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Author Topic: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.  (Read 15091 times)

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Offline chaosstep

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Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« on: Sat, 01 September 2012, 20:49:13 »
It's my first posting.
Just enjoy pictures  ;D
Thank you.

Spec :
          - Full aluminum body with black anodized
          - Switches from Cherry G80-1000HAD linear switch with tuning 62g spring, Switch sticker and lubricate, etc
          - A87 Full led board
          - Original Dolch Keycaps with MBC RGBY keycap













« Last Edit: Sat, 01 September 2012, 20:50:56 by chaosstep »
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Offline jwaz

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Re: Korean Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 01 September 2012, 20:51:47 »
Very 356CL  :cool:

Any info on what's special about this one or kit pricing/ availability?
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Offline dorkvader

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 01 September 2012, 21:35:50 »
Case looks a lot like the new MKC case to me. Very nice.
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Offline Bim Gao

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 02 September 2012, 23:54:52 »
I like it :X
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Offline Tenkey

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 00:30:26 »
Quote from: dorkvader on Sat, 01 September 2012, 21:35:50
Case looks a lot like the new MKC case to me. Very nice.

Especially the curved part on the sides.... Nice case anyways
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Offline cactux

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 00:47:50 »
It will be nice to have some sort of table showing the korean boards side by side and their diferences. What are/is the new feature(s) in this keyboard compare with the KMAC, Chita, etc?
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 03:37:35 »
Very nice looking keyboard :)

A subtle colour choice, and the RGB mods go well with it.
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

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Offline quake4mhg

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 03:56:56 »
Fully custom TKL backlit FTW  :p
See? This is the way it should be.
I don't understand why North America manufacturers are sooo ooo o behind  :mad:
« Last Edit: Mon, 03 September 2012, 04:02:02 by quake4mhg »
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Offline dirge

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 04:42:28 »
Everyone should be able to have that keyboard.
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Offline chaosstep

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 05:48:28 »
Thank you for all reply and interest.

1. You can change key-mapping(I don't know this word is correct) whatever you want.
    EX) Capslock -> Window key
2. Full Led
3. Beautiful the curve part on the sides.
4. The cost was about 330~340$ US Dollar (Only Housing + plate(??))

But unfortunately It's too hard to find Even Korea.
It's totally different from new MKC Housing(Maybe), It was released last year.
« Last Edit: Mon, 03 September 2012, 05:53:42 by chaosstep »
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Offline limmy

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 06:18:23 »
MKC pretty much copied the custom board's case design, although the inside may be different.

Dated (Sep 2011)
http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=album&wr_id=85795

Dated (Nov 2011)
http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/3177393
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Offline limmy

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 06:28:20 »
Here are some pics.

Koala board (named after designer Korellas)

source: http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/3177393

MKC copy of the design.
3462-1
source: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34606.0
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Offline RiGS

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 07:17:59 »
China FTW.

Btw The Koala case has an optional feet, while the MKC hasn't.
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Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline limmy

  • Posts: 352
Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 07:26:30 »
Quote from: RiGS on Mon, 03 September 2012, 07:17:59
China FTW.

Btw The Koala case has an optional feet, while the MKC hasn't.

Made in China, but price is higher? Inside the case is different, so price difference may not be relevant.

What do you mean optional feet?
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Offline RiGS

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 07:47:03 »
Made in China, thus widely available to anyone at anytime. You don't have to be Korean.
I think the price reflects that MKC makes this in batches of 3. That's not that productive use of a CNC machine.
By the way that Koala case cost $350 with shipping at that time. At least my friend told me so.

I have seen a few of those cases with elevated rubbet feet.
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Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline limmy

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 08:06:47 »
The availability is good, but comes at higher price. Since profit is already baked in the prices, so it is natural that they are more expensive than for-non-profit price.

Copycat design not good. I would have welcomed the Chinese cases if they didn't copy the design.

The Koala case + plate was 370,000 KRW = 327 USD. But it was a small run, hence higher cost. Also the machining quality is top of the line. Judging from the quality of aluminum caps from MKC, I don't think they are even close to the top of the line.

Just stick any rubber feet under the case, you would have optional feet. LOL.
« Last Edit: Mon, 03 September 2012, 08:08:24 by limmy »
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Offline RiGS

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 08:33:07 »
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34996.0
According to feng the second batch of MKC keycaps improved a lot. I think that case has a top quality as well. I will definitely ask my friend as he already got one.
Personally I think the Koala case is nicer and more solid overall, as the Chinese one looks a bit hollow.

Regarding the profit margin, you are probably right. However please note that Chinese manufacturing is usually way cheaper than to produce something in South Korea.
Also the machine shop used in the Korean manufacturing likely made profit on those cases, while there is a remote possibility that MKC is a machine shop.

Also the 325 USD price  of the MKC is actually cheaper, though it doesn't include a custom plate. On the bright side, it is compatible with the Phantom and Filco, and you can chose a wide range of colors for the case.
The Koala came in either silver or black.

Regarding your comment about the Copycat design. There is nothing revolutionary about curved sides. Actually Steelseries implemented a similar design on they line of mechanical keyboards.

You can't stick those type of rubbet feets on the MKC, as it uses a different design to accomodate the non slip feets.
« Last Edit: Mon, 03 September 2012, 08:41:58 by RiGS »
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Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline limmy

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #17 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 09:09:39 »
There is nothing revolutionary about curved sides and there are million ways to implement the design, but the two pretty much look identical. I call that copy cat.

If MKC is not a machine shop, then there is no point in arguing the quality. If they used a good machine shop, then they would get good quality product. We will not know the quality of the product before we get it for the same reason unless we know which shop they used.
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Offline quake4mhg

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Re: Korea Custom Keyboard, Koala.
« Reply #18 on: Mon, 03 September 2012, 19:42:23 »
Wow. I know why North America manufacturers are so behind, cos it is too expensive  :-X
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