Chinese USB Hall Effect Keyboard - Review and Impressions

[zslane]

@zslane: 61- and 104-key are available in black (opaque) acrylic.

Oh! Nice! But the 70g resistance is only available with the bamboo case, right?

Re: Hypersphere's remarks about the Fn key -- The programmability that will be available before the drop ends does not include the ability to map the Fn key to wherever I want?

[XMIT]

I /think/ you can remap Fn but won't know until I exchange a few more e-mails with the manufacturing partners. The Fn key is not special as far as the board layout is concern, its function is only defined in software.

Right now, all the acrylic boards are 50g, all the bamboo boards 70g.

[zslane]

I /think/ you can remap Fn but won't know until I exchange a few more e-mails with the manufacturing partners. The Fn key is not special as far as the board layout is concern, its function is only defined in software.

Okay, that seemed implied by your previous description, but Hypersphere created reasonable doubt just now...

Right now, all the acrylic boards are 50g, all the bamboo boards 70g.

Yeah, that's what I thought. #bummer

Assuming the programmability issue gets resolved (including the question of the Fn key positioning), I believe this to be the last remaining obstacle to a double purchase from me.

[XMIT]

I /think/ you can remap Fn but won't know until I exchange a few more e-mails with the manufacturing partners. The Fn key is not special as far as the board layout is concern, its function is only defined in software.

Okay, that seemed implied by your previous description, but Hypersphere created reasonable doubt just now...

So, my rule all along has been that I don't want to offer anything for sale that I haven't personally tried and tweaked myself.

I''m violating this rule somewhat with the 61-key bamboo board and the 104-key boards, and the firmware programmer, in the interests of getting this group buy started. I deemed these items as low to moderate risk. The other option was to wait another two months to begin sales.

Trust me, I wanted to offer everything for sale earlier. When I received the first 61-key sample - with no ability to program at all, no usable Fn key layer, no way of adding it, and poorly implemented buttons on the side of the case - I declared that a stop-ship emergency!

[Hypersphere]

Sorry to have raised reasonable doubt about the Fn key ("... the jury will disregard Hypersphere's remarks about the Fn key!"). It's just that the programmability of the Fn key has been a sticking point with other keyboards, I wanted to be sure before taking the plunge. However, if Fn is defined in software and not hardwired into the board, then it _should_ work after the programming software is released for the board.

Unfortunately, I would still prefer 61-key in black acrylic and 70g springs.

[andrewjoy]

Each to his own , i dont see how anyone can not go for bamboo , its sexy when i am getting this as a desk surface

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/kitc ... -70273799/

it will look amazing!

[zslane]

Each to his own , i dont see how anyone can not go for bamboo...

Well, in my case, when I glance down at my keyboards I want to be reminded of classic, vintage terminal keyboards of the past. Bamboo is not part of that aesthetic. Black acrylic isn't either, exactly, but it is much closer than bamboo. Since there won't be conventional ABS cases available, I find the black acrylic to be the only acceptable compromise.

[Elrick]

When I'm not spending all my spare time responding to questions about these boards, I'll break out the calipers and maybe collaborate with swill (http://builder.swillkb.com/) to add options for generating plates for these boards.

Maybe even supply future cases designed around Stainless Steel Plate or Aluminium. Could make future keyboards literally bullet proof or even truck proof (being driven over it).

Would definitely buy one if it's made.

[citrojohn]

I signed up for this drop too - for the bamboo version, since I have no intention or need of typing under water.

I was wondering if anyone knows if there are bamboo keycaps available anywhere? It looks like the keyboard takes Cherry MX style caps, but I haven't been able to find anyone offering those in bamboo.
.

I'm sure I saw some bamboo keycaps on Reddit (r/mechanicalkeyboards), but I can't find them now. As a second-best there's these wooden caps - the mount is unusually-shaped, though (pic from the seller's thread below), and I think XMIT's had some problems with one capset with a rectangular mount.

[XMIT]

Calipers time!

The constraining dimension on the Hall board sliders is a 6.25mm circle. Anything smaller than that (like most Cherry MX mount key stems) will fit without any trouble. Anything larger (like Magicforce typewriter key caps) won't fit. End of story.

For comparison, my Novatouch has a similar constraining dimension of a 6.90mm circle. The Magicforce caps don't fit there either since the caps are rectangular and not circular.

I don't know how large that bamboo cap mount is! Maybe ask on the thread and explain the constraint by linking this post.

[citrojohn]

Done. Thanks for the info!

Edit: looks like the current caps won't fit, but he's willing to try to make some that will.

This is made for MX switch which have circle and rectangular area so would not fit to Hall board.
I can make circle for this ( 6mm ) but i don't know how will be durability.

[drevyek]

Apologies if this has been answered already, but is the PCB for the board compatible with standard 60% Poker cases? Or is it its own thing?

Also, is the layout remappable?

[davkol]

It's been answered before/elsewhere.

is the PCB for the board compatible with standard 60% Poker cases? Or is it its own thing?

Supposedly not quite.

Also, is the layout remappable?

Via a proprietary app for MS Windows (this is news) for now.

[drevyek]

It's been answered before/elsewhere.

is the PCB for the board compatible with standard 60% Poker cases? Or is it its own thing?

Supposedly not quite.

Also, is the layout remappable?

Via a proprietary app for MS Windows (this is news) for now.

That's a bit disappointing. I suppose it is what it is though. I haven't been following this, so I'm wholly ignorant, but what is the plan for this project in the future? Are there future runs of these planned? variations on it? I can totally understand if these are on hold until the current task is completed.

[XMIT]

In short, yes. Once things die down with this current Massdrop offering being over, I'll reflect and think about future directions. We're working on many future updates!

[XMIT]

We're featured in Tom's Hardware! http://www.tomshardware.com/news/xmit-h ... 33060.html

[Techno Trousers]

We're featured in Tom's Hardware! http://www.tomshardware.com/news/xmit-h ... 33060.html

Congratulations, XMIT, that's really great publicity.

[zslane]

The resurrection of Hall Effect is big news! It deserves all the attention it gets (and a lot more, if you ask me).

[Laser]

We're featured in Tom's Hardware! http://www.tomshardware.com/news/xmit-h ... 33060.html

Hey man, congrats! Also extended to the entire silent work force behind the project

[ohaimark]

XMIT is wearing the Deskthority t shirt I made. \m/

[XMIT]

XMIT is wearing the Deskthority t shirt I made. \m/

Yes I am. Thanks!

I'm going to make some XMIT Keyboards shirts and mail you one when they're ready. I may have some for sale as well.

[Virtureal]

Did you ever fix the issue with stabilizers coming loose in the early bamboo boards? And will you be able to get pictures or at least dimensions of the bamboo 60% case before the drop closes?

[XMIT]

The updated tool path helps the stabilizers stay in place. If worse comes to worse a drop of super glue works wonders.

Photos and dimensions of the 60% boards are on the Massdrop page. More photos are in my photo album:
https://goo.gl/photos/e6HYVP3cLswGkSWJ7

[geostation]

congratulations on the stunning success of your md drop. did you expect such a reception ?

now that future releases are almost guaranteed here are my consolidated feature requests for future releases

0. Flexmit layout (love the 96Key layout myself)
1. bluetooth for connecting to iPad pro, Surface and other devices
2. ultra low profile board or wristrest attachment. bamboo keyboard lends itself such a version
3. tactile / clicky 'switch'

[ohaimark]

There was a review posted on reddit that motivated me to take a second look at the switches. Here's a repost:

After comparing the switches again, I see what you're talking about. [In reference to the switches being scratchy in comparison to Gaterons.] It isn't what I'd call classical "scratchiness" though -- it doesn't feel like there's grit in the switch.

It does feel like two lubricated and slightly textured plastic surfaces being rubbed together, so it's more like vibration than scratchiness in my opinion. They're still quite smooth feeling to me, as the vibration doesn't seem to cause switch binding or much drag. If you like MX Red switches there's no reason to count these out.

If you're after a completely linear and scratch/vibration free experience, steer clear of this keyboard and go with Gaterons.

[XMIT]

There was a review posted on reddit that motivated me to take a second look at the switches. Here's a repost...

Link please? I can't find this.

The new upstroke damper sliders *might* be a little more scratchy due to the extremely tight tolerances of the damping arms. I could explore using a different plastic and getting rid of the damping arms in the future.

[ohaimark]

https://m.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboa ... _keyboard/

The reviewer is annoying, but he airs some legitimate grievances about the switch. Your keyboards will likely have better QC, but the scratchiness is there even on my beta board without dampers.

[XMIT]

Thanks. I'll respond on Reddit - nothing new.

[uncletobai]

This board looks super interesting! Are there any plans to sell these from within Europe in the future? Ordering from abroad is unfortunately not an option for me, Austrian customs is expensive and takes forever (last time they kept a package worth 70$ for 9 Weeks).

[Findecanor]

We're featured in Tom's Hardware! http://www.tomshardware.com/news/xmit-h ... 33060.html

Tom's Hardware just posted a new article: What Are Hall Effect Keyboard Switches, And How Do They Work? (Video)