There aren’t many DIY keyboard parts/shops in my european country (at least I couldn’t find one), but I found GMMK keyboard in a local (mostly online tho) shop. Is it a good pick? Will it allow me to freely rebuild it with other parts (even pcb)? How is it with software and features? Does it lack any featuers I may not know I may need (I never have used so small keyboard, my current one is TKL)?
I’m not sure about PCB, but you want swap switches and keycaps. But you can install QMK on the pcb, and then you have all the options in the world for defining keycaps, layers, etc. I found it nice when I had it in hand. First alu case I’ve had in hand. I think it’s a very solid pick!
About features, then you of course need to learn to not use arrow keys etc. But you can remap so much! Personally, I like to use Space as a modifier: if I press and release, it gives a space. If I hold it, it activates a layer. I then use ijkl as arrow keys. I have a TKL, by with that mapping, I no longer move to the arrow keys.
I have a GMMK Pro and it’s a solid board. You can certainly rebuild it with new parts and many people will recommend you swap out the stock stabilizers ASAP but I think you’ll have a harder time with the PCB since they’re generally manufactured to fit precisely within that particular case. GMMK Software is kinda dog shit last time I tried to use it but it’s been a few years.
the GMMK is a solid board, I have a fullsized V2, BUT newer versions dont support QMK and frankly I cant suggest any keyboard that cant be customized by QMK or controlled by VIA (gui for QMK).
Keychron is my go to safe quality prebuilt board. They have a wide selection of layouts, switches, caps and even bare-bones setups that come without caps/switches.
I would suggest seeing if you can order one from them over the GMMK just for QMK support alone.
I personally drive a K4v2 which only has unofficial QMK support but at least it has some!
GMMK is a good starter board. I don’t know how available parts are for it as I’ve never rebuilt mine. Honestly I’d try out kbd boards or something similar first. Much more customized and you can rebuild if needed as they sell their pcbs on their site.
I just realized this post is two years old. My bad.
