Darknight Keyboard

Overview

The Darknight keyboard, also known by its alias RedBaron, is an innovative split ergonomic keyboard designed to provide a comfortable typing experience. It features an ortholinear layout, which means that the keys are arranged in straight columns rather than staggered rows, promoting a natural hand position. The keyboard’s design emphasizes ergonomics, making it suitable for users who spend long hours typing or gaming.

Design and Layout

The Darknight keyboard boasts a distinctive split architecture, allowing the two halves to be positioned independently to suit the user’s ergonomic needs. Both halves feature a symmetrical design, maintaining a clean aesthetic while ensuring equal functionality. The keyboard’s case is made from 3D-printed materials, which not only gives it a unique look but also supports tenting. For those who prefer even more ergonomic positioning, the Darknight includes an option for high-angle tenting, bringing it close to a vertical keyboard form. Each half consists of a key matrix with 5 rows and 6 columns, providing a total of 60 keys, including one dedicated thumb key on each side.

Features

A standout feature of the Darknight keyboard is its ortholinear layout, which can enhance comfort and efficiency for typists. It supports Cherry MX mechanical switches, allowing for a variety of tactile feedback options depending on user preference. Notably, the keyboard is hardwired with a USB connection, ensuring a reliable connection during usage. Although it does not support wireless connectivity, its sturdy build and design focus on optimizing the typing experience outweigh this limitation. The Darknight is fully open-sourced, inviting users to explore its design and functionality via its GitHub repository.

Buy or Build

The Darknight keyboard encourages the DIY spirit, as it is open-sourced and provides users with the resources to either build their own or modify existing designs. For those who enjoy tinkering with hardware and customizing their setups, the option to build the keyboard provides an engaging project. The detailed build guide, available on its GitHub page, lays out all the necessary information to assemble the keyboard from scratch. Alternatively, users can seek out completed versions online if they prefer not to undertake a DIY project.

Similar Keyboards

Keyboards similar to the Darknight keyboard include:

• Dactyl Manuform Skeleton Edition: This unique variant of the Dactyl Manuform features keyboard components mounted on standoffs, resulting in an almost vertical orientation.

• Fortitude60: A 60% split keyboard that employs a staggered column layout, providing a comfortable typing experience.

• For Science: This ergonomic split keyboard boasts 46 keys arranged in an ortholinear layout, complete with a three-key thumb cluster for added convenience.

More information on the Darknight keyboard is available here, where you can also find the build guide.