Group Build prototyping phase

[matt3o]

Here we are guys! There are still a lot of things to fix, but we are getting there!

Please note: the screws are temporary and the PCB will be white. The plate now supports cherry stabs but it's still uncertain if the final version will.

Hi Matt3o, do you think this is possible with your pcb?

http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/# ... 4bb9781b8a

As far as I can tell the only key that is not supported is the backspace, I like your layout, adding one hole to the PCB wouldn't be a problem, the problem is the top plate (we can't produce every possible layout). Also, my first 65% had a very similar layout and I found that the backspace in that position is not where you'd expect it to be (so some training would be required)

[flipjsio]

Im a 60% too, but 65% is rare and I want to try one. Me on the other hand, I use Right Alt as my Fn, as I prefer my thumb when switching layers. So with the infinity keyboard, I just can't get used to HHKB style Fn so I disabled it, same with my HHKB I just dont use its Fn.

Not bad that. 65% layouts are tough, and that one gets it mostly right to my eye.

The Up arrow where my fingers know Fn should be… well that would drive me nuts in half a second or so. But I'm a 60% man so this is not for me!

[flipjsio]

I love it! The size difference between the 2 is minimal. Can't wait!

[flipjsio]

I like to have a dedicated tilde/backtick key with a full-sized backspace, and I think it looks better when the tilde is inside rather than on the right of backspace. I'll probably go for winkeyless style and put tilde beside the 1.5u backslash key (though it will not be compatible with SA/DCS keyset). Thanks for your hardwork on this, Matt3o. You are a great asset to the community.

Hi Matt3o, do you think this is possible with your pcb?

http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/# ... 4bb9781b8a

As far as I can tell the only key that is not supported is the backspace, I like your layout, adding one hole to the PCB wouldn't be a problem, the problem is the top plate (we can't produce every possible layout). Also, my first 65% had a very similar layout and I found that the backspace in that position is not where you'd expect it to be (so some training would be required)

[flipjsio]

I love my HHKB too, though I dont use its Fn as I can't get used to the Fn layout and prefer to use my thumb for Fn. I use karabiner and autohotkey to reconfigure the layout.

I like that one a good bit as well. I would probably make that backslash, a backspace. Even more so then a short right shift and FN, its the HHKB backspace that I miss the most on other keyboards. Besides a symmetry with the Tab key, I have never understood the size of that stupid key.

[rohanmital]

Hey Matt3o, quick question, will the keyboard have under pcb lighting (such as to illuminate the mid layer) ? Also, any plans to get the plates anodized for different colors?

[matt3o]

Hey Matt3o, quick question, will the keyboard have under pcb lighting (such as to illuminate the mid layer) ? Also, any plans to get the plates anodized for different colors?

for v.1 there's no plan to light the mid layer.

anodization would increase the cost so I would keep it simple and use raw aluminum.

[matt3o]

WHIIIITE! So sexy!

[pyrelink]

Oh wow, that looks fantastic!

Can't wait for the buy to start.

[flipjsio]

How much do you think this would cost, without keycaps and switches? £100 give or take? I hope the group buy starts near the end of month in time for payday cause Im broke at the moment.

Also, is this shipping from Europe or US? Thanks.

[flipjsio]

Hey matt3o, any teaser photo maybe of a complete keyboard, with keycaps and everything, soldered or not?

[DanielT]

My best guess this will be Mass Drop (US). I hope this will start in August after I get settled in my new location because I really want one. I have some plans for this keyboard

[flabbergast]

I hope not Massdrop - they seemed to have quite rushed and half-assed approach in the recent "new" drops.

[KRKS]

This, and also they'll make it cost an arm and a leg to get for anyone outside US.

[matt3o]

How much do you think this would cost, without keycaps and switches? £100 give or take? I hope the group buy starts near the end of month in time for payday cause Im broke at the moment.

Also, is this shipping from Europe or US? Thanks.

I don't know yet, sorry. I'm doing my best to keep the price down. I'll know better in a week or so.

Shipping should originate from US, but I might end up with some spare here in EU.

Hey matt3o, any teaser photo maybe of a complete keyboard, with keycaps and everything, soldered or not?

of course, I'll post a completed board as soon as possible. There are really a lot of manufacturers involved, it's not easy to coordinate everything.

My best guess this will be Mass Drop (US). I hope this will start in August after I get settled in my new location because I really want one. I have some plans for this keyboard

Hope fully this will start at the end of July and will last a couple of weeks.

[flabbergast]

My best guess this will be Mass Drop (US). I hope this will start in August after I get settled in my new location because I really want one. I have some plans for this keyboard

Hope fully this will start at the end of July and will last a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the info! Looking forward to it (although my wallet isn't...).

However I would worry a bit that for a bigger and new thing like this a couple of weeks wouldn't be enough to get the hype going, which is necessary to get enough buys on massdrop. I'm sure people from here would go for it (I would, that's for sure), but to get bigger numbers it will have to be appealing to the masses.

My personal opinion about the programmable keyboard drops is that: Infinity did get there because it was the first and there was a lot of hype going on before it dropped (voting for the layout, etc...). Gon's TKL didn't because the masses didn't know about korean customs and the price seemed too high for most people. KC60 did get there because it was very cheap, so masses thought - what the hell, let's try (and I think many will be disappointed because "completely programmable" is a bit more tricky for the newcomers and the manufacturer's gui sucks).

I also think that one should consider the other "similar" drops (KC60, infinity) time-wise: lots of people bought into KC60 and infinity 2rd drop and they will inevitably compare this to those two programmable boards. So should the drop be after these ship (it will take some convincing that this is better quality/design), or before (when it will be seen as just "another programmable keyboard", and the fight will be to convince people that they need to try *also* this one).

[matt3o]

thanks for your feedback, flabbergast

This won't be a huge GB anyway, I would be surprised to see more than 100 boards sold but even if they were 150 the unit price wouldn't change much. On these things you can see real price reduction at 500-1000 tier, so at the end I don't think it makes much difference price-wise.

[cswanic]

thanks for your feedback, flabbergast

This won't be a huge GB anyway, I would be surprised to see more than 100 boards sold but even if they were 150 the unit price wouldn't change much. On these things you can see real price reduction at 500-1000 tier, so at the end I don't think it makes much difference price-wise.

I hope you're incorrect on the possibility this won't go big. I think you have a lot more talent and understanding of the whole GB process and the success this can bring you. You're right in your logic though in the sense that MD is pushing so many KBs every week and also the fact that there have been too many GBs for SP keycaps so timing this is crucial. Perhaps July is a little early?

Can you give a quick list of the things you are putting in this potential build? PCB, stabs, case... TKL, 60, 40... Thanks! Love this project BTW. Wishing you tons of success on this one.

[derzemel]

Prepare your pitchforks:
I hate the 60% layout
But I love this keyboard.
I feel confused

Anyway, this will probably be my first small keyboard

[Muirium]

It's all right. This isn't a police state. You are perfectly free to be hideously, laughably wrong if you like!

Anyway, 60% surely isn't for everyone. Or 65%. Or even TKL for those who type credit card numbers for a living, or just whatever it is that so messed up those guys. We can live with diversity. Smug in our own righteousness!

[SL89]

It's all right. This isn't a police state. You are perfectly free to be hideously, laughably wrong if you like!

Anyway, 60% surely isn't for everyone. Or 65%. Or even TKL for those who type credit card numbers for a living, or just whatever it is that so messed up those guys. We can live with diversity. Smug in our own righteousness!

If we had a duel, my fullsize board would totes pwn your silly little TKL...

[Muirium]

But my TKL is too big!

Anywho, I'm a barbarian damnit. I'm not picking up a nice keyboard to swat you with. I'll use my bare hands!

[matt3o]

I hope you're incorrect on the possibility this won't go big. I think you have a lot more talent and understanding of the whole GB process and the success this can bring you.

you are too kind, I'm not worthy.

Can you give a quick list of the things you are putting in this potential build? PCB, stabs, case... TKL, 60, 40... Thanks! Love this project BTW. Wishing you tons of success on this one.

- PCB, pre-soldered with SMT components (online configurator)
- plate, I'm working on it but it might be anodized (I don't know how many layouts will be supported yet)
- case (alu + polycarbonate or acrylic)
- screws
- aluminum cone feet
- keycaps to support all possible layouts

I will also release DWG/DXF files for all layouts so you can laser cut the layouts that won't be initially supported.

[flabbergast]

I hope you're incorrect on the possibility this won't go big. I think you have a lot more talent and understanding of the whole GB process and the success this can bring you.

you are too kind, I'm not worthy.

I disagree (and agree with cswanic) (As was said before) this is going to be legen... wait for it...

[Nuum]

EDIT: A spammer appeared. He was destroyed, and his posts along with him. —Mu


Would you please stop advertising this company? We don't need someone "optimizing" the page-rank of a company that barely has to do something with the topic.

[scottc]

I think it constitutes as spam, to be honest. RELEASE THE DOGS!

[Nuum]

It is spam, he is even calling himself a "SEO expert". So this is fully on purpose, but very obvious and not very effective once Mu drops in.

[chzel]

True, 7 posts in 20 minutes, 2 of which have the link to the particular company...
Quick check of his profile gives us his website, http://www.saltalamacchia.me/.
He is Brett, 19, a self proclaimed SEO expert. Loves Monster Energy.
I guess we can expect more links to "Surefarm" or "No fear dentists" or "Stellasoft".
By the way, he has 1152 hours of SEO under his belt, or ~144 8h days. Hardly an expert in my books...

UNLEASH THE Mu!

[Muirium]

Banned.

Spamming our forum isn't a very effective way to SEO, even if you don't get nuked. Our page rank isn't very good! Not enough SEO perhaps… (My honest guess is Google penalises sites with no advertising, and who do not advertise. That's Google's business model after all. Global ad firm.)

[chzel]

In one simple word, brettuk's fate was sealed...
μ, I guess you will clean up the links too?