center/dc640d Build Your PC with Micro Center's Custom PC Builder: micro.center/9mks Get the Keychron Q12 here: www.keychron.com/products/keychron-q12-qmk-custom-mechanical-keyboard?ref=yz9s3uMR0PdFNS (affiliate)

[@freqenc]

Knob addict too. Got Surman v400 with browns and its amazing. Thanks for the reviews. Hi Jake! I like his builds too.

[@KeyT3ch]

1:19 WHAT?! You think I wouldn't catch it?! CONGRATS TO YOU!!!

[@SwitchandClickOfficial]

Thank you!

[@ItsXev]

Most low key announcement ever lol

[@skohari]

Congrats!!!

[@trxse-tc7rw]

Congrats 🎊🍾🎉🎈

[@TeaTehMan]

A southpaw numpad is such an underrated feature to have on keyboards, unfortunate they only really have been seen on more premium and high end boards, and pretty rare too haha. Great one, Miss Betty!!

[@kaszas272HU]

Yap those are great like with the Rog Claymore 2 . But one solution is Usb pass throu if you have and a simply numpad , its just most nice ones are expensive like the ones from Keychron. With that you could keep a normal TKL or what i like a 70% keybord like the K2-K3 with an optional numpad on either side if you need it like for MMO s or something .

[@ViXoZuDo]

is horrible to use the left hand for the numpad... usually you use your thumb for the 0... with a left sided numpad you end up with your thumb on top of the enter key and no confortable finger for the 0. For me the best layout is a full 65-75% keyboard, then the mouse and finally an independent numpad (like the Keychron Q0). If you want a proper numpad for the left hand, search for the Wind X R2 or the matchstick SouthPad.

[@TeaTehMan]

@@ViXoZuDo like you said, "usually". That's why we try new things in this hobby, and adapt. Adapt, overcome, or whatever the slogan is. Some people may be comfortable with it, some may not.

[@lylluzzos]

I'd want to try a 100% layout, with the numpad on the right side, and the arrows keys block on the left side. I suspect it is the best layout for right hand users, but a keyboard with this layout doesn't exist.

[@ViXoZuDo]

@@TeaTehManThe reason I said "usually" is because a lot of people don't know how to use the keyboard and use a single finger for every key… That doesn't mean is the best way. Specially since you must see the keyboard to type like that.

[@aaronwandler]

Gotta say, I prefer this format of content from Switch and Click. Hope you don't feel pressured to inject a brand of hype and energy that isn't your own into your content. I liked the vibes here, and informative as well. cool that Keychron is doing their own tape-mod these days.

[@nadtz]

I actually mouse with my left hand so the standard KB works better for me but having the option is a good thing. Kudos to keychron for that. That said you can also just get a numpad and then you can set it up however you want.

[@UbberMapper]

Congratulations on your growing family.

[@SwitchandClickOfficial]

thank you!

[@ben_thugs]

More full size builds please! Love your content

[@ivovass195]

Yes, this is the layout for me. Proper productivity setup. Thanks for sharing

[@efraserify]

I'm a basic mechanical keyboard user with some experience doing little mods. For me the out of the box experience is quite good they did well with the Q series. I picked up the Q12 last year and it's so good for work! It is weighty, nice keycaps and the pre lubed switches sound really good. Keychron now have the Q14! It is also left-handed but with Alice layout, I really really want it! Great video!

[@RainMaker0602]

1:20 Congratulations!! 🎉🎉

[@nicholasdenittis46]

Such a sweetheart and I love her great smile and humble personality. The best to you and your new child. Blessings.

[@gordsimpson8916]

Congratulations! My Q5 Pro Special Edition should be here today!! My wife is a southpaw and I'm going to show her this keyboard!

[@matthewviglucci7003]

Congratulations!

[@SwitchandClickOfficial]

thank you!

[@Baconator119]

The Q12 Southpaw is amazing. I consider it to be by far the best layout for working at a desk. The build I use for work: Keychron Q12 Southpaw Gazzew U4 Silent Switches (Lubed) Relubed and Tuned stabs GMK Olivia Keycaps (lol) The rest of the mods are all included with the board (Which is still crazy to me)

[@ethercept]

Congratulations on your state of grace! Best of health to you both!

[@SwitchandClickOfficial]

thank you!

[@isaac297]

Congratulations Betty ❤🎉 to you and your future family

[@isaac297]

Also congrats on your pulsar mouse purchase 😅

[@SwitchandClickOfficial]

thank you!

[@Ericoliva91]

Congratulations!!! such great news for such a great review! thank you always for doing the dirty work. 🙏

[@Weepsy_]

No more swearing the numpad because we have no mouse space for G A M I N G

[@michaelj.4187]

Congratulations Betty! Sending love and peace to everyone...

[@SwitchandClickOfficial]

thank you!

[@5pid3yChri5]

your voice is so cute . it just feel like theraphy hearing you. its really adorable hearing you

[@molewall]

Congrats!

[@ippothedestroyer]

I have the q1 and q3, keychron makes good quality keyboards. Hotswappable, moddable, and even good as is.

[@jess_o]

I just snagged the Q3 Pro w/ Banana switches, I am IN LOVE. I loved my Leopold, but these Keychron boards are next level

[@icy125]

congrats on the kid♥

[@Portocala69]

I wish there was a MicroCenter-a-like shop in my country with such kb diversity.

[@theanswerisfortytwo8481]

congrats!!!

[@CleedRemus]

regarding the most important information in your video -- congratulations!!!

[@KeebHoarder]

You mentioned their split 75, I just picked it up at micro center last week! I posted an opening/impressions video and will be posting updates on the Keychron Q11 regularly. I’ve been watching you for awhile but just finally subscribed on both of my accounts! 😉

[@WokeSoros]

Great quick review. I’d have liked to see some interesting keyboard shortcuts. I don’t really use the numpad much in life, but I live and die by keyboard shortcuts. I’m excited to get this and start mapping everything in every app I use with mouse and keyboard shortcuts fully to my left hand. This should offer big productivity boosts for VScode, vim, ableton, resolve and basically all production apps I use. Your spreadsheet is a really nice touch. Subbed.

[@WokeSoros]

Great quick review. I’d have liked to see some interesting keyboard shortcuts. I don’t really use the numpad much in life, but I live and die by keyboard shortcuts. I’m excited to get this and start mapping everything in every app I use with mouse and keyboard shortcuts fully to my left hand. This should offer big productivity boosts for VScode, vim, ableton, resolve and basically all production apps I use.

[@victoriavieira4895]

Thank you for reminding me that I have a Micro Center to visit. Also, congratulations 🍼

[@vinnieb977]

I'm more of a gamer/keeb enthusiast. I have some nerdy friends in the financial sector. this resurgence of the full size has been a god send to get them off their crappy membrane keyboards and onto boards that are truly exceptional. meanwhile I'm typing this from a 40% ortho kit from aliexpress. In a totally unrelated note, I'd love to see you and hipyo do a 40% build off!

[@wearethree]

FYI, if there isn’t a Micro Center near you, they have a website to order from. I just found it, because we don’t have a Micro Center in our area. I wish I knew that before.

[@EvanNeedsTherapy]

Got the barebones as a birthday present and I can’t wait to build it!

[@mwasheretoo7153]

Congrats!!!!

[@franksantamaria7663]

I love my Keychron V6 - Hand Lubed Wuque WS Silent Tactile - JSJT Doubleshot PBT Keycaps.

[@ellyberry]

Micro Center sounds amazing.... wish there was a location near me!!

[@backslash_iii]

A left side numpad makes a lot of sense - I often find myself reaching over and numpadding with my left hand.

[@AlexandraYume]

Thats why I am super excited for my SPV-1 by bisoromi its literally this. its supposed to arrive in the next few months

[@suuyaa1337]

Been using the Pulsar Xlite 2 for a year now, both for work and gaming and its such a great mouse! If you enjoy light and asymmetrical ones, big W

[@WyvernVin]

Wish they sold it with a macros row on the far left (like their Q0 numpad) and more importantly, ISO layouts.

[@Jecsennnahhh]

Congrats on your lowkey announcement! Also- Did I hear you say Microcenter has an in house option? Are you going to update/ show us, pleaseeee? Couldn't find it on the Microcenter website.

[@DarrenKrusi]

I got mine in grey and I love it. I wish they included an End key because once I set up the lights as I wanted I didn't need the light key anymore and I use the Home and End keys a fair bit.

[@simonwxyz]

If it's the qmk pro version you should be able to use via to change that light key to an end key instead. Big benefit of paying a little bit more for the customisation 👍.

[@opmanzano]

@@simonwxyz all keychron Q-Series are QMK/Via compatible

[@DarrenKrusi]

@@simonwxyz I did. I still want an End keycap to be included in the packaging though

[@simonwxyz]

@@DarrenKrusi oh that's a fair point then, I see 😅

[@OmDesk]

Congrats !!! 🎉

[@nicksuarez3775]

Congratulations!!!

[@JoshBurke29]

Love the videos I’m getting a ducky one 2 mini and I’ve modded a few keyboards

[@noahwatkins9968]

THAT IS SOOO COOL IM GOING TO GET IT now that I have 20 keyboards lol

[@nxtay08]

keychron is built diff bruh they make every layout we could want and layouts we would nvr think abt asking them to make 💀

[@jaqhass]

If you have a decently thinck, snackrificial curtain you could try some layers. After some internal, lateral draping and lubing my board sounds awesome.

[@biblioholic7139]

All my num pad muscle memory is in my right hand. I can feel typos when I make them. I'd move the mouse (that I don't have) to the left side before the num pad.

[@waffle911]

A southpaw 96? Holy Bobas, Batman, it's the perfect layout!

[@buztyrhymes0815]

as a lefty this is how every "normal" keyboard feels for me which makes it jind of funny thinking about how irritating it feels for right handed persons. yet i can affirm that its super useful. in photoshop e.g. i always use the keypad for opacity and stuff with one hand and the mouse with the other. plus i normally game on the keypad as its the same "position" as wasd. 👍

[@ViXoZuDo]

the real problem is that this numpad on the left side is not designed for lefties… the "0" is in their regular position instead of the right side, so there is no way to use it properly with the thumb. Usually you use this index for 147, middle for 258, ring for 369, thumb for the 0 and the pinky for the enter (using the 123 row). With this "left" setup, you end up a config that can't use the zero with any finger without moving your whole hand. If you want a proper numpad for lefties, search for the Wind X R2 or the matchstick SouthPad.

[@davidc7763]

Congrats, Betty!

[@SwitchandClickOfficial]

thank you!

[@manitoublack]

I use a mouse left handed so don't need a south-paw layout. But if I used a mouse with my right hand I'd have got a LH-numpad years ago.

[@PNatsgallery]

Wow numpad on the left. How it suitable for 3d modeling shortcut?

[@eliyot5126]

Congrats!

[@SwitchandClickOfficial]

thanks!

[@heckintech]

This.. might be my next board. dang. I wish it was available in POG SLAMMER PURPLE 💜, But I suppose the Blue is a step in the right direction! 💙

[@dwisuryanto4603]

I have one, could you please check numclear button, you press it and light on ? If not, you have the same problem like me.

[@pedroeguren7112]

Could you do a video modding the Ziyou Lang 65 wireless keyboard? It would be interesting to see what you do with it

[@nightlypiano41]

I wish we had micro center in the UK

[@raaedansari4624]

me looking at other keyboards while having a rk 1 with no mods lmao i am scared that I will mess something up is there any stores that would lube my switches??

[@hamoodyhamood5346]

Hey love your vids keep it up♥️

[@hamoodyhamood5346]

Thx 😊 for hearting my comment

[@RealJstJazz]

Hey Switch and Click, try my keyboard layout, it is basically a stock gmmk 2 keyboard with TTC tiger switches. The spacebar has just any good sounding tactile switch will do and that’s it, keep the original gmmk 2 keycaps too and stabs.

[@cathyomalley2772]

Congratulations

[@ImWillyDS]

Congrats!! Is there a possibility to rename your channel for the new 3rd member? Perhaps adding something that has -ick such as 'Flick', 'Slick' or something different such as 'Plug'

[@Zmeor]

First of all, congratulations for you!!! At least a lefty numpad (I'm not left handed but I'm happy for them :) ) Also an ideal full keyboard for gamers who needs the numpad😁

[@T33K3SS3LCH3N]

Interesting. But at that point I'd rather have a seperate numpad, ideally with some kind of attachment point that lets you put it left or right of the keyboard. Apparently the ROG Claymore and Mountain Everest got that, but it would be nice if this became a more generic feature.

[@Kvantum]

Keychron makes the Q0 numpad. I use one to the left of my Q10. They also just released the Q14, which is basically the same idea as the Q12, but in an Alice layout.

[@KatodeDevilus]

Totally agree with u, the none-detachable numpad on the left is really annoying for first time user. A separate numpad is more convenient to use. Its funny when people call this board is ideal for working, they even haven't used any separate numpad before.

[@MilesEdgeworth129]

We definitely need more modular keyboards on the market, so users can configure it however to whatever layout they want. Ideally, it would consist of a primary module (alphanumeric and function keys) to which the main USB cable is hardwired, a secondary module (arrow and miscellaneous keys), and tertiary module (numpad/tenkey), along with two end-covers to protect the connectors that are not in use.

[@agab3asbgedsbef479]

“yeah bro just pay more for a numberpad that you could just buy the keyboard that comes with it so you can waste even more money and usb ports”

[@isabellelim2573]

Looking for a keyboard that has the abcd, number row on the top, the F numbers, and a numpad + the arrow keys at the bottom. I don’t need the 3(?) extra keys that I’m pretty sure every 96 has…I don’t even know what they are cause I have never needed to touch it in my life. But those extra keys makes so much of a difference😢😢😢. Is there like a custom layout keyboard 😭😭

[@lionvader]

I just checked your keyboard database - why are the Meletrix Zoom models not included? :(

[@DREAMWORKERSKY]

GOAT keyboard

[@awsomesprinkles]

Has anyone figured out what the buttons at 2:38 do? i cant get them to show up on the via app/reprogram them

[@timeisthis4378]

This is 100% a guess as I don’t have this keyboard, but my guess is macro keys that can be assigned inside of a program. I think it’s mostly used for gaming.

[@page-of-cups]

What?! Congratulations!!! ^_^

[@SwitchandClickOfficial]

thank you!

[@Aom-ronin]

I got a question I want to build a custom keyboard for gaming I want it to sound good tho so what stuff should I get

[@lyndonthejohnson]

Aargh, no Micro Center stores in Seattle.

[@williamr.s.5693]

Hey Switch and Click! I hear many people saying that Keychron are good for people starting out in the world of keyboards, but does that mean their boards are not “endgame material”??

[@SharkWithADrill]

Endgame is what you make of it. Modded keychrons are 85% as good as those 400$ boards, especially the Q series or K pro series

[@Raginmund33]

I think the numpad should also be reverse/mirrored to make it 100% Isabel for my use.

[@InternetChannel]

I recently bought a keyboard with a set of keys on the left side and it gets in the way. I thought it was a great idea, but it's not working for me in practice 😭😭

[@mirzabaig8121]

Anything a little less expensive? I am a design engineer and find myself juggling between the mouse and the number keyboard. If I could find a left side number keyboard (not so expensive) it would be a game changer.

[@bkgrnd1337]

i love keyboards that are actually practical (IM LOOKING AT YOU 60% KEYBOARDS)

[@scfcsmithy]

Anybody know what mouse pad/ desk mat that is?

[@fissavids8767]

Working in CAD, a left hand numpad is essential

[@ralvin3474]

do you have review for k2 pro? i just bought one replacing my rk m75 for it. i like the dial and screen but i like more simplier keyboard. just the 75 keys layout is perfect to me.

[@leonardallen8754]

Very rare to see such a good review like this. I'm look toward a left handed key board because I'm always getting misaligned with home keys. With the mouse so far to the right and on the other side of the number pad which should be to the left side so I could use my free hand. Right handed keyboards just aren't natural with the PC

[@RJLightning68]

Would love to try this keyboard out for myself

[@backnunAndy]

I hope that number keys and function keys of number pad should be left oriented as well.

[@privateuploads5397]

Love that its programmable I mean can be set to macros for those nums. However, I dont like the num caps in there, probably buy it and replace the num caps with M1 M2 M3 etc..

[@overtherainbow3772]

My k2v2 just started to have bt issue updated firmware now is even worst dedicated wireless connection

[@AlJey007]

for me, personally, there's only two keyboards that exist for two completely different purposes at home I have a model M 1391401, worlds greatest keyboard of all time there is no argument there, I don't care what anyone says it is simply the ultimate tactile finger pleasure device but, when I'm at work and I just need to get sht done fast, nothing beats the tiny Apple magic keyboard, even on windows I could type with my eyes closed on that thing, the correct keys just jump right under my fingers all by themselves, it is so ergonomic

[@puchangnie4616]

how does neepoolock left handed mechanical keyboard do

[@6891s]

i should get one to replace my old keyboard cuz i have to push my keyboard to the edge of my desk when im playing games that involve wasd which make me kinda uncomfortable if hold in a position for a long time and i have some problems that the numberpad is too far of my mice so i have to reach out a lot more to use it

[@d-floe]

Keychron always makes it hard not to recommend them to friends and family due to the layouts and value propositions

[@cyberking3604]

do you keep all the tech from your videos?

[@jmanguming]

hey i just got my first custom keyboard and i was wondering what stabs would u recommend for thock for the IDOBAO ID80 V2

[@Gr4phite]

Can you make a receiw on the keychron c1 pro?

[@paothegig148]

No wireless mode?

[@nadgara]

I would love it if you could swap out the switches on the microcenter brand keyboard. I just got it and i wanted to mod it with the gateron milky yellow pro. Any thoughts or suggestions?

[@charcky824]

hey, im just wondering what keyboard i can get for £30-£40 that i can also mod a bit to make is sound/ feel better ( any reccomendations help) this would be my first mod so i kinda want it to be simple

[@covoeus]

> "This is the most ideal keyboard layout" > Row stagger

[@vinnieb977]

ortho gang!

[@Bivs_setup]

I still need to wait for my Keychron. No MicroCentre in Australia 🇦🇺. Just received my K10 Pro. Not sure how my left hand would handle the Q12 😅 Careful re the Shorts and affiliate links. Hipyo is not a fan of the KZbin changes.

[@capberganza]

I just got my first keyboard, for budget reasons I went with the k8 pro, any comments or suggestions? Honestly I dont have any previous experience with keyboards and this is a big step up from the previous one