Current status of the Mira
First – the current prototypes are here
http://imgur.com/a/PWJdbIt will have the famous O’Mira above the keypad and probably SE on the back by the USB hole.
The SE may or may not have a brass inlay.
The plan for now is to offer it with stainless steel weights but brass may be considered but will not be nickel coated and will be subject to corrosion.
I plan to offer the colors of black, silver, and grey/titanium but one or two other colors may be offered depending on the anodizing available.
II expect to be able to offer stainless steel and aluminum plates and the aluminum plates can be anodized. The plates do not allow switch top removal, that may change depending on time available to make that change.
I will only offer Leeku boards which will be soldered except for the bottom RGB LED’s. Leeku might be able to offer those soldered for $5 a board. The plates are designed to use both Leeku’s board and the NERD. YukTsi has been working on a TKL board that should fit and Winkeyless has a TKL board that I think will fit.
I can possibly offer stabilizers and even LED’s if there is enough interest.
Assuming everything works out and I can stay out of the hospital I want to start the group buy in January. I haven’t thought of the ordering period yet but as long as the manufacturer can handle the numbers I do not plan on capping out the amount sold. It is possible that it would have to go in two or more stages depending on the capability of myself and the manufacturer to move the product. The plan is for the Mira to be boxed similar to the TX-87 and the TX-CP which should prevent damage. The quality control will be done at the factory and I can’t be help responsible for minor defects but anything like the damages occurred by the LZ-FE will be taken care of.
Timeline:
1) Ordering or verifying ordering around 2 weeks
2) Payment two weeks for price of the board, shipping will be billed separately.
3) From time of payment to the manufacturer to my door should be about 12 weeks. I may try to have the boards sent directly to other countries that have several orders to a proxy to cut down cost. Canada would definitely be a country I would like to do this with.
4) Cost – has not been finalized due to all details haven’t been worked out but I would expect the cost to be between $400 - $425 + the shipping to your home. The shipping from the manufacturer will be included in the original cost and is less when shipped in bulk.
Now being honest, I'm going to mention the fly in the ointment:
(Quoting from the original post by DrHubblePhD in the beginning of this thread - I am not asking for donations, money, or a deposit. I'm simply quoting what was initially said about the deposit. I will give a more coherent edit tomorrow.): "In order to produce a prototype for the Mira and secure a production run in the future we need to put money down with the CNC company we have chosen. Instead of asking for donations from a few people I think it would be better that we offer some benefits to everyone on GeekHack who chooses to help produce the Mira!
What it costs: $40 down towards the full purchase of the Mira
What you get in return:
- You reserve your spot in the first 57 units that will include gold stabs
- The opportunity to specify which number you would like engraved on your custom center weight (more on this below). Non-pre orders will receive their number in order of purchase, i.e. no say in the matter.
- Priority for the limited number of boards that will be offered with full assembly
- Pre-orders will ship first regardless of location and the total volume of the full production run
- A thank you note from me in the mail with some custom stickers
"
That was quoted from the beginning of the thread. I'm not requesting anything.
I don't know how much money I've put into this, I refuse to count up the money or the hours. The numbering on the first 57 will be done and as far as I know Zeal is donating the gold stabilizers. I cannot donate however much has been put down for the Mira as a deposit. I can try to give you a good board at the best price I can give. I don't expect to make money out of this I just want to see the board completed.
My plan now is to charge everyone the same for the board. If there is an issue or complaint - which I can think of many - go ahead and PM me unless you think it is useful to the community then post it in the thread.
If the group buy is successful I have several other keyboards in the planning/CAD phase and I promise I won't post them until I know they can be produced.
