The next NYC Mechanical Keyboard meetup has just been announced and you can get tickets at the link below (each meetup sells out quickly so pick up your ticket soon!).  Due to its popularity the venue has moved to one with a much larger capacity.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nyc-mechanical-keyboard-meetup-july-2024-tickets-908852882437

PC World has posted an article on the NYC Mechanical Keyboard meetup last month. 

The last photo in the article shows the new Model F project keyboards table (with an original 122 on it) and me testing out a nice original IBM F122 that someone else brought to the meetup:

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2303216/a-journey-to-nycs-mechanical-keyboard-mecca.html

New to the forum, but not to keebs. Here is a little pic of part of my collection.

While I understand that minimizing risk makes sense for new product development, investing in molds for a layout that represents under 10% of the customer base may not be the best start. If it goes poorly the total loss would be within an order of magnitude of a full base kit.

You should have analytics on hand to see the the actual target market for 40% buyers - consider a fully developed full size base kit if you're serious about the project (I think its great)

just my dos pesos

To be clear, this is why I was essentially just gauging interest from folks with 40's, smaller layouts, etc. For comprehensive sets, we are currently concentrating on Cherry and MTNU (which is the sculpted spherical). If this was something possible to run just for 40's with existing molds, that would be a different story as it would be much easier and lower risk. This is truly just gauging interest right now - are people still interested in uniform profiles? What size keyboards are you interested in it for? etc. I try to consistently watch what the community is looking for, and haven't seen a ton of uniform profile kits - certainly not like 4+ years ago when DSA was really running quite a lot (DSA Granite was the highest selling set in the community there for a spell even), so I truly am curious as well what the interest and desire for uniform profiles even is currently as well.

Thanks for taking the time to respond and give feedback 

[IC] TacWorks TAC-P1 20% Numeric Keypad Kit - A Blend of Nostalgic Design and Modern Functionality
Hey guys!

We are excited to partner with TacWorks to bring this stunning custom numeric keypad kit to life!

KEY FEATURES:
Design Concept
We wanted to create a numeric keypad that does not just function well but also captures your imagination. Inspired by classic retro game consoles, we have designed the numeric keypad to evoke a sense of nostalgia with colourful directional keys, circular buttons, and coloured backplates. It is like stepping back into a favorite game from your childhood. We hope it becomes one of the coolest gadgets on your desk.

When it comes to the keypad itself, we have focused on aesthetics with lots of G2 continuous curves and smooth surfaces. The upper and lower covers have curved treatments, giving the keyboard a balanced, orderly look from the side, and creating a natural typing angle.

Colourful Themes
The TAC-P1 is available in 11 vibrant colour schemes. You can choose from anodized options like Tiffany Purple, Rose Red, and Orange Gold, or go for ceramic coated variants such as Milk White, Black Pink, and Pink Green. We have also added new anodized options, Purple Green, and Black Red, and ceramic coated ones, Yellow, Blue White, and Red White.

Triple Mode PCB
The TAC-P1’s PCB supports QMK / VIA custom keymapping and offers three connection modes: wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz. It features standard RGB backlighting and a 1500mAh battery, packing a lot of power into a small package. We believe this numeric keypad will be a perfect productivity companion on your desktop, ready to impress.

Gasket Mount
We have brought over the efficient gasket mount from our TAC-K1. Instead of the traditional lower shell limiting design, we use gaskets that provide excellent rebound and a satisfying typing feel. We have adjusted the force arms for the numeric keypad’s smaller size, ensuring a soft rebound effect that enhances your typing experience.

Sound Optimization Kit
The TAC-P1 comes packed with a complete 5-layer sound optimization kit. This includes PET insulation foam, PORON switch socket foam, PET sound pad, IXPE switch pad, and PORON plate foam. Combined with the gasket mount structure, these elements make even a small numeric keypad’s sound premium.

Plate & Stabilizers
The standard TAC-P1 comes with a double-sided matte PC plate. The plate mounted stabilizers make adjustments easy without disassembling the entire internal kit. For those who prefer traditional PCB mount style, we have kept that option open with PCB holes that support PCB mounted stabilizers, offering you the choice between stability and convenience.


Surface Treatment
We have tailored the surface treatments to match the characteristics of each Colour theme. Anodized options include Rose Red, Orange Gold, Purple Green, Black Red, and Tiffany Purple. Ceramic-coated options include Black Pink, Milk White, Pink Green, Yellow, Blue White, and Red White. Ceramic coatings provide stronger resistance to dirt and impact while maintaining a delicate finish to protect your keyboard.

Product Packaging
The TAC-P1 will come with a carbon fiber textured numeric keypad storage bag, a kraft paper box, and matching model stickers.


We are excited for you to experience the TAC-P1, a blend of nostalgic design and modern functionality, making it the perfect companion to our TAC-K1 65% mechanical keyboard kit, all at an affordable price.

PRODUCT PHOTOS:

SPECIFICATION:
Brand: TacWorks

Product Type: Mechanical Keyboard Kit

Model: TAC-P1

Layout: 20%

Number of Keys: 19

Mount Type: Pressure Bar Gasket Mount

Production Process: CNC Cutting

Case & Backplate Material: Aluminium Alloy

Case Coating: Anodised / Composite Ceramic Coating

Backplate Coating: UV Colour Printing

Colours:
Anodized: Black Red / Orange Gold / Purple Green / Rose Red / Tiffany Purple
Ceramic Coating: Black Pink / Blue White / Milk White / Pink Green / Red White / Yellow

Plate: Matte PC

PCB: Tri-Mode, Hot Swappable, South-Facing RGB Backlight

Compatible Software: QMK / VIA

Charging Port: 1 x USB-C

Battery Capacity: 1500mAh

Packaging: Numeric Keypad Storage Bag + Designed Box

Designer: TacWorks

Item Weight: 570.0g

PRICING:
Based on current information, the estimated RRP is USD$109.95 (AUD$165.95). Price may change slightly in the future without prior notice.

EXPRESS OF INTEREST:
Two ways to express interest:

The first and easiest way is: Visit the product page on our site. Select your case colour above, then enter your email address and click the “Notify Me” button. By doing so, you have expressed your interest by joining our waiting list. We will send you an email notification when we are ready to run a group buy.

Or, simply complete the IC form to express your interest in this product.

In the meantime, please feel free to follow our Instagram account where we post all the updates on project status.

We will also post relevant major news on our Discord server and Geekhack here.

UPDATES:
Waiting to receive sample products from TacWorks. (21/05/2024)