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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: fxm.eee on Sun, 19 January 2020, 07:30:20

Title: Need some Recommandations
Post by: fxm.eee on Sun, 19 January 2020, 07:30:20
Well I recently started liking MK a lot and wonder if there are any good alternatives to GMK Keycaps? I love their look but they're way to expensive for me. Only "close" ones I found are Tai-Hao but I can't find matching Deskmats to Tai-Hao Caps :/, I hope someone can help!
Title: Re: Need some Recommandations
Post by: biothermal on Sun, 19 January 2020, 07:46:58
Hi there! Welcome to the rabbit hole.

GMK keycaps are pretty unique in what they have to offer, but there are alternatives to them, some of which even do have matching deskmats! The easiest themed keycaps sets you should look out for an ones manufactured by ePBT or Infinikey such as the RAMA works designed "PBT Heavy Industry" (https://ramaworks.store/products/pbt-heavy-industry-seq3) which has a deskmat that matches called "canvas" (https://ramaworks.store/products/canvas-2-deskmat). Infinikey also has a couple sets in groupbuy right now on the key company, White on Black and Black on White (https://thekey.company/products/infinikey-bow-wob). The good thing about those sets is many deskmats will match even if they're not themed exactly the same.

If you want to get keycaps made of the same material as GMK (ABS plastic) then your only truly cheap option is keyreative's blank ABS sets (https://thekey.company/collections/in-stock/products/keyreative-abs-blank-cherry-keycaps), which are pretty damn cheap for what they are, and they come in many many colors.

If you end up going with Tai-Hao keycaps, I would suggest trying to find a deskmat on Novelkeys (https://novelkeys.xyz/). They have a lot of deskmats that have no particular theme, or should match practically anything. It's also worth looking out for used GMK keycap sets, or simple ones still in GB. Then you might find some good deals that you can stomach the price of.

EDIT: just realized Infinikey's keycaps are quite pricy. Those might not be the best option. Especially when there's a cheaper GMK base kit (https://novelkeys.xyz/collections/frontpage/products/gmk-peach-blossom-gb) in groupbuy right now.
Title: Re: Need some Recommandations
Post by: fxm.eee on Sun, 19 January 2020, 08:31:17
Thanks for you Help! actually those Blank ones are at a good price but.. blank?. Also How much are GMKs even if you get a good deal on them or get them in a Group Buy? Seems like my only Options rn are Tai-Hao with Deskmat or Blanks
Title: Re: Need some Recommandations
Post by: biothermal on Sun, 19 January 2020, 08:51:35
GMK base sets are usually in the range of $100 to $150 for the groupbuy price, so once you pay that's a bit of a wait unless you snag some extras, however those will run you about $130-180, roughly.

And yes... blank :blank: it definetely take some getting used to but at a certain point once you get used to the board you're typing on, it shouldn't make much of a difference. My personal recommendation (if we're sticking with cherry profile keycaps) is to browse eBay for older Cherry Corp. Keyboards and find a keyboard that you can take the keycaps off of. I recently bought a Cherry G80-11900HRMUS with WoB keycaps, and for $50 shipped I would recommend something similar to anyone.
Title: Re: Need some Recommandations
Post by: fxm.eee on Sun, 19 January 2020, 09:15:36
Now that sounds interesting.. I like vintage Keycaps will definitely check out Ebay! Thanks  :D