First WASD Keyboards purchase and review on Geekhack

[mangaroo]

Hi guys, picked up my order, thanks to a speedy dispatch from WASDkeyboards...and then pigeon mail over here --went and picked it up myself "early"?!?!!? ..and a nice hefty $80 customs lol aanyway!
/uk mail rant

I mentioned previously I never owned a mechanical keyboard but just wanted to share my experience for anyone interested

Keyboard is so-solid really sturdy and the multiple grips make it unlikely to move on a (clean) desk. The pivots at the back of the keyboard (to prop it up) aren't as necessary with this keyboard due to it's nice slant, although they do slightly reduce stability ofcourse but very little and they are designed in a nice notch wheel system so wont collapse randomly anytime soon.

The sound made by bottoming out which i am ofcourse still doing - is really nice and soft - no problem! If you don't bottom out the sound is even softer of course. This is with the cherry brown switches with o-rings.

(layout) First 5 minutes or so i was making a couple more mistakes while typing due to (different + longer then my previous very strange kb) and because it is more sensitive to register a key. Sometimes i'd throw my fingers around while typing (getting in position) on the previous keyboard and it doesn't register because you still need to push down - mechanical is more sensitive so you learn to position fingers more accurately and slightly hover higher more with the palm.
I haven't missed the (smaller than british) enter key yet (just now as i typed this sentence actually ) but still just been using it for an hour or so. The spacebar feels nicest to hit right in the centre, with my large hands the thumb hits more centre-right but easily adapted.

I sort of wanted two keyboards, one for gaming and one just designed in classic colours, but short on desks and multiple computers at the moment so i will begin with the gaming key colours ...and with gaming it is function over style for me but i like it! anyway here is a (bad iphone) pic:

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 26454[/ATTACH]

Character visibility in low light is pretty poor on all keys except black, medium light brings out the laser markings on the other colours although the brightest white key needs high light.

The key shape is nice, slight dip in the middle and slightly raised on the outer edges to help your fingers not slip off - not that they are slippery. they have a nice feel to them. You can feel some of the larger character etchings on the keys - which doesn't really make muchhh of a difference..nice to feel on some keys, others not. The one good thing is that if the colouring isn't enough, the Caps Lock button can definately be felt as different to the tab and shift since you can feel the longer text markings!

It is still pretty light out here but the 3 lights over the numpad have no problem imprinting their classy blue bright light in your retina so you know the second the caps lock is on..ping! 2nd light i might tone it down nastly later

WASD logo looks a lot better than i thought it would after reading people saying the very thing im typing now! and seeing it in images. Its like a discreet shade of grey and even the arrowkey logo looks good

Very pleased overall with my purchase and i know importing it to uk isnt the smartest thing atm but damn i love that i have it. sort of like my arcade stick (hrap3)...but anyway! diffinately recommend WASDkeyboards prompt shipping, precise to the letter and quick response to an email i sent after they dispatched. Satisfied customer with top notch product.



[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 26455[/ATTACH]

PS nice touch on the usb and cable & the strange key came out really well btw, i know it doesnt seem like it in the pic(s)

[The Solutor]

Nice.


Looks like a VGA with memory problems...:party:

[daerid]

You should also stop with that silly observation about the home position, since the invention of the GUIs the home position  for the right hand is considered, by the vast majority of the people,  the mouse. and the enter key is more often hit with the thumb than with the pinky.

Could you possibly back up your claims with some data please? I find it hard to credit the statements you make and would be very interested in where you're getting your data from.

[mangaroo]

Nice.


Looks like a VGA with memory problems...:party:

well, your not wrong but i love it!

[duncan]

Could you possibly back up your claims with some data please?

I haven't been here long and already it seems clear to me that inviting Solutor to make more posts seems to break the number one rule of all forums. I will avoid quoting it to avoid offence but it involves the words 'feed' and 'don't'. We can all see that the statement made in that posting is utterly baseless and simply invented to either provoke response or to defend a shattered argument. Best to leave such things alone and trust that the general reader will draw the obvious conclusion about those who make such claims to universal knowledge.

[IronForge]

How many people have ordered their WASD keyboard with the o-ring dampeners?  How do you like them?

Does it make them quiet when you bottom out?  Does it "feel" better when you type?  How are they for gaming?
Thanks!

[Skull_Angel]

How many people have ordered their WASD keyboard with the o-ring dampeners?  How do you like them?

Does it make them quiet when you bottom out?  Does it "feel" better when you type?  How are they for gaming?
Thanks!

I've bought the O-rings and installed them myself on MX red switches. on a plate mounted board it makes bottoming out much softer, like tapping on rubber v. solid metal. it does dampen the noise of bottoming out quite a bit, but it's not a large difference.

all in all, I enjoy it more with than w/o the O-rings when I get excited and smash keys... haha

[WorldExclusive]

I used the O-rings on my Poker with Reds. Made a big difference, quieter and more solid strokes. I wouldn't use reds without them.
For me, I felt they added slightly more mass to the keys which reduced a bit of the lightness red switches have.
This could have been a placebo effect but they didn't feel as light before the o-rings.

[The Solutor]

Could you possibly back up your claims with some data please? I find it hard to credit the statements you make and would be very interested in where you're getting your data from.

Looking around you is not enough ?

[Karniflex]

ISO and Backlit keyboard should came in the next months, better to wait.

Hoo thats good info right there. There is light at the end of tunnel for me! I quite liked the ability to customize the keyboard but was not content with lack of iso and backlit. I did write them about iso and they told me the "iso will be avilable by the end of year at latest" but failed to mention the backlit coming as well.

Have been looking for new keyboard few months by now. Had high hopes for the OCN Duky Shine until it was mentioned that they will not have ISO in first shipment and will be looking into that option somewhere down the road. Guess I'll have to get WASD one then when they release backlit iso

[wasdkeyboards]

Hoo thats good info right there. There is light at the end of tunnel for me! I quite liked the ability to customize the keyboard but was not content with lack of iso and backlit. I did write them about iso and they told me the "iso will be avilable by the end of year at latest" but failed to mention the backlit coming as well.

Have been looking for new keyboard few months by now. Had high hopes for the OCN Duky Shine until it was mentioned that they will not have ISO in first shipment and will be looking into that option somewhere down the road. Guess I'll have to get WASD one then when they release backlit iso

ISO is still on the way, but backlit is not.

Please check out the timeline sticky.

[Karniflex]

ISO is still on the way, but backlit is not.

Please check out the timeline sticky.

Thanx for the link, I had somehow missed the timeline sticky.

No backlit is a bit unfortunate but oh well, perhaps somewhere further down the road. My quest for iso, backlit, mechanical tenkeyless with detachable cabling continues. As far as I'm aware no one in the world is doing that and I'm not aware of any plans in that direction either, but one can hope

[Sabotage]

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 29447[/ATTACH]
(made a couple changes)

Looking for Comments on Keyboard Layout.

What do you think - changes or ideas.

[dorkvader]

You really use windows safe mode that much? I do oftentimes at work, but not enough to justify adding it to a keycap.

Also, if you're doing that, you may as well add legends to the other F keys. help, close, etc.

Why is delete green? I sort of like how it draws the eye, but don't use it enough to justify a separate colour.

Other than that: looks pretty good. Perhaps you may consider some blank keycaps? I really prefer the feel to the engraved ones. My arrowkeys and esc are both blank.

[Sabotage]

You really use windows safe mode that much? I do oftentimes at work, but not enough to justify adding it to a keycap.
Also, if you're doing that, you may as well add legends to the other F keys. help, close, etc.

I do support calls from home and for some reason I always forget what key it is - so thought it would be handy/fun.

Help I really only ever hit on Accident so I thought it was funny to add it.

Why is delete green? I sort of like how it draws the eye, but don't use it enough to justify a separate colour.

Recycle = Green - Delete to the recycle bin.

Other than that: looks pretty good. Perhaps you may consider some blank keycaps? I really prefer the feel to the engraved ones. My arrowkeys and esc are both blank.

Thanks - I am a lazy Touch typist - I tend to look when I'm being lazy. I get what your saying about the feel.

[dorkvader]

Good reasons all, I'd say it looks good. With my layout, I wanted something a little professional looking, and was very happy with it.

I'd say think it over some more, consider some other ideas and options, and if you're happy with it, then go for it!

(also, my "any key" is scroll lock)
---
Finally: will the large font work on the spacebar?

[Sabotage]

guy from WASD posted on another thread that I needed to drop it down to 12 point font because of the curvature.

[NinetyOne]

Hi guys, picked up my order, thanks to a speedy dispatch from WASDkeyboards...and then pigeon mail over here --went and picked it up myself "early"?!?!!? ..and a nice hefty $80 customs lol aanyway!
/uk mail rant

How in gods name did you manage to get taxed 80$??? In the UK VAT should be charged at 20% of the items total value including shipping costs. You said your total came to £130 therefore you should of only paid £26 to customs.

[hazeluff]

How in gods name did you manage to get taxed 80$??? In the UK VAT should be charged at 20% of the items total value including shipping costs. You said your total came to £130 therefore you should of only paid £26 to customs.

They tax the courier fee as well and charge 10 pounds admin/processing fee. Happened to me (sadly more than once). Bought a $80 anime figure from a classified, payed something like 35 pounds cos my item + shipping = like $130. Like wtf...

[NinetyOne]

They tax the courier fee as well and charge 10 pounds admin/processing fee. Happened to me (sadly more than once). Bought a $80 anime figure from a classified, payed something like 35 pounds cos my item + shipping = like $130. Like wtf...

Lol that's mad. My order from WASD keyboards came to £106 including shipping. VAT will be around £20 then as you said handling etc will prob add another £20. Kind of sucks because if it was under £105 I wouldn't have to pay a handling fee. RIP OFF BRITAIN FTW.

[hazeluff]

Lol that's mad. My order from WASD keyboards came to £106 including shipping. VAT will be around £20 then as you said handling etc will prob add another £20. Kind of sucks because if it was under £105 I wouldn't have to pay a handling fee. RIP OFF BRITAIN FTW.

The handling is only £10, but yeah...The one way to avoid it is to have shipper declare its under £40. The two boards I got from Qtan didn't require VAT.

[NinetyOne]

Just phoned up HRMC customs and they told me seeing as my order from WASD inlcuded shipping and handling that I would only pay around £20 for VAT/import duty for my item that cost £102.

[Skorm]

Just ordered mine Decided only to go with semi-custom since I'm not much into all the fanciness. I figure I can just buy some caps later if I change my mind. 

[dorkvader]

Just ordered mine Decided only to go with semi-custom since I'm not much into all the fanciness. I figure I can just buy some caps later if I change my mind. 

Welcome to Gekhack! Make sure you post pictures of it in the media subforum. I'm excited to see what you went with. Semi-custom does'nt have all the superfancy options, but there's still a lot you can do with it.

[Skorm]

Just ordered mine Decided only to go with semi-custom since I'm not much into all the fanciness. I figure I can just buy some caps later if I change my mind. 

Welcome to Gekhack! Make sure you post pictures of it in the media subforum. I'm excited to see what you went with. Semi-custom does'nt have all the superfancy options, but there's still a lot you can do with it.

Yea I was going to get the custom but I just couldn't come up with anything that I really liked and thought was unique, so I decided to just save a few bucks and go semi. Went with MX browns with 50A o-rings and orange WASD. If I like it as much as I think I will, I plan on ordering one with MX blacks sometime down the road.