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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: LunarisDream on Thu, 01 September 2016, 09:58:54
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A friend of mine in China (one of the ZZ96 designers, Seed) is trying to make DSA-like PBT keycaps and has a production sample out. This isn't really meant to gauge interest, but just to put this out there, sort of a "this thing exists" thread.
The profile is uniform (no separate row profiles),and approx 1mm higher than DSA. Both blank and dyesubbed sets are planned. Price is currently unknown, which is another reason for the "this isn't really an interest check" disclaimer.
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3][attach=4][attach=5][attach=6][attach=7][attach=8]
There are currently spacebar molds for 1.75 2 2.25 2.75 3 4.5 5.5 6 6.25 6.5 7 keys in this profile. Difference of spacebar keys is the convex shape as opposed to concave for most keys. This would theoretically allow compatibility with any keyboard, especially w/ the recent introduction of more "ergo" boards w/ split spacebars.
Got a production sample in.
(https://i.sli.mg/9OhusG.jpg)(https://i.sli.mg/PueUh1.jpg)
11/8/2016
(https://i.sli.mg/EbtySI.jpg)
Got my set in (had them for like a week now but just now got around to putting it on). Will do a review soon.
The profile is officially called XDA (no, not the phone forum). Currently only blanks are planned for international sale. Dyesubbed versions exist and are being run in China but those won't be sold just yet. Probably gonna look for a vendor to take care of that - there are a lot of kits. A lot. Like 130+ a lot (because there are 4 font colors and a hell lot of kits).
Expected sale price is 289 RMB plus shipping for the blank set. That's about $45 plus shipping which is probably going to be around $20 for DHL (it's not heavy, but the physical size of the keycap box is bleh). I can look into China Post for slightly cheaper shipping but there will be limited tracking and higher chance of stuff going missing because China Post. Will snap pictures of the entire blank set later, but from a glance, it is very complete with wide compatibility and a crapload of spacebars (see the sizes above), plus a weighty steel keypuller. Why is it seem "very complete" to me, you ask? Because there are two more foam layers underneath the pic I snapped above, holding more caps.
I don't like DSA so, by proxy, I don't like the XDA profile as much as I probably should (hitting keys above ASDF row feels difficult for me due to the uniform profile, but that's an inherent issue with uniform profiles for me. On 67g Zealios lubed with Krytox 105, there is a satisfying thock. The keys are not as thick as "thick" PBT caps. A major selling point of this profile is the increased surface area and I think it's one of those "like it or hate it" things. I think it feels better than DSA in that regard.
Anyways, more in-depth review later.
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I like that the caps have a bit more surface area than the current SP DSA, cool stuff.
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Bigger surface area is not necessarily a good thing. It usually leads to more typing errors.
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I like that the caps have a bit more surface area than the current SP DSA, cool stuff.
That's about the only thing going for it. The height isn't as dramatically taller than DSA as is that compared to SA.
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Bigger surface area is not necessarily a good thing. It usually leads to more typing errors.
Never really thought about it like that, I won't have a DSA set to play around with until the end of the month.
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Cool.
Will there be tester packs, of maybe 5-10 caps so we can, you know, test them?
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I think that the steeper angle at the sides of the keycap makes it look a lot better than DSA.
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Cool.
Will there be tester packs, of maybe 5-10 caps so we can, you know, test them?
There's next to no info right now apart from what I know which I wrote up in the OP. I can ask.
But I haven't found a way to ship small packages internationally for cheap right now so it wouldn't be feasible until I can get that figured out.
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I think that the steeper angle at the sides of the keycap makes it look a lot better than DSA.
Agreed!
Also, it would be pretty nice to have a 2u spacebar to use on a Planck.
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No 1u spacebar?! Grid layout man, grrriiiiiidddddd :-*
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No 1u spacebar?! Grid layout man, grrriiiiiidddddd :-*
:confused:
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This could be rather interesting. Particularly if they can dyesub the entire cap minus the legend like we saw in another thread. Always nice to have more cap options out there.
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Definately interested to test these out and compare them with my granite r2
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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This is pretty neat. Nice height, extra surface area with a spherical dip could be pretty good.
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Anything less than 4u isn't a spacebar. At most it is a spacebutton.
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Anything less than 4u isn't a spacebar. At most it is a spacebutton.
Well, more bite size than a full bar, sure.
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Any link to Taobao for these caps? How's availability?
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Any link to Taobao for these caps? How's availability?
It's not in production yet.
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Looks nice.
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Is there any timeline on going into production?
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It looks like a nice profile, but it isn't worth much until they accept custom keyset designs and group buys.
It would be even better with sculpted row profiles...
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Got a sample production set in. Spacebar has stem issues w/ sticking (designer notified me - I haven't put the set on a board to try yet) but everything else should be kosher. Gonna review once I've some tome tonight.
Updated OP w/ two pics (set and texture).
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Updated with some more deets.
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Is it strange that I am more interested in the box it ships in? I love the one from my NPKC blank set and wished those were available without the caps, they are great for storing sets.
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As I said on Reddit, seems great! SP is too expensive with shipping+customs to Europe so I'd love a reasonably priced alternative to DSA (and perhaps SA)!
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Since you already have the mold for a convex 2u keycap, be sure to use it to make your numeric keypad "0" keycaps.
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Looking good! I'm glad to see more profiles being developed than the standard SP profiles. Even if it's close to DSA it seems like it could be better. :thumb:
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I'm super in favor of smaller convex keys for split space bars, but TBH the main attraction is the slight possibility of getting that Elven Granite dyesub set. :D
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Any link to Taobao for these caps? How's availability?
XDA Milestone (https://world.taobao.com/item/541420486418.htm?spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.k20AFt#detail)
Orders open till Nov 29, 2016
Shipped by early Feb, 2017
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XDA Milestone (https://world.taobao.com/item/541420486418.htm?spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.k20AFt#detail)
Orders open till Nov 29, 2016
Shipped by early Feb, 2017
Wait, how do you purchase through taobao exactly? Can I easily navigate it with chrome translate or do I still need to do like proxy shenanigans? Really wanna order a couple kits off of there that's for sure.
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XDA Milestone (https://world.taobao.com/item/541420486418.htm?spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.k20AFt#detail)
Orders open till Nov 29, 2016
Shipped by early Feb, 2017
Wait, how do you purchase through taobao exactly? Can I easily navigate it with chrome translate or do I still need to do like proxy shenanigans? Really wanna order a couple kits off of there that's for sure.
How to order from Taobao from outside of China and WITHOUT an Agent (https://www.reddit.com/r/FashionReps/comments/40pvkz/guide_how_to_order_from_taobao_from_outside_of/)
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How to order from Taobao from outside of China and WITHOUT an Agent (https://www.reddit.com/r/FashionReps/comments/40pvkz/guide_how_to_order_from_taobao_from_outside_of/)
Thank you kindly, last time I googled it ages ago I came up empty hence my asking - I appreciate it very much.
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Thanks! This looks really tempting to fill a full-ortholinear board with 1U keys without dropping a fortune on it.
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like it ;D
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alternative homing and iso suport <3
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homing with scoops plus bars
iso support
make the keys bigger. I think that the "typing surface" of spherical keys is too small
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How is this differ from SP G20? Any picture reference?
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I am very interested in the non standard spacebar keys which are convex.
Usually shorter spacebars require concave keys which can be uncomfortable.
It is also always good to have more options and I am hopeful that the quality of caps is better than dsa as SP quality leaves much to be desired.
When can we expect a group buy?
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jchan is doing a groupbuy that went live today:
https://www.keyclack.com/product/gb-xda-keycaps-black-legends (https://www.keyclack.com/product/gb-xda-keycaps-black-legends)
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How is this differ from SP G20? Any picture reference?
G20 caps are flat. These are spherical.
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Will this have a round 2 GB in the near future?
Want to get a complete set but I can only get a few as of now cause of Whitefox and Ergodox purchases :( :( :(
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If I want to type on a flat surface there are plenty of lap top keyboards already. My thinkpad's keyboard is great, for example; but, there is nothing better for an actual work session than my Cherry's.
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Would it be possible to get a blank set like you have in the pictures? Or are there only dye-subbed caps available :-\
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Would it be possible to get a blank set like you have in the pictures? Or are there only dye-subbed caps available :-\
Blanks will be up for pre-order within days. $50+shipping from China. $20 shipping for international ($23 for Canada). US shipping will be somewhat cheaper. They are already manufactured so it won't take too long to reach you once the buy opens.
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Good luck on these. If your friend ever decides to make an improved G20 or Devlin Q Series my wallet will be wide open. :D