Vortex Releases Backlit, *PBT* Keycaps

[duzeyao]

Just found this on Taobao.
Keyboard name is IKBC G-104. It is said that it uses PBT+POM doubleshot. (POM for the letter part)
Some pictures:




I personally aren't a fan of OEM profile keycaps but guess some people here have long waited for PBT doubleshot backlit keyset. (No ugly font lol)

Update:

It's still in pre-order phase, keyboard price is 90$.

[rowdy]

I think pretty much every backlight-friendly keycap set I have seen is OEM - kinda goes with the territory.

[Oobly]

Oh nice!

I would love for GMK to try this with black POM base and "white" POM legends, Cherry profile... drool..

[Skull_Angel]

Oh nice!

I would love for GMK to try this with black POM base and "white" POM legends, Cherry profile... drool..

GMK POM on POM double-shot? Sounds like the best kind of keyboard porn!

[quake4mhg]

new toy

More detail photos from kbtalking forum
http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/83141

[Justintoxicated]

They light up the symbols but not the numbers?  Not sure I would like that.

[quake4mhg]

They light up the symbols but not the numbers?  Not sure I would like that.

Oh ... thanks for remind  O.o||

[johndavis33]

I would have jumped on this before, but I've figured out that I like non filled, engraved caps over doubleshots for backlit keyboards.

They look blank when the light is off, and you can see the legends when the light is on.

It makes reactive typing modes look awesome

[saturnotaku]

Memo to Deck Keyboards - this is a proper legend for your keycaps, not the ugly one you currently use on your US lineup.

[Hyde]

Memo to Deck Keyboards - this is a proper legend for your keycaps, not the ugly one you currently use on your US lineup.

^ Second this.

[Justintoxicated]

Memo to Deck Keyboards - this is a proper legend for your keycaps, not the ugly one you currently use on your US lineup.

Actually I still don't like that this board spells out control and uses the word win for those keys... Ugly...

[johndavis33]

Memo to Deck Keyboards - this is a proper legend for your keycaps, not the ugly one you currently use on your US lineup.

Actually I still don't like that this board spells out control and uses the word win for those keys... Ugly...

I kinda like seeing "win" on a key, it's fun.

I didn't realize it before, but those laser engraved ducky pbt keycaps are on massdrop right now. Really, they're the best solution for a backlit keyboard

[okwchin]

I guess the numericals not being lit up are a function of competing conventions, and the PCB designer rotating all switches the same way.

The switches have all been inverted, with the LEDs to the top of the switch, and thats how the whole board is laid out. If the top switches were arranged the reverse direction, it would work well with the key set...

[Oobly]

Memo to Deck Keyboards - this is a proper legend for your keycaps, not the ugly one you currently use on your US lineup.

Actually I still don't like that this board spells out control and uses the word win for those keys... Ugly...

I kinda like seeing "win" on a key, it's fun.

I didn't realize it before, but those laser engraved ducky pbt keycaps are on massdrop right now. Really, they're the best solution for a backlit keyboard

I don't like the feel of engraved legends. Prefer the smoothness of doubleshots or dyesub, but each to their own.

[paulen]

Memo to Deck Keyboards - this is a proper legend for your keycaps, not the ugly one you currently use on your US lineup.

Actually I still don't like that this board spells out control and uses the word win for those keys... Ugly...

I kinda like seeing "win" on a key, it's fun.

I didn't realize it before, but those laser engraved ducky pbt keycaps are on massdrop right now. Really, they're the best solution for a backlit keyboard

I don't like the feel of engraved legends. Prefer the smoothness of doubleshots or dyesub, but each to their own.

[bazh]

must be Vortex, that Cherry font and center alignment are identical with those of  PBT 2-shot set they made

[domoaligato]

it is kbtalking which basically = vortex

[johndavis33]

Memo to Deck Keyboards - this is a proper legend for your keycaps, not the ugly one you currently use on your US lineup.

Actually I still don't like that this board spells out control and uses the word win for those keys... Ugly...

I kinda like seeing "win" on a key, it's fun.

I didn't realize it before, but those laser engraved ducky pbt keycaps are on massdrop right now. Really, they're the best solution for a backlit keyboard

I don't like the feel of engraved legends. Prefer the smoothness of doubleshots or dyesub, but each to their own.

Ahh, I know what you mean. I don't mind it, really.

But the OP said that the legends would be POM with the rest of the key being PBT. That could also feel weird,

[dorkvader]

I'd love to try it. I don't think POM / PBT would feel weird (PBT is only rough from the mould. Imsto PBT almost feels like POM already), but we'll see.

This is a great idea. I don;t know why they didnt try this first instead of that PBT / PBT injection moulding they were doing before.

[bazh]

hmm, left out the slippery of POM, I like typing on them the most, even with thin keycaps, they create great sound and feels.

But aren't they limited in printing method? I've never seen one do POM double-shot.

[bazh]

And it's real now, Vortex just put the black version photos on their FB page

https://www.facebook.com/Vortexgear/posts/722020997865613

[samwisekoi]

To bad the numerics aren't top-aligned like the keycaps on the Cherry TG3 keyboard.


Cherry TG3 Backlit Keyboard
Photo by user cuongha on vozforumns.com

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[limitz]

Found on their Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/Vortexgear/posts/722020997865613

For the longest time, only Deck had backlit PBT keycaps, and they looked horrid. Straight out of the medieval ages, LOTR, or some ****. Finally, another challenger enters! Wish they showed off the PBT thickness a bit more, but it looks decently thick. However the font is the real kicker, much much better than whatever else is out there.

Maybe this will finally encourage Deck to finally change their godawful font. They make decent keyboards, but the font alone is deterrence enough.

[FuriousGeorge]

Poor Deck. You know you're doing something wrong when even Vortex has a better looking font than you. I love the double-shot pbt vortex caps I have, but they are at all attractive unless you compare them to deck.

[FrostyToast]

Legends aren't half bad on these.

[SpAmRaY]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61149.0

guessing these go together?

[FrostyToast]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61149.0

guessing these go together?

Why do both of these guys light up the symbols on the numbers only?

[Puddsy]

Still would rather have GMK

[limitz]

Poor Deck. You know you're doing something wrong when even Vortex has a better looking font than you. I love the double-shot pbt vortex caps I have, but they are at all attractive unless you compare them to deck.

Isn't the font on these Helvetica? Doesn't look too bad IMO.

What's your favorite keycap font?

[divito]

Why is the alpha font so big? They seem good otherwise. The CODE seems to have the best size of font/cleanliness of the backlit caps.

[Zephitos]

big font big light

[dante]

Poor Deck. You know you're doing something wrong when even Vortex has a better looking font than you. I love the double-shot pbt vortex caps I have, but they are at all attractive unless you compare them to deck.

That being said ... this is Vortex quality.

The Deck stuff - aesthetics aside - is proven.

[noisyturtle]

Memo to Deck Keyboards - this is a proper legend for your keycaps, not the ugly one you currently use on your US lineup.

x3 although I wish Vortex would stop centering their font.

[bazh]

Poor Deck. You know you're doing something wrong when even Vortex has a better looking font than you. I love the double-shot pbt vortex caps I have, but they are at all attractive unless you compare them to deck.

Isn't the font on these Helvetica? Doesn't look too bad IMO.

What's your favorite keycap font?

The font is like that of Cherry legend (which is an old typeface named Formular One)

[bazh]

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61149.0

guessing these go together?

Why do both of these guys light up the symbols on the numbers only?

Because you only have 1 LED in a Cherry MX and it can only light up a hafl of the keycaps at a same time

Memo to Deck Keyboards - this is a proper legend for your keycaps, not the ugly one you currently use on your US lineup.

x3 although I wish Vortex would stop centering their font.

I think their main purpose is to support the backlighting (you know, the LED is at center)

[duzeyao]

Poor Deck. You know you're doing something wrong when even Vortex has a better looking font than you. I love the double-shot pbt vortex caps I have, but they are at all attractive unless you compare them to deck.

Isn't the font on these Helvetica? Doesn't look too bad IMO.

What's your favorite keycap font?

The font is like that of Cherry legend (which is an old typeface named Formular One)

The font of this keyset is the same as the KBT's "history" PBT doubleshot set. I assume they use the same mold, which means they may have similar build quality.

[bazh]

Poor Deck. You know you're doing something wrong when even Vortex has a better looking font than you. I love the double-shot pbt vortex caps I have, but they are at all attractive unless you compare them to deck.

Isn't the font on these Helvetica? Doesn't look too bad IMO.

What's your favorite keycap font?

The font is like that of Cherry legend (which is an old typeface named Formular One)

The font of this keyset is the same as the KBT's "history" PBT doubleshot set. I assume they use the same mold, which means they may have similar build quality.

It is Vortex who made them so it's easy to understand they're just another variant (transparent legend) of the same keycaps. I'm not surprised, I saw the backlit version before they sold the colors sets. It is surprising that it took them too long to really bring these backlit caps to the market.

[domoaligato]

vortex takes forever to bring anything to market.

[ViciousWhiskers]

I'm wondering if they'll bring it in colours other than black and white. Anyone want to guess/estimate a price for these?

[quake4mhg]

I'm wondering if they'll bring it in colours other than black and white. Anyone want to guess/estimate a price for these?

I have the same question 

[keypro]

I'm wondering if they'll bring it in colours other than black and white. Anyone want to guess/estimate a price for these?

I have the same question 

The price is already out. $33 USD/ set.

https://www.facebook.com/Vortexgear/photos/a.259951927405858.58575.241720585895659/722567964477583/?type=1&theater

[Oobly]

I'm wondering if they'll bring it in colours other than black and white. Anyone want to guess/estimate a price for these?

I have the same question 

The price is already out. $33 USD/ set.

https://www.facebook.com/Vortexgear/photos/a.259951927405858.58575.241720585895659/722567964477583/?type=1&theater

That's a good price... May pick up one of these sets despite the reportedly imperfect quality of their latest sets.

[katushkin]

I just put a set of blue and white Vortex DS on my KC 108 and the Alphas do look a bit "for the visually impaired" look about them. The legends are pretty big and the font is thick too.

The quality of their caps are good though.

[kelchm]

These look pretty fantastic.  I think I will be picking up a set for my Poker II w/ clears from Mass Drop.

[Grim Fandango]

Glorious. Though I still do not like backlight in keyboards (aesthetically), this takes away one major reason why I would not want to get a backlit keyboard.

[ViciousWhiskers]

For 33$ I wouldn't mind getting a set to put on backlit keyboards. Really do hope that it comes in colours other than black.

EDIT: Looks like they posted white sets on their facebook page!

[domoaligato]

Glorious. Though I still do not like backlight in keyboards (aesthetically), this takes away one major reason why I would not want to get a backlit keyboard.

gaming in the dark is probably the only reason I learned to touch type

[alkaiser]

Definitely going to pick up a set of white ones for my incoming Poker II with clears

[Oobly]

Hmmm... discovered this: http://www.qwer.io/group-buys-interest-checks/current-group-buys/vortex-doubleshot-pbt-backlit-key-cap-set-interest-check/
Post your interest there if you want a set. I am intrigued by these...

(edited because link was wrong.... sorry)

[qwack]

Looke like the spacebar is different:



Is it possible that it is ABS instead of PBT?