Trying to find out how difficult (or not) it will be to switch from iso layout to ansi. Main reason is the much better choice of keycaps that will be available.
Have any of you made the switch ? If so how difficult was it ?
I switched from ISO to ANSI a few month ago. I touch type and I need German umlauts. Just as a background. This required me to find a layout that supports umlauts. I went with EurKEY. Overall, switching was easy. I do need a larger AltGr for umlauts but overall, switching was no big deal. I do like the shape of the return key on ANSI and that there are fewer keys right to my right pinky (on the home row). Typing umlauts is slightly less convenient, especially when capitalized, but not by much. Switching between ISO and ANSI and at the same time German layout and EurKEY is easy for me. Side note: I switched for the same reason (keycaps) and for writing code.
Nice to know. I’m also an ISO-DE user. I assume you use standard US ANSI keycaps and then in either the OS or Firmware you make the EurKEY binds for the modifiers ?
So far I have been having US international in Windows Setup. Seems to work okay ish so far but I don’t type German that offen. Mostly coding and English.
Different shape return needs getting used to and constantly mistake where the “?” Key and braces are.
I will look into EurKEY thanks for the reply already.
I use Linux where EurKEY is available w/o extra install. On Windows, EurKEY can be installed as a layout. I use US ANSI keycaps. The good thing about EurKEY is that ‘ä’ is on AltGr-a, ‘ö’ on AltGr-o. Much easier to remember than US International, at least for German.
I made the switch from ISO DE to ANSI US and I got used to it pretty quickly. I mainly switched because of the better layout for programming.
This keyboard supports QMK, you can create macros for whatever keys you’re missing. You can also swap characters if you like. @Waldhuette
I switched from the Italian layout to ANSI for the same reason, bought a Keychron and wanted more choice in keycaps.
Honestly it wasn’t as difficult as I thought, it was like learning how to drive a different car after using the same one for years: some buttons are in different places but the thing itself works the same way.
Main reason is the much better choice of keycaps that will be available.
That’s the problem with this hobby. I’m really used to ANSI ES and it’s a pain to get spanish keycaps. My solution was go for 40% and forget about what’s printed on keycaps.