Trends you would like to see in 2018

[EscapeVelocity]

Ill start off with...

the return of biege/white computer cases and monitors. 

Bring back Beige!

[zslane]

1. I’ll add my support to the general call for more white/beige cases.

2. I’d also like to see a resurgence in popularity of full-size keyboards, because if that happened there might be more third party aluminum cases in a full-size form factor. And the more third party full-size alu cases there are, the greater the chances that one will be offered in white/beige.

3. I’d love to see the RealForce R2 become super popular so that maybe a third party alu replacement case (in white) will become available for it (and I can put my RealForce RGB board in one).

Of course, I know that none of these things will happen, but they’re what I wish for most.

[pixelpusher]

These all sound great to me. For 2018

1. Beige anything
2. Heavy ABS plastic custom cases
3. Nicer Alps keycaps
4. my M65-a that I ordered a year ago

[_rubik]

...
3. Nicer Alps keycaps
...

1. I would LOVE to see more Alps support in the keycap department. It's hard because alps users are in the minority, but given the right set I think it would be very popular.
2. GMK JIS support. I've seen so many GMK sets use sublegends in an ANSI layout, and it would be wonderful to see JIS actually recognized in an add-on kit.

[TalkingTree]

Bring back Beige!

[merlin64]

I'd like to see more

1. Cat themed artisan keycaps
2. Alps Keyset support
3. More USB C keyboards
4. QMK GUI!

[davkol]

Affordable spherical PBT keycaps other than DSA. I know there's XDA, but it's uniform profile. I'm more hopeful for Chinese sculpted clones or the random new Cherry-like sculpted spherical profile spotted somewhere recently.

I'd love to see more POM… that's a lost cause, though, I'm afraid.

[Findecanor]

1. Actually tactile mechanical key switches in mainstream "gaming" keyboards. Bring on the Clear and the Purple!

2. Focus on compact micro-ATX form factor PCs.
If you are going with tempered glass -> you want to display it -> you put it on the desk -> it can't be too big.

3. Key switches with shielded light guides instead of bleeding RGB everywhere between keys.

[pixelpusher]

Affordable spherical PBT keycaps other than DSA. I know there's XDA, but it's uniform profile. I'm more hopeful for Chinese sculpted clones or the random new Cherry-like sculpted spherical profile spotted somewhere recently.

I'd love to see more POM… that's a lost cause, though, I'm afraid.

I'm down with PBT but only if we can get non-banana shift and space bars.  I have 2 sets that are unusable b/c the shrinkage is so bad.  I finally built a costar board just so I could use one of my ePBT sets.  They bind on cherry stabs b/c they are so out of spec

[Giorgio]

Thicker PCBs: this increases the stiffness, allowing you to omit the plate, while discovering new layouts. This is possible because USB C port is 1.4mm thinner than micro usb, which allows to use PCBs thicker by 1.4mm without losing compatibility.

If you want one inch thick PCBs you can also use this escamotage:

[_rubik]

3. Key switches with shielded light guides instead of bleeding RGB everywhere between keys.

That's a really cool idea, but it would involve, what is essentially, a light 'corral'. I feel like that could impede cap travel. Even chiclet keyboards like Apples still have a fair it of bleed around the corners of the caps, so I'd be interested to see what people come up with.

[merlin64]

Thicker PCBs, because USB C port is 1.4mm thinner than micro usb, which allows to use PCBs thicker by 1.4mm without losing compatibility.

If you want one inch thick PCBs you can also use this escamotage:


(Attachment Link)

What would a thicker PCB benefit us? Rigidity? More PCB Layers?.

[Giorgio]

Thicker PCBs, because USB C port is 1.4mm thinner than micro usb, which allows to use PCBs thicker by 1.4mm without losing compatibility.

If you want one inch thick PCBs you can also use this escamotage:


(Attachment Link)

What would a thicker PCB benefit us? Rigidity? More PCB Layers?.

More rigidity and less plates. GMK UNIQEY doesn't have a plate, yet it's stiff because the PCB is thick and well attached to the case.

[microsoft windows]

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE USING WINDOWS 95 IN 2018.

[Findecanor]

3. Key switches with shielded light guides instead of bleeding RGB everywhere between keys.

That's a really cool idea, but it would involve, what is essentially, a light 'corral'. I feel like that could impede cap travel.

The Flaretech switches on my Wooting One have it. The switch housing is made that way. There is still some bleed caused by the keycaps being white on the inside and reflecting the light but I suppose it would be better with doubleshot caps that are more black on the inside.

[fohat.digs]

IBM Model F revival projects that actually materialize.

[EscapeVelocity]

IBM Model F revival projects that actually materialize.

Hey fohat!  I remember you from back in 2015 when I went on a keyboard binge. Im back for more!

[davkol]

I'm down with PBT but only if we can get non-banana shift and space bars.  I have 2 sets that are unusable b/c the shrinkage is so bad.  I finally built a costar board just so I could use one of my ePBT sets.  They bind on cherry stabs b/c they are so out of spec

Keycaps larger than ~2u have no place on my keyboards.

Maybe if I typed with my feet…

[daskeybo]

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE USING WINDOWS 95 IN 2018.

Show Image

Thanks Mom!

[Wetherbee]

Mirrored PVD brass plates for the Realforce 86U, 87U, and 91U with cutouts for the authentic Topre MX stabs featured in the Realforce RGB.

[onlyabyte]

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE USING WINDOWS 95 IN 2018.

Show Image

Haha! Not sure if that would happen but I really like your site :thumb: - my CPU couldn't have taken a bigger hit.

[LevelSteam]

I'd like to see SP start shipping their sets in trays like GMK, Maxkey, and JTK do. It's silly that one of the biggest and longest operating producers of keycaps still ships them in bags that they can get scuffed up in.

[kmba]

heavy plastic custom cases. 
alps support.

[Puddsy]

no more bad chamfered case designs

no more poorly executed underglow

more plastic customs, driving prices down and quality up should be a top priority

more pvd brass, especially weights

I'd like to see SP start shipping their sets in trays like GMK, Maxkey, and JTK do. It's silly that one of the biggest and longest operating producers of keycaps still ships them in bags that they can get scuffed up in.

they don't really get scuffed up since they don't really have sharp edges like GMK and JTK, but i'll concede it does look better in a box

the other issue is that SP's (and maxkeys, for fairness) tooling is all manual, whereas GMK (nots sure about JTK) is all automated.

[ghostjuggernaut]

New topre blanks. 

[_haru]

Something like PCPartPicker for custom keyboards.

[LevelSteam]

they don't really get scuffed up since they don't really have sharp edges like GMK and JTK, but i'll concede it does look better in a box

My Amazing Chocolatier caps had several light scuffs on various keys which I attributed to the shipping method. Could have happened during production though, who knows. But yeah, if I'm spending $150+ on keycaps they could kick them to me in a plastic tray.

[Hyde]

Stock clipped Cherry stabilizers (Leopold and Vortex already do it, why can't anybody else?).

Or Costar stabilizers that doesn't grind on thick keycaps (right now only on Cooler Master's PBT line).

These are such simple fix it should just be the norm.  I don't know what manufacturers are waiting for or just simply don't care.

The mushy Cherry stabilizers basically is a deal breaker for me on 80% of the keyboards in the market now.

[qq]

Keyboards with replaceable switches (no soldering required) and USB-C

[Findecanor]

USB C on a keyboard is unnecessary. Keyboards don't talk USB 3.1, they can't draw more power off it anyway (and they shouldn't) and the cable is twice as thick and stiff.
The only thing that USB C gives is a nicer-looking socket and a reversible plug. But there are cables with reversible Micro-USB type B plugs now too.

[rowdy]

Availability of RealForce coloured keycap sets, particularly yellow.

[whiskerBox]

Would be neat to see some different materials used in cases, like ceramic or marble bezels that sit in an aluminum or wood base.

Also heavy thick ugly beige stuff, and transparent neon green acrylic cases.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[jdcarpe]

More full size keyboards!

[Puddsy]

More full size keyboards!

did you see the IC for equalz mountain?

[Leslieann]

Magnetic USB connections, sort of like Apple Magsafe but for USB. No more damaged sticks, easy to connect without looking, they are just nice to have.

While you can buy adapters for USB C, Thunderbolt and micro, but it would be nice if all USB connectors were built this way by default.

For those not sure what I'm talking about it's these: (thunderbolt model shown)

[jdcarpe]

More full size keyboards!

did you see the IC for equalz mountain?

Yes, so excite!

[ghostjuggernaut]

Magnetic USB connections, sort of like Apple Magsafe but for USB. No more damaged sticks, easy to connect without looking, they are just nice to have.

While you can buy adapters for USB C, Thunderbolt and micro, but it would be nice if all USB connectors were built this way by default.

For those not sure what I'm talking about it's these: (thunderbolt model shown)

Show Image

This is part of the reason I would like to see a rise in USB-C pcb's.

[ArchDill]

Microsoft Surfaces not being so damn expensive!

[Leslieann]

Microsoft Surfaces not being so damn expensive!

I'm the opposite, I would rather see them be more expensive to keep people from buying the damn things.
Can't fix then, can't upgrade them...

[MGMorden]

I'd like to see more support for full-sized/104 key layouts among the custom kit scene. 

Just generally more variety in switch design.  The Cherry form factor is good for keycap and PCB compatibility but other than that I'd like to see switches that are built differently since I'm not all that big a fan of actual Cherry switches.

Not keyboard related but I'd also like to see more high quality mice that don't look like they're a Decepticon ready to pounce on me. 

[nogoodnames444]

Matias switches getting popular and more prebuilt boards with gateron switches

[Findecanor]

Microsoft Surfaces not being so damn expensive!

I'm the opposite, I would rather see them be more expensive to keep people from buying the damn things.
Can't fix then, can't upgrade them...

... and they have horrible keyboards!

[sncbraxsc2]

3. Nicer Alps keycaps

...
3. Nicer Alps keycaps
...

1. I would LOVE to see more Alps support in the keycap department. It's hard because alps users are in the minority, but given the right set I think it would be very popular.

I'd like to see more

2. Alps Keyset support

Has there been an alps DCS set attempted since Alpine Winter? Interested.. The ongoing nexus slider IC is relevant as well.

Affordable spherical PBT keycaps other than DSA. I know there's XDA, but it's uniform profile. I'm more hopeful for Chinese sculpted clones or the random new Cherry-like sculpted spherical profile spotted somewhere recently.

I'd love to see more POM… that's a lost cause, though, I'm afraid.

Why is POM a lost cause? Cherry profile POM is high up on my list of things to try

[davkol]

Who makes decent (thick) POM caps? Uh, Cherry and PLUM. Who else? In what profiles?

[Melvang]

USB C connectors

Tweak to Xwhatsit firmware that kills the constant buzzer when expansion port is disabled

More Model F custom case one off builds.

[Altis]

- Fast-responding software and operating systems
- UIs that actually make sense and are easy on the eyes

[letsfixitinpost]

I'd be into having a little less RBG and some more vintage / classic styled pc cases and peripherals.  I mean I use rgb in my case because it's just nice to showcase my work, but in the end I find myself wanting to get away from RGB more and more.  Once I saw a corsair RGB headphone stand I figured maybe we were jumping the shark with it.  Still a fan, especially for practical reasons, but it seems to have infested a lot of areas.  I'd also like to see more USB C, but seeing  as my motherboard I bought this year just has one port we're still a ways away in my opinion.

[fohat.digs]

I'd be into having a little less RBG

I find myself wanting to get away from RGB more and more. 

What does "RGB" mean?

I googled the slang and went to the urban dictionary but they only ever talked about the colors.

[jdcarpe]

I'd be into having a little less RBG

I find myself wanting to get away from RGB more and more. 

What does "RGB" mean?

I googled the slang and went to the urban dictionary but they only ever talked about the colors.

It is the colors. Most “gamer” keyboards nowadays have to come with RGB backlighting and/or underglow to be considered acceptable. RGB mania has spilled over into the custom keyboard world as well.

[fohat.digs]

Now I don't know whether I feel more old and stupid or less old and stupid.

I always thought that backlighting was something silly to be turned off or ignored.