Reader Question: What is a "standard bottom row"?
Q: What is a "standard bottom row"? Why is it important?
A: The bottom row of a keyboard is the row that contains the space bar. Here's an illustration of a standard bottom row
Each standard letter key on a keyboard is considered "1U" size. So a 1.25U key is 1.25 times wider than a standard 1U key, and so on and so forth.
A "standard" bottom row has following characteristics:
(There is one exception. ONE of the keys can be removed from the bottom row without affecting operations. As long as the spacing is not affected, it can still be considered standard bottom row. MagicForce 68 does this by removing the right-most CTRL key in order to squeeze in the arrow cluster. It still uses a regular 6.25U space bar and 1.25U keys)
WHY do we want a standard bottom row?
If we want to replace keys, we generally buy a "keyset", and keysets come with keys for a standard bottom row. If our keyboard doesn't have a standard bottom row, we have to leave the old keys on, and that would clash with the color scheme and whatnot.
Some keysets come with extra keys to address these issues, and sometimes one can buy "compatibility kits" that matches existing sets to accommodate the non-standard keyboards. But it's easier to buy a keyboard with a standard bottom row for maximum compatibility.
Now, pop quiz... Can you tell me whether Corsair Strafe has a standard bottom row or not?
Okay, time's up. Want to see the answer?
Corsair strafe used 3 different sizes of keys to the left of the spacebar, that immediately makes it non-standard. But what's more interesting is what happened to the right side of the spacebar. If you can guesstimate, that's 1.25U, 1U, 1U, and 1.5U. That adds up to... 4.75U. On a standard bottom row, the 4 keys of 1.25U would add together to 5U. As there are no obvious gaps, we must conclude the space bar is 6.5U, rather than a normal 6.25U. You can see this by noting the space bar actually ended between the comma and period keys, rather than in the middle of the comma key.
Now for a tricky one. This is the Logitech G610 Orion. Look CLOSELY at the bottom row.
Look carefully at the bottom row. This one is pretty hard to tell.
See the problem? The two CTRL keys are 1.5U, while the rest are 1.25U. The spacebar's left edge started not in the middle of X, but almost in the gap between X and C. The space bar's right edge started in the MIDDLE of the comma key, when it should be another 0.25U to the right. That means the spacebar is 5.75U.
I have no idea why Logitech do this, as this is different from their G710's, which used a Corsair style bottom row.
And just for the record, Razer has yet ANOTHER bottom row scheme, using only 1.5U and 1U keys, resulting in a 6.0U space bar.
That's one of the reasons why Mechanical keyboard Enthusiasts don't like these "gaming" keyboards... they change things just because they can, rather than wanting you to buy replacement keys to customize your keyboard.
Cooler Master and Ducky have standard bottom row keyboards. (Though once upon a time, CM made keyboard with non-standard bottom rows, like QuickFire Ultimate, TK, etc.)
Max Keyboard Keycap Compatibility and Sizing Chart, which goes into the ENTIRE keyboard's keys, rather than just the bottom row.
A: The bottom row of a keyboard is the row that contains the space bar. Here's an illustration of a standard bottom row
A "standard" bottom row has following characteristics:
- Goes from the left shift key to the right shift key.
- It only has 7 keys and a space bar.
- The 7 keys are all the same size: 1.25U, leaving a 6.25U space bar.
(There is one exception. ONE of the keys can be removed from the bottom row without affecting operations. As long as the spacing is not affected, it can still be considered standard bottom row. MagicForce 68 does this by removing the right-most CTRL key in order to squeeze in the arrow cluster. It still uses a regular 6.25U space bar and 1.25U keys)
WHY do we want a standard bottom row?
If we want to replace keys, we generally buy a "keyset", and keysets come with keys for a standard bottom row. If our keyboard doesn't have a standard bottom row, we have to leave the old keys on, and that would clash with the color scheme and whatnot.
Some keysets come with extra keys to address these issues, and sometimes one can buy "compatibility kits" that matches existing sets to accommodate the non-standard keyboards. But it's easier to buy a keyboard with a standard bottom row for maximum compatibility.
Now, pop quiz... Can you tell me whether Corsair Strafe has a standard bottom row or not?
 |
| Corsair Strafe RGB, used to illustration only. |
Corsair strafe used 3 different sizes of keys to the left of the spacebar, that immediately makes it non-standard. But what's more interesting is what happened to the right side of the spacebar. If you can guesstimate, that's 1.25U, 1U, 1U, and 1.5U. That adds up to... 4.75U. On a standard bottom row, the 4 keys of 1.25U would add together to 5U. As there are no obvious gaps, we must conclude the space bar is 6.5U, rather than a normal 6.25U. You can see this by noting the space bar actually ended between the comma and period keys, rather than in the middle of the comma key.
Now for a tricky one. This is the Logitech G610 Orion. Look CLOSELY at the bottom row.
 |
| Logitech Orion G610, used for illustration only |
Look carefully at the bottom row. This one is pretty hard to tell.
See the problem? The two CTRL keys are 1.5U, while the rest are 1.25U. The spacebar's left edge started not in the middle of X, but almost in the gap between X and C. The space bar's right edge started in the MIDDLE of the comma key, when it should be another 0.25U to the right. That means the spacebar is 5.75U.
I have no idea why Logitech do this, as this is different from their G710's, which used a Corsair style bottom row.
And just for the record, Razer has yet ANOTHER bottom row scheme, using only 1.5U and 1U keys, resulting in a 6.0U space bar.
 |
| Razer Blackwidow, note the non-standard bottom row |
That's one of the reasons why Mechanical keyboard Enthusiasts don't like these "gaming" keyboards... they change things just because they can, rather than wanting you to buy replacement keys to customize your keyboard.
Cooler Master and Ducky have standard bottom row keyboards. (Though once upon a time, CM made keyboard with non-standard bottom rows, like QuickFire Ultimate, TK, etc.)
For Further Reading
Max Keyboard Keycap Compatibility and Sizing Chart, which goes into the ENTIRE keyboard's keys, rather than just the bottom row.
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