Strap yourself in because this one is going to be a doozy.TLDR: The Everest is garbage. Get the GMMK Pro.Thank you both for your replies. I am 100% content with my K70, I particularly like the black aluminum finish, volume control, cherry MX browns, and RGB LED.. these are things I definitely want in my next keyboard; I may consider other switches and I am not totally set on sticking with browns.
You can use VIA (or QMK if you are so ambitious to learn) to remap almost every custom keyboard so that you can set up any of those commands and put them on any key you want. You can also create usually 3 extra function layers so you can have any command or macro that you could need on even a 40%. So when it comes to volume control, any custom keyboard inherently comes with volume control. I have all of my keyboards that have macro/function keys as a vertical cluster on the right set up so that the top two ones control volume, on function layer 1 those same keys are next and previous track and the backspace is mute. For the Savage65 I bring with me to use with my Macbook I have the volume control on the top two keys and screen brightness on the two below them. For this reason I'm of the opinion that rotary encoders are cool, but less practical than just mapping the command to a key. As long as the PCB has the LED vias and you get switches that have holes for them to pass through you can install per switch RGB with RGB LEDs costing like $8/100pcs on amazon. You can also use VIA/QMK to map all of the lighting controls including colors, brightness, patterns, etc. I can't emphasize enough how much I recommend doing a switch tester. People get browns as tactile switches as an entry switch, but when you branch out you find that they are so weakly tactile that the almost feel like linear switches. It isn't expensive to do.
I didn't even know building keyboards was a thing until I told my brother about my Corsair LED's dying and he mentioned he is considering a build. I figured I could use a new project so I thought I'd see what my options are. I outlined above what my key requirements are, everything else I do not know much about and will need to do some more reading. I do like the idea of hot swap switches. I am able to solder, but have never really soldered on a circuit board and not sure if I want to use an expensive keyboard to learn on.
I got into the hobby after trying to find out how to replace the LEDs in my old Ducky Shine3. Soldering on a circuit board is really easy. It's just soldering on a smaller scale and you have more things that you need to solder in the case of a keyboard. Hotswap is a good start because you can dip your toes into the hobby without having to pick up new skills. You can spend the energy on lubing and filming switches and ilubing your stabilizers, especially if they come stock. But most hotswap PCBs only come with RGB underglow and not per switch.
I wish a manufacturer would come out with boards that have LED's built into the switches, so if an LED dies, I replace the switch.. or just swappable LED's. I am now a little nervous to spend $200 on a board and have to replace it when LED's begin to die, kind of like the boat I am in now. When I start work in the morning, when I telecommute, its dark and having an illuminated keyboard is awesome and don't think I could function without it.
There's no such thing as LEDs built into switches for a reason. It costs so much more in production and you have lower production quantities which makes them even more expensive. Instead, manufacturers will just have most of their switches with through holes so the user can install LEDs if they want and the board accepts it. If you want to be able to replace LEDs when they die then youll want a soldered PCB that has the option for it. It's actually super cheap abd super easy to replace LEDs as long as they aren't the kind they use for underglow. Also keep in mind that for keycaps that have LED shine through legends, they are much harder to see in the dark. A simply black on white kit is super visible. I have a keyset with blue on white and I have an easier time seeing the legends than when I had my Shine3. But I hear that you are really attached to the idea of having backlit keys and as an autistic person I fully understand the importance of ritualistic things so I won't go into why I think backlighting is unnecessary.
The Mount Everest Max looks like exactly what I want. What are your guys thoughts on it?
I may also consider the GMMK pro, based on your comments Kokukenji, I don't heavily rely on the num pad, but it's convenient having it there. I guess I could adjust to not having it. I watched this video last night and it looks great. Though, it does seem a little pricey, and the Mount Everest Max looks like a better bang for your buck, + number pad support.
I will preface this with saying I am not really a fan of the GMMK Pro when comparing it to other custom keyboards in terms of sound and feel.
That being said, I would not recommend the Everest at all. Honestly having a modular keyboard. First off, I would not call it better bang for your buck at all. The price is in Euros so converting to USD it comes out to $325 which is more than enough to get you a really good entry board. In fact you could get a board, switches, keycaps, and a macropad for less than the Everest, and it would both sound and feel better. Second, they are sold out in black. The modularity is gimmicky. If you want a numpad get a board with a numpad or get a macro pad and map it as a numpad. Modularity like that adds more failure points. It's also way more efficient to just get into the habit of using your numerical cluster at above the alpha cluster. You already have to go there for symbols and it is far less work to use it than it is to use a numpad. Third, the media features are also gimmicky and they would likely burn out before any of your LEDs died. Fourth, it is almost fully ABS which sounds awful and feels mega cheap (ABS should be reserved for keycaps only and for plastic case components you want PC or acrylic, and possibly POM but only for the plate if you like the sound and feel of it) with a milled aluminum plate and thin aluminum top piece (making the sound arguably worse than if the whole case was just plastic because it adds a high pitched ping to the already not great plastic sound). Fifth, the required software is awful and massive and loads fully on your RAM which is annoyingly stupid af. Sixth, the keycaps that it comes with are absolute dog ****..like super horrible, and the upgraded keycaps which are basically necessary if you want to use it stock aren't even really that great. The ONLY thing I think they got right is actually lubing their stabilizers adequately. If you want a good and honest review check out the one from Chyrosran22 who I would say is the best YouTuber for production and classic mechanical keyboards. He's SUPER highly respected in the part of the community he is a part of which focuses on the keyboards that most people outside of the custom community are familiar with. He also does some of the best switch breakdowns and reviews when it comes to more commonly known stock switches, but he really favors the loudest and clickiest set ups which is pretty far from what the vast majority of the custom community likes (which is a deep thock with no ping and nothing rattly which means lubed and filmed switches and lubed stabilizers with something to help deaden the sound of the stabilizer legs hitting the PCB). None of the content creators who are deep in the custom keyboard community would ever review it except as a meme, and the only content creators who dip into the custom community aren't my favorite for product reviews because they suck the **** of products and compare them against other production keyboards like the ones from Razer, Corsair, and Logitech so it's not the greatest for a comparison between the two you're talking about.
https://youtu.be/dz9_F5Dc0xUIf you really want the best bang for your buck with hotswap, blacklighting, a rotary encoder, in black aluminum then get the GMMK Pro. I configured one to include their doubleshot PBT keycaps for backlighting for $205. That gives you more than enough room to get sample switches, a 90 count of any stock switch (aside from ZealPC and GMMK switches which are way overpriced anyway and there are better switches on the market sometimes for half the price per switch, and I specify stock because creating a frankenswitch gets super expensive), lube, switch films, a switch opener, a brush for the lube, a stem holder, a lube station, a filled stabilizer lube syringe, and potentially even an upgraded plate and still spend less money than you would on the Everest. Plus the pro comes with case foam, screw-in stabilizers, a switch puller, a keycap puller, is gasket mounted (considered by many to be the best mounting design, and is going to feel and sound so much better than the Everest by a lot, although the gaskets they use are kind of firm and isn't as nice as gasket mounted keyboards you would get on a group buy), and it is fully compatible with QMK and VIA out of the box. You can also get different rotary knobs, a carrying case, a nice coiled cable with an aviator connector, a wrist rest, and an upgraded brass or PC plate straight from them. Plus it is fully CNC'd aluminum. And a note about the keycaps, the quality gap between the ones on the Everest and the GMMK Pro isn't even close. Like the GMMK Pro's keycaps aren't top tier, but they blow the ones you can get with the Everest out of the water.Interestingly enough, Chyrosran22 did a review on the GMMK Pro as well. I'll also add a review by Taeha who is the most well known streamer and YouTuber in the community, and a really comprehensive unboxing and light review by Mechmerlin who is one of the most knowledgeable content creators when it comes to custom keyboards. Keep in mind that content creators who focus on custom keyboards are going to be very critical on the GMMK Pro because they are usually working with MUCH nicer keyboards and builds. For overall quality comparison between the two I would go with Chyrosran22. If you end up getting more into the hobby then Mechmerlin does a weekly segment on Twitch that he puts on YouTube a few days later where he goes over most group buys and always has an audience submitted section and the following week includes anything missed that he comes across, and Taeha has one of the most relaxing streams where he builds a ton of keyboards. A lot of content creators are really accessible for any questions if you DM them on social media. Not so much Taeha, but A LOT of others, and Chyrosran22 was the most incredibly helpful and responsive person when I was just barely getting into the hobby and pointed me to the parts of the community that would serve me better. He also happens to be hilarious when he is being critical of something.
https://youtu.be/m5S4F03C-zchttps://youtu.be/hS4czKl7WpQhttps://youtu.be/neHeIrYJJlYMy overall thoughts:The Everest is The. Biggest. Waste. Of. Money. I have ever seen for a mechanical keyboard or anything else really. DO NOT get it. I'm autistic and to be able to respond comprehensively I had to read and watch stuff about it and research it for literally 4.5 hours, and I am so sad it took up that much of my day which could have been otherwise used for literally looking at the ceiling for 4.5 hours and been WAY more enjoyable. It is egregiously expensive for a bunch of gimmicks, and that's literally what you are paying for. You're spending more money than you would on a budget-friendly entry level custom keyboard and what you are getting is a dog **** keyboard that they called high quality because they put some lipstick and a fake Marc Jacobs top they got for $5 on ebay on it and tossed on a bunch of jewelry that is tinted to look like gold from the Claire's discount and sale rack. There are production keyboards that cost half as much and are of such better quality. I have no idea how anyone could justify spending over $300 on a keyboard that uses Cherry switches. They are memed in the community so hard for a good reason. I used to think my MX Browns were awesome. Then I bought T1s and realized that Cherry switches are straight up doo doo and now they make me feel icky when I have to type on them. The number one reason to spend money on a mechanical keyboard over any other keyboard is first and foremost because of the mechanical switches. I've spent less money building up keyboards that are so much better it isn't even comparable. Seriously, if you are interested in it because it has all of the things you liked about the K70, just get the K70. If you bought it, it would be like wanting a delicious meal of corn chowder in a bread bowl and seeing a turd with some pieces of corn in it and spending dumping your savings into it because someone put a bow on it when you would be better off buying a can of corn, a slice of Wonderbread, and a gas station creamer pod with change you found in your couch.
Get the GMMK Pro
if (1) you are not trying to thrust balls deep into this hobby right away, (2) it has all of the features you want, and (3) your other choice is the Everest. I mean, there are a lot of worse keyboards out there, but not at the price point of the Everest. Out of all of the budget-friendly entry level keyboards that are very accesible I think the GMMK Pro is one of the top three.
If you are choosing between the two, 100 out of 100 times I would recommend the GMMK Pro over the Everest.
