Group Build prototyping phase

[matt3o]

okay, quick update.

for one of the protos the manufacturer made by mistake the sides in aluminum (the side is anodized the plate is not in the picture above)... big mistake because now we definitely want the whole case made out of alu.

we discussed pricing, remodelled the case slightly and now I'm pretty proud to let you know that the keyboard will be 100% anodized aluminum!

[scottc]

Wow, fantastic news matt3o! Amazing. I can't wait.

[potatowire]

Awesome! I am preparing my wallet for action.

[snoopy]

Want!

[matt3o]

another quick update, it seems the WhiteFox will be also available in China on alixpress and similar sites. They surprisingly asked for permission to sell these keyboards, this should help reaching higher tiers and keeping the price down.

[flabbergast]

Hm... interesting. Do you mean that aliexpress and taobao orders will add to "our" orders? I would think that having it available on aliexpress and such would rather make people think that they can "wait" with their orders, and not jump in for the group buy.

[matt3o]

Hm... interesting. Do you mean that aliexpress and taobao orders will add to "our" orders? I would think that having it available on aliexpress and such would rather make people think that they can "wait" with their orders, and not jump in for the group buy.

Chinese manufacturers will place an order together with everybody else. The boards will be later available on aliexpress/taobao/etc. Yes, there's the risk to lose some orders right away, but the tiers will be so much better if resellers start to buy it.

remember that it's still a DIY keyboard, the market is pretty small.

[flabbergast]

Chinese manufacturers will place an order together with everybody else. The boards will be later available on aliexpress/taobao/etc. Yes, there's the risk to lose some orders right away, but the tiers will be so much better if resellers start to buy it.

remember that it's still a DIY keyboard, the market is pretty small.

Thanks, I understand the situation a bit better now. I'm happy for anything that will keep the price down

BTW, some of the taobao resellers (or GH60-alikes) offer also "construction" service, so that might actually help as well.

[matt3o]

also consider that it would have probably ended up on taobao anyway... with or without my consent

[pyrelink]

Very cool to hear. On one hand I just want to finally be able to buy one of these boards, but on the other hand it feels like with every update, things just keep getting better and better.

[matt3o]

hopefully next week update will be the last before release

[M1K3L08]

Do you have a rough idea for the price of the PCB + case?

[matt3o]

next week

[vivalarevolución]

Are the plates going to have a full size right shift like in that recent photo or will you have the option for 1.75 unit shift?

[matt3o]

Are the plates going to have a full size right shift like in that recent photo or will you have the option for 1.75 unit shift?

there are 7 layouts available, including 1.75u r-shift

[matt3o]

Maybe I just need new glasses but I fail to see the 'hole' for the up-arrow in the photo above

that is one of the 7 available layout. Specifically that layout lets you use any standard keycap set with your WF.

This is the full list, the plate above supports the last layout

[flipjsio]

When you say 7 layouts, is that going to be 7 different plates?

[matt3o]

When you say 7 layouts, is that going to be 7 different plates?

yes

[flipjsio]

I thought top and bottom rows are going to be flexible like you can have a winkeyless bottom and hhkb top row. So if I want hhkb-style, I can only choose option 6.

Question: Is it possible to open the keyswitches with these plates, without desoldering? Thanks.

[flabbergast]

Question: Is it possible to open the keyswitches with these plates, without desoldering? Thanks.

Yes, at least on the prototype above (the switch cutouts are not square, but "notched" - these notches are exactly what allows you to open the switches).

[matt3o]

what the cat says

[vivalarevolución]

6th layout, ftw

[matt3o]

6th layout, ftw

That's my boy. The 6th is the "true" WhiteFox.

[gianni]

Hello matt3o, I'm interested in a pcb mount of your keyboard. Do you think that it can be used that way?

Is the semi definitive PCB, plus an emergency - minimal case already available?

Thanks

[matt3o]

Hello matt3o, I'm interested in a pcb mount of your keyboard. Do you think that it can be used that way?

Is the semi definitive PCB, plus an emergency - minimal case already available?

Thanks

PCB mount should be possible, but the case is just the one above, we really can't make more versions.

On other news, this thursday I should get the final prototype!

[matt3o]

OMG! It's finally here! It's all done! We are ready to release, I'll post pictures later today.

[Whmeltonjr]

Joined this site purely out of interest in getting this keyboard. Can't wait to see production pics.

[M1K3L08]

OMG! It's finally here! It's all done! We are ready to release, I'll post pictures later today.

[matt3o]

finally assembled my very first full whitefox. I didn't have a light keycap set at hand so it's more of darkfox, but you get the idea.

Everything works as expected but I'd like to make some very small modifications to the case, actually they are such small details that nobody would probably notice or care... but still...

[guk]

She's a looker, especially when nekkit.
In before fry meme.