Multiple keyboards?

Communities Science, Engineering, & Security
1

I've had this idea... Putting two keyboards on my computer and using one of them exclusively for macrokeys, could this be done and how? 

For example have one key on the second keyboard for (Ctrl+C) one for (Ctrl+V) etc... 

To use all keys I would like to have macros like (if ), (then ) and so on... Hopefully my programming would be a bit faster like this... 

If multiple monitors are great for programming then multiple keyboards could be just as great. 

Please let me know if you have any ideas about it, thanks! 

2

you want something that is programmable like a k95 or an opensource keyboard. I don't think you can just reconfigure a standard keyboard without some major modding  (you cant just turn a non-macro keyboard into a macro one)

3

So if I use two Corsair k70 rgb, that would work? Doesn't both keyboards get the same layout if I configure all the keys one one to be macros? 

Is it possible to use regedit to trick windows to belive I only have one keyboard with 210 keys?

4

The only way it would work is if the second keyboard was programmable.  Otherwise, any hotkeys you assign would apply to both keyboards (unless there's a piece of software out there I'm unaware of).

5

What OS are you running?  In linux you could just use xmodmap and xbindkeys to make a ton of macros with the alt key or ctrl key and avoid the extra keyboard all together.  If you want to program faster just use vim :)

6

If you save the profiles onboard then it shouldn't mix with the other one but programming could be a pain because the software might not know how to saved to just one instead of both ... I got the k95 because it has 18 macro keys on the side I can't see needing more then that. (The rgb version should be out soon corsair ran into a huge issue or marketing mistake so everything is delayed) 

You should check out geekhack.com

I really want a ergodox but don't want to build it.. 

7

You can indeed make your own single keyboard with as many extra macros you want and its actually pretty easy if you can solder. has been done for the past decade. You can also get a unicomp keyboard with over 20 extra macro keys. If you like linear stuff,  http://www.ebay.com/itm/380994154944

that can be converted to usb. its a brand new in box ibm linear keyboard from 1985

or you could even use a converted 122 key model m

while geek hack is great n all I think alot of the great users stopped lurking when small fry died.

Would also like to point out that all the real keyboard nerds lurk deskthority

Feel free to shoot me a pm, Id love to go over the options or even help you build a new custom kbd

8

There are keyboards that support different profiles  ... you could just program each setup in a separate profile and then just switch between the two profiles