deskthority

Unicomp released a photo of their factory floor today on facebook today, and you can see a little keyboard on the left.
Did Unicomp stealth announce a new SSK? or is this just more teasing?

If only the image was in a higher resolution

No way. We all know that would never sell

1.5/1.1.5 / 5.75 / 1.25/1.5/1/1.5? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalmost there.

For the standard keyboards, there's a 1.5/1/1.5/7/1.5/1/1.5 configuration available.

See: https://www.pckeyboard.com/mm5/graphics ... -25-13.pdf

daedalus wrote: ↑

16 Sep 2019, 23:27

For the standard keyboards, there's a 1.5/1/1.5/7/1.5/1/1.5 configuration available.

I know. It's just that they could do a symmetrical split space bar starting off a 5.5U space bar instead of a 5.75U:

1.5/1/1.5 / 2.75/2.75/1.5 / 1.5/1.1.5

Keeps the proper 3K4U on either side, splits the space bar in two equal-sized keys (*) symmetrical to the alphas, and gains a 1.5U key to be used as an Fn or (for the degenerates) a Menu key.


(*) Those convex 2.75U "Code" keys that were used in WheelWriter units. I do hope Unicomp still has the molds to make them.

Third, we took the picture of the factory at the request of the writer of the CNBC article to add a little touch of humanity to a rather dry discussion of tariffs, but they choose not to use the photo. So, we choose to post it with a link to the article. We put the tenkeyless model in the picture to support a conversation about the status of that project. No, it’s not a stealth announcement. But, in the way of status, some of the parts in that model, particularly the top and bottom cover, are first shot parts from new tooling. We’re working on improving the fit and the texturing of those tools. We have other tools and parts that are being developed and require testing. So, we’re still not close to setting announce dates or accepting orders. But we’re making good progress.

https://www.facebook.com/PCKeyboard/pos ... 0369612929

Whoa. Hang on while I go and sell both my SSKs at reduced rates before Unicomp floods the market.

They need to refine that stupid bottom row.

it should be 1.5/1/1.5/7/1.5/1/1.5

andrewjoy wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 17:06

They need to refine that stupid bottom row.

it should be 1.5/1/1.5/7/1.5/1/1.5

Yes, indeed. Plus the symmetrical split space bar option.

Do we have an inside contact there, so we can ask if they even CAN produce convex 2.75U key caps?

Well said...

‘Something needs to be done’

Neil Muyskens says it’s getting harder and harder to compete with manufacturers in China.

Muyskens is the founder and CEO of Unicomp, a company that designs and manufactures customized mechanical keyboards at its plant in Lexington, Kentucky.

...

“I would just as soon as there be no tariffs whatsoever,” Muyskens says. “But I’m also a realist and understand there are things that are wrong. U.S. manufacturers are at a disadvantage, and something needs to be done.“

Muyskens asked the administration to remove tariffs on keyboard components and impose more targeted tariffs on finished Chinese-made keyboards to level the playing field. Keyboards from China will face 15% duties starting Dec. 15.

“At my core I’m a free-market guy,” Muyskens says. “But it’s not a free market.”

From the original CNBC article featuring Unicomp..
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/15/america ... china.html

The 2.75u key is the right shift, that's not the problem, it's the frame barrel position and membrane matrix.

I hate the waste of spacebar as much as everyone else with any kind of RSI, but there are simply not barrels or supports for those positions.

However... There IS a valid barrel and membrane position beneath each of those split spacebar positions. They're not oriented to be stabilized, but it might be possible to activate the position by adding a pivot plate in that position. I haven't spent much time on it, but I did this on a 122 here viewtopic.php?t=22390 You can see the spacebar stabilizer position is populated with a 1u key and the position has a pivot plate assembly. I still need to mess with the code to figure out how to activate that matrix position and get output out of it.

edit: I mean that you would need to hack some keys together, or 3D print a solution to use those positions properly.

clickykeyboards wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 17:55

...
From the original CNBC article featuring Unicomp..
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/15/america ... china.html

CNBC chopped up his message pretty badly. They conveniently left out that while the assembled keyboard tariff was going up to 15%, the keyboard parts tariff was increasing to 30%.

FletchINKy wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:00

The 2.75u key is the right shift, that's not the problem, it's the frame barrel position and membrane matrix.

No. A convex 2.75U key. Look at the "Code" key on a Wheelwriter.

FletchINKy wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:00

I hate the waste of spacebar as much as everyone else with any kind of RSI, but there are simply not barrels or supports for those positions.

The bottom row, of course, needs a different inner plate as well, with two barrels per space key plus one for the Fn key... one of which could be used on a non-split 7U space bar (but would need another one... or make a new space bar that takes advantage of the the rightmost "new" barrel).

depletedvespene wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:10

FletchINKy wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:00

The 2.75u key is the right shift, that's not the problem, it's the frame barrel position and membrane matrix.

No. A convex 2.75U key. Look at the "Code" key on a Wheelwriter.

Ahh, I see. Zero capacity to make those. Closest you might get would probably be 3D printing a cap for a 2 piece key so you can use an original stem.

Can't believe this is actually happening. I always thought Unicomp were just fucking with us. Time to sell those original SSKs lads n lasses!

Too bad that the journalist's article didn't capture the interview with Neil in a more complete light, as I am sure that many would be interested to learn more about the real-world impact of tariffs.

wobbled wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:15

Can't believe this is actually happening. I always thought Unicomp were just fucking with us. Time to sell those original SSKs lads n lasses!

That's assuming that is not a years (decades?) old prototype they dusted off for the picture...

depletedvespene wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:27

wobbled wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:15

Can't believe this is actually happening. I always thought Unicomp were just fucking with us. Time to sell those original SSKs lads n lasses!

That's assuming that is not a years (decades?) old prototype they dusted off for the picture...

Tooling is new, prototype is new, parts are new. Boards are still being finalized. I'm not allowed to post any close ups yet.

clickykeyboards wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:16

Too bad that the journalist's article didn't capture the interview with Neil in a more complete light, as I am sure that many would be interested to learn more about the real-world impact of tariffs.

Neil had a more detailed write up in the government public request for comment on the tariffs. I'm not sure where that is though.

FletchINKy wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 19:00

depletedvespene wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:27

wobbled wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:15

Can't believe this is actually happening. I always thought Unicomp were just fucking with us. Time to sell those original SSKs lads n lasses!

That's assuming that is not a years (decades?) old prototype they dusted off for the picture...

Tooling is new, prototype is new, parts are new. Boards are still being finalized.

Ooooooh...

FletchINKy wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 19:00

I'm not allowed to post any close ups yet.

I'll wait. Patience is one of my few virtues.

depletedvespene wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:27

wobbled wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:15

Can't believe this is actually happening. I always thought Unicomp were just fucking with us. Time to sell those original SSKs lads n lasses!

That's assuming that is not a years (decades?) old prototype they dusted off for the picture...

That's a horrible thought right there

FletchINKy wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 19:00

depletedvespene wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:27

wobbled wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 18:15

Can't believe this is actually happening. I always thought Unicomp were just fucking with us. Time to sell those original SSKs lads n lasses!

That's assuming that is not a years (decades?) old prototype they dusted off for the picture...

Tooling is new, prototype is new, parts are new. Boards are still being finalized. I'm not allowed to post any close ups yet.

How do you have close ups?

wobbled wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 19:10

How do you have close ups?

I work at Unicomp, and am very careful about what I talk about online so I don't get fired

You can actually see my elbow in that pic. Sneak level 100.

FletchINKy wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 19:55

wobbled wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 19:10

How do you have close ups?

I work at Unicomp, and am very careful about what I talk about online so I don't get fired

You can actually see my elbow in that pic. Sneak level 100.

Okay, then. Tell them to go "tsangan" on the new SSK's bottom row!

And do convex 2.75U keys as well!!!

FletchINKy wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 19:55

wobbled wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 19:10

How do you have close ups?

I work at Unicomp, and am very careful about what I talk about online so I don't get fired

You can actually see my elbow in that pic. Sneak level 100.

Would they fire you for revealing that there is a winkeyless version of the new SSK with blockers?

Something I'd love for the black Unicomps are doubleshot keycaps.

abrahamstechnology wrote: ↑

17 Sep 2019, 20:47

Something I'd love for the black Unicomps are doubleshot keycaps.

I'll settle for good dyesubs.

Unicomp did email me around 2 months ago that SSKs are expected later this year...

depletedvespene wrote: ↑

16 Sep 2019, 23:25

1.5/1.1.5 / 5.75 / 1.25/1.5/1/1.5? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalmost there.

It will most likely support a 7u space bar.

They announced a few years ago that they were no longer going to have different tooling for keyboards with and without Windows keys. It's supposedly the same barrel plate and membrane for both full-size keyboards and 7 and 5.75u space bars. Before this, the keyboards with Windows keys had 1.5-1.25-125 - 5.75 - 1.25-1.25-1.25-1.5 bottom row.

However, when they did this, they kept the right Alt's position in Windows layouts, putting the right Windows key between it and the space bar.