Hmmmmm

Ugly. Need real ssk kthxbye.

I still think it's fake. I'm hoping I'm wrong though...

I think the announcement could have the real intent behind it.

But Unicomp saying they're going to be making a new keyboard and Unicomp actually making a new keyboard have been two different things for a long time now.

We have been asking them to do something like this for years.  A late April Fool's Day joke, Unicomp?  Really?

This might be real:

Then they need to work on their PR skills (obviously).  But yay if it's real, let's hope they can deliver.

When pigs fly

Why can't they just keep the SSK layout?

Anyways, I'll believe it when they start selling this on their website.

Well, the size is a matter of taste, functionality is gonna be there. I'd prefer the smaller one myself.

ETwentyNine, this is a BS keyboard, as in BULLSHEET. Don’t you see that the statement is dated April 1, 2014?

To insult our intelligence, Unicomp even did a poor quality software mockup. I’m sure YOU, ETwentyNine, can hack up a Model M and build a more realistic prototype.

Anyway, trust them to be so slow, even their April Fool’s Joke gets released on April 2nd. Unicomp, the only thing I like about you guys, is that at least you make dyesubs cheap.

Quote from: The_Beast on Wed, 02 April 2014, 11:42:52

Still waiting for red alert cap set from them..... and that's been 2 year now...

So Unicomp SSKs in 2016.... maybe.....

Agreed. These announcements with the requisite email screenshot come up too often.

It is just a tactic to distract us from our current GBs 

Another option, since Unicomp is soliciting comments and suggestions at this point:

Quote from: 1avid_collector on Wed, 02 April 2014, 12:40:24

Another option, since Unicomp is soliciting comments and suggestions at this point:

That is impressive!

I would buy this.

Seconded.

That's 2 orders right there. We're almost at MOQ!

Here's the DT thread from where those renders came from:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/a-proposal-for-a-new-ssk-t6977.html

While it has the original SSK layout (i.e., Function row further separated than the most recent renders) I think this render is still kinda cool to view:



And, yes I did all of these as "M'er Forever" on DT. The Unicomp project is no joke, but I feel they need some strong advice so as to get it right and appeal to the broadest possible market. This requires NKRO if gamers are to be interested, and that could be accomplished with capsense. If successful enough, that could pave the way for wireless and programmable variants.

While it has the original SSK layout (i.e., Function row further separated than the most recent renders) I think this render is still kinda cool to view:

Yes. This is perfect.

Can the UniKinesis be far behind?

Another option, since Unicomp is soliciting comments and suggestions at this point:

What a pretty 60% render! 

Quote from: E TwentyNine on Wed, 02 April 2014, 12:51:48

Here's the DT thread from where those renders came from:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/a-proposal-for-a-new-ssk-t6977.html

The layout in the first post of that thread are different from the one used in OP.

*optimistic*

Yes, Unicomp's design is one that I (M'er Forever on DT) rendered for them although they designed it. The renders in the DT thread are based on my own concepts as they evolved with the help of many suggestions by DT'ers.

While it has the original SSK layout (i.e., Function row further separated than the most recent renders) I think this render is still kinda cool to view:

(Attachment Link)

And, yes I did all of these as "M'er Forever" on DT. The Unicomp project is no joke, but I feel they need some strong advice so as to get it right and appeal to the broadest possible market. This requires NKRO if gamers are to be interested, and that could be accomplished with capsense. If successful enough, that could pave the way for wireless and programmable variants.

Agreed on all counts. I like the look of the proper TKL layout you pictured a lot better than any of the other renders. And I won't consider anything with 2KRO, no matter how well optimized the matrix might be. You don't even need capacitive sensing; a membrane with an individual trace for each key on one of the layers will do the job (Skydigital and QSenn both have NKRO membrane keyboards currently on the market using this system). Hell, I'd give a second look to an EnduraPro with NKRO (and a better trackpoint, ideally) without it being a space-saver.

I got an email from them this afternoon. I said before that if Unicomp ever comes out with an SSK I would buy one the second it comes out. But this is not the SSK I had in mind. I want a tenkeyless board, not this, for lack of a better term, fugly thing. I really hope that they do come out with a true tkl design, if so then I will getting one for sure. But if this is the design they stick with, then I am not interested at all.

I got an email from them this afternoon. I said before that if Unicomp ever comes out with an SSK I would buy one the second it comes out. But this is not the SSK I had in mind. I want a tenkeyless board, not this, for lack of a better term, fugly thing. I really hope that they do come out with a true tkl design, if so then I will getting one for sure. But if this is the design they stick with, then I am not interested at all.

Please write to them and tell them so.

Attention everyone: Now is the time to respond to their announcement if you want them to change course for the better. Silence in the face of imminent error accomplishes nothing.

Quote from: FoxWolf1 on Wed, 02 April 2014, 14:05:40

Agreed on all counts. I like the look of the proper TKL layout you pictured a lot better than any of the other renders. And I won't consider anything with 2KRO, no matter how well optimized the matrix might be. You don't even need capacitive sensing; a membrane with an individual trace for each key on one of the layers will do the job (Skydigital and QSenn both have NKRO membrane keyboards currently on the market using this system). Hell, I'd give a second look to an EnduraPro with NKRO (and a better trackpoint, ideally) without it being a space-saver.

You have some links to the technical specifics of this?  Because the way I'm reading it sounds like the controller would have something like 88 connectors going to it.

Also, I have to wonder if thin film diodes could be used to get a NKRO on a membrane matrix board.

Yes, I was wondering about the controller issue as well...

I might be wrong about some specifics, since I'm going mainly by pictures in advertisements (I don't read Korean), but see for yourself:

From an ad for Skydigital's "Nkeyboard NKey-2" model:


From an ad for QSenn's GP-K8000U:

Quote from: Warduke on Wed, 02 April 2014, 14:19:32

I got an email from them this afternoon. I said before that if Unicomp ever comes out with an SSK I would buy one the second it comes out. But this is not the SSK I had in mind. I want a tenkeyless board, not this, for lack of a better term, fugly thing. I really hope that they do come out with a true tkl design, if so then I will getting one for sure. But if this is the design they stick with, then I am not interested at all.

Please write to them and tell them so.

Attention everyone: Now is the time to respond to their announcement if you want them to change course for the better. Silence in the face of imminent error accomplishes nothing.

I just did. I hope a lot of others also send feedback.

I believe your interpretation to be correct. The diodes would be on the controller board, but there would be many more connections to be made between membrane and controller. I'm not sure of the ability to add diodes to the existing Model M membrane without being crushed by the barrel frame in the sandwiched construction. Not to mention that attempts to solder diodes to mylar would melt it instantly.

This is why I said "thin film diodes".  I'm no EE, but from my understanding they would fit the bill (I'll be no-so-gladly corrected on this point by someone more knowledgeable though).