The Idea is to take the popular CMYK set and give it white legends. This would much better match Dolch sets and White on Black sets. additionally, it will match the new Dolch and upcoming handarbeit sets sold over at Originative.
Geekhack: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=491 ... msg1060593
Deskthority: http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/ ... t7282.html
KBDMania: http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/market_info/8032083
There have been some questions and concerns about the qualities of the set, most can be found in the gh thread, but I'll go over the big ones here. The first concern that came up was:..
The Yellow
As you can see in the mockup kindly provided by Sifo (with original photo by Dianoda), The contrast is quite high and unpleasant. While it's the same yellow used in CMYK, some people were wondering about using GMK's mustard yellow..which is a little darker and in my opinion not as fitting. Photo of similar white on mustard -thanks Ivan
The final and unofficial consensus on Geekhack was and is to bite the bullet and go with the original and brighter yellow. I agree here, I think the contrast won't be terrible, and it won't be as bad as a full set, it's just two caps.
Do you agree with using the original, brighter yellow, with the running risk of bad contrast?
The Legends
Now this is pretty much decided already but I want more opinions and thoughts. We are going to stray from the original set here. The shift arrows in the original set were that of ISO taste, they were just the arrows. With CMYW, we will go ahead with more classic Ansi Taste legends. with the arrow and 'shift' legends. that way, it won't look out of place with the classic ansi sets and the with the new originative sets as well. reasoning and thoughts are here and here. Now I realize that might not be as popular with more ISO users here, so that leads me to a question...should I provide 1x 2.75 shift in ansi legends, AND 1x2.75 in ISO legends? meaning, one (with just the arrow) to match the 1.25 shift (with just the arrow) for ISO users, and one (with arrow and 'shift') to match the 2.25 shift (with arrow and 'shift') for ANSI users? I think it would be better for all users, but add to cost. Please tell me your thoughts. the concern about 'Alt Gr' and whether or not to include it is discussed in the next section despite being a legend problem.
Do you agree with me about using all ANSI Legends (except for 1.25 shift)? Should there be a 2.75 shift using ISO shift legends to match the 1.25 iso shift?
A Profile and B Profile
With the original CMYK set, It was all B. B profile (i.e. the shift row or 'bottom row') is used for bottom row and the spacebar row on more recent cherries, and is what Sherry is doing with his Originative sets as well. Boards before 1996, Before 1.25 and windows keys were introduced, had used A Profile for the Spacebar Row, which is a bit taller then B Profile (11.15 mm versus 7.40 mm). Photo here - thanks Photekq (and credit to Litster). Now, whether or not to include 1.5 caps in A Profile. They are just 4 more caps (or 6 if Alt Gr if is included), so that will add to cost. If we are adding them, then doubling the amount of each shift is ideal, giving the set the ability to fit two keyboards (1.5 A /shifts & 1.5 B / shifts) being used at one time. This would then add to the size and possible cost. A profile is quite enjoyable, a little harder to find but really nice. The thing is, because B is more common, and the originative sets are all in B, having just 4 keycaps in A while the rest of the board is in B would make for an out-of-place look. It would work fine with a 60% board, because the spacebar row would universally be A profile, but not on TKL or Full-Sized Boards.
Should A Profile be included at all? Would add to the size and cost of the set, but would be A Profile!
Size of the Set
Now..the last big problem remaining..the size. Cost is very dependent on size, so while we await a reply from GMK, it's best to get together possible sizes of the set. Now, if you haven't heard, Ivan succeeded in lowering MOQ from 400 to 250.. which is fantastic. we have yet to confirm if that low 250 MOQ applies to other buyers from Deskthority and Geekhack. Ivan said he thinks it will, but let's just wait for a quote and reply. So, because 250 and 400 are two very different numbers, I think planning accordingly is smart. If it will just be 250 MOQ, then it will obviously be a lot easier, and so more variation in the set will be possible, That's just the part of the mind set needed while thinking about what to change, remove or add to the set.
Alt Gr, and whether or not to include it. Personally, I don't think we need it. I know it goes a lot better for ISO, but all and all and for the point of matching, I think it will be fine to just have Alt, and no Alt Gr. factor in including A profile and it all stacks up to a huge massive set. Here are the possibilities:
1. Maximum Caps, double shifts, yes to all the questions asked, everything included, will accommodate most, will be expensive and hard to hit.
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1/17/14: Message Sent to GMK
1/23/14: Quotes received
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Please, let me know your thoughts and any advice or interest you have about it. If you think I'm wrong about something, or should change something, Please tell me. If you would enter this GB, please post and show it.
All help is appreciated
Dubs
