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+{:author "pepe"
+ :title "Enter the Knight"
+ :description "I have new keyboard"
+ :date "2021-10-09"
+ :template "/templates/blog"}
+---
+
+This post is another love letter to the piece of technology I like a lot. Not
+so hot passion, definitely not that long time spent together, yet I need to
+write about it. And on it.
+
+## X-Bows Knight
+
+As you may already guess, this post is about the keyboard—concretely the
+@link[https://x-bows.com/collections/keyboards/products/x-bows-knight-ergonomic-mechanical-keyboard][X-Bows Knight].
+I have been using it for only a couple of weeks, but I am
+already almost unable to use any other keyboard. It is not flawless, and I
+already spend some time emailing the producer support, yet there is no rose
+without the thorn, and positive sure reigns my feelings about it.
+
+## Little history
+
+When I switched to Linux, I wanted some ergonomic keyboard, as Apple ones are
+anything that, and my wrists started to complain from time to time. After a
+short search, I have settled for the Microsoft (oh the irony) Sculpt keyboard
+mouse combo. It is a good product for a fair price. In the passing time, I
+have bought one for my wife and my sister too. One of the reasons I liked this
+keyboard a lot was the option to use a wedge-shaped part, which can revert the
+slope of the keyboard. In other words, the keyboard tilts away from the user.
+
+I also improved my touch typing, as the separate parts for each hand dictate
+just that. My wrist felt much more relaxed, and overall basic functionality
+was fine. The only thing I was missing was a better chance to configure the
+keyboard. I have become an avid user of the Sway window manager, so I needed
+to squeeze the maximum number of shortcut key combinations so that the mouse
+could rest. And I was not into using something like keyd.
+
+## Enter the Knight
+
+Then one night chatting with the best computer friend, we touched the issue,
+as I was almost ordering the Ergodox keyboard, I have found lately. He
+told me that he bought the X-Bows Knight and, except for the problems with
+customs during the Covid, is very happy he did. And that he just received a
+promo email about the new version of the keyboard they started to sell (not
+deliver, though), which uses QMK software for configuration. I immediately
+went to the product page and bought one. And I started to wait.
+
+After a couple of months, I received an email that keyboards started to be
+delivered and should await mine. And in another couple of weeks, the delivery
+service messaged me that they had something for me tomorrow. I was not at
+home, but the agent who received it from the messenger (aka brother-in-law)
+confirmed that package size and shape hints on the keyboard.
+
+## Flash uaaa
+
+I unpacked the keyboard, connected it, and it started the light show
+(literally). I tamed the light for one consistent color and started to use
+it. And I was happy from the start. In the evening, I showed it to my wife,
+and she was not that enthusiastic about it as I was. So I decided to show
+her the magic: QMK configuration and flashing. I removed caps and put escape
+on it, switched the left alt and OS key (my mod Sway key), and disabled the
+Enter key on the right side. I downloaded the compiled software and used the
+Windows version to flash it. But something seemed odd with the new software,
+so I decided to put the default configuration from the QMK. And the light went
+off. I started wev and found that the keyboard is connected and responding
+(good), but it works only as part of the numerical keypad in the left top
+corner. And definitely, there was no binding for the DFU mode, which is
+needed to flash it again. So I wrote to X-Bows support about another way
+to enter DFU and received an answer requesting a demonstration video showing
+the malfunction. I replied I was unsure what I would put into the video and
+told me about that reset button. In the second reply, I received the guide, I
+removed all caps, all switches, half of the screws, a box with the motherboard,
+screws on it, and voila, I saw the small switch button. I powered the keyboard
+while holding it, and in DFU mode, it came up in factory settings. Hurray!
+
+## Usage
+
+So I again configured QMK software, booted Windows, and flashed it. Everything
+is ok from that moment. I started small with not too many keys changed
+at a time, but after a couple of flashes (uaaaa), I have a pretty unique
+setup. The whole bottom line of the keys is changed. Left space is left alt
+when held; right space is right alt when held. Bottom ctrl is open paren when
+tapped, and bottom shift is closing paren when tapped (@link[why-i-will-stay-janet.html][I will stay Janet!]).
+And so much more. I am already at the place where I have a tough time using
+any other keyboard. One of the keyboards' features is choosing the type
+of switches when you buy one. I chose the brown silent, and I find them
+very comfortable. I have never paid attention to this on my old keyboards,
+but now I feel the difference when sitting by the MS Sculpt. I also very
+much like the RGB color of the backlight. You can have not only color and
+shade you like. You can have an effect where light is pulsing, rotating,
+and swirling, even in the reaction of your key presses. Not that I use this
+feature, I settled for nice reddish amber color for that night's oil burning.
+On the minus side, I would like to mention that it is not easy to make a
+slope in the other direction, as is possible with the MS Sculpt, but I am
+already designing a custom 3D printed wedge for this purpose. Also, the
+wristband bought together with the keyboard is not to my liking, but the
+cheap one I ordered separately from local amazon is perfectly ok.
+
+## Finale
+
+As I already wrote, even after a couple of weeks of using this keyboard, I
+am delighted with the buy, and I highly recommend it to friends and random
+people. I think it is outstanding value for the excellent price. And they
+even released the cheap Lite model without the QMK support tho.