I have been using a piantor built for me by beekeeb.com, and am enjoying the more agressive stagger than my previous Ergodox. However, my typing experience is being spoiled by how tight the key spacing is. I have large hands, and can span an octave on a full-size piano; the Piantor is downright cramped.
In looking for a possible replacement (the Kyria was my primary option, but I guess splitkb.com has entirely given up on selling pre-builts, and I don’t solder), what should I be looking at for specs to get some wider spacing on the keys? Is it simply “key spacing?”
Most commercial keyboards are fine; my prior was an Ergodox and the spacing was fine. The Piantor supplies that - it might even be a touch too much, but it’s still better than the tepid stagger on the Ergos.
I think the terms you’re looking for are “choc spacing” and “MX spacing”. Choc spacing is what the Piantor uses where the space for each key is 18 x 17 millimeters. MX spacing is 19 x 19 millimeters.
If you want to keep using low-profile switches, there are a handful of boards that either choc or MX switches, and any of those will always use MX spacing. That said, I don’t think there are a lot of pre-built options in this space.
Maybe check out Klor. I think that one is offered as a pre-built by beekeeb and it uses MX switches. It’s got the more aggressive pinky stagger, but it also has some splay which may or may not be your thing. I just finished building one using tecsee “medium” switches and MTNU keycaps, do it’s lower profile, but still not as low as choc.