Author Topic: [IC] the "Norbatouch" Housing for Cooler Master cases, round 3.1415 (?!) (Read 15704 times)

norbauer · « **on:** Thu, 24 May 2018, 21:27:09 »

I keep promising myself that each run is going to be the last, but then my inbox keeps filling up with people friendly requests for another round of my "Norbatouch" cases for Cooler Master TKL boards. I'm still closing out the last round (the last cases, a few in "Venice Beach" powder coat, are set to be ship next week), but then I'll at least be in a reasonable position to consider making a few more.

It's both cool and slightly baffling to me that there is still such demand for a housing for three keyboards that aren't even in production any longer, but such is the magic and mystery of the keyboard world.

I'm happy to do what I can if there is sufficient interest to make the economics work out.

If you'd be down to get a "Norbatouch" in a new run, please vote here.

These are the keyboards they fit:

Novatouch TKL
Rapid-i ("small" model)
MasterKeys Pro S ("small"/"80%" layout)

There are a million pictures and typing videos and such of these out there—just Google around or check out YouTube (happily people seem to really like them!)—but here are a few of my own photos:

Any thoughts are questions, of course never hesitate to post them here, as always.

dantambok · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 24 May 2018, 21:58:23 »

YES YES definitely in for one!

M · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 24 May 2018, 22:15:20 »

Do you expect them to be the same price as previous cases?

Techno Trousers · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 24 May 2018, 22:33:42 »

Do we know if these fit the Masterkeys S (non-backlight version) TKL?

rowie · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu, 24 May 2018, 22:54:11 »

In for Retro Refrigerator.

Al41 · « **Reply #5 on:** Thu, 24 May 2018, 23:00:51 »

I was hoping these would be back. I'm interested.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

Peiweisgreat · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu, 24 May 2018, 23:19:22 »

Just got mine in last week from r2.5 and I absolutely love it. I would definitely get another one if I had another novatouch haha.

Uleet · « **Reply #7 on:** Thu, 24 May 2018, 23:50:55 »

I went to put in for one. But I really want a Space Station White. Will you be offering that one? I didn't see it in the survey.

Puddsy · « **Reply #8 on:** Thu, 24 May 2018, 23:51:13 »

don't hurt yourself, only offer ano colors

jlee755 · « **Reply #9 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 00:01:59 »

Oohh this is really exciting

Does this mean it won't fit the original QFR?

Puddsy · « **Reply #10 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 00:16:07 »

Quote from: jlee755 on Fri, 25 May 2018, 00:01:59

Oohh this is really exciting Does this mean it won't fit the original QFR?

at no point did these cases fit an original qfr

norbauer · « **Reply #11 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 00:17:24 »

Quote from: jlee755 on Fri, 25 May 2018, 00:01:59

Oohh this is really exciting Does this mean it won't fit the original QFR?

Sadly, it only fits the three keyboards mentioned above.

Quote from: Techno Trousers on Thu, 24 May 2018, 22:33:42

Do we know if these fit the Masterkeys S (non-backlight version) TKL?

Even though the plate on the Masterkeys S is really close to the Masterkeys Pro S (and the name is almost identical), they're actually not cross-compatible. However, I did make a modified version of my design for Originative that does fit the MasterKeys S TKL (non-backlight/PBT version). I believe Sheraton has a large supply of these keyboards and is working on manufacturing some cases based on that design.

Quote from: Uleet on Thu, 24 May 2018, 23:50:55

I went to put in for one. But I really want a Space Station White. Will you be offering that one? I didn't see it in the survey.

I expect the numbers

Quote from: M on Thu, 24 May 2018, 22:15:20

Do you expect them to be the same price as previous cases?

As above, I'm not sure what the final numbers would look like, so it's hard to say, but that would certainly be my target. I expect that the factory MOQ of 50 will probably be what we should be shooting for on this run (and I'm not sure if even that will be feasible), but I'm happy to be proven wrong. Past runs have been significantly larger, so it's possible that I may need to raise the price. Or I can maybe make up for it by doing sea shipping rather than air. It would mean shipping would be later but I could keep roughly the same price even if the quantities are much lower than previous runs.

Quote from: Puddsy on Thu, 24 May 2018, 23:51:13

don't hurt yourself, only offer ano colors

Man, I would love to. I see what the survey numbers look like after a week or so. There is always a small minority of people who really seem to want powder though. In any case, I appreciate your kind concern for my sanity, Puddsy.

dantambok · « **Reply #12 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 01:12:50 »

You don't know how happy i am to see this. I think it was just earlier this week that I emailed you asking if you would produce these beautiful cases again.

aroostercat · « **Reply #13 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 01:40:40 »

Happy to see the possibility of another group buy! Definitely in for an Aerospace aluminum.

Vigrith · « **Reply #14 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 03:09:49 »

Not to be nitpicky but it appears the form says Norbaforce rather than Norbatouch. That said, if the buy is at least a month out, I'll definitely get one. Not the absolute best timing for me but these are really special and as someone who really does like the Novatouch, passing up the opportunity for the 3rd time would be crass.

FSund · « **Reply #15 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 05:48:12 »

Does this fit the Masterkeys Pro S RGB?

Choobies · « **Reply #16 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 07:02:29 »

Echoing what the above poster said, it seems a bunch of people are believing there is already another round of the Norbaforce in the works, as I was directed here by this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/8lz8me/usca_h_paypal_w_norbaforce_whenever_it_ships/.

jlee755 · « **Reply #17 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 08:52:38 »

Quote from: Puddsy on Fri, 25 May 2018, 00:16:07

Quote from: jlee755 on Fri, 25 May 2018, 00:01:59
Oohh this is really exciting Does this mean it won't fit the original QFR?

at no point did these cases fit an original qfr

Ahh I see, thanks. I guess I can try to make my own fun little project out of it!

norbauer · « **Reply #18 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 10:12:22 »

Quote from: Vigrith on Fri, 25 May 2018, 03:09:49

Not to be nitpicky but it appears the form says Norbaforce rather than Norbatouch.

Quote from: Choobies on Fri, 25 May 2018, 07:02:29

Echoing what the above poster said, it seems a bunch of people are believing there is already another round of the Norbaforce in the works, as I was directed here by this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/8lz8me/usca_h_paypal_w_norbaforce_whenever_it_ships/.

Oops! Thanks for pointing this out, guys. I actually just copied one of the old Norbaforce surveys into a new one in SurveyMonkey to make the survey and forgot to change that. Sorry. I fixed it. I'm an idiot.

Quote from: Vigrith on Fri, 25 May 2018, 03:09:49

Not to be nitpicky but it appears the form says Norbaforce rather than Norbatouch. That said, if the buy is at least a month out, I'll definitely get one. Not the absolute best timing for me but these are really special and as someone who really does like the Novatouch, passing up the opportunity for the 3rd time would be crass.

lol. Crass is a strong word. I love it.

norbauer · « **Reply #19 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 10:13:31 »

Quote from: FSund on Fri, 25 May 2018, 05:48:12

Does this fit the Masterkeys Pro S RGB?

Affirmative. I believe in CoolerMaster's confusing parlance "Pro" = "RGB".

PS: Nice signature.

)

beerafffe1 · « **Reply #20 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 12:26:53 »

Yes, please. Have a set of the Galaxy keyset coming in and would really love to see the Galaxy Console to put it on!

gnibur · « **Reply #21 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 15:26:45 »

Yes please!

komapa · « **Reply #22 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 15:49:30 »

Count me in!

p_blaze · « **Reply #23 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 15:52:37 »

I kind of want in if the pricing is the same as last time, but do you plan on making a new norbaforce if/when topre makes a realforce rgb 87u? I don't have a topre board yet but novatouches are expensive...

syke · « **Reply #24 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 15:58:18 »

Do I vote here? If yes, the answer is a definite YES.

norbauer · « **Reply #25 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 16:00:36 »

Quote from: syke on Fri, 25 May 2018, 15:58:18

Do I vote here? If yes, the answer is a definite YES.

Please fill out the form on SurveyMonkey so I can keep an accurate count.

syke · « **Reply #26 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 16:16:08 »

Quote from: norbauer on Fri, 25 May 2018, 16:00:36

Quote from: syke on Fri, 25 May 2018, 15:58:18
Do I vote here? If yes, the answer is a definite YES.

Please fill out the form on SurveyMonkey so I can keep an accurate count.

Just done that. The anodized black vs powder coated black, I assume the powder coated one would be dull matte compared to anodized?

norbauer · « **Reply #27 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 16:20:27 »

Quote from: syke on Fri, 25 May 2018, 16:16:08

Quote from: norbauer on Fri, 25 May 2018, 16:00:36
Quote from: syke on Fri, 25 May 2018, 15:58:18
Do I vote here? If yes, the answer is a definite YES.

Please fill out the form on SurveyMonkey so I can keep an accurate count.

Just done that. The anodized black vs powder coated black, I assume the powder coated one would be dull matte compared to anodized?

Correct, but it also has a slight texture in addition to looking more matte.

pvd · « **Reply #28 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 18:47:07 »

Is the Masterkeys Pro S no longer in production?

norbauer · « **Reply #29 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 18:59:17 »

Quote from: pvd on Fri, 25 May 2018, 18:47:07

Is the Masterkeys Pro S no longer in production?

I don't think any of them are still in production! (Cooler Master is a bit of a mess.) But apparently there are plenty of all of these still floating around out there.

JME · « **Reply #30 on:** Fri, 25 May 2018, 19:14:45 »

Slightly off topic, but would you ever consider doing these alu cases for the Topre 104U?

Eiji Murakami · « **Reply #31 on:** Sat, 26 May 2018, 07:04:24 »

I am also very interested.

Idef1x · « **Reply #32 on:** Sat, 26 May 2018, 09:23:38 »

I would like a Norbauer case for the Novatouch I have saved for the occasion!

syke · « **Reply #33 on:** Sat, 26 May 2018, 11:35:18 »

Quote from: norbauer on Fri, 25 May 2018, 18:59:17

Quote from: pvd on Fri, 25 May 2018, 18:47:07
Is the Masterkeys Pro S no longer in production?

I don't think any of them are still in production! (Cooler Master is a bit of a mess.) But apparently there are plenty of all of these still floating around out there.

Wouldn't the Masterkeys PRO S RGB work out?

//gainsborough · « **Reply #34 on:** Sat, 26 May 2018, 18:58:08 »

I'm in for one in the galaxy console color!

Peiweisgreat · « **Reply #35 on:** Sun, 27 May 2018, 01:41:34 »

Quote from: syke on Sat, 26 May 2018, 11:35:18

Quote from: norbauer on Fri, 25 May 2018, 18:59:17
Quote from: pvd on Fri, 25 May 2018, 18:47:07
Is the Masterkeys Pro S no longer in production?

I don't think any of them are still in production! (Cooler Master is a bit of a mess.) But apparently there are plenty of all of these still floating around out there.

Wouldn't the Masterkeys PRO S RGB work out?

Yeah he said a little bit earlier that pro s rgb will work with the case.

Artist · « **Reply #36 on:** Tue, 29 May 2018, 00:41:44 »

OMG I'm so glad I found this topic, I've been looking around for an used one from previous round, but definitely in if there's a R3.

Count me in!

Also, not to be nitpicky, again as one of the poster above, but I think you fixed the form name from Norbaforce to Norvatouch, but in question 1 it's still saying Norbaforce

!

norbauer · « **Reply #37 on:** Tue, 29 May 2018, 12:04:56 »

Quote from: Artist on Tue, 29 May 2018, 00:41:44

OMG I'm so glad I found this topic, I've been looking around for an used one from previous round, but definitely in if there's a R3.

Count me in!

Also, not to be nitpicky, again as one of the poster above, but I think you fixed the form name from Norbaforce to Norvatouch, but in question 1 it's still saying Norbaforce !

Haha. Oh man, I'm such a mess. Thanks for pointing that out. It's fixed now.

oli · « **Reply #38 on:** Tue, 29 May 2018, 12:32:04 »

Quote from: norbauer on Tue, 29 May 2018, 12:04:56

Quote from: Artist on Tue, 29 May 2018, 00:41:44
OMG I'm so glad I found this topic, I've been looking around for an used one from previous round, but definitely in if there's a R3.

Count me in!

Also, not to be nitpicky, again as one of the poster above, but I think you fixed the form name from Norbaforce to Norvatouch, but in question 1 it's still saying Norbaforce !

Haha. Oh man, I'm such a mess. Thanks for pointing that out. It's fixed now.

And in this line

)

Quote from: norbauer on Thu, 24 May 2018, 21:27:09

If you'd be down to get a "Norbaforce" in a new run, please vote here.

norbauer · « **Reply #39 on:** Tue, 29 May 2018, 12:52:53 »

lol. See, that's why I hate all this "Norba-nonsense" naming scheme that the community has nudged me into.

So confusing.

Happily, I'm simply calling my next case the "Heavy-6."

elcubismo · « **Reply #40 on:** Tue, 29 May 2018, 13:25:45 »

It's a good idea but you know someone is going to call it the Norbapold or Norba6 or something

jebbra · « **Reply #41 on:** Tue, 29 May 2018, 20:49:59 »

Quote from: elcubismo on Tue, 29 May 2018, 13:25:45

It's a good idea but you know someone is going to call it the Norbapold or Norba6 or something

Norbapold sounds promising

shieldme · « **Reply #42 on:** Wed, 30 May 2018, 13:39:25 »

Does anyone know if these also fit the older quickfire rapid? http://a.co/6k7KLMs

nerdblog_io · « **Reply #43 on:** Wed, 30 May 2018, 13:45:28 »

The mint looks nice, would look really cool with hyperfuse origins.

norbauer · « **Reply #44 on:** Wed, 30 May 2018, 13:50:01 »

Hey all. I'm happy to report, to my surprise, that it looks like we easily have the numbers to do another small run of these, so let's call this a go.

My plan is to hopefully run this Norbatouch r3.14 group buy concurrently with the Heavy-6, hopefully around the time of KeyCon (towards the end of June), or shortly thereafter. Doing both at once will just make some of the logistics easier for me. In short: stay tuned, but it looks like doing this should be no problem.

Vigrith · « **Reply #45 on:** Wed, 30 May 2018, 13:58:11 »

Quote from: norbauer on Wed, 30 May 2018, 13:50:01

My plan is to hopefully run this Norbatouch r3.14 group buy concurrently with the Heavy-6(...)

Oh boy oh boy.

regionfree · « **Reply #46 on:** Wed, 30 May 2018, 17:51:24 »

My Retro fridge from Oco was cancelled. This needs to happen again! Do it!

Artist · « **Reply #47 on:** Thu, 31 May 2018, 07:18:21 »

Quote from: Vigrith on Wed, 30 May 2018, 13:58:11

Quote from: norbauer on Wed, 30 May 2018, 13:50:01
My plan is to hopefully run this Norbatouch r3.14 group buy concurrently with the Heavy-6(...)

Oh boy oh boy.

WOW cool, i'm so so expecting for this!

Will I get an email notification once the GB start? (I filled out the Survey form)
Tks!

norbauer · « **Reply #48 on:** Thu, 31 May 2018, 10:49:51 »

Quote from: Artist on Thu, 31 May 2018, 07:18:21

Will I get an email notification once the GB start? (I filled out the Survey form)
Tks!

Absolutely. I'll post a thread here on GeekHack and will send out notifications to the survey participants and my normal email list.

eksuen · « **Reply #49 on:** Thu, 31 May 2018, 12:56:26 »

I don't need another one. I don't need another one. I don't need another one. I don't need another one.

News:

Author Topic: [IC] the "Norbatouch" Housing for Cooler Master cases, round 3.1415 (?!) (Read 15704 times)