Re: Homebrew pi400

On 28/09/2025 08:51, Daniel wrote:

I'm sort of nervous that the 500+'s spacebar is junk. Will it register a
keypress if the thumb hits it on the far side? I don't know.

I ordered my 500+ on Thursday almost as soon as I saw the announcement, and it arrived on Friday so I've had a couple of days to play with it.
The keyboard is really nice. It's not as nice as the filco keyboard on my PC, which uses Cherry Blue keyswitches, but that keyboard cost almost as much as the Pi 500+ all on its own. The 500+ has a well-constructed keyboard with proper mechanical keyswitches; it's nice to type on and, yes, the spacebar is usable for its whole length.

What bugs me is their intention to customize their keycaps and insist on
a custom power button that most other keycap replacements lack. That,
and nonstandard buttons for led controls, etc.
 They brag about being able to replace the keys, but can't replace them
all. The enter key is also non-standard and replacement keys have to be
fenagled to fit right.

I think the point is that you *can* change the keycaps, not that you have to, or that they expect you to. It probably simplifies the process of supporting various AZERTY and QWERTZ keyboard variants.
They're using standard keyswitches (with the addition of RGB LEDs underneath) so you'd expect the keycaps to be removable. I don't know how hard it would be to source third-party *transparent* keytops, so that the legend glows through, though.
I've kept the lighting turned off, so far, but it is nice that the CAPS LOCK button lights up by way of an indicator (there's no NUM LOCK (or numeric keypad) or SCROLL LOCK).

I sort of hesitate on getting the 500+. I saw somewhere a kit can be
installed under the keys to make them less clacky. Any truth to that?

I don't know about any kit ...
The keyswitches in the 500+ may be "Blue", but they're not as clicky as Cherry Blue. Clicky enough to give some feedback, but not intrusive.
Then again, I like Cherry Blue so I may be inured to the click.
--
Cheers,
  (a different) Daniel.