[Gadget] Where a man defeated by the 'clack-clack' sound ended up. The results of using the 'Lofree Flow Lite'

Hello! Last time, I shared my memories of my first mechanical keyboard, the 'CIDOO V75 PRO'.

(Click here for the previous post👇️)

To summarize the last post in one line, it had a sad ending: 'It was too tall and made my wrists tired, and the clack-clack sound I had longed for actually felt noisy after hearing it every day'.

A standard profile (a tall, normal keyboard) plus a loud, assertive clack-clack sound just didn't suit me, having grown up using laptops.

So! Applying the lessons from last time, I welcomed this new one.

It's the 'Lofree Flow Lite'!

It's already a super popular keyboard in the community. You might tease me by saying, 'Isn't that just a standard model?', but I had no other choice. Since it's such a popular gadget, I'll leave the overly detailed specs and unboxing reviews to other people's wonderful articles, and this time, I'll just summarize the realistic usage experience of 'how it was when I actually used it'.

Laptop-raised users rejoice. The pros are 'beyond reproach'

First, to give you the conclusion, regarding the basic specs and typing feel, it was so great that I 'really have nothing to complain about'.

The installed key switches are 'Specter' silent linear switches. These solved all my problems from last time.

Other reviewers are also raving about it, but if I were to describe the merits of this keyboard, it would be like this:

A 'low profile' that makes the transition from a laptop super smooth
This is it, this is it! Because it's low (low profile), there is absolutely no strain on my wrists even without a palm rest. It fit my hands, which are completely used to the 'clack-clack' feel of a laptop, right away.

The quiet and elegant typing feel of the 'Specter switches'
For ears tired of the clack-clack sound, the modest and elegant 'thock... pop-pop...' sound of these Specter switches is just so gentle! It's so quiet that it's at a level where I don't mind it at all even when working in the middle of the night.

Even though it's thin, it still feels like a 'mechanical' keyboard
Low profiles tend to sacrifice typing feel, but because it uses smooth parts made of POM material and adopts a gasket mount cushion structure, you can enjoy the 'feeling of typing on a high-quality keyboard even though it's thin'.

'This is it! My keyboard-hunting journey has finally ended!!' ...For the first few days of using it, I seriously thought so.

Huh? That's strange? (Like a first-grader with glasses)

The typing feel is great. The sound is quiet. The height is perfect. Everything should be perfect, but after I started using it heavily for work, I noticed something.

'...Somehow, I'm making a ton of typos'

When I'm touch-typing, I end up pressing the wrong keys that I would never mistake otherwise. At first, I told myself, 'I'm just not used to the new keyboard yet,' but even after a few days, it didn't get any better at all.

'This is definitely strange. Could it be that this keyboard, while looking like a normal layout, actually has slightly shifted key positions!?'

Suspecting this, I decided to expose the truth on my blog. I lined up my regular keyboard and the "Lofree Flow Lite" one above the other, took some serious photos, and compared them.

Here is the photographic evidence.

Could you tell...?

...Wait, the layout is exactly the same!!!

The space next to the A key and the offset of the Z key matched my regular keyboard perfectly. It was completely my own false accusation. I am truly sorry, Lofree.

The "two traps" that cause typos

So why do I make so many typos? Since I couldn't blame the layout anymore, I did some serious self-analysis (and searched the depths of the internet), and I realized there were "two traps" for me.

Trap 1: The keys are completely flat
On a regular keyboard, the surface of the keys is slightly concave to fit your fingers, or they have a curve (sculpted profile) where the keys get higher toward the back when viewed from the side.

However, the keycaps on the Lofree Flow Lite are nearly "completely flat." On top of that, there is almost no curve in the steps, making the whole thing flat. If you slide your fingers carelessly like you would on a laptop, your fingertips won't catch the center of the keys, causing you to hit the adjacent keys as well. Plus, the Specter switches register with such light force that even a slight touch causes a misfire.

Trap 2: The extra "column" on the far right is unnecessary
Personally, this might be the biggest source of stress. This keyboard has an extra column (PageUp, PageDown, etc.) to the right of the Enter and Backspace keys.

This completely messes up my touch-typing muscle memory. I intend to hit Backspace or Enter with a quick tap of my pinky, but I end up hitting those mysterious keys to the right instead.

To top it off, the frequently used "Delete" key is located "diagonally above" the Backspace key, not directly above it. I don't know how many times I've thought to myself while working, "No way, this extra column on the far right is totally unnecessary!!" (laughs).

Summary: My keyboard-hunting journey continues

The typing feel and sound are amazing. The look is perfect. But it seems this "too-flat shape" and "extra column on the right edge" just didn't suit my sloppy typing skills.

Maybe I would get used to it if I kept using it, but it might be a bit stressful to keep using it while fighting against my ingrained typing habits during work...

So, anyway.

"I have a feeling this keyboard isn't 'the one' for me either."

With that faint premonition, I once again typed "low profile keyboard recommendation" into the search bar.

The keyboard rabbit hole is terrifying. It's just too deep. I never thought the day would come when I'd get all worked up blaming the layout, only to end up spinning my wheels (lol).

I'll continue to bring you the real (and sometimes embarrassing) details of my gadget rabbit holes like this, so I'd be happy if you could support me with a like or a follow! See you next time!