Israfel

As someone deep into ergo split keyboards, owning things like the ZSA Voyager, a custom Sofle Choc, Corne(s), etc, I 'm impressed with this board. I got it because it seemed novel and at the very least a fun build and display piece. Turns out it's actually an excellent keyboard with a sound profile that beats any other ergo split I've used. The POM switches are nice, instructions are clear and easy to follow, and RGB is excellent. My only complaint is not using shine through keycaps, seems like a real missed opportunity. If you want to dip your toes into split ergo/ortholinear boards, I highly recommend this. I don't think there is a single other ergo-split board that comes anywhere close to the value proposition on offer here.

Legos and mechanical keyboards in one product? A cost effective way into both ortholinear AND split layouts? What's not to love? Instructions were good. Key switch quality is great. They're a pleasure to type on. Super impressed with the VIAL software, since the default configuration wouldn't have ended up working for me, but being able to customize it was essential and very much appreciated. Overall, if you're curious about ortho and/or split keyboards you can't go wrong with this one at the price.

The only reason I can’t give this cool little keyboard 5 stars is because there is no easy way to configure the LED lights individually. I created a Caps Lock shortcut that would be nice to see an indicator light when it has been activated. From what I gathered, it’s possible to do it, but it requires coding that I’m unfamiliar with. However, the keyboard itself is fun to put together and fairly easy to customize. I wish they had included some blank key caps.

It's a fantastic keyboard for the price, surprisingly comfortable and a very good first step towards orgolinear layouts. If you start with Corne v4 it might be difficult (I did), but if you start with this, it feels just right. Vial is a powerful tool, so being able to use it out of the box is also brilliant, you basically can set up as many layers and as many combinations or macros or whatever as you want, just like that, and it saves immediately onto your keyboard. Anyway, I love the design and I like how surprisingly solid it is. And it's my only keyboard made of freaking Legos, how cool is that???

This was fun to build until you realize that there aren’t keys for some of the spots. It would have been great to have keys that fit every spot, even blank ones would have been good. I had to use a shift key and a + key in weird spots that don’t make sense, and even then, they don’t fit well.

I've finally gotten serious about learning Dvorak and getting an ergonomic keyboard, at the insistence of my hands and wrists--but ergonomic keyboards can be expensive. But very recently KBDCraft came out with this keyboard, reasonably priced, some assembly required but *no soldering* (yay!), and well spoken of in reviews. So I ordered one, and it arrived quickly. The instructions could use more details for a beginner like me. To make up for it... * Read Gadgetoid's review, which gives advice on getting the first few switches in place through the plate(s) and into the PCB(s). I did diagonally opposite switches first and then worked my way around the perimeter before working my way in. (Don't do what I did a few times and try to put the key in upside down.) * The next step is building up the sides and top of the case from the blocks. Pretty easy, except that the beveled blocks that go on the left and right hand sides of the halves of the keyboard only connect to one row of protrusions even though they are wider than that. This caused me some issues with the two blocks that hold the cable inside the gap provided for it; the beveled blocks would all too easily roll off the base. I ended up taking them off the base (except for the on the hinge side of the gap), putting the long block on, and then putting the whole subassembly back into position. After that it was down to the key caps. They feel nice and are quite legible...but apparently what you get is a complete key cap set for a full-size QWERTY keyboard. Consequences: * If you want Dvorak, the index finger bumps are on the wrong keys. * There's one full-size space bar--for the split #7 Israfel. If you look at photos of assembled Israfels, you'll see shift key caps placed on the split space bar. I think I want shift on one half and space on the other, but that will be confusing. Guess I'll leave capitalization to tap games and label the spaces as shift...BUT neither shift key cap will fit over the key and the stabilizer without being immovable because it's rammed against the right edge of the left half. Any idea what I did wrong? Once I have it configured and the remaining eight keys capped (only the left space half is a physical problem for that), I'm sure I will enjoy it immensely, and if a fumble-fingered total DIY keyboard newbie like me can get it almost done in a day, I'm sure the average person will have little to no trouble. I'm happy to have gotten it and dipped my toe in the water. UPDATE: with the gracious help of KBDCraft and careful watching of YouTube videos on the Israfel and on stabilizers, my #7 Israfel is assembled, and I'm now learning the ways of Vial so I can configure it.

Bought it just cause it looked cool and i would fit my wall pretty nicely, but ended up becoming my daily driver. What an outstandingly good keeb! I love it. The build quality is quite nice, it's worth every penny (and probably more). I only wish the default cable was a different color, but I ended up switching it with a spare one. Typing on it might be weird to begin with if you're not used to using either split or ortho, but it gets comfortable quite fast.

Good introductory ergo keyboard. I wish it had at left 2 set of thumb buttons. Also the chip is pretty weak so you can't use some home row mods with them reliably.