03 May 2016

Wooting Using FlareTech Switches

Wooting One FlareTech Switches REmoved demonstration So this is another thing that indicates that the Wooting Keyboard (The Wooting One) will be worthwhile.

The FlareTech switches were seen a while ago but nothing had really come of them until now.

What use FlareTech switches?
This is a good question and there seem to be two benefits.

  1. Faster Response time.
    I have been critical about switches that try to achieve this in the past however, these have the benefit of using light. Something which I know to be particularly fast.

  2. They allow for a modular keyboard.
    As they do not have to be soldered to the PCB they can be removed and replaced. This is something that has just been emerging for Cherry MX based keyboards.

The wooting keyboard is coming to Kickstarter mid-may.

New Buckling Spring Kickstarter Live

new buckling spring switch render
This was mentioned a while back, and there hadn’t been a lot since. I am attracted to this project because it is something that just seems so fantastical. I never thought I’d see the day when there were new modular buckling switches readily (almost) available.

The kickstarter goal is set at $40,000 CAD, and I would say this is more or less the bad news. Price is the biggest issue that projects like these face. Injection moulding and the creation of moulds is not a cheap process. So for this reason the high price is justified. But the high price of course, comes with the inherent issues of having a high priced item.

Backer Goals

  • $20 will get you one exclusive green switch
  • $70 will get you 18 switches
  • $160 will get you 60
  • $225+ 90-110

As you can see from the prices, it isn’t the cheapest switch you can get. But it is wholly unique.

This is a unique project that I hope to succeed but It’s going to take a lot to get it there.

Typed on SSK

26 Apr 2016

62/60 Progressing

62/60 custom rgb hotswappable custom keyboard The 62/60 is the 60%, hotswappable, custom RGB. It all looks pretty good, and the initial test round 0 has completed. Round 1 is likely to follow soon.

WhiteFox Delayed

The WhiteFox has been delayed due to issues in plate production. Plates should be completed and shipped to massdrop by the end of June.
This will obviously be disappointing to some, but it isn’t that uncommon. Massdrop looks a lot more professional than many groupbuys but always runs in to the same kind of issues. It might be taking longer than expected but it the orders will be fulfilled.

Official Cherry Speed Released

These switches were leaked last week and they are everything that they were expected to be. They are currently available on the Corsair K70. It’s RGB fullsize and £169.99. That price is horrendous and I think there are much better options available.

The new speed switches are not that much of a draw.

Jelly Key Giveaway (Ends 04/27/16)

Jelly Key The Abandoned Maze Keycap All you have to do is comment a random number between 1-9999

New Zeal Product (mostly unknown)

A quote from zeal:

Do you like dampening the up stroke and down stroke sound without affecting the feel much?

Did you wish stabilizers were transparent clear like Zealios?…

That’s all I can way for now. Source

So… a dampening method, and some stabilisers? Could be exciting.

Apparently this has been in the works for longer than I realised. More information.

VE.A Coming to Massdrop (thanks badnewscaps)

So I managed to completely miss this before, but the extremely popular korean custom, is coming to massdrop. This is both good and bad. It makes it widely available, which I can’t see any complaints about, but it is massdrop. Massdrop have had issues in the past, but I don’t think they have ever completely failed. If they are packed correctly then this would solve a common concern people have. But I wouldn’t imagine any shipping price decreases or anything like that.

Typed on SSK

19 Apr 2016

New Cherry Switch Leaked

You would think this would be exciting, but it’s not. This seems to be a common occurrence when you hear about a new cherry switch. However, I will preface this by saying it might not even be final. This is the rare occurrence in the keyboard world where we have a leak. I almost thought I had dreamt the entire thing up, as the promo images have been deleted.

The idea behind this one is that it is ‘faster’. But everything else about it suggests it is a cherry red.

I can’t say that it is the same switch, but really the differences are entirely negligible. Or are not going to change the game.

Specs:

LUSTRO

Lustro 60% mechanical Keyboard Another 60% project with a unique looking case. The above photo is of the production sample. Not much to go on but these are the likely kits:

  • Minimal kit: side pairs + body.
  • Basic kit: minimal kit + carbon fiber plate.
  • Full kit: basic kit + pcb (bface) + switches + leds for who don’t wait.

Price TBC

RAMA x Bro

TMX bro rama keycap RAMA previously announced that the TMX stem was being discontinued, but here it is. And it looks awesome on this BroCaps collaboration. I love stamps in general but this looks incredible. Nothing more on this but I’m excited to see where this goes.

RAMA has also opened up pre-orders for a M10-A t-shirt

## Nothing to see here

TK78 Now on Massdrop

TK78 Mechanical Keyboard The TK78 is a 60% with a numpad on the right. If this goes well, then you could potentially see a left-handed version in the future.

You get the choice of Cherry or Gateron switches and also the option to upgrade to dyesub keycaps.

Zealios on mechanicalkeyboards.co.id

This is just another place you can get zealios. Both 78g and 65g tactile versions are available.

Specialeemade Sale

Specialeemade Keyboard Sleeve The lowest price is now $25 but I’m not sure how many are available.

Mech27 by 27 (formally xx7)

Mech27 keyboard This is a cnc aluminium milled TKL by 27. I always like this type of groupbuy and these type of designs. It is similar to the TGR Jane and has the general aesthetic of a korean custom.

It is usually hard to go wrong with cnc’d aluminium, (unless you are making a hhkb case) so I am excited to see where this will go.

Typed on SSK