HERMES Rocketeer (SA) keyset proposal

[Lbibass]

Awesome! I'm totally in for this!

[ShivaYash]

Hopefully just keycaps will be available.


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[zslane]

I do want/plan to make the keycaps available separate from the full keyboard product. Bear in mind, however, that you won't be able to fill out keyboards larger than a 60-65% form factor.

[consolation]

Have you thought about having the colour match the jukebox set's green. That way, people can use the TKL kits from there and Jukebox owners (yeah, this is a totally self serving suggestion) can use this set for alphas- if they want to go all teal~green.

If you are going with PBT instead of ABS, it gets more complicated, but still worth considering.

[zslane]

Yes, both Jukebox and Rocketeer use the same green (VCO).

[rich1051414]

vtw.jpg (113.58 KiB) Viewed 5967 times

Now that is sexy. I am personally not interested because I don't like 60%'s, but drolling over here at that color scheme

[zslane]

That render is basically just a Pok3r case in the seafoam green color (and gray SA keycaps). The Rocketeer case will hopefully look more like this:

rocketeer_case_concept_3x.jpg (481.45 KiB) Viewed 5937 times

[ShivaYash]

I’m in.


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[rich1051414]

That render is basically just a Pok3r case in the seafoam green color (and gray SA keycaps). The Rocketeer case will hopefully look more like this:

rocketeer_case_concept_3x.jpg

Is this still machined aluminum? If so... I'm in... but my wallet is screaming out in mercy.

[zslane]

The idea is for it to be aluminum, yes.

A Rocketeer with all the bells and whistles (including chrome Return novelty key, custom green cable, and custom carrying sleeve) will be quite pricey to be sure.

[consolation]

Yes, both Jukebox and Rocketeer use the same green (VCO).

Just when I thought I was getting jaded with key caps...

That is awesome.

[Rob27shred]

I really like the concept of this set & the colors! The fact that it will focus on 60% should make it decently affordable too. Although to broaden the appeal a little bit offering two optional kits that open this up to 65%/60% with arrow cluster & 40% boards might be a good ideal. Maybe a 65%/60% with arrow cluster compatibility kit that comes with an arrow cluster, 2.25u & 1.75u shifts, & maybe even blanks for the right side of 68 key boards. So 10 keys total 6 that would need double shot for this kit. Then also a 40% compatibility kit even if it's just all blanks in the proper row & color, so 17 double shot keys or blanks if they make more sense here with this kit. Given the popularity of those sizes I think it would add enough extra buyers to drive the price down some through volume.

I do realize that you are correct in that it is a slippery slope adding more compatibility kits, but by leaning on molds that are already made & blanks I think it would be more of a positive than a negative for getting the set off the ground. While also staying fairly close to your vision of it being more for writers. Then like you said those who really want to fill out a TKL or bigger can get blanks in the same colors from PMK. That is my thoughts on it at least, but I am no experienced GB runner or anything. So I could be wrong & the compatibility kits may be more trouble than they are worth to add. Either way you go I am very interested in this set!

[zslane]

All of those are covered in my proposed kits, don't worry.

[consolation]

If I can make a design suggestion - just keep the rocket logo on the top face; put the brand/model on the back edge (far edge from the user.) It will make it look less busy and reward the user for picking up and interacting with the object.

[TuxKey]

I kind of feel strongly that Concept is King here. The Hermes Rocket didn't have a nav cluster or a numpad or a function row. This keycap set should remain small and compact, just like the Rocket. Basically, the set is aimed squarely at writers (and aspiring writers), not gamers or coders or spreadsheet jockeys.

i found your'e comment and ideas interesting as i'm seeing lot's of innovation and new things coming out in the 60% 40% segment. couple of weeks ago a friend of mine mentioned his liking of the plank.. i found it sexy looking being able to do all your work on such a small keyboard
i find that i'm addicted to my arrow cluster, wanting to switch to something smaller besides my two FC660 boards with dedicated arrow cluster the only other board i can look forward to is something like the tada68.

Question; in a graphical environment (so not vim editor hahah) how can one manage without the arrow cluster??
for example; write a sentence and try to jump a couple of words back..Currently i'm on mac so i my left alt+left-arrow.
Jumping to the start of the line would be cmd+left-arrow. selecting one word is alt+left-arrow+shift..
Switching desktop's ctrl+left/right arrow.
Also i find fn+left/right home/end easier to remember..

Please understand i'm not trying to be a smart ....i genuinely curios how best to accomplish moving away from needing the arrow cluster. i have a hasu controller in my fc660c so i could experiment with any tips you might have..
My thinking is that doing text editing in a graphical environment without an arrow cluster means using your mouse more often.. i could be wrong and in fact i think i am considering the boom of 60% and 40% keyboards for a wile now..

btw absolutely love the way the keyset looks.. never typed on something like that only cherry profile perhaps a try before you buy option would be nice.. does look nice..

[hhkbp2]

I kind of feel strongly that Concept is King here. The Hermes Rocket didn't have a nav cluster or a numpad or a function row. This keycap set should remain small and compact, just like the Rocket. Basically, the set is aimed squarely at writers (and aspiring writers), not gamers or coders or spreadsheet jockeys.

i found your'e comment and ideas interesting as i'm seeing lot's of innovation and new things coming out in the 60% 40% segment. couple of weeks ago a friend of mine mentioned his liking of the plank.. i found it sexy looking being able to do all your work on such a small keyboard
i find that i'm addicted to my arrow cluster, wanting to switch to something smaller besides my two FC660 boards with dedicated arrow cluster the only other board i can look forward to is something like the tada68.

Question; in a graphical environment (so not vim editor hahah) how can one manage without the arrow cluster??
for example; write a sentence and try to jump a couple of words back..Currently i'm on mac so i my left alt+left-arrow.
Jumping to the start of the line would be cmd+left-arrow. selecting one word is alt+left-arrow+shift..
Switching desktop's ctrl+left/right arrow.
Also i find fn+left/right home/end easier to remember..

Please understand i'm not trying to be a smart ....i genuinely curios how best to accomplish moving away from needing the arrow cluster. i have a hasu controller in my fc660c so i could experiment with any tips you might have..
My thinking is that doing text editing in a graphical environment without an arrow cluster means using your mouse more often.. i could be wrong and in fact i think i am considering the boom of 60% and 40% keyboards for a wile now..

btw absolutely love the way the keyset looks.. never typed on something like that only cherry profile perhaps a try before you buy option would be nice.. does look nice..

Answer: Mac OS supports the Emacs keybindings by default. So jumping to the start of the line would be Ctrl+a, and etc. I'm an Emacs user who use Emacs to write almost everything(mostly codes I guess) for years, with a 60% keyboard(HHKB, you might have heard it). Sometimes I'm forced to use the arrow keys on my Mac, in some dump applications which only support arrow keys for navigation. But most of time I could live well without the arrow keys.

[consolation]

Usually, the arrow keys are bound to a function layer. You could do modern and put a capacitive sensor under a key or trim. Have it send key codes instead mouse data when you move your finger, kind of, like a clit mouse.

[zslane]

I plan to offer all the usual kits that would support 60%(-ish) and smaller boards. Here is a render of the proposed kits. The BLANKS kits shown are not necessarily the final kits (they may have too many keys in them).

rocketeer_full_set_v02.jpg (1002.37 KiB) Viewed 5804 times

[consolation]

That's awesome, maybe remove one blank kit and replace it with an ergodox kit?

[zslane]

No ErgoDox. No TKL. No Numpad. None of those things come even close to the spirit of the Rocketeer.

[consolation]

It always seemed to me that, if you set up your blanks kit correctly, you can get it to cover one hand of the ergodox mods. So ergodox users just order x2 blanks - so many blank kits are literally one or two keys short of being able to do that. Minimal effort to increase potential buyers? I could be wrong, but it seems like something worth checking once you decide on the blanks kit, if adding a key or so will make it usable for ergodoxers.

PS - you need 10x1u 6x1.5 2x2u; since you get a bunch of those from the base kit and ortholinear kit; all you need to do is make sure there are 2x2u in the blanks kit and you are golden.

[zslane]

Note that missing from the image are the row assignments. They are R1, R2, and R3 (top to bottom). That arrangement does not seem conducive to an ErgoDox setup to me, even with two copies of it.

Bear in mind that the blanks kits are very much works in progress, but the amounts of keys of each size in each row will be driven by the needs of 60% users with unusual bottom row (and far right column) needs. If, in the end, ErgoDoxes can be accommodated with just the addition of a blank or two, I will consider it.

[Rob27shred]

All of those are covered in my proposed kits, don't worry.

Glad to hear about the child kits! Everything is looking awesome & also looking like it will cover just about any 60% or 40% setup, great work here zslane! From the looks of it I'm pretty confident this will be my 2nd SA set.

[consolation]

Note that missing from the image are the row assignments. They are R1, R2, and R3 (top to bottom). That arrangement does not seem conducive to an ErgoDox setup to me, even with two copies of it.

Bear in mind that the blanks kits are very much works in progress, but the amounts of keys of each size in each row will be driven by the needs of 60% users with unusual bottom row (and far right column) needs. If, in the end, ErgoDoxes can be accommodated with just the addition of a blank or two, I will consider it.

Ah, from the picture I thought you were going flat R3. Once you post the row assignments, I don't mind trying to work out how ED can be accommodated, then it'll be your call if it's worth the hassle.


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[zslane]

Ah, from the picture I thought you were going flat R3. Once you post the row assignments, I don't mind trying to work out how ED can be accommodated, then it'll be your call if it's worth the hassle.

Yeah, overhead orthographic renders of these keycaps tend to look the same regardless of which row profile they actually belong to, so I can see why you might think they are all R3. The actual row assignments are, as mentioned, R1, R2, and R3 respectively for each row of caps going from the top down (focusing only on the light green ones, for instance, since the darker green ones have the identical row assignments).

[mustcode]

Full keyboard kit definitely makes a lot more sense than a 60% keysets with blank kits. Can't wait to see the case design, I suggest go retro all the way, would love to see this color combo in the glossy powder-coat finish like the Norbauer's cases.

[zslane]

The case design is shown a few messages up.

[TastyNico]

You're missing a "Z" in the NorDE-Kit. Check the German keyboard layout.

[hansichen]

Row 2/4 is interchangeable on SA profile, therefore you can just turn the key 180° and use the normal Z for iso de

[Elrick]

The Rocketeer case will hopefully look more like this:

rocketeer_case_concept_3x.jpg

If you're going in with this Full key-set PLUS Case, then this suddenly becomes something of true merit here.

Definitely would be in this one if a Group Buy is run.