I wish the folks at raspberry pi would sell the motherboards stag for
the 400/500/500+.

Since they won't, I'msort of exploring the idea of integratingthe mobo
of the 500tomyown keyboard setup than spending $200 for a 500+ with a nonstandard keyboard with yet another power key.

A few weeks ago I discovered the 500+ while doing a quick search for
custom pi500 rigs. It diverted my attention, now, for a few weeks. I was
ALMOST sold on getting the 500+ but was reminded aboutthe customized
nature of the keyboard. The power button is a pain in the ass. They tout
being able to replace the keys... But the power button isn't really on
any keycap kits. And the mapping of LED settings isn't on any other
keycap kits either, that i know of. I'm also not a fan of multimedia
mapping on function keys. I like my F keys to be F keys.

The more I think about thatkeyboard, the less I want it. I want that
NVME and the RAM, but then I dno't really use it on my 500. Is it
something I need or is it just a wishlist item?

What I want is a fullsized keyboard. I know, I'm a dorky dude who is
unlike most others out there who need richter scale clicky keyboards and
60% width and la-dee-fucking-daa LED fuckness. I don't even care if my keyboard has a membrane as long as itworks when i press the keysdown.

Pros Cons

16gb ram custom kb
NVME with 256gb price
Mechanical KB no mobo sold separately
Full sized function keys custom keys
function key mapping notstandard
low profile keycaps

If I am going to volunteer a purchase of mechanical keys, Iwant to
replace thecaps at some point. I've effectively talked myself out of the
500+. But i really fucking hate the 500's keyboard.

I have work ahead.

--- PyGate Linux v1.0
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> wrote:

I wish the folks at raspberry pi would sell the motherboards stag for
the 400/500/500+.

Since they won't, I'msort of exploring the idea of integratingthe mobo
of the 500tomyown keyboard setup than spending $200 for a 500+ with a nonstandard keyboard with yet another power key.

A few weeks ago I discovered the 500+ while doing a quick search for
custom pi500 rigs. It diverted my attention, now, for a few weeks. I was ALMOST sold on getting the 500+ but was reminded aboutthe customized
nature of the keyboard. The power button is a pain in the ass. They tout being able to replace the keys... But the power button isn't really on
any keycap kits. And the mapping of LED settings isn't on any other
keycap kits either, that i know of. I'm also not a fan of multimedia
mapping on function keys. I like my F keys to be F keys.

The 500/500+ keyboards run QMK on a RP2040. So you could just change the mappings in QMK if the particular layout bothers you. Presumably that means you can also rework the LED behaviour if you want too.

For the power button, I think it's just a regular sized keycap? Buy an
extra unlabelled keycap, or reuse another keycap with a sticker?
(do you actually need it to be labelled, or can you just 'know' that button
is the power button?)

I assume if you buy a full 102/etc key set then there will be some keycaps
left over with one you can use for the power key. OK it might have the
decimal point or something printed on it, but can you live with that?

If I am going to volunteer a purchase of mechanical keys, Iwant to
replace thecaps at some point. I've effectively talked myself out of the 500+. But i really fucking hate the 500's keyboard.

I have work ahead.

Seems like a big project to DIY your own thing where some minor tweaks to
the existing design might do it.

Theo

--- PyGate Linux v1.0
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

Theo wrote:

The 500/500+ keyboards run QMK on a RP2040.

I keep meaning to try that on my Durgod K320, but it never feels like a
good day to potentially brick my keyboard ...

Backup keyboards are available...

On the Pi 500 the microcontroller is on the mainboard, on the 500+ it's on
the keyboard PCB. You would be advised to have a secondary keyboard plugged into USB (or connecting to the Pi via SSH) in case something goes wrong with the flash and the keyboard stops working.

Theo

--- PyGate Linux v1.0
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> writes:

Daniel <me@sc1f1dan.com> wrote:

I wish the folks at raspberry pi would sell the motherboards stag for
the 400/500/500+.

Since they won't, I'msort of exploring the idea of integratingthe mobo
of the 500tomyown keyboard setup than spending $200 for a 500+ with a
nonstandard keyboard with yet another power key.

A few weeks ago I discovered the 500+ while doing a quick search for
custom pi500 rigs. It diverted my attention, now, for a few weeks. I was
ALMOST sold on getting the 500+ but was reminded aboutthe customized
nature of the keyboard. The power button is a pain in the ass. They tout
being able to replace the keys... But the power button isn't really on
any keycap kits. And the mapping of LED settings isn't on any other
keycap kits either, that i know of. I'm also not a fan of multimedia
mapping on function keys. I like my F keys to be F keys.

The 500/500+ keyboards run QMK on a RP2040. So you could just change the mappings in QMK if the particular layout bothers you. Presumably that means you can also rework the LED behaviour if you want too.

For the power button, I think it's just a regular sized keycap? Buy an
extra unlabelled keycap, or reuse another keycap with a sticker?
(do you actually need it to be labelled, or can you just 'know' that button is the power button?)

I assume if you buy a full 102/etc key set then there will be some keycaps left over with one you can use for the power key. OK it might have the decimal point or something printed on it, but can you live with that?

Lots of food for thought. Thanks for the reply and thoughtful alternatives.

If I am going to volunteer a purchase of mechanical keys, Iwant to
replace thecaps at some point. I've effectively talked myself out of the
500+. But i really fucking hate the 500's keyboard.

I have work ahead.

Seems like a big project to DIY your own thing where some minor tweaks to
the existing design might do it.

It would, indeed, be a huge project especially for a custom wireless
mechanical build. Most barebone offerings are wired keyboards so I was
going down the rabbit hole.

I mean, it could be rewarding in the end but it would be a long
development period for a working solution.

I will explore your suggestions.

Theo

--- PyGate Linux v1.0
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

druck <news@druck.org.uk> writes:

On 08/10/2025 23:18, Daniel wrote:

The more I think about thatkeyboard, the less I want it. I want that
NVME and the RAM, but then I dno't really use it on my 500. Is it
something I need or is it just a wishlist item?
What I want is a fullsized keyboard.

Then forget about the 500/500+ form factor.

Get a Pi 5 and a case with built in NVMe (Argon40's Neo 5 or One V5
for full size HDMIs) and stick it behind the TV or monitor. You can
then use whatever keyboard you want, either wired or wireless. I use
both full size wireless, or mini wireless with integral track pads.

---druck

I'm a fan of the wedge form factor, so the 400/500/500+ is in my
criteria. It's easy enough to duct tape a machine behind a monitor for a poor-man imac.

I will get a 500+ once it's no longer sold out where it is priced
fairly. And I will go down the rabbit hole of my own custom build at
leisure.

D

--- PyGate Linux v1.0
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 09/10/2025 21:35, druck wrote:

Then forget about the 500/500+ form factor.

Get a Pi 5 and a case with built in NVMe (Argon40's Neo 5 or One V5 for
full size HDMIs) and stick it behind the TV or monitor. You can then use whatever keyboard you want, either wired or wireless. I use both full
size wireless, or mini wireless with integral track pads.

+1

--
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They
always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them"

Margaret Thatcher


--- PyGate Linux v1.0
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 18/11/2025 17:39, Andy Burns wrote:

Theo wrote:

Andy Burns wrote:

Theo wrote:

The 500/500+ keyboards run QMK on a RP2040.

I keep meaning to try that on my Durgod K320, but it never feels like a
good day to potentially brick my keyboard ...

Backup keyboards are available...

Well, yesterday I spilled half a pint of water* into my keyboard, so I
had to disassemble the Durgod (which was a real bastard involving half a dozen lolly sticks and four credit cards) to dry it out.

Oh. many years ago I left a computer by an open window in Johannesburg.
And a thunderstorm soaked it through.
I simply let it dry out for a day.

Before re-assembling it, I decided to risk flashing QMK, I have to say
it was one of the least friendly flashing processes of any device I've
ever done, but I got there in the end, without bricking it.

The end result is impressive, it now allows me to do all the things I
wished the Durgod customisation would have allowed at the time I bought
the keyboard, but turned out to not be pssible.ÿ The customised "layers"
are all stored natively within the keyboard, not using any runtime o/s driver.

[*] actually a salty electrolyte drink, which I figure could do worse
things to the PCB than even a sugary drink?

Ah, so not water then?

In such cases simply submerge the thing in reasonably fresh water.,
shake it a bit and leave it to dry...
.
Water doesn't harm electronics that are not switched on...


--
It is the folly of too many to mistake the echo of a London coffee-house
for the voice of the kingdom.

Jonathan Swift



--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 18/11/2025 17:56, Andy Burns wrote:

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

In such cases simply submerge the thing in reasonably fresh water.,
shake it a bit and leave it to dry...
Water doesn't harm electronics that are not switched on...

I wasn't convinced that washing a nice-ish mechanical keyboard would do
the keyswitches much good ...

It's a funny thing, but people associate water with rust, and rightly so.,
But it takes a lot of water AND air to do rust.

Iron in oxygen free water does not rust. One of the experiments we did
at school...

Key switches are gold plated bronze most likely. Washing is fine...just
the springs to worry about...

--
In todays liberal progressive conflict-free education system, everyone
gets full Marx.


--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:09:05 +0000, The Natural Philosopher wrote:

Iron in oxygen free water does not rust.

How do you make some? And how long does it stay oxygen-free?

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:39:08 +0000, Andy Burns wrote:

... but turned out to not be pssible.

Good moaning, Officer Crabtree!

--- PyGate Linux v1.5
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)