Show Image(http://geekhack.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=37444.0;attach=7977;image)
Engineering sample. Happy 60% family.
I'll write more later.
So I been using this for the past hour or so. I almost feel right at home, obviously since I do have my share of mini boards. I don't want to talk too much about the function, since that could be subject to change. I'll just go over the layout a little bit plus a few tibits.
This is obviously very much like a HHKB Pro 2 JP, the odd stagger and bottom right arrow keys and all. Fitting all these keys have made a very complicated bottom row. So there is a Fn key on each side now, in addition to that Pn. That squished the space bar down to 4.5x, which is what a JP layout Filco uses, so it isn't made of unobtainium. With the odd stagger comes with the kinda off 2x Lshift. That isn't hard to get since you can use num_0 for that. Not a huge deal. There aren't any hard to get key sizes for this board, which is a huge plus, though it does obviously need a bunch of R1 1x keys. So if you like boring black (blank) boards like myself, you should have not too much problem acquiring keycaps. If not, that's not my problem ;)
The function layer is closer to the Pure than it is to Poker. It is missing some superfluous things like Numlock. It obviously lost the arrows since there are physical keys now. If you noticed my post below somewhere, you'd notice the Pn key. It is hardware based, but I think you're limited to what is on the board already. I don't like the location of the FN and Pn keys. YMMV of course. I wish the there is a dip switch setting to change the left FN to Pn key.
Now onto the board itself. It has same mounting holes as a Pure. I am sure some of you will jizz your pants at the next statement... It is a plate mount. It doesn't feel flimsy and light like plastic cased Poker and Pure. It's a solid feeling board. I don't get to play with this for an extended time, so I won't mount it in my aluminum Pure case (which is dampened and weighted down. It will be epic when I buy a production board.).
AFAIK, they are interested in doing ISO layouts (I believe French, German, and Spanish layouts, there is another one I don't remember). So if you want it in ISO layout... Speak up, so I can tell the dude there is an definite interest in those layouts when I hand the board back. I save the last 2 paragraphs together since plate mount requires different plates for different layouts.
That's it for now with the limited amount of time I have my hands on it... and I really don't like typing on MX blacks.
PS I already passed suggestion for greens back ;)
PS2. Apparently I like using obviously very much. Obviously.
Please:ISO and a plate like the phantom (swapping switches easily)Phantom plates are not going to happen on production boards. They don't even want you opening the board with those warranty stickers. I'll pass the suggestion along though.
I don't like it much, but to each their own. Hope it works well for you!Same here. Might as well be a block of 1x keys...
And I was going to buy my TKL today then you have to show me this. The Poker with dedicated arrow keys.
Is the GH60 going to be pre-made or will we need to make it ourselves?And I was going to buy my TKL today then you have to show me this. The Poker with dedicated arrow keys.
Get your TKL. That one is pre-production. You'll be able to get a GH60 (fully programmable, BTW) before you can get the new Vortex 60% I bet.
I don't like it much, but to each their own. Hope it works well for you!Same here. Might as well be a block of 1x keys...
Yea, that's why I put "problem" in quotation marks like that. However, I find it odd that you would say that you don't like the WASD arrows on the Poker, as it is exactly the same as where the Pure's are, but on the left hand instead of the right, and usable with one hand if you have the left side Fn dip switch on in exactly the same way.
The Pure's Fn layer is okay, the only thing that I don't like is that using only one hand pressing Home or End with your right thumb on Fn is too tight of a curl.
In general though, when I talk about "right" Fn layers though, I'm arguing from the point of efficiency (sensible hand placement, usually focused around the homerow and in the picture I put above, accessible with one hand if needed) and common sense (eg I'd always make sure that Page Up/Down make sense relative to each other and same with Home/End). Anyways, I'll be looking forward to the GH60. Whenever there's talk about 60% keyboards, it's always arguments over the Fn layer and not having it programmable seems to be a big fault that I think more producers of these keyboards should start to address if they're going to be so common.
Still, the plate mounting and the dedicated arrows on this will surely appeal to some people.
Ducky Nordic just annouce full programmable 60% board in development. They also said plate mount and backlight, so probably something like a 60% Shine2.
Ducky Nordic just annouce full programmable 60% board in development. They also said plate mount and backlight, so probably something like a 60% Shine2.
I'd love a 60 key fully programmable ANSI layout board. I hope the GH60 will fulfill that wish. Otherwise, maybe somebody would be awesome enough to put together a Mini-Phantom project?
But ya. I am actually hearing rumor of 2 other 60% boards. I heard a rumor about a Chinese 60%.
Now onto the board itself. It has same mounting holes as a Pure. I am sure some of you will jizz your pants at the next statement... It is a plate mount. It doesn't feel flimsy and light like plastic cased Poker and Pure. It's a solid feeling board. I don't get to play with this for an extended time, so I won't mount it in my aluminum Pure case (which is dampened and weighted down. It will be epic when I buy a production board.).
Need German ISO Layout ! :)
Otaku ISO is also ok. ;)
Laffindude, just saw your edit edit, and i think you should definitely post it! :D
If Poker 2 is programmable, what make Poker DIY different?I think the DIY part means you can assemble it yourself in the physical layout you want it in. Though I am not sure what physical layouts are available.
In any case, a programmable poker, where you can rearrange the Fn layer would be SWEET.
I'll ask my source to see if it is ok to talk about it yet.Laffindude, just saw your edit edit, and i think you should definitely post it! :D
Agreed! You'd be doing the community a service. :))
Well, you can always bug beast to do a plate for Race.
it was a non-issue for me when I had the Poker 2 in my hands.
ONLY thing that I wish was different was the placement between the \ and the backspace.
AFAIK the PCB supports 15 keys on both the shift row and the number row. Theoretically, they could do a 68 key layout. I can see the whining already. QQ... :rolleyes: I wouldn't mind it since I think I suggested such a travesty before.
/Trying to borrow a sample. Though, not sure when I'll be able to get it or post about it :)
I am lazy, can you link me to Poker S?no prototype right now. And i think poker x and poker s will be delayed because of ducky 2108.
this is KBT Pure ISO version
this is KBT Pure ISO version
I don't think that's the Pure. That looks more like an ISO version of the Poker 2.
^AFAIK, all these new Vortex boards are going to be plate mounted. The plate is similar to beast's plate in that it is only mounted to the switch.
It ishammerrumor time. 61key (ANSI) version of the new Poker line seems definite, but no time frame yet. I would guess it is going to be programmable. We'll see. 67key that very few people care about will probably be shipping next month. I'll probably pass on this and try to get a sample of the 61 key version.
I just got a Poker X (the one we all know and love) from MechanicalKeyboads.com yesterday. I bought it because ShakeR has said that they aren't making any more aand they only had one left (MX-Black).
If the new ones are plate mounted and programmable, then that is very interesting and compelling and I can see why they opted to stop making the original Poker. However, if it's anything like the Pure Pro, I'll pass. That board is a disaster.
And plate isn't really an issue, you can always just get one from The_Beast and have it look so nice as well.
I just got a Poker X (the one we all know and love) from MechanicalKeyboads.com yesterday. I bought it because ShakeR has said that they aren't making any more aand they only had one left (MX-Black).
If the new ones are plate mounted and programmable, then that is very interesting and compelling and I can see why they opted to stop making the original Poker. However, if it's anything like the Pure Pro, I'll pass. That board is a disaster.
And plate isn't really an issue, you can always just get one from The_Beast and have it look so nice as well.
But you have do desolder all the switches to install a plate, ouch. Soldering is fun, desoldering is NOT.
I could go borrow the sample, but probably won't since care level is very low.
What is a Poker II, and what is a Pure Pro is settled. Pre pre-order announcement on KBT mentioned that the 67 key ANSI plus 68k ISO will be called Pure Pro. The standard layout boards will be called Poker II. I guess it is just shuffling of product names prior to launch. There is still the Poker Pro. May be got lost in the name shuffle? Or people can't keep their names straight?
The announcement also clarified that both the top and fn layers are programmable. PBT is going to be on the KBT groupbuy, but LED will happen eventually. Pretty much no surprises, other than the name thing.
I could go borrow the sample, but probably won't since care level is very low.
Group buy hasn't started yet, it is just a pre pre-ordering announcement (http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/65538) on the KBTalKing forum (GH would be the wrong place to look ;)).
Hope someone posts a manual soon, that should explain programmability in full.
laffindude, are we now 100% sure that the new pure and poker are going to be 100% programmable.The caveat has been mentioned awhile ago, you cannot program the physical FN and PN key, so it is not 100% programmable. The original KBC annoucement did say updatable firmware. So it theoretically could be fully programmable.
I've read the announcement above and it's hard to definitively tell from google translate.
But it will tell us if they actually mean that it's programmable.. or if they mean that every key can be used in a Macro with the PN layer.
Cause as far as I can tell, we can't be certain which one they mean... and these are two very different features.
可程式化的機能很強大，基本上就是可以任意按鍵指定任意按鍵（真拗口XD），而且還可以錄製複數按鍵，最多可達14個
That's closer but still not definite.But it will tell us if they actually mean that it's programmable.. or if they mean that every key can be used in a Macro with the PN layer.
Cause as far as I can tell, we can't be certain which one they mean... and these are two very different features.Quote可程式化的機能很強大，基本上就是可以任意按鍵指定任意按鍵（真拗口XD），而且還可以錄製複數按鍵，最多可達14個
Both Poker and Pure are EOLed.
what we need is ducky nordic pure pro in ansi!
what we need is ducky nordic pure pro in ansi!
That would be called a Vortex Poker 2.
I don't think there is a picture of the 61key ANSI board yet. (Being overly wordy so we don't have any more name misunderstanding shenanigans). Jocelyn posted the 62key ISO version. http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40766.0tinlong changed their mine. I had met the engineer of poker/pure/whatever and talked a bit.
Basically, think Poker but with backlight, plate, and PN layer key in place of RWin. It seems the PN layer will be retained.
I been thinking about this for awhile, and I think I've figured out the reasons behind the naming scramble.
The original testing announcement in Jan was for Poker 2, and specifically named physical arrow keys. After a short period of silence, Pure Pro announcement came, which named Pure Pro as the board with arrows, and Poker 2 is the standard layout version.
IMO the weird layout was disliked by testers, and KBC people pushed the 66-67 key project to KBT and made the standard layout the Poker 2. Something made them changed their minds, and testing fit right in that gap.
For once, how about you Americans pay those ridiculously high shipping cost? =P
For once, how about you Americans pay those ridiculously high shipping cost? =P
I think the problem with the 75% is that the most prominent example of it is the Race. I didn't like the feel of the Race. I didn't like the Blacks that were in it, so that didn't help it any either... but I think a custom 75% Luke Ron's GH60++ or metaliqaz Epsilon could be great. Being able to make decisions for your board helps a lot. But that top row on the Race? Blegh.
Odd layout that will be hard to find keycaps for (For the record, I personally prefer ABS caps. Embrace the shine.)I think WASD Keyboards have all keycaps excluding spacebar. For example TEX left shift (R1 1x2.00) is WASD 0(insert) from numpad.
Probably a little bigger than it has to be.Since you disassemble the keyboard, is there a reason for bezel to be big at the upper side of the keyboard?
LEDs are there to indicate which soft switch option you've enabled. Yes they're on the bottom, and you do need to flip the board over to look see what you've enabled.WTF? Very... cool. I love that gimmick!
Layout:If keyboard has an option that make Fn key output any of unused scancodes(like F18, F19?) we can configure whole layout completely including Fn layer with tools like AHK. I wish keyboards with Fn key could offer this option.
...
I am not a big fan of the function layer, but I actually haven't really used it yet, since I still have my AHK running with my own FN layer.
Internals:Very promising. Programmability allows users for maximum cofigurability!
This keyboard is powered by a HT32F1755, ARM Cortex M3. Justin already mentioned that it'll be programmable, so hopefully there will be user customizable firmware for these things (so I can "fix" the FN layer ;)).
According to their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.515101005192270.1073741833.472792412756463&type=1&comment_id=5484956&offset=0&total_comments=2¬if_t=photo_album_reply), Tex is in the CNC prototype stage of creating an aluminum base for the Beetle.
Since I don't know if that link will work, I've attached one of the photos. Hopefully Justin will post more. :-)
According to their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.515101005192270.1073741833.472792412756463&type=1&comment_id=5484956&offset=0&total_comments=2¬if_t=photo_album_reply), Tex is in the CNC prototype stage of creating an aluminum base for the Beetle.That doesn't look like the base to me actually. It looks more like the top shell got the first machining operation from the top, before flipping it over to do the other side.
Since I don't know if that link will work, I've attached one of the photos. Hopefully Justin will post more. :-)