"Typewriter" keycaps like on Massdrop

[rowdy]

So there's a drop for a Magicforce 68-Key Mini Mechanical Keyboard with special typewriter keycaps:

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/magicforce-68-key-mini-mechanical-keyboard?mode=guest_open

This is not a full TKL ANSI set of keycaps though, although the bottom row is the standard layout.

Anyone know if these keycaps (preferably a full US ANSI TKL set) are available separately?

Thanks

[romevi]

I asked, but no dice yet. I actually kinda want those caps, and hope they're a bit better and cheaper than Datamancer's.

[xtrafrood]

I like how the Magicforce logo looks with those 'typewriter' keycaps. Seems to blend in a little better with all the excitement.

[Moistgun]

I like how the Magicforce logo looks with those 'typewriter' keycaps. Seems to blend in a little better with all the excitement.

Definitely looks better than the magicforce stock caps 

[rowdy]

I like how the Magicforce logo looks with those 'typewriter' keycaps. Seems to blend in a little better with all the excitement.

Exactly!

Although I have a feeling those keycaps do look better on a metal case.

[chuckdee]

Is it bad that I'm considering getting the board just to get the caps? 

[eksuen]

Is it bad that I'm considering getting the board just to get the caps? 

Not at all.

[SKD]

Can't decide if I want to buy that board, always wanted a magicforce. But I have a second 60% in the mail already...

[ideus]

I asked, but no dice yet. I actually kinda want those caps, and hope they're a bit better and cheaper than Datamancer's.

+1, they look really cool.

[rowdy]

Is it bad that I'm considering getting the board just to get the caps? 

Yes, 'cause it's not a full ANSI set on that board and you'd have gaps if you tried to use the keycaps on other boards.

Even a 60% would be missing one of the modifiers, and using a standard keycap in its place would be sacrilege!

[timerwin63]

IMO the best "typewriter"-styled keycaps are the ones on the QWERKYWRITER:



I don't know where to source them, though. As for the caps on the Magicforce, I remember seeing something like them on Taobao in a 104-key set a couple months ago. I'll see if I can't dig them back up.

[rowdy]

IMO the best "typewriter"-styled keycaps are the ones on the QWERKYWRITER:

Show Image

I don't know where to source them, though. As for the caps on the Magicforce, I remember seeing something like them on Taobao in a 104-key set a couple months ago. I'll see if I can't dig them back up.

I think I prefer the Massdrop one - 1x keycaps on the modifiers don't quite look right.

[timerwin63]

I think I prefer the Massdrop one - 1x keycaps on the modifiers don't quite look right.

I agree with you about the modifiers. I was speaking more of the general aesthetic, though.

[romevi]

Is there a transparent layer over the Massdrop ones? It seems like the legends are printed on the black plastic.

[timerwin63]

Is there a transparent layer over the Massdrop ones? It seems like the legends are printed on the black plastic.

This picture makes it look like really thin pads or maybe infilled laser etching. Doesn't look like there's any kind of protective layer on it, though:



I guess I was wrong about the Taobao typewriter caps, too. The only ones I can seem to find are the ones on this board.

[romevi]

Is there a transparent layer over the Massdrop ones? It seems like the legends are printed on the black plastic.

This picture makes it look like really thin pads or maybe infilled laser etching. Doesn't look like there's any kind of protective layer on it, though:

Show Image

I guess I was wrong about the Taobao typewriter caps, too. The only ones I can seem to find are the ones on this board.

If it's in the actual plastic (whether laser or otherwise) I don't mind much. I actually prefer that over the layered shell, and I really, really hope these come in a 104 kit.  :p

[rowdy]

These (Massdrop) would be custom-made, do you think?

That they exactly fit a (more or less) TKL keyboard seems suspicious, given the lengths that some steam punk players go to to make actual archaic typewriter keys fit a modern keyboard.

If so, perhaps there will be a drop or something for the keycap sets.

They'll need up to 397 sets of the keycaps as it is, just for this drop!

[G.C.W.]

https://world.taobao.com/search/search.htm?_ksTS=1467382559319_20&spm=a21bp.7806943.20151106.1&search_type=0&_input_charset=utf-8&navigator=all&json=on&q=打字机%20键帽打字&cna=AVWhDwBO6B4CAVQs8V5%2FP164&callback=__jsonp_cb&abtest=_AB-LR517-LR854-LR895-PR517-PR854-PV895_2462

What is it with the chinese picturing a steam punk keyboard with a book, a pen, scissors?

[romevi]

https://world.taobao.com/search/search.htm?_ksTS=1467382559319_20&spm=a21bp.7806943.20151106.1&search_type=0&_input_charset=utf-8&navigator=all&json=on&q=打字机%20键帽打字&cna=AVWhDwBO6B4CAVQs8V5%2FP164&callback=__jsonp_cb&abtest=_AB-LR517-LR854-LR895-PR517-PR854-PV895_2462

What is it with the chinese picturing a steam punk keyboard with a book, a pen, scissors?

Hey, thanks for that search link! 

[rowdy]

https://world.taobao.com/search/search.htm?_ksTS=1467382559319_20&spm=a21bp.7806943.20151106.1&search_type=0&_input_charset=utf-8&navigator=all&json=on&q=打字机%20键帽打字&cna=AVWhDwBO6B4CAVQs8V5%2FP164&callback=__jsonp_cb&abtest=_AB-LR517-LR854-LR895-PR517-PR854-PV895_2462

What is it with the chinese picturing a steam punk keyboard with a book, a pen, scissors?

By the look of the shapes and colours of keycaps in those pics, looks like there are a few places making them.

Hopefully they will appear in the western world so as to be a bit more accessible at some stage.

Thanks

[duhhey]

OOOOOoooooo

[rowdy]

OOOOOoooooo

Yeeeeeeee

[vivalarevolución]

I can't imagine these actually are efficient to type on.  Look cool, though.

[romevi]

I can't imagine these actually are efficient to type on.  Look cool, though.

The only caps I'd get just so they can look pretty on my board.
Besides my one SA set, of course.  )

[dustigroove]

Blitwin posted the below link in the discussion on Massdrop. It has photos of a "Lexking" badged version of the MF board (in black) with Typewriter keycaps:

https://uccu.cool3c.com/projects/205

[rowdy]

Blitwin posted the below link in the discussion on Massdrop. It has photos of a "Lexking" badged version of the MF board (in black) with Typewriter keycaps:

https://uccu.cool3c.com/projects/205

That one has 1x modifiers on the bottom row and a 1x Tab. That kinda irks me a bit, especially the Tab.

The Massdrop one has 1.25x bottom row modifiers, and a proper sized Tab.  Looks much better to me

[dustigroove]

Blitwin posted the below link in the discussion on Massdrop. It has photos of a "Lexking" badged version of the MF board (in black) with Typewriter keycaps:

https://uccu.cool3c.com/projects/205

That one has 1x modifiers on the bottom row and a 1x Tab. That kinda irks me a bit, especially the Tab.

The Massdrop one has 1.25x bottom row modifiers, and a proper sized Tab.  Looks much better to me

I unfortunately don't read Chinese, and that page was way tl;dr it all... but from what I gathered through Google Translate, they have been working with the manufacturer (Lester?) of that typewriter set and the photos were of their agreed upon specifications for an "early bird" purchase.

I mainly reposted the link in the event that it's relevant to finding the set on it's own (and to give folks an idea of what the black case with typewriter keycaps looks like).

Agreed that the Massdrop version looks cleaner with the larger modifiers!

[rowdy]

Blitwin posted the below link in the discussion on Massdrop. It has photos of a "Lexking" badged version of the MF board (in black) with Typewriter keycaps:

https://uccu.cool3c.com/projects/205

That one has 1x modifiers on the bottom row and a 1x Tab. That kinda irks me a bit, especially the Tab.

The Massdrop one has 1.25x bottom row modifiers, and a proper sized Tab.  Looks much better to me

I unfortunately don't read Chinese, and that page was way tl;dr it all... but from what I gathered through Google Translate, they have been working with the manufacturer (Lester?) of that typewriter set and the photos were of their agreed upon specifications for an "early bird" purchase.

I mainly reposted the link in the event that it's relevant to finding the set on it's own (and to give folks an idea of what the black case with typewriter keycaps looks like).

Agreed that the Massdrop version looks cleaner with the larger modifiers!

Thanks for the link and info, much appreciated

Given that Massdrop is currently nearly 850 orders, and probably a good few of those might have been mainly for the keycaps, there has to be someone out there making these sets in bulk.

Hopefully one day they will be available separately.

[Parzival]

Datamancer sells typewriter keys

[romevi]

Datamancer sells typewriter keys

Yes, but we're looking at alternatives. 

[rowdy]

Datamancer sells typewriter keys

Yes, but we're looking at alternatives. 

Cheap, mass-produced alternatives

[bloorocket]

Check out Datamancers keycaps, its pretty similar

[ideus]

Check out Datamancers keycaps, its pretty similar

Those are pretty expensive, instead, I'd buy a GMK set, but if they were cheaper, I'd try them anytime.

[bloorocket]

Check out Datamancers keycaps, its pretty similar

Those are pretty expensive, instead, I'd buy a GMK set, but if they were cheaper, I'd try them anytime.

GMK fans are really hyped abt Carbon, didnt expect 2k orders lol. But yeah Datamancers are overpriced

[rowdy]

Yay!

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/typewriter-abs-keycap-set?mode=guest_open

Any thoughts (apart from ABS, pad-printed and weird stems)?

[ideus]

Pad printed? LOL.

[eksuen]

Yay!

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/typewriter-abs-keycap-set?mode=guest_open

Any thoughts (apart from ABS, pad-printed and weird stems)?

I got 'em on a Magicforce with Gateron Greens. No issues with the wide stems interfering during the downstroke. I think the keys are kind of neat. I doubt they are chrome-plated, though. If they are anything like the ones that came with the Magicforce, it's definitely just shiny plastic on the edges.

[romevi]

Yay!

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/typewriter-abs-keycap-set?mode=guest_open

Any thoughts (apart from ABS, pad-printed and weird stems)?

I got 'em on a Magicforce with Gateron Greens. No issues with the wide stems interfering during the downstroke. I think the keys are kind of neat. I doubt they are chrome-plated, though. If they are anything like the ones that came with the Magicforce, it's definitely just shiny plastic on the edges.

How do they feel? Not bad?

[eksuen]

Yay!

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/typewriter-abs-keycap-set?mode=guest_open

Any thoughts (apart from ABS, pad-printed and weird stems)?

I got 'em on a Magicforce with Gateron Greens. No issues with the wide stems interfering during the downstroke. I think the keys are kind of neat. I doubt they are chrome-plated, though. If they are anything like the ones that came with the Magicforce, it's definitely just shiny plastic on the edges.

How do they feel? Not bad?

Not bad at all. Probably have to spend some time to get used to them since they have less surface area than what I'm used to. I find myself missing some keystrokes simply because I'm not fully hitting the key where I usually get away with hitting a key offcenter. I cannot see myself using these keycaps as daily drivers, but that was never the intention anyway. They're just kind of cool.

[nemui]

I just received my Magicforce drop too (Gateron Browns) and I agree with eksuen. The typewriter caps are different, but I haven't had any problem with sticky keys yet (most of the complaints seem to be about that).

[keyladding]

/r/MechanicalKeyboards user doesn't like them:

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/54kig6/buying_typewriter_abs_keycap_set_on_massdrop/d835w9h

[romevi]

Yay!

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/typewriter-abs-keycap-set?mode=guest_open

Any thoughts (apart from ABS, pad-printed and weird stems)?

I got 'em on a Magicforce with Gateron Greens. No issues with the wide stems interfering during the downstroke. I think the keys are kind of neat. I doubt they are chrome-plated, though. If they are anything like the ones that came with the Magicforce, it's definitely just shiny plastic on the edges.

How do they feel? Not bad?

Not bad at all. Probably have to spend some time to get used to them since they have less surface area than what I'm used to. I find myself missing some keystrokes simply because I'm not fully hitting the key where I usually get away with hitting a key offcenter. I cannot see myself using these keycaps as daily drivers, but that was never the intention anyway. They're just kind of cool.

If anything, I'd get them for the aspect of novelty.

[eksuen]

/r/MechanicalKeyboards user doesn't like them:

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/54kig6/buying_typewriter_abs_keycap_set_on_massdrop/d835w9h

Can't say I share his experience and sentiments. I don't have any issues with sticking or rubbing keys. I don't know if the sticky keys issue happens with Cherry or Gateron switches.

Yay!

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/typewriter-abs-keycap-set?mode=guest_open

Any thoughts (apart from ABS, pad-printed and weird stems)?

I got 'em on a Magicforce with Gateron Greens. No issues with the wide stems interfering during the downstroke. I think the keys are kind of neat. I doubt they are chrome-plated, though. If they are anything like the ones that came with the Magicforce, it's definitely just shiny plastic on the edges.

How do they feel? Not bad?

Not bad at all. Probably have to spend some time to get used to them since they have less surface area than what I'm used to. I find myself missing some keystrokes simply because I'm not fully hitting the key where I usually get away with hitting a key offcenter. I cannot see myself using these keycaps as daily drivers, but that was never the intention anyway. They're just kind of cool.

If anything, I'd get them for the aspect of novelty.

Yeah, pretty much why I got them.

[zslane]

With the right switch, you could get a nice manual typewriter simulation. How fun would it be to put these on a Pok3r with MX Blues and get kicked out of every coffee shop in L.A.!

[ideus]

With the right switch, you could get a nice manual typewriter simulation. How fun would it be to put these on a Pok3r with MX Blues and get kicked out of every coffee shop in L.A.!

The keyboard would sound the same with most key caps, no need to get these cheap pad printed ones, while you can have a high quality OG Cherry or GMK set on your board.

[zslane]

With the right switch, you could get a nice manual typewriter simulation. How fun would it be to put these on a Pok3r with MX Blues and get kicked out of every coffee shop in L.A.!

The keyboard would sound the same with most key caps, no need to get these cheap pad printed ones, while you can have a high quality OG Cherry or GMK set on your board.

Yes, but it wouldn't look like a typewriter with those keycaps.

[ideus]

With the right switch, you could get a nice manual typewriter simulation. How fun would it be to put these on a Pok3r with MX Blues and get kicked out of every coffee shop in L.A.!

The keyboard would sound the same with most key caps, no need to get these cheap pad printed ones, while you can have a high quality OG Cherry or GMK set on your board.

Yes, but it wouldn't look like a typewriter with those keycaps.

Of course, if what you want is to stare at your keyboard; but most, want it to type on, those type writer style key caps are not made for modern keyboards for a reason, your modern board does not have levelers anymore, but switches that can be activated with contoured and ergonomic key caps, not by flat circles better adapted as a leveler's ends. But be my guess, if you want to put your money on this, who am I to tell you otherwise, get your retro style key caps they may look very cute on your desk.

[zslane]

With the right switch, you could get a nice manual typewriter simulation. How fun would it be to put these on a Pok3r with MX Blues and get kicked out of every coffee shop in L.A.!

The keyboard would sound the same with most key caps, no need to get these cheap pad printed ones, while you can have a high quality OG Cherry or GMK set on your board.

Yes, but it wouldn't look like a typewriter with those keycaps.

Of course, if what you want is to stare at your keyboard; but most, want it to type on, those type writer style key caps are not made for modern keyboards for a reason, your modern board does not have levelers anymore, but switches that can be activated with contoured and ergonomic key caps, not by flat circles better adapted as a leveler's ends. But be my guess, if you want to put your money on this, who am I to tell you otherwise, get your retro style key caps they may look very cute on your desk.

I think it goes without saying that the whole point of keycaps like these is to look cute on a desk. And they are probably no less usable than the keys on a Corona 3. If that was good enough for Hemingway, it is good enough for the likes of us. 

[eksuen]

With the right switch, you could get a nice manual typewriter simulation. How fun would it be to put these on a Pok3r with MX Blues and get kicked out of every coffee shop in L.A.!

Yeah, I got them on a Magicforce with Gateron Greens for this very reason. It doesn't quite compare to a typewriter (I have a portable one), but I suppose it's the closest you can get with modern mechanical keyboards. Definitely makes for an interesting conversation piece.

[ideus]

With the right switch, you could get a nice manual typewriter simulation. How fun would it be to put these on a Pok3r with MX Blues and get kicked out of every coffee shop in L.A.!

The keyboard would sound the same with most key caps, no need to get these cheap pad printed ones, while you can have a high quality OG Cherry or GMK set on your board.

Yes, but it wouldn't look like a typewriter with those keycaps.

Of course, if what you want is to stare at your keyboard; but most, want it to type on, those type writer style key caps are not made for modern keyboards for a reason, your modern board does not have levelers anymore, but switches that can be activated with contoured and ergonomic key caps, not by flat circles better adapted as a leveler's ends. But be my guess, if you want to put your money on this, who am I to tell you otherwise, get your retro style key caps they may look very cute on your desk.

I think it goes without saying that the whole point of keycaps like these is to look cute on a desk. And they are probably no less usable than the keys on a Corona 3. If that was good enough for Hemingway, it is good enough for the likes of us. 

Well. Hemingway argument warrants against any possible answer,