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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: nikk on Wed, 24 July 2019, 15:18:22

Title: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: nikk on Wed, 24 July 2019, 15:18:22
Newbie here. Just starting to learn the lingo but I already have strong preferences for a keyboard. Can you help me find it?

Must have:
Full-size with dedicated media keys
Flat-profile, no slope (tilt) or very little -- I want flat, flat, flat!
Tactile bump switches

Really hope to have:
Spherical caps
RGB (because I really love orange back-lighting)

Thanks for any help.
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: rxc92 on Wed, 24 July 2019, 15:26:01
I W A N T I T I N E E D I T
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: sncbraxsc2 on Wed, 24 July 2019, 15:41:20
I don't think any fullsize board comes with sphericals. You may want to find what you're looking for in a board first and get the sphericals separately
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: chive_ on Wed, 24 July 2019, 20:40:06
I don't think any fullsize board comes with sphericals. You may want to find what you're looking for in a board first and get the sphericals separately

Agreed. You'd be best finding a keyboard you like and then buying the keycaps later, you'll be able to get the most customized experience that way! Are you considering building at all, or do you want a pre-built keyboard?
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: nikk on Wed, 24 July 2019, 22:05:00
Thanks guys. Yes, I am definitely open to buying a board and changing the caps. Don't want to get into any complex build though.

So, I need two recommendations, full-size flat boards and and spherical caps!

I guess that I should have asked first if this was even a realistic thing to do, or is it just stupid?
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: chive_ on Thu, 25 July 2019, 00:00:02
Thanks guys. Yes, I am definitely open to buying a board and changing the caps. Don't want to get into any complex build though.

So, I need two recommendations, full-size flat boards and and spherical caps!

I guess that I should have asked first if this was even a realistic thing to do, or is it just stupid?

So, for keycaps on the more budget-friendly side I'd recommend checking out KBDFans for something. If you're looking for the flattest profile possible (DSA), this may be down your alley: https://kbdfans.com/collections/keycaps/products/dsa-pbt-145keys-keycaps-laser-etched-front-printed-legends

As for keyboards, since you're looking for a full-size pre-built with tactile keys and no slant to it, I'm going to have to default to someone else a bit more experience in full-size options out there. Good luck though! I'm sure there are Corsair keyboards with media controls that may work, not sure about the angle of the boards though.
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: nikk on Thu, 25 July 2019, 00:37:09
Thanks for the key cap link, Chive.

Corsair makes a low-profile board now, the K70 RGB MK.2 Low Profile, but the problem with Corsair is that they have a non-standard bottom row, so replacing the key caps is a no-go.
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: Surefoot on Thu, 25 July 2019, 03:29:46
A GMMK or one of the chinese knock-offs with hotswap switches might be the solution here. They are flat, you can put whatever switch in them (GMMK only allows plate-mount switches though), and whatever keycaps (you can buy DSA, XDA, XDAS... separately).
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: Sintpinty on Thu, 25 July 2019, 09:13:20
hehe same
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: nikk on Thu, 25 July 2019, 10:27:55
A GMMK or one of the chinese knock-offs with hotswap switches might be the solution here. They are flat, you can put whatever switch in them (GMMK only allows plate-mount switches though), and whatever keycaps (you can buy DSA, XDA, XDAS... separately).

hehe same

Yeah... the GMMK may be my only solution. It doesn't have dedicated media keys tho. If it did, my search would be over. Thanks guys.
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: Surefoot on Thu, 25 July 2019, 10:55:06
You should check on various chinese seller sites (most have a front on aliexpress) there are quite a few similar products like Durgod, etc.
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: Riverman on Thu, 25 July 2019, 11:02:43
Akko has a couple of Ducky-made keyboards called the 3108 that come with DSA keycaps, which are spherical, I believe.  There's a "Steam Engine" colorway that was just on Massdrop, and I think that their 9009 keyboard also comes with DSA keycaps.
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: nikk on Thu, 25 July 2019, 19:03:24
You should check on various chinese seller sites (most have a front on aliexpress) there are quite a few similar products like Durgod, etc.

I not having any luck but thanks for the recommendation.
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: nikk on Thu, 25 July 2019, 19:07:40
Akko has a couple of Ducky-made keyboards called the 3108 that come with DSA keycaps, which are spherical, I believe.  There's a "Steam Engine" colorway that was just on Massdrop, and I think that their 9009 keyboard also comes with DSA keycaps.

Could not find what you were referencing but I checked out Massdrop. They had some great boards there, I'm talking about the CTRL and the ALT. Sweeeet! No full-size tho.
Title: Re: Need full-size, flat board with spherical caps
Post by: Surefoot on Fri, 26 July 2019, 03:18:21
There are a lot of options on KRepublic, YMDK.. For the most part you'll have to buy the keycaps separately.