CNC aluminum chassis and gasket mount for superior typing comfort. Fully customizable with QMK/VIA support, this 65% Alice layout keyboard includes hot-swappable switches. Vibrant RGB backlighting and N-Key Rollover. Compatible with both MAC and Windows systems.
Surcharges: 1.2% Card & PayPal, 2% AmEx.
Free shipping excludes WA, NT & remote areas.
Other stores selling for $150-190 so it is a decent deal.
I've been using a split board for the last 6 months or so. I think if you can touch type then Alice layout will be fine, although you might find a couple of "bad habits" that you need to change.
its just teaching muscle memory if you type on alice for awhile you will get used to it and it becomes no different to typing on other keyboards. it should not take longer than a week or two to relearn muscle memory. then if you stay with the alice as your only keyboard you will have zero issues.
it also helps to speed things up if you type keys with the proper hand. e.g. your left hand goes no further than TGB, and your right hand goes no further than YHN. its very common for people to sometimes type the B key with the right hand though so thats why the Monsgeek has right hand B key position as optional.
the problems only appear for me when I switch between keyboards. I like to rotate between TKL, Alice, full size and full size with chiclet switches. every time I switch from alice to standard I get an odd feeling and some mistypes, it goes away quickly though. then same thing when I switch back to alice.
Type on them a bit and you'll get used to it. Well, unless you don't, and some people can't. But I didn't have a problem with it when I used one for a while. It was comfortable enough.
It's quite handy having a control or function key under your thumb (or potentially forefinger) when you're using a 65% layout. And for some reason I did like the split spacebar. I also seem to be left thumb spacing more these days on a full size spacebar after typing with the Alice, when I hardly ever did before.
The thing I didn't like though, was the length of it. They are long. Can almost the size of a normal 104 key sized keyboard, and half the reason I want to go with a different layout is due to a shorter keyboard and being able to move the mouse around when I don't have to reposition my whole arm going from mouse to keyboard (or vice versa).
The thing I didn't like though, was the length of it. They are long. Can almost the size of a normal 104 key sized keyboard
yeah dont know about this Monsgeek. but I have a 60% Alice its about 1cm narrower than a TKL which is definitely surprising when comparing keys. it is shorter though so takes up less deskspace that way.
total size does also depend on keyboard bezel size so the Monsgeek alice does look pretty chunky I can definitely see it approaching full size width together with the arrow and navigation keys.
I find 60% with VIA programmed with layers very handy because your fingers dont need to move off home position. everything extra is only a key hold away I find it very efficient and even considered remapping my TKL/full size this way even if it means never using the extra keys. I am even too lazy to extend for the number row so I pushed that down to the qwerty row.
Geez. I really need to proof read my replies before I send them… :/ 'be'
Anyway… Had a second thought about it, and had a bit of a look online about 104 keyboard lengths. 44cm seems kind of common. My FancyAlice66 is only 36cm long (about the length of the MonsGeek). Hmm. Seems I was over-exaggerating a bit. I must have been going by the vibe.
Still, it's longer than my 75%s by 3 or so cm, about 4cm longer than my 65%, and 7cm longer than my 60%. So they're not exactly compact.
I find 60% with VIA programmed with layers very handy because your fingers dont need to move off home position.
I've remapped my capslock key to be control on the boards where I can now, along with split backspace. Both of those changes I like. But I'm still struggling with having to use the function key for arrows on my 60%, particularly when also trying to add in the control or shift keys. Sometimes, a dedicated key would just be nice. Ha! So I guess a 65% is probably the smallest I would prefer to use. Although the location of the function key does also make a difference.
FancyAlice66 is only 36cm long (about the length of the MonsGeek). Hmm.
I mean I have a 60% Alice (narrower than Monsgeek but basically equal to TKL), TKL and a full size mech all here. so if 60% Alice = TKL, I can definitely see the Monsgeek Alice being wider than the TKL. The full size I have the Keychron Q6 does have bezels on the narrower side though.
but yeah it is a whole numpad longer than the 60% Alice.
I've remapped my capslock key to be control on the boards where I can now, along with split backspace
yeah definitely on the same page here. Caps is always Control. Love split backspace. although I map Pipe key to backspace (with the back legend keycap) because it brings it down a row and the split back allows all symbol legends on the board when Esc goes next to !1.
for this reason I think an Alice isn’t an Alice without split back imo. Otherwise you are missing a symbol key.
I’m not a fan of putting Esc at the top of the three navigation keys at the top left of the board. it feels detached and I never liked it. for me those navigation keys are reserved for Delete(Prt Scr), Home (Pg Up) and End (Pg Dn).
funny I don’t use arrows all that much. if ever I only use left/right, I have those mapped to right control and split Right shift (on different rows but staggered).
the same keys are up/down on another layer but I never use them.
some people who use arrows often will just map it HHKB style or similar. so right where your right hand will usually be close to home position.
What's with the surcharge?
A way of disguising the real price, US-sales-tax style
It's missing the key caps :-)
and missing switches. that's what "barebone" in the title means, everything except switches and keycaps.
sometimes they will include cable and or stabilizers. in this case looks like only stabs are included.
I was fine with the missing switches but missing key caps is a deal breaker :P
barebone is considered a positive for enthusiasts because it means a lower entry price and often the bundled switches and keycaps are mediocre to begin with. almost all the time the included ones are quickly replaced then shoved into a box never to be used again.
not part of the community anymore but switch feel and keycap appearance are a very subjective thing. so yeah tbh most people really dislike included keycaps because they rarely suit you anyway.
I remember Monsgeek being mentioned somewhere.
they seem to be a budget VIA/QMK supported "aluminum" semi premium alternative like keychron. except keychron has had their success while I think Monsgeek name is still kinda niche.
still Monsgeek deal prices seem to be lower than keychron so worth a try I guess.
VIA/QMK support varies, newer monsgeek and akko use the cloud driver, no via/qmk support. Lots of the old models also didn't support via/qmk either. You need to do your research before buying a lot of the less common brands. Keychron at least have website that is easy to understand the product line up and specs.
newer monsgeek and akko use the cloud driver, no via/qmk support.
didnt know that. good thing to know. at least the alice in this post does claim VIA/QMK support.
Monsgeek is a sub brand of Akko
yeah not trying to say its guaranteed crap or anything.
just keychron has had a lot of success since early days just after their kickstarter. I joined r/MK just before the Q1 was released and every single post on the sub was a GMMK Pro. after that every single post was a keychron Q1. since then keychron has grown a lot. they have a huge lineup and value/quality is great for what you pay.
I remember Akko being on sold by Epomaker which had a pretty terrible reputation. I know Akko is its own separate brand but it was also not ever really "big" in the community. they released good stabs though with foam inside so no mods necessary I remember that.
I remember Akko released a few keyboards but they were never extremely popular so the brand didnt grow like keychron did.
Keychron now is mainstream brand form what I can see akko has been getting some attention within the past few years. Monster is still up and coming
I have a Keychron Q6 which is very nice . I Bought a Keychron K10 Pro for work (no where near as nice )
Recently thought I'd give the Monsgeek M2 a crack but it was dissapointing experience . It feels like it's built like a tank but the typing experience is not so great .
By the time you buy switches and decent keys it's not really any cheaper and you are just guessing that you will like the switches and keys .
Has anyone found an alice annoying to use? Or does it just take getting used to? Not sure on the point of the layout