Round 5 and Round 6 kits for sale!

[krutmob]

I hate the be the annoying new person that starts asking questions 400+ pages into the thread, but I have no idea how any of this stuff works. I was ready to order a bunch of the Round 6 leftovers listed on the wiki (white alphas and gray mods) but from what I read over the last page or so, the whites are actually part of some Phase 2 and havent actually been produced yet? Or am I reading that wrong?

Also, before I go and put in an order, how likely is it that I'll ever get a hold of the few keys that I'm missing that aren't listed in the leftovers? I need function keys F1-12 in gray and 1.25u modifiers in gray but those don't seem to be available. Do I basically just post a WTB and hope someone comes along with them eventually?

Those are not produced yet. Only SPH, CREAM, VIOLETT, CADET, and BLUE have been produced. Those were the "Round 6a" keys. Your choices, GRAY and WHITE, are in the "Round 6b" group, and if you order them you should be comfortable waiting at least one year to receive them. AFAIK you are correct regarding the missing keys you're looking for--you'll need to buy them off someone else if they aren't available in the R6 Leftovers wiki. 7bit said he has a stash of keys that aren't listed so it's possible I suppose.

I also hate to be that guy, but I haven't been paying close attention. Should I have received items from this order already:

HONEYB/SIXTYBASE/VIOLETT |SIXTY base violett kit | 49.00| 1| 13| 49.00
HONEYB/ALPHA/CREAM |ALPHA cream kit | 59.00| 1| 49| 59.00
HONEYB/MODBASE100/VIOLETT|Modifier base violett | 9.00| 1| 6| 9.00
HONEYB/CURSOR/R34/VIOLETT|Cursor kit (row 3/UP:4) | 6.00| 1| 4| 6.00
HONEYB/KBDRUNNER/CREAM |keyboard runner (r 1) | 2.00| 1| 1| 2.00
HONEYB/SHIFT225/VIOLETT |SHIFT (row 4, 2.25u) | 5.00| 1| 1| 5.00
HONEYB/SPACE625/CREAM |Space (6.25u; cream) | 7.00| 1| 1| 7.00
HONEYB/R1U100/CREAM |blank key (cream) | 1.00| 1| 1| 1.00
HONEYB/R2U100/CREAM |blank key (cream) | 1.00| 1| 1| 1.00

Those are produced and currently shipping, so it is possible to have received them. Send a WASSUP to 7bot.

are SPH and GREY the same color? I have CADET and GREY in my order, and I Was wondering if GREY is part of phase2 or phase1. If it is part of phase2, can the phase1 part be shipped separately?

Order #1088 by the way

SPH and GREY are not the same. SPH is produced and shipping, GREY is Round 6b and not yet produced or scheduled. You will have to ask 7bit if he will ship them separately, I know only that orders containing Round 6 and Round 7 ship when available, but not regarding mixed orders of Round 6a and 6b.

[Gray Jian]

Hi all!
Happy Chinese Spring Festival!

timg.jpg (66.54 KiB) Viewed 6677 times

[user888]

I received my space cadet keys yesterday, thanks 7Bit.

[7bit]

Gray Jian, I thought you where older.


Nevertheless:

I'm packing the last packages right now.

Some orders contain only a few shipable keys, so I jold them back. But if you want them right now, just tell the bot:
SHIPNOW
^^^ This kit contains nmo keys but I will ship everything that is available to you.


List of all packed or shipped orders since the beginning of Round 6 shipping:
0005
0008
0011
0020
0021
0032
0052
0057
0068
0080
0090
0100
0104
0113
0125
0132
0146
0180
0183
0192
0221
0250
0275
0277
0283
0285
0289
0290
0292
0307
0339
0351
0355
0367
0379
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0397
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0415
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0455
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0498
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0598
0599
0600
0602
0603
0604
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0611
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0621
0626
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0628
0629
0634
0635
0642
0651
0652
0656
0658
0677
0683
0684
0693
0696
0697
0701
0703
0705
0715
0723
0724
0727
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0731
0734
0735
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0740
0742
0745
0750
0753
0755
0760
0765
0766
0768
0770
0771
0772
0779
0785
0789
0792
0798
0799
0800
0810
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0813
0822
0828
0831
0837
0845
0850
0853
0854
0858
0859
0868
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0871
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0879
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0886
0890
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0892
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0941
0951
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0985
0993
1000
1008
1017
1018
1027
1037
1051
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1070
1071
1078
1080
1089
1093
1098
1105
1107
1113
1114
1116
1117
1118
1122


List of all shipped orders so far:
0005
0008
0011
0021
0032
0057
0080
0090
0104
0113
0125
0132
0146
0180
0183
0192
0221
0250
0277
0289
0290
0292
0307
0339
0351
0355
0367
0388
0397
0406
0416
0418
0421
0431
0439
0455
0459
0460
0461
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0463
0474
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0598
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0600
0602
0603
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0626
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0628
0629
0634
0635
0642
0651
0652
0656
0658
0677
0683
0684
0693
0696
0697
0701
0705
0715
0723
0731
0734
0737
0740
0742
0745
0750
0753
0755
0760
0765
0768
0770
0771
0772
0779
0785
0792
0798
0799
0800
0810
0813
0822
0828
0831
0837
0850
0854
0858
0859
0868
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0871
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0879
0884
0890
0891
0892
0894
0895
0908
0910
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0941
0951
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[hansichen]

...
1114
...

Wohoo, maybe it'll come tomorrow

[t8c]

Gray Jian, I thought you where older.


Nevertheless:

I'm packing the last packages right now.

Some orders contain only a few shipable keys, so I jold them back. But if you want them right now, just tell the bot:
SHIPNOW
^^^ This kit contains nmo keys but I will ship everything that is available to you.

What is the procedure for getting missing keys? I still need 1.25u CTRL from my tkl cadet kit!

[eddible]

Gray Jian, I thought you where older.


Nevertheless:

I'm packing the last packages right now.

Some orders contain only a few shipable keys, so I jold them back. But if you want them right now, just tell the bot:
SHIPNOW
^^^ This kit contains nmo keys but I will ship everything that is available to you.

What is the procedure for getting missing keys? I still need 1.25u CTRL from my tkl cadet kit!

Just PM 7bit. I've done that as I was also missing a key from one of my kits and he has replied.

[gnarlsagan]

Aaaand I can't stop ordering more. Anyone want to join me? The more we buy the quicker we get our caps.

[Ail]

Aaaand I can't stop ordering more. Anyone want to join me? The more we buy the quicker we get our caps.

I do, but I will need you to front me the money. I'm too poor or I would have definitely snagged some phase1 leftovers by now!

[Ail]

The complication for us collectors is that we don't know what portion of each payment that we've received is for Round 6. Only 7bit knows that. And only the buyers themselves know whether they will want their Round 6 order refunded along with their Round 7 order. We are potentially faced with issuing lots of partial refunds, and it will take quite some time to figure all that out. We probably won't know how much we have to put towards Round 6 phase 2 for weeks, maybe months.

In any case, phase 2 won't get a production window any earlier than Q1 2018, and that assumes 7bit can pay the outstanding bill more or less immediately. Every day that goes by, the available date for that production slot gets further and further out as other projects continue to flow in from other sources (and not just MassDrop, by the way).

I don't know this either, I have to look at these orders to see what is Round 7 and what Round 6. Mostly it is both. You all can still clear those orders and order in stock stuff instead.

However, if we hold on for a little longer (less than a month), it should be doable that phase 2 can be fully paid for.

Can I CLEARALL and reorder my current kits but for a different layout with the phase1 lefotvers? I ordered back last Spring and I was buying for a TKL layout which I have now abandoned, because lol TKL. I may even order a few more caps than I have now and pay the difference.

Edit: Regardless of whether I get phase1 caps or phase2 I will continue to collect, FYI.

[Ail]

Also, someone sent me a payment without the proper note that includes your Deskthority username and invoice number. If someone recently made a $65.00 purchase please send me a PM so I can get the information to send to the bot.

[scl]

http://pimpmykeyboard.com/whats-new/

"7bit was made aware of this through email on Thursday, January 19th." What the fuck, dude.

[Ail]

http://pimpmykeyboard.com/whats-new/

"7bit was made aware of this through email on Thursday, January 19th." What the fuck, dude.

I mean, this essentially says "We sent 7bit an e-mail."

Okay, that's good, but that doesn't mean he read, or received the e-mail. Not saying it's SP's fault, but it's not necessarily 7-bit's either. Maybe it got lost in a bunch of others, or he confused it for another SP e-mail which I am sure he has many of by now. The guy can't keep up with PMs and questions here, so I don't see sending an e-mail as very reliable either. He sure did not act like he received that e-mail. I also fail to see how it changes the situation even if he was aware of it on the 19th, which assumes he saw, and read the e-mail the day it was sent. No he didn't immediately update the Round 7 thread or disclose the information, but it's not like he was collecting Round 7 payments for months pretending not to know that Round 7 would never happen. We're talking about a two-day gap between the supposedly sent e-mail and the time it was posted to the PMK page.

[gnarlsagan]

http://pimpmykeyboard.com/whats-new/

"7bit was made aware of this through email on Thursday, January 19th." What the fuck, dude.

I mean, this essentially says "We sent 7bit an e-mail."

Okay, that's good, but that doesn't mean he read, or received the e-mail. Not saying it's SP's fault, but it's not necessarily 7-bit's either. Maybe it got lost in a bunch of others, or he confused it for another SP e-mail which I am sure he has many of by now. The guy can't keep up with PMs and questions here, so I don't see sending an e-mail as very reliable either. He sure did not act like he received that e-mail. I also fail to see how it changes the situation even if he was aware of it on the 19th, which assumes he saw, and read the e-mail the day it was sent. No he didn't immediately update the Round 7 thread or disclose the information, but it's not like he was collecting Round 7 payments for months pretending not to know that Round 7 would never happen. We're talking about a two-day gap between the supposedly sent e-mail and the time it was posted to the PMK page.

Agreed, doesn't change anything. Basically Round 6 will go through eventually, and either Round 7 will go through or people will get refunds from sales of previous rounds. Either way, it's time to look forward. Anything else is really just detrimental to the whole process.

[zslane]

I sort of feel that the timing of the PMK status page update is rather besides the point, unless you really want to crawl down the rabbit hole of 7bit's communications with SP (I know I sure don't).

From my perspective, what needs to happen next is 7bit needs to formulate a plan for sending as much money as he can to SP as soon as he can so that they can slot in Round 6b (or at least some portion of it) before the end of the year. But 7bit needs to act fast and respond to SP right away, even if it is nothing more than a brief response stating that he is working on arranging payment(s) and that he will authorize his collectors to pay their recent invoices ASAP (I'd prefer immediately instead of just "ASAP", but it's not up to me).

Every day that he puts this off merely lends credence to the conclusion that he is no longer interested in getting Round 6b produced at all, in which case SP will simply refund 7bit whatever funds are sitting in escrow and move on.

[krutmob]

http://pimpmykeyboard.com/whats-new/

"7bit was made aware of this through email on Thursday, January 19th." What the fuck, dude.

Wow dad

[Gray Jian]

SP didn't say they won't produce round 7 forever, maybe later they will change their mind, but even they say that, I won't ask for round 7 refund in this time, although I am a poor Chinese without social security. 7Bit can use my money to produce phase 2, when he sell them, then refund me. I don't want to make 7bit sell his car or funiture, live on the street even 'crucifying anyone for their sins'.

[caligo]

I sort of feel that the timing of the PMK status page update is rather besides the point, unless you really want to crawl down the rabbit hole of 7bit's communications with SP (I know I sure don't).

Yeah, that's a can of worms we'd probably be best off not opening. And a time lag of two or more days is nothing new when it comes to online interactions with 7bit, so there's really no surprise there. SP basically throwing 7bit under the bus in a status update on their own webpage, apparently after having read the discussion here on DT, does not come off as very professional though. I get that they're a small company an all, but that seemed really uncalled for.

Them already having prepared for gearing up the R6 phase 2 production line will probably mean that's going to happen sooner or later. But if they're pissed enough to hang a longtime customer out to dry like that, I guess the chances of them doing R7 are rather slim.

[zslane]

I get the distinct feeling there is a lot more history behind all this than we're privvy to. Nobody is throwing anyone under the bus who didn't step in front of it first, and so on. We get only a tiny glimpse into a complicated mess, and nobody here has any idea what it's been like for either 7bit or SP. I'm certainly in no position to judge anyone given how little information I/we really have (and unless you have access to years and years of e-mails between them, then you don't have much relevant information either).

I'd rather concentrate on what it's going to take to move forward. Right now Round 6 is like a car stuck in the mud, and I am only interested in getting it moving again. Unfortunately, the owner of the car has the keys and appears to have abandoned the vehicle. Maybe he's off getting help, but not having heard anything from him all week (and I'm one of his collectors mind you) does not fill me with a whole lot of confidence.

So the only thing I can do in the mean time is try to encourage cooler heads to prevail here; stirring the pot and looking for the best place to lay blame isn't going to accomplish anything except maybe cause the car to sink into the quagmire that much faster. I don't think anyone wants that.

[caligo]

I totally agree, moving forward sounds like an awesome idea. I was just genuinely surprised a company would act that way.

[tofagerl]

Finally got a chance to put my Cadet caps on the keyb today. Missing an UP key, but from what I can tell that's either a common problem, or at least a known problem, since it's already added to my order with 7bot as 'HONEYB/TKL/CADET/MISS/UP', which is just a fantastic name

Anywho, this thing is GORGEOUS! The only problem is I still only have a 60% to put it on. I desperately want a fullsize, but it's going to have to wait till I can either find a QMK compatible full-size, or perhaps program that usb_usb converter I have lying around...

No pictures since mine is nothing special compared to the ones in the pics thread, but just... wow... My pants are tight.

[profanu429]

I get the distinct feeling there is a lot more history behind all this than we're privvy to. Nobody is throwing anyone under the bus who didn't step in front of it first, and so on. We get only a tiny glimpse into a complicated mess, and nobody here has any idea what it's been like for either 7bit or SP. I'm certainly in no position to judge anyone given how little information I/we really have (and unless you have access to years and years of e-mails between them, then you don't have much relevant information either).

I'd rather concentrate on what it's going to take to move forward. Right now Round 6 is like a car stuck in the mud, and I am only interested in getting it moving again. Unfortunately, the owner of the car has the keys and appears to have abandoned the vehicle. Maybe he's off getting help, but not having heard anything from him all week (and I'm one of his collectors mind you) does not fill me with a whole lot of confidence.

So the only thing I can do in the mean time is try to encourage cooler heads to prevail here; stirring the pot and looking for the best place to lay blame isn't going to accomplish anything except maybe cause the car to sink into the quagmire that much faster. I don't think anyone wants that.

I will say that I had communication with 7bit through PMs yesterday (unlocking my order so I could change a few things) so he's around and might be formulating what to do next. So, he hasn't totally disappeared

[Laser]

I believe his last (very "tall") post in this very thread is no more than ~1 day old, too.

[Menuhin]

My intuition tells me to trust 7bit, although perhaps a bit 'disorganized' in some aspects perhaps - but handling a few thousands orders and the design, marketing, production, etc processes by a single person and still definitely can tell who has ordered what and what stage a certain process is at right now, he has to be actually quite an organized person.

Just brainstorming:
Matt3o has been posting one of his latest project "Designing a new high-profile set from scratch" which is a high profile inspired by key caps from IBM beamspring keyboard. Compared to SA, the set is just missing a R3 row profile that Matt3o wants to skip because unlike later bigger size keyboards, the traditional IBM beamspring keyboard does not have that row. This new profile looks quite promising.

If we have to wait until 2018 after all (at least for 'Round 7' given we still try to keep some hope), then perhaps 7bit and Matt3o can try to see it is possible to team up. If this new high profile is successful, perhaps they can try to produce some prototypes for Round 7 to see if they are good enough for real production. Of course, we are talking about doubleshot ABS, not dye-sub PBT. And I know the highest quality of doubleshot are from GMK and SP, having no real challenge from any factory in Asia at the moment.

[caligo]

I guess it depends on whether the specific combination of colorway, legends, and profile is the main selling point of R7. Doing R7 in something other than SA profile and at another factory would probably mean changes to all of these. The concept was, after all, designed with SP's color selection and tooling in mind. At some point, this 'R7 Redux' would probably start deviating too much from the original concept to even be considered the same GB. Going to another manifacturer is not a bad idea, but realistically it might be more feasible to just use income from R6 leftovers to pay back R7 orders and then start a new GB from scratch.

[zslane]

I'm not concerned with 7bit's trust level with the community. That's never been much of an issue. Everyone understands that he's eccentric and secretive, and even a little bit arrogant, but fundamentally honest.

No, my concern is strictly with his interactions with SP and the current state of his liquidity crisis. Not communicating with SP for a whole week while this situation continues to build energy like a hurricane is simply not smart, and does little to move it in a positive direction. Moreover, his liquidity crisis needs to be solved immediately, because I sense the Q4-2017/Q1-2018 window for Round 6b closing fast.

[zslane]

I honestly believe at this point that 7bit's only option for Round 7 is to scrap it completely in its current form, refund all its pre-orders, and then rethink it from scratch. And while he redesigns it around a different manufacturer/keycap family in the background, he should focus most of his energy on figuring out how to fund the rest of Round 6, in a timely manner, and without Round 7 funds to bankroll it.

[Menuhin]

I honestly believe at this point that 7bit's only option for Round 7 is to scrap it completely in its current form ... and then rethink it from scratch. And while he redesigns it around a different manufacturer/keycap family ...

I agree that the burning issue to be resolved first is the funding of Round 6b.

But to totally scrap the design of the "Rounds" is beyond just wasteful.

Of course the tooling and the molds for the 'Rounds' are all at Signature Plastics, but who as the right to these designs? These designs are a lot of work, although not totally original. And what about SP's SA "Symbiosis"? Will SP later on sell some SA "Symbiosis" which is actually the improved version based on 'Rounds'? After all they have all capability to produce them.

Of course, SP can produce many more popular sets, e.g. Deep Space etc.

[zslane]

There is nothing special about the keycap molds for any of the Rounds. They are the same molds that are used for all SA keycap sets that SP makes. The only "tooling" unique to 7bit's sets are his custom legend plates. As far as I can tell, none of the new Round 7 legend plates have been cut because nothing having anything to do with Round 7 has been paid for yet. So, there is nothing just sitting around at SP waiting to be used that would be "wasted" if Round 7 were to be reconceived for a different manufacturer/family.

[Menuhin]

I am not really clear about the manufacturing process but I'm not talking about the molds of SA caps, I'm talking about the legend design. And now I remember 7bit talked about Round 7 will have slightly larger fonts, then it will be all different from Round 6 actually.