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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: TheKeyCompany on Wed, 16 January 2019, 09:13:03

Title: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC - [Goes Live on 02/01/2019]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Wed, 16 January 2019, 09:13:03
[attach=1]

GB THREAD (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=99233.0)


Hey everyone! Honch0 here. You guys spend alot of time on mechmarket, and you know as well as I do that there has been a MASSIVE uptick in group buys lately. Seems at any given time there are 3 or more GMK buys going concurrently. GMK sets are great. They are, in my humble opinion, the finest keycaps money can buy. But compatibility drives the cost up, limited font options, and they just dont fit everyone's budget.   
 
Last year I started working with a new factory in China (new to me at least, these guys have been making kits awhile now). I wanted to bring something to market that was different, affordable, fun, and high quality. After months of screwing around on Illustrator and getting samples back and forth allow me to present: 
 
TKC Katakana Cherry PBT
 
- PBT dye sublimation 
- Target price $75 +/- depending on color way
- Mac keys included in every kit 
- UK ISO keys in every kit 
- 4 color ways available (for now) 
- Short lead time 
- Kits packed in trays
- Currently adding ortho keys
 
Proxies:
- Americas - The Key Dot Company
- EU - MyKeyboard.eu
- Oceana - Dailyclack
- Asia - TBD
 
If the IC goes well we will be launching this in the next few weeks.   
 
BUY HERE (https://thekey.company/collections/keycaps/products/katakana-cherry-pbt-sets)


[attach=6]
WoB $90
[attach=7]
Black / Gray $80
[attach=10]
Grey $65
[attach=8]
Matcha (previously known as Olive) $80
[attach=9]
BoW $65

[attach=2]

[attach=3]

[attach=4]
Pre-production model show, alphas will NOT be white

[attach=5]
PBT Cherry vs GMK




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Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: tentboy on Wed, 16 January 2019, 10:36:38
These look awesome!
how does the quality of these compare to enjoyPBT?
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Wed, 16 January 2019, 10:41:20
These look awesome!
how does the quality of these compare to enjoyPBT?

Pretty sure the photos speak for themselves! Quality is on point.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: Koatl on Wed, 16 January 2019, 11:07:03
This is dope. Been wanting a set to go with my Kachakeys Gojira cap, and the dude running the WoB Hiragana set is MIA. So this is perfect. Thanks for running this!
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: _ODIN_ on Wed, 16 January 2019, 11:36:37
This looks dope. Is there a chance for a EU proxy?

Gesendet von meinem H8416 mit Tapatalk

Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: Vigrith on Wed, 16 January 2019, 13:40:52
This looks dope. Is there a chance for a EU proxy?

TKC generally works with mykeyboard in EU, so I'd say it's more than likely they will be providing the EU storefront for these sets too once the time comes.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: menuhin on Wed, 16 January 2019, 14:08:35
The form says "Grey", I hope TKC can do really BoW, and black on "ghost white" - those ghost white PBT that EnjoyPBT offered looking similar to POM white keycaps color.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: senter on Wed, 16 January 2019, 14:32:02
Glad to see you guys released it finally. The samples look great!
Thanks for your hard work.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: Koatl on Wed, 16 January 2019, 15:17:01
The form says "Grey", I hope TKC can do really BoW, and black on "ghost white" - those ghost white PBT that EnjoyPBT offered looking similar to POM white keycaps color.

Glad you brought that up. I was assuming WoB would be white on black. Still interested, but am less interested in gray.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Wed, 16 January 2019, 15:37:03
The form says "Grey", I hope TKC can do really BoW, and black on "ghost white" - those ghost white PBT that EnjoyPBT offered looking similar to POM white keycaps color.

Glad you brought that up. I was assuming WoB would be white on black. Still interested, but am less interested in gray.

So when you guys say BoW, you want WHITE like freshly fallen snow? Am I reading this correctly? Because it can be arranged.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: Koatl on Wed, 16 January 2019, 15:49:48
So when you guys say BoW, you want WHITE like freshly fallen snow? Am I reading this correctly? Because it can be arranged.

Yeah I was thinking bright white. But I wouldn't want it changed solely based on my preference. Maybe more people would want gray alphas on that set?
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Wed, 16 January 2019, 16:17:04
So when you guys say BoW, you want WHITE like freshly fallen snow? Am I reading this correctly? Because it can be arranged.

Yeah I was thinking bright white. But I wouldn't want it changed solely based on my preference. Maybe more people would want gray alphas on that set?

Youre not the only one who asked about it. Im not sure if I can squeeze it in with this; I believe it will have to be one or the other, grey or pure white.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: Vigrith on Wed, 16 January 2019, 16:39:39
If it would be between one and the other I personally would also prefer actual white rather than the current grey - however, I'm not super fussed, the current one also looks great.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: Koatl on Wed, 16 January 2019, 16:42:36
If it would be between one and the other I personally would also prefer actual white rather than the current grey - however, I'm not super fussed, the current one also looks great.

Same. Prefer white. For both WoB and BoW. Been wanting to get matching WoB and BoW sets then mix/match. Would likely buy gray though.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Thu, 17 January 2019, 06:03:48
If it would be between one and the other I personally would also prefer actual white rather than the current grey - however, I'm not super fussed, the current one also looks great.

Same. Prefer white. For both WoB and BoW. Been wanting to get matching WoB and BoW sets then mix/match. Would likely buy gray though.

I’ll see what I can do!
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: rondg on Thu, 17 January 2019, 06:35:11
Maybe a darker gray is better? Or a warm white.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: fine_italian_leather on Thu, 17 January 2019, 07:44:41
If it would be between one and the other I personally would also prefer actual white rather than the current grey - however, I'm not super fussed, the current one also looks great.

Same. Prefer white. For both WoB and BoW. Been wanting to get matching WoB and BoW sets then mix/match. Would likely buy gray though.

I’ll see what I can do!

If it would be between one and the other I personally would also prefer actual white rather than the current grey - however, I'm not super fussed, the current one also looks great.

Same. Prefer white. For both WoB and BoW. Been wanting to get matching WoB and BoW sets then mix/match. Would likely buy gray though.

Yeah, aim for as white as possible. There are plenty of light grey/light beige sets already.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: x86ect on Thu, 17 January 2019, 10:07:17
I'm a fan of the current Grey on Black
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: gok_nz on Thu, 17 January 2019, 14:04:53
These look awesome!
how does the quality of these compare to enjoyPBT?

Pretty sure the photos speak for themselves! Quality is on point.
Can you take some closer shots of some of the reversed dye-sub keys please?
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Thu, 17 January 2019, 14:15:58
These look awesome!
how does the quality of these compare to enjoyPBT?

Pretty sure the photos speak for themselves! Quality is on point.
Can you take some closer shots of some of the reversed dye-sub keys please?

The photos in the post are expandable thumbs.
Title: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: enrique.aliaga on Thu, 17 January 2019, 17:06:46
I happen to like the Black on Gray, as well. Please, don’t replace it with Snow White. EnjoyPBT BoW already covers that need.

Also, love the Command/Option keys. Which fit perfectly since the whole set is based on the Apple keyboards of yesteryear (AEK, AEK II).




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: menuhin on Thu, 17 January 2019, 17:47:10
The form says "Grey", I hope TKC can do really BoW, and black on "ghost white" - those ghost white PBT that EnjoyPBT offered looking similar to POM white keycaps color.

Glad you brought that up. I was assuming WoB would be white on black. Still interested, but am less interested in gray.

So when you guys say BoW, you want WHITE like freshly fallen snow? Am I reading this correctly? Because it can be arranged.

For freshly fallen snow kind of white - even whiter than a piece of paper,
Please take a look at the "fog white" / "ghost white" / "natural white" color of EnjoyPBT. The one below green cap on this photo:

(https://img.alicdn.com/imgextra/i4/134583372/TB2Z6gwdJUnyKJjSZFpXXb9qFXa_!!134583372.jpg)

The white in the middle below the blue cap, they call it "milk white".
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: gok_nz on Thu, 17 January 2019, 22:08:46
These look awesome!
how does the quality of these compare to enjoyPBT?

Pretty sure the photos speak for themselves! Quality is on point.
Can you take some closer shots of some of the reversed dye-sub keys please?

The photos in the post are expandable thumbs.
Ah yup, I realised that but they looked a bit blurry in the photo so I thought a closer shot of a few keys would show them off a bit better.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Fri, 18 January 2019, 11:07:07
I hope this is enough to satisfy ortho users. Ergodox keys are not an option, and adding all the keys to accommodate all of the 40 layouts will be difficult to keep the kits within the price point.

Thoughts?

[attach=2]
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC -ADDED ORTHO KEYS [February Launch]
Post by: kmfmppl on Mon, 21 January 2019, 06:03:59
the reverse dyesub looks pretty clean to my eyes, interested!
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: fatpolomanjr on Mon, 21 January 2019, 07:40:42
I hope this is enough to satisfy ortho users. Ergodox keys are not an option, and adding all the keys to accommodate all of the 40 layouts will be difficult to keep the kits within the price point.

Thoughts?

(Attachment Link)

Should one of the R4 Return keys be a Shift instead? I can't really tell, but is there a 2u spacebar or 2 x 1u blanks included in the base kit? For planck and preonic mit layout. I don't want to ask for too much accommodations, just figured I'd mention it.

And, what's the purpose of the R2 and R3 Tab keys? Is one of each enough, or is it to swap the rows around based on preference (which would require a second Esc key)? There's probably different 40% layouts that benefit from having both Tab keys that I'm neglecting. Thought I would ask.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Mon, 21 January 2019, 08:04:57
I hope this is enough to satisfy ortho users. Ergodox keys are not an option, and adding all the keys to accommodate all of the 40 layouts will be difficult to keep the kits within the price point.

Thoughts?

(Attachment Link)

Should one of the R4 Return keys be a Shift instead? I can't really tell, but is there a 2u spacebar or 2 x 1u blanks included in the base kit? For planck and preonic mit layout. I don't want to ask for too much accommodations, just figured I'd mention it.

And, what's the purpose of the R2 and R3 Tab keys? Is one of each enough, or is it to swap the rows around based on preference (which would require a second Esc key)? There's probably different 40% layouts that benefit from having both Tab keys that I'm neglecting. Thought I would ask.

Whoops! One of the 1u enters should be R3. Good call. There’s already a 1u shift in the kit.
You wouldn’t use both tab keys on the same layout, some people prefer them in either or row (Planck, preonic)
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: fatpolomanjr on Mon, 21 January 2019, 08:12:47
Whoops! One of the 1u enters should be R3. Good call. There’s already a 1u shift in the kit.
You wouldn’t use both tab keys on the same layout, some people prefer them in either or row (Planck, preonic)

Ah, I see. Thanks for clarifying.

For the switching Esc and Tab to either row, should there also be an R3 Esc if you prefer R2 Tab? I guess that's more my question, since R2 Tab would leave you with some wonky options to fill the spot below it.

And the planck/preonic spacebar I guess we could use the numpad's 2u 0 key for mit layout and any two R4 keys for grid layout.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC ~$75 per set! [February Launch]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Mon, 21 January 2019, 08:15:09
Whoops! One of the 1u enters should be R3. Good call. There’s already a 1u shift in the kit.
You wouldn’t use both tab keys on the same layout, some people prefer them in either or row (Planck, preonic)

Ah, I see. Thanks for clarifying.

For the switching Esc and Tab to either row, should there also be an R3 Esc if you prefer R2 Tab? I guess that's more my question, since R2 Tab would leave you with some wonky options to fill the spot below it.

And the planck/preonic spacebar I guess we could use the numpad's 2u 0 key for mit layout and any two R4 keys for grid layout.

It was my understanding people used either R2 esc ir R2 tab, I cant imagine anyone putting Esc below tab.

I’ll see if we can add a 2u soacebar. Shouldn’t be difficult at all.

Thanks for the suggestion! I don’t use ortho boards so it’s not as easy to figure out what’s needed sometimes.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC -ADDED ORTHO KEYS [February Launch]
Post by: rope on Tue, 22 January 2019, 07:06:51
ooooo, i really like this! particularly liking the WoB one.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC -ADDED ORTHO KEYS [February Launch]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Tue, 22 January 2019, 12:52:20
ooooo, i really like this! particularly liking the WoB one.

New renders with ortho keys added should be up soon, possibly today. Hoping to get this buy started next week.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC -ADDED ORTHO KEYS [February Launch]
Post by: rope on Tue, 22 January 2019, 13:24:19
ooooo, i really like this! particularly liking the WoB one.

New renders with ortho keys added should be up soon, possibly today. Hoping to get this buy started next week.
nice! i am officially very excited :D
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC -ADDED ORTHO KEYS [February Launch]
Post by: Acereconkeys on Tue, 22 January 2019, 13:42:38
Looking forward to this always into new PBT offerings. That said, is there any chance to do more sets in the future without the sublegends?
Title: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC -ADDED ORTHO KEYS [February Launch]
Post by: enrique.aliaga on Tue, 22 January 2019, 13:49:04
Looking forward to this always into new PBT offerings. That said, is there any chance to do more sets in the future without the sublegends?

+1 to no sublegends


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC -ADDED ORTHO KEYS [February Launch]
Post by: fine_italian_leather on Tue, 22 January 2019, 15:37:21
Looking forward to this always into new PBT offerings. That said, is there any chance to do more sets in the future without the sublegends?

+1 to no sublegends


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yeah, this
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC -ADDED ORTHO KEYS [February Launch]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Wed, 23 January 2019, 07:24:09
Looking forward to this always into new PBT offerings. That said, is there any chance to do more sets in the future without the sublegends?

+1 to no sublegends


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looking forward to this always into new PBT offerings. That said, is there any chance to do more sets in the future without the sublegends?

+1 to no sublegends


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yeah, this

Thanks for the feedback. Please add it to the form!

Perhaps the next round. This buy already has a ton of options.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC - [Goes Live on 02/01/2019]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Thu, 31 January 2019, 14:17:34
Were going live tomorrow folks! Buy 2 or more sets get $5 off per set during the GB.

Preview the page here (https://thekey.company/products/katakana-cherry-pbt-sets)
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC - [Goes Live on 02/01/2019]
Post by: menuhin on Fri, 01 February 2019, 04:35:58
That is a super smart GB with sets that eat into a specific niche of the market.

A few questions:

1. Can I see some samples of the pure white color dye-sub caps of the option "black on white"

2. Just to make sure the 2.25u and 2.75u blank key caps are convex like all other normal spacebars
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC - [Goes Live on 02/01/2019]
Post by: Lotsati on Fri, 01 February 2019, 05:24:17
Would love to see pictures of the Black on White to compare it to the Grey set. Also, will you be stocking extras of these on your store/restocking periodically?

I'm liking most of the colors but I think I'll probably just pick one to see how they look/feel in person first. Has this factory already made some existing keysets out there? Curious how they feel compared to EnjoyPBT.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC - [Goes Live on 02/01/2019]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Fri, 01 February 2019, 06:03:40
That is a super smart GB with sets that eat into a specific niche of the market.

A few questions:

1. Can I see some samples of the pure white color dye-sub caps of the option "black on white"

2. Just to make sure the 2.25u and 2.75u blank key caps are convex like all other normal spacebars

1. Main post, photo showing matcha legends with white alphas: that’s the color of the white.

2. I have to check on the spacebars.
Title: Re: [IC] Katakana Cherry PBT Sets by TKC - [Goes Live on 02/01/2019]
Post by: TheKeyCompany on Fri, 01 February 2019, 06:06:17
Would love to see pictures of the Black on White to compare it to the Grey set. Also, will you be stocking extras of these on your store/restocking periodically?

I'm liking most of the colors but I think I'll probably just pick one to see how they look/feel in person first. Has this factory already made some existing keysets out there? Curious how they feel compared to EnjoyPBT.

Main post, photo showing matcha mods with white alphas: that’s the white in the BoW set.
I don’t have samples of the grey. It’s almost identical to OG Cherry double shot caps color.
This factory makes sets for KRepublic and many others. They feel fantastic.