[IC] Universal spherical retro kit (standard, tkl, wkl. 75, 60, ergodox)

[jdcarpe]

Can't we just do brown this time and blue next time? You can spread GBs out, you know.

I get it, though. We've gone so long with so few GB options that you want all these options available NAO!

[phetto]

I think I will need to grab a G80-3000 for these, to make it look retro

[Matt3o]

please note this is a very special set. They are DSA keys, spherical, all on the same profile and we can't match some of the keys (iso enter, spacebars, left stem capslock). It's not definitely for everybody. If it was a "standard" set I would agree on adding more color options but it is not, so I would stick with fewer options.

Regarding color, I LOVE blue, but R4 already has blue sphericals and I don't want to overlap. Plus people preferred the cream on brown version in our short polling on both GH and DT, so...

[r3dx]

I'm going to have to side with Matt3o on this one. Even though I initially brought up the white on blue set, I think it would be best if we don't overlap with the R4 buy.

Honestly, I'm not too thrilled about the R4 set (http://deskthority.net/wiki/Round4_SPH) because I would like a full set of blues to have that bright retro look, so I'm probably not going to get a set. Plus, I really have fallen in love with the last mock-up Matt did, that lime green ESC and Enter key were the icing on the cake. 

[baldgye]

love the lime iso set, but im not really feeling the brown colour so much `

I'm trying to.

I'd like to see a brown-to-blue interest rating based on these choices:

1) I would certainly buy brown. Period.
2) I would buy brown but not blue.
3) I would buy brown, and maybe blue.
4) I would buy either one.
5) I would buy blue, and maybe brown.
6) I would buy blue but not brown.
7) I would certainly buy blue. Period.

I am feeling #6 and being a #5.  Baldguy?

 - Ron | samwisekoi

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I have almost zero interest in a blue set tbh... but I'd be in for those green mods and maybe some other of the mod sets, I'm not sure yet as there are alot of upcoming GB's seeming coming up for around the middle of the year, so I'm not sure really want I'm going to be putting my money into :P

[pasph]

#4

[merijn]

#6#7

[wasabah]

#5

[Halverson]

If we're still fishing colour interest, obviously #2 close to #1.
I hath spoken, no more colour talk

[1391401]

I really like it, but I am waiting for my SPH from R4 to know if I want to buy any more :\

[wasabah]

Thank you for providing a picture, Matt3o!

Looking really good so far!

I was wondering though about the extra kit:
would it be possible to add a lime 1x2.0 enter button as well?
Or, maybe just a lime blank 2.0 one? Also a blank lime one in 1x1.5 would be cool!

Btw, what are the extra F and J keys for?

Sorry for asking so many questions.

LOVE the coffee break one btw!!

[Matt3o]

I believe we are pretty much settled on brown unless a horde of blues comes. Anyway we can change our mind up to the day I send the order to SP.

I really like it, but I am waiting for my SPH from R4 to know if I want to buy any more :\

please remember that they are not the same spherical (DSA vs SA profile).

would it be possible to add a lime 1x2.0 enter button as well?
Or, maybe just a lime blank 2.0 one? Also a blank lime one in 1x1.5 would be cool!

I'm adding some more green keys. what's the 2.0 for?

Btw, what are the extra F and J keys for?

Unbumped F and J are for colemak and dvorak layouts (or if you prefer a completely flat layout).

[wasabah]

Ah, i see @ F and J. Thanks!

Well, I would just use the lime 2.0 as backspace or enter for my thumb buttons!

[Matt3o]

OKAY, this is my offer regarding blue and brown dispute.

If we reach the 50 tier with brown, we add the blue kit.

[samwisekoi]

OKAY, this is my offer regarding blue and brown dispute.

If we reach the 50 tier with brown, we add the blue kit.

Good plan.  I remain in.

I worked for Atari during the Commodore years.  Oddly enough we used Atari 800s instead of Commodore whatevers.

And IBM Selectrics with blue keycaps.

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[Matt3o]

Good plan.  I remain in.

I worked for Atari during the Commodore years.  Oddly enough we used Atari 800s instead of Commodore whatevers.

And IBM Selectrics with blue keycaps.

actually I was toying with the idea of adding an Atari custom key

[mashby]

I'm a C=64 kid at heart, but I lusted after the Atari computers and would LOVE to add that key to the set. 

[samwisekoi]

I believe that the brown of the sample picture is TBN, TGH is more chocolate. I have no clue about which white to use. The C64 one seems actually pure white (WA?), but we could go slightly off with WCK, WBO, TM, WEA... too many to choose from...

Missing color chips arrived last night.  TBN looks really good for these keys.  WA would be really sharp for legends.  WCK is also fine, and would match their "white" universal space bars.  But it isn't as sharp and distinct as the TBN/WA combo.  That would be proper old school.

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[Matt3o]

I believe that the brown of the sample picture is TBN, TGH is more chocolate. I have no clue about which white to use. The C64 one seems actually pure white (WA?), but we could go slightly off with WCK, WBO, TM, WEA... too many to choose from...

Missing color chips arrived last night.  TBN looks really good for these keys.  WA would be really sharp for legends.  WCK is also fine, and would match their "white" universal space bars.  But it isn't as sharp and distinct as the TBN/WA combo.  That would be proper old school.

 - Ron | samwisekoi

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thanks for checking, Ron.
would you also have a look at WBO? Could you scan those 3 colors when you get the chance? Thanks

it turned out that C64 legends are cream on the top and pure white on the side (which we do not cover of course).

PS: I'm adding the Atari logo as C64/winkey replacement

[jdcarpe]

IIRC, the Atari 800 also had brown keys with white legends. Good idea on the Atari mod keys.

While you guys were using your C64's and Atari 800's, I was programming simple BASIC on my TI-99/4A.

[samwisekoi]

thanks for checking, Ron.
would you also have a look at WBO? Could you scan those 3 colors when you get the chance? Thanks

it turned out that C64 legends are cream on the top and pure white on the side (which we do not cover of course).

PS: I'm adding the Atari logo as C64/winkey replacement

When was that color ring scanned?  I don't have WBO either.  However I do have WFM and WFO which both look similar to WBO and look good with TBN.

Make sure you get the Atari Logo correct.  There are a bunch of near-misses.  Here are two hits:





I don't know how well that will translate to ABS.  Placement of the ® is important.

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[Matt3o]

When was that color ring scanned?  I don't have WBO either.  However I do have WFM and WFO which both look similar to WBO and look good with TBN.

luckily colors can be chosen up to the day before sending the order

Make sure you get the Atari Logo correct.  There are a bunch of near-misses.  Here are two hits:

Show Image

great thanks! I'll use this!

[samwisekoi]

Color chips - scanned.


TBN, WA, WFO & WFM

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[Matt3o]

thanks!

they all look legit to me. we just have to decide if we want a pure white or a more creamy white.

[jdcarpe]

If it was for base color, I would say do with WFK, but as its just for legends, I say we go with WA. WA on NN has always been a standard.

[mashby]

I vote for cream, like WFO

[KuhnTang]

I don't care, I'll order anything

.... almost

[samwisekoi]

If it was for base color, I would say do with WFK, but as its just for legends, I say we go with WA. WA on NN has always been a standard.

Looking at them live and in the flesh plastic, I really have to agree that WA is the way to go.

I was iffy about the brown until I got the TBN chip and put the WA next to it and POW!  Awesomeness.

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[Matt3o]

I was iffy about the brown until I got the TBN chip and put the WA next to it and POW!  Awesomeness.

I've told you, it was good... but noooo, that brown is too dark... that white is too cold...

[tsangan]

because of how dark the base colour is the WA is a good choice to compensate it

WFM is fine too if you think WA would hurts your eyes, cream would work but it doesn't seem to be intent for the OP

[Matt3o]

pure white goes very well with brown, plum and green. it depends if we want to resemble the original c64 look and feel, in that case we would have to use a more creamy white

[jdcarpe]

W-A! W-A! W-A all the WAy!

[funkymeeba]

Just here to express my interest in brown with plum mods.

I'm fine with any of those mods, really. Nice choices, all of them.

[Matt3o]

This might be it.

KIT 8 is for the upcoming HyperMicro keyboard 7bit will release after R4 and for any other extreme modder.



tomorrow I'll request a quote to SP for each KIT and we can start the group buy.

PLEASE review the layout and report issues ASAP

[jdcarpe]

Small request...can you add a 1.25-unit Caps Lock (symbol) to the Extreme Modder pack, please?

[Matt3o]

Small request...can you add a 1.25-unit Caps Lock (symbol) to the Extreme Modder pack, please?

1.25 caps is in kit 3, I tried not to replicate keys in multiple kits (with very few exceptions)

[jdcarpe]

Yep, there it is. It's all good, since I will be ordering one of each, anyway. Goodbye, money!

Thanks!

[metalliqaz]

This thing is going to empty my wallet.  I predict that this will be the sought-after set that goes for $180 next year.  Looks amazing.  More epic than CCnG. Props.

Matt3o, the only thing missing from those layout pics is what profile the blank 1x keys are.

[Matt3o]

Matt3o, the only thing missing from those layout pics is what profile the blank 1x keys are.

what do you mean by profile?

In DSA we have just 1 profile (even though this would be a great DCS family layout too).

[metalliqaz]

Oh yeah, I forgot!

[Shadovved]

I like this set!

[samwisekoi]

Really, really nice.  Well done.

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[Hak Foo]

Silly questionL Why are some legends not centered?  |\, shifts, enters...

[ApocalypseMaow]

You know, it doesn't hurt to sit on my wallet anymore... Weird.

[Matt3o]

Silly questionL Why are some legends not centered?  |\, shifts, enters...

that is pretty standard SP layout I believe.

Nicely done!  If I had only one request it would be for a 1x1 key with a calculator symbol on it.

Only if SP  already has mold for that.

[mashby]

You know, it doesn't hurt to sit on my wallet anymore... Weird.

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[Hak Foo]

Silly questionL Why are some legends not centered?  |\, shifts, enters...

that is pretty standard SP layout I believe.

The Round Three runs showed that they have the text legends for shift and return centered.  Personally, I'd love to see all the legends except for |\  to follow the Round Three look -- centered, uppercase text in that retro font.  It's the most credible match for real vintage hardware.

[wasabah]

I'm still not a too big fan of the color choice (sorry, retro isn't my thing), but I have to say that I love the insane amount of awesome keys for this set!!

Edit: could you add a backspace 2.0 key cap to the extreme modder kit?

[Turbo Slaab]

Silly questionL Why are some legends not centered?  |\, shifts, enters...

that is pretty standard SP layout I believe.

The Round Three runs showed that they have the text legends for shift and return centered.  Personally, I'd love to see all the legends except for |\  to follow the Round Three look -- centered, uppercase text in that retro font.  It's the most credible match for real vintage hardware.

I concur. All text except the windows keys would look legit.

[samwisekoi]

Silly questionL Why are some legends not centered?  |\, shifts, enters...

that is pretty standard SP layout I believe.

The Round Three runs showed that they have the text legends for shift and return centered.  Personally, I'd love to see all the legends except for |\  to follow the Round Three look -- centered, uppercase text in that retro font.  It's the most credible match for real vintage hardware.

I concur. All text except the windows keys would look legit.

What he said!