After spending the past year or two typing on my trusty Apple Magic Keyboard, I decided to switch to one of my Keychron V3 QMK customs (with the knob on the board). While coding, I found that the arrow keys were difficult to locate, and the short travel of the Apple keys made me feel a bit lazy.
The Keychron V3 is a versatile keyboard that excels in various tasks. However, I find it particularly well-suited for coding. The clacking sound of the keys creates a rhythmic pattern that helps me get into a flow state. I also enjoy the macros that can be programmed to perform specific actions, and the LED backlight on the keys is particularly useful in low-light conditions.
I’ve become so fond of the Keychron V3 that I’ve purchased one for my home office and my office at work. Since I’m currently working from home, it has become an even more valuable companion.
However, I encountered a minor issue when I tried to connect the keyboard to my laptop. I had forgotten how to do it, and I was attempting to enter pairing mode, which doesn’t exist on the Keychron V3. Fortunately, I remembered that I had a USB cable lying around and was able to connect the keyboard directly to the laptop without the need for pairing.
While the knob on the Keychron V3 is a great feature, I already have the media keys on my laptop, so I can use the knob for tasks like After Effects and Premiere Pro. It’s a simple mechanical feature that I’ve sworn to myself would be essential for serious work, and it’s true that knobs are cool. Whether or not I need to use it is up to me, but having one an inch away from my right hand certainly makes me feel more like a boss.
I remember spending a pretty penny on these tank-like builds, but I think you can get them for under $100 these days. If you’re new to the mechanical keyboard game – consider picking one up. They are better than a nice shave and a haircut.