first keyboard post done

CarsonDavis · Sep 27, 2024 · 04e5bd7 · 04e5bd7
1 parent 29c395a
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diff --git a/_posts/2023-12-21-keyboard_buying.md b/_posts/2023-12-21-keyboard_buying.md
@@ -6,31 +6,33 @@ categories: [keyboards, buying]
 tags: []
 description: Split keyboard buying guide.
 media_subpath: /keyboard-buying-guide/
-image: 
-published: False
+image: 20240927_143409.jpg.webp
+published: True
 ---
 ## Post Glossary
-The following posts are planned around the subject of ergonomic, programmable keyboards. If an item has a link then the post has been written, if not, it is in progress.
+This post is part of a larger series on ergonomic and programmable keyboards. If an item has a link then the post has been written, if not, it is still in progress.
 
-Keyboard Hardware
+<b>Keyboard Hardware</b>
 - Keyboard Comparisons
 - Switch Comparisons
 
-Keyboard Build Guides
-- Keyboard Buying Guide
+<b>Keyboard Build Guides</b>
+- [Keyboard Buying Guide]({% link _posts/2023-12-21-keyboard_buying.md %})
 - Keyboard Build Guide
 - Keyboard Software Guide
 
-Layouts
+<b>Layouts</b>
 - Colemak Basics
 - Colemak Learning Statistics
 - Programmable Keyboard Basics
-- Our Layout
+- Layouts in Practice
 
-## Topics to Cover
-The Corne is perhaps the most popular split keyboard on the market, and for good reason. It is small, ergonomic, and highly customizable. You can buy them fully assembled, partially soldered, or completely DIY. They come in many configurations: wired/wireless, Choc/MX, 5/6 column, RGB LED, underglow, transparent back, aluminum body and more.
+## Overview
+There are enough split keyboards on the market to warrant their own dedicated post, so I will not give a full accounting here. I've personally used 7 different split keyboard designs and researched many more, and have developed some definite preferences. I'm currently using a wireless MX Corne with Kailh Box Whites running ZMK, so that is the keyboard I will focus on in this post.
 
-This page will outline two particular DIY build options, a budget-oriented wired corne utilizing many inexpensive parts from China, and a premium wireless corne with the nicest components.
+The Corne is perhaps the most popular split keyboard on the market, and for good reason. It is small, ergonomic, and highly customizable. You can buy them fully assembled, partially soldered, or completely DIY. They come in many configurations: wired/wireless, Choc/MX, 5/6 column, RGB LED, underglow, transparent back, aluminum body, and more.
+
+This page will outline two particular DIY build options, a budget-oriented, wired corne utilizing many inexpensive parts from China, and a premium, wireless corne with the nicest components.
 
 There are many retailers that sell corne kits, but I only have personal experience with keebd.com and typeractive.xyz. Both are fine companies, but all my recent purchases have been from typeractive.xyz. They are based in the US, have rapid shipping, and their kits are more beginner friendly, with most of the difficult soldering already completed. 
 
@@ -56,66 +58,58 @@ No matter what site you end up using, you will absolutely need the following com
 | Header Pins             | 14  | many people don't use these but I highly recommend      |
 | Rubber Feet             | 8   |       |
 | Key Switches            | 42  |       |
-| Keycaps                 | 42   |       |
+| Keycaps                 | 42  |       |
 | TRS Cable               | 1   | wired only      |
 | TRRS Jacks              | 2   | wired only      |
 | Batteries               | 2   | wireless only      |
 
-## Budget Build
-| Component               | Num | Notes |
-|-------------------------|-----|-------|
-| [NPKC Blank Thick PBT OEM Profile 61 ANSI Keycaps Dark Gray](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WLMM1F5)	|18 | there are tons of keycap options on amazon, aliexpress, and premium sites. |
-| [Outemu Switches](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805690299829.html)	|15 | Search Outemu switches on aliexpress and pick whatever you like  |
-| [Corne Wireless Partially Assembled PCB](https://typeractive.xyz/products/corne-partially-assembled-pcb)	|35 | |
-| [Corne Case](https://typeractive.xyz/products/corne-case?variant=45740991447271)	|20 | |
-| [Corne Display Cover](https://typeractive.xyz/products/corne-display-cover?variant=45845171536103)	|5 | |
-| [nice!view](https://typeractive.xyz/products/nice-view?_pos=1&_sid=e60d45bf6&_ss=r)	|40 | |
-| [nice!nano](https://typeractive.xyz/products/nice-nano)	|50 | |
-| [Liter 601230 3.7V 200mAh](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09WN9W5YV)	|18 | |
-
-
 ## Buying from Aliexpress
-Aliexpress certainly has a reputation for being sketchy and unrealiable, but I have bought hundreds of dollars of parts from them with no problems. The key is to buy from sellers who have high ratings and many reviews. Listings sometimes change or disappear, so if a link in my post doesn't work, just search for the part and you will find many options.
+Aliexpress has a reputation for being sketchy and unreliable, but I have bought hundreds of dollars of parts from them with no problems. The key is to buy from sellers who have high ratings and many reviews. Listings sometimes change or disappear, so if a link in my post doesn't work, just search for the part and you will find many options.
 
-Aliexpress offers sales in many formats, for new customers and as coupons on items. Often you will pay half the list price after the sales are considered. Always double check other sellers to make sure you are getting the best price.
+Aliexpress offers sales in many formats, both for new customers and as coupons on items. Often you will pay half the list price after the sales are considered. Always double check other sellers to make sure you are getting the best price.
 
 The parts come from China using snail mail, so expect to wait 2-4 weeks for your parts to arrive. 
 
+## Budget Build
+The budget build uses cheaper parts from China when reasonable and goes wired to save on the cost of batteries and microcontrollers. Refer to the Buying from Aliexpress section for more information on buying parts from China. Depending on which parts you get from China, and which from Amazon, this should cost $90-$110. The budget build requires more soldering than the premium build.
 
-optional
-- 2 screens
-- tilt stands
-- RGB LEDs (only recommended for wired builds)
-
+| Component               | Cost | Notes |
+|-------------------------|-----|-------|
+| [Keycaps](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804388405491.html)	|$9 | many options available, I prefer PBT OEM caps |
+| [Outemu Switches](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805690299829.html)	|$15 | search Outemu switches on aliexpress and pick whatever you like  |
+| [Corne v3 Kit](https://keebd.com/en-us/products/corne-cherry-v3-rgb-keyboard-kit?variant=42260940161176)	|$57 | |
+| [Adafruit KB2040](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5302)	x2 |$18 | you can save $10 buying from aliexpress|
+| [Pin Headers](https://keebd.com/en-us/products/ez-solder-machine-sockets-and-headers)	|$6 | optional but highly recommended |
 
-Wireless vs Wired
-- processors, batteries, software
 
 ## Premium Build
-The premium build has some advantages over the budget build. All of the parts are bought from US retailers, so you can be building your keyboard within a week. It is also wireless with premium screens, giving higher resolution and low energy draw. The switches are the nicest available, with options for clicky or tactile. Finally, it comes with adjustable tilt stands, which are an awesome ergonomic feature.
+The premium build has some advantages over the budget build. All of the parts are bought from US retailers, so you can be building your keyboard within a week. It is also wireless with premium screens, giving higher resolution and low energy draw. The switches are the nicest available, with options for clicky or tactile. It also arrives mostly pre-soldered, which greatly expedites the build time. I've included adjustable tilt stands in the table, which are an awesome ergonomic feature. Finally, the software run by the wireless keyboard is more user-friendly than the wired version. The premium build is quite a bit more expensive, costing $200-$250, depending on which parts you buy.
 
-| Component               | Num | Notes |
+| Component               | Cost | Notes |
 |-------------------------|-----|-------|
-| [NPKC Blank Thick PBT OEM Profile 61 ANSI Keycaps Dark Gray](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WLMM1F5)	|18 | |
-| [Kailh Box White 120](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07885QL77)	|35 |  |
-| [Corne Wireless Partially Assembled PCB](https://typeractive.xyz/products/corne-partially-assembled-pcb)	|35 | |
-| [Corne Case](https://typeractive.xyz/products/corne-case?variant=45740991447271)	|20 | |
-| [Corne Display Cover](https://typeractive.xyz/products/corne-display-cover?variant=45845171536103)	|5 | |
-| [nice!nano](https://typeractive.xyz/products/nice-nano)	|50 | |
-| [nice!view](https://typeractive.xyz/products/nice-view)	|40 | optional, but very nice for a beginner |
-| [Liter 601230 3.7V 200mAh](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09WN9W5YV)	|18 | you can also buy smaller batteries for cheaper|
-| [Nillkin Adjustable Laptop Stand](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09M9X31RM)	|17 | optional accessory giving you tilt functionality|
+| [Keycaps](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WLMM1F5)	|$18 | many options available, I prefer PBT OEM caps |
+| [Kailh Box White 120](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07885QL77)	|$35 |  |
+| [Corne Wireless  PCB](https://typeractive.xyz/products/corne-partially-assembled-pcb)	|$35 | |
+| [Corne Case](https://typeractive.xyz/products/corne-case?variant=45740991447271)	|$20 | |
+| [Corne Display Cover](https://typeractive.xyz/products/corne-display-cover?variant=45845171536103)	|$5 | |
+| [nice!nano](https://typeractive.xyz/products/nice-nano) x2|$50 | |
+| [nice!view](https://typeractive.xyz/products/nice-view) x2|$40 | optional, but very nice for a beginner |
+| [Liter 601230 3.7V 200mAh](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09WN9W5YV) x2 |$18 | you can also buy smaller batteries for cheaper|
+| [Nillkin Stand Pair](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09M9X31RM) x2	|$34 | optional accessory giving you tilt functionality|
+| [Pin Headers](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BS126FK)	|$10 | optional but highly recommended |
+
+
 
 ## Component Notes
 ### Batteries
-The batteries used for these keyboards must fit between the PCB and the processor. So the pin headers you use to attach the processor should be considered when selecting a battery. By default, many recommend the 301230 110hAh battery, but since I prefer to use taller pin headers, I use the 601230 200mAh battery. The battery is twice as thick with twice the capacity. Both last a long time, but if you are using taller pin headers, you may as well get the larger battery to match.
+If you make a wireless build, you will need batteries. The batteries used for these keyboards fit between the PCB and the processor, so the height of the pin headers you use to attach the processor to the PCB should be considered when selecting a battery. By default, many recommend the 301230 110mAh battery, but since I prefer to use taller pin headers, I use the larger and higher capacity 601230 200mAh battery.
 
 ### Micro Controllers
 <b>Wireless</b>
 The gold standard for wireless controllers is the nice!nano v2. At $25, it is expensive, but the price comes with premium reliability and power consumption. At the time of writing, there was not a widely available Chinese clone, so you need to buy the real thing.
 
 <b>Wired</b>
-For wired controllers, there are many more options. The premium choice is the $8.95 [Adafruit KB2040](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5302), but you can alternately buy a [Chinese clones](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251801390587459.html) from aliexpress, typically for $4 each. You will need to search for "pro micro" and choose the USB C variant. 
+For wired controllers, there are many more options. The premium choice is the $8.95 [Adafruit KB2040](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5302), but you can alternately buy a [Chinese clone](https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251801390587459.html) from aliexpress, typically for $4. You will need to search for "pro micro" and choose the USB C variant. 
 
 ### Switches
 I will ultimately make an entire post on switches, but for now, let me give some recommendations at different price ranges. Refer to the Buying from Aliexpress section for more information on buying switches from China.