bolind posted:

What the gently caress is it with this hobby? First I just wanted a decent, simple TKL keyboard. Then my coworkers bitched about the noise. Then I installed some o-rings and now some UNIQEY QMX clips. Then my awesome remote coworker stopped by and showed my his Happy Hacker keyboard with Topres and now I'm basically ready to drop 200 quid on this thing.

DoctorOfLawls posted:

Hi goons. My 11-year old asked me for a 60% keyboard - he suggested an Anne Pro 2 or a Ducky One 2 Mini. As I have always used full keyboards, I am not sure what to get him. Do you recommend either of those, or something else entirely? He will be playing Fortnite and other shooters - currently he has a full gaming keyboard as a hand-me-down from one of my earlier builds. Thank you.

Thom P. Tiers posted:

Looks like it's too close to the left alt key. Could be my angle on the picture, though.

Thirst Mutilator posted:

Costar stabilizers (wire spanning the width of the spacebar)? Did you lose the plastic inserts?

Gay Retard posted:

I've got an Anne Pro 2 and Wooting One (Backed it on Kickstarter), but what I'd really love is a 68% hot swappable keyboard (Ramaworks...) with Box Navys/Jades or Zealios.

Clearly my Trump check is burning a hole in my pocket.

Whiskey A Go Go! posted:

So my girlfriend is interested in building a keyboard from the ground up based about Dark Magic Girl keycap set. Is there any good TLK kits that are hotswapable? She also want to dabble in different key switches as all she has been using is Browns on her Frozen Llama.

Neurostorm posted:

Looking for a keyboard for my brother (it’ll be his first mechanical). He doesn’t care if it’s full sized or TKL, he would like some sort of backlighting (doesn’t have to be crazy rainbow), and preferred switches are tactile (was gonna get him something with cherry clears or equivalent). My first thought was a code, but it’s just a touch pricey — are there any thread-recommended slightly budget keyboards that have good build quality?

GnarlyCharlie4u posted:

Yeah I was real sad I missed out on that one but I was in a VERY different financial situation this time last year. Makes me sad I missed out though. It's a great set.

I just dropped $200 on the EPBT Ivory set and deskmat though so I think I'm good for a minute.


Missed my chance to say "this is a really cool keeb."
That's one of the better 60% layouts and that's a really nice kit. How do you like the NK Creams?


Oh I just remembered what I wanted to ask this thread.
Is there a board that's "tenkeyless" but actually has the number pad? (I know this is a terrible way of describing it)
I mean, instead of having the arrow keys and home, end, del... the number pad is there?

Like the CoolerMaster MASTERKEYS PRO M or a 60+numpad like the Vortex Vibe.

GnarlyCharlie4u posted:

Edit: apparently the term that I'm looking for is Mini 1800?

Except I'd prefer to lose the arrow keys and just use Fn or numlock to use arrows on the numpad.

Some Goon posted:

Whats the best keycap profile to match chunky old terminal keyboards like you'd find on public computer systems in the 90s that hadn't yet gotten a bunch of subsidized Dells?

HappyCapybaraFamily posted:

I love SA, with MT3 possibly becoming my next favorite.

If SA is too tall, though, maybe KAT will strike your fancy. It's possibly even more rare than MT3, though, being only available in group buy pre-orders or secondhand. KAM is the unsculpted variant of KAT, i.e. each row of keys is uniform.

Then there's this one ADA profile keycap set that really reminds me of old terminals: https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=796

Ardlen posted:

I'd like to get a wired 104 key with some heavy tactile switches. I'll probably use it forever, so a durable model is ideal.

What's the difference between the wasd V3, Leopold 900R, or Ducky One 2 keyboards other than a ~$50-100 swing in price?

(I did like the WASD 67g Zealios, but they're $50 more than WASD MX Clears.)

Are there other keyboards I should be looking at?

Epsilon Plus posted:

Exit Strategy posted:

I've been working.

A friend commissioned me - two years ago - to design a custom gaming board for him. He hates his Logitech, mostly because of those stupid loving Omron Romer-G switches. He wanted something better. Something repairable, that uses standardized keycaps and can store macros. Something that doesn't need software on the machine end. AT90USB1286, USB-C, fixed-color per-key backlight, an OLED display for lock and layer status, and toggle switches for things like muting Discord or in-game voice chats.

Behold:



Prototype run has been started up, and I've also ordered a run of these:



Which are a version of my 64-key board, with a similar featureset. Fifteen WS2812Bs on the underside of the PCB provide RGB underlight instead of per-key backlight. This new model is also compatible with MX, Alps, and Choc switches.

Anyone interested in either?

Lord Stimperor posted:

I keep buying or wanting 60-70% boards because they are so pretty but I always regret it since I'm using the drat numpad all the time, and external ones are a clumsy solution. I'm just spoiled by 1800 layouts

pgroce posted:

I'm a little surprised there aren't at least a few coordinated sets of 60% kbs and numpads. Or "macropads" you could turn into numpads, feels like something this community would throw money at.

GnarlyCharlie4u posted:

Thanks! I'm going with a 60+custom numpad instead but that's a rad case.

Speaking of, though...
What's a good SA profile keycap set that's all Row 3? XDA just isn't tall enough for my liking.

I should qualify this by saying "good QUALITY" like a nice dye sub or even doubleshot PBT that won't wear or fade like my lovely Alibaba "doubleshot ABS" shine through keycaps have.

I'm seriously considering the MT3 Susuwatari on Drop right now but after hearing everyone had to wait 2 years for theirs I'm honestly afraid.

HappyCapybaraFamily posted:

Ergo splits look real cool. I loved my Microsoft Sculpt which was my daily driver before I got into mechanical keyboards.

But I just Can't loving Stand having numrow 6 on the left hand anymore

ShaneB posted:

Can I get some help from the brain collective here? I currently have a Novatouch TKL with some nice caps and love it for home use, but I'm curious about a smaller/more portable keyboard, mainly to throw a set of new caps I got onto something.

Ideally something in the 65% realm seems ideal to me, and I'm not insanely picky on the absolute coolest switches, just something that isn't loud but has some tactility (is that a word?) would be nice. I would REALLY LIKE a delete key, as I use it constantly it seems. page up/page down/home/end/del would all be nice to have.

Any suggestions?

HappyCapybaraFamily posted:

Guess I was more productive today than I thought I would be. They're pretty all right. I like that the spacebar keys are actually convex though

HappyCapybaraFamily posted:

Its profile doesn't match any of the rows on my keyboard

Ringo Star Get posted:

Been having a blast typing on this guy since getting it a few days ago. Never had Cherry Stabilizers - spacebar and enter key are totally different in typing now. Waiting on some o-rings to help silence it a bit for when I take it to the office. I also put in some insulation into the board to help with some of the sound deadening but might go out and get either some shelf liner or neoprene pieces. Using Cherry Reds.

Threw on some of the white key caps to break up the blues and I like it. However the key caps are not fully PBT so sometime in the future I might spring for a set. Overall though, big fan, having the function row and the PgUp/PgDn keys are helpful for the work I do.

.Z. posted:

https://kbdfans.com/products/coming-soon-vulcan-x-kbdfans-maja-mechanical-keyboard-diy-kit

HappyCapybaraFamily posted:

Got a new home for my Jiji keycap today, .Z.


lol the sculpt for the top row of keys is fucky because all the row 0 keys I'd need are in the Extras set I didn't buy

Constellation I posted:

GMK Lazer lol

HappyCapybaraFamily posted:

GMK Laser is active on Drop, but lol estimated shipping of this December.

GnarlyCharlie4u posted:

Exactly this. You don't need to go into bootloader (DFU) mode in order to change keys. You can just do it on the fly.


It's simpler and faster than using the QMK Online Configurator. You don't even need to scroll through a long rear end list of firmwares, it autodetects the keyboard for you. Just start programming keys and that's it!

I've been considering getting some box royals for my Durgod K310 but held off and got the Hako Royal Trues for it instead.
The original plan was for that one to be my office board but after testing on my GMMK they're louder than I expected (but feel so good) so I'm on the fence.

As of right now I'm still using my Durgod K320 with sound deadening and Hako Trues and it's tolerable for everyone but I CANNOT type during a Skype meeting because of where my boss sits in relation to me so I definitely can't get away with the Royal Trues.

The Zilents seem like a good compromise and at least a step in the right direction. Ultimately I'll swap those onto the Keychron K8 I've ordered (or the Durgod Fusion that drops next week) and use that at the office since the ultimate goal is to have a very clean desk without wires going everywhere.

I have a question for the thread; are there backing plate spacers available for the KBDfans Brass plate?
I bought the DZ60+Tofu+Brass Plate kit not realizing that you'd have to remove the top plate to swap switches. I for some reason thought the top plate and PCB screwed in separately. Derp.
I can live with pulling the PCB and plate to swap switches, but I really want something to help space the plate out from the pcb and add some extra stability since my switches don't have stabilizer pins (5 pins) and I type like a masturbating gorilla.
The sound deadening material mod I did to my K320 is not going to work well here. I'm thinking something like strips of HDPE plastic I can stick on the back of the brass plate.

GnarlyCharlie4u posted:

No but that's pretty rad.
I mean I want something to go between the PCB and plate, not under the PCB.

Looking at it now there might not be enough room between the switches to actually stick something on there. Even just a few spacers around the spacebar, edges and between each row would be nice.
Who knows, maybe I won't even need it. The switches will probably do a good enough job at spacing out the plate from PCB?

Stroop There It Is posted:

So, uh, how do y'all keep your keycaps that aren't currently on a keyboard organized?

GnarlyCharlie4u posted:

Sorbothane might help but it's a bitch to work with and I'm not sure I'll be able to cut it that small.

I have the sound deadening mat and used it on another keyboard with great success. But that one has the top plate screwed to the case separately so it's already well supported.
I do not think it would be a good application for this because that stuff is soft and squishy and full of TAR. If the plate has any give to it, it will squish the tar out of the mat and stick to the surrounding switches.

GnarlyCharlie4u posted:

Well that sucks.
The shine through keycaps that cam on my Durgod keebs are actually fantastic but I don't know who makes them, and they're not side legends.

I guess I'm not SUPER worried about it since eventually this thing won't be wearing shine throughs anyway. It's just really obnoxious.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=105033.msg2934548#msg2934548 posted:

Constellation I posted:

It's really not that bad. Once you get used to it, you can just auto pilot. I got a method that works really well for Mill-Max sockets in my post history here somewhere.

Constellation I posted:

My main method is:

1. Prop PCB up on something
2. Place all the sockets in all through holes for one row
3. Use one long strip of electrical tape on top of the PCB to secure the sockets in place
4. Flip PCB upside down and solder in place
5. Repeat for each row

Or you could use multiple strips of electrical tape for each row and do it all in one go.

Saturnine Aberrance posted:

Is the only full size hot swappable keyboard out there the GMMK? I'm looking into a new mechanical keyboard, and a hot swappable one would be great to be able to use the niche switches out there, but I'm pretty set on a full size, and it seems like my only option to get both is from that company.

If that's really, truly it, I'd be amenable to getting a TKL, but I'd still be getting a separate numpad to go with it.

redeyes posted:

Im utterly tired of the youtube reviews on keyboards. Everyone wants the exact same thing, %60, dampened noise, etc, etc. No thanks. Give me a hulking beast with clank and clack and lots of keys. MORE KEYS