Your UK support is very incorrect - there's no point in just the 2" and 3£ without also an R1 `¬, R3 '@ and ~#, and R4 \|. Please consider full UK support or, alternatively, remove it from base and contemplate a nordeuk kit (KKB Miami Nights went this route). As is this kitting isn't terribly useful for the UK.
I like the 40s support but have to be a kill joy and point out that L->R gradient sets are a bit trickier.
The two most common layouts are 12.75u (aka minivan) and 13u. In non-gradient kits, 3-key 40s gives support for both assuming that people are willing to use 'end' as esc (or have a R1 esc in a R2 row).
For gradients though, you also need to consider the shifts. Both 12.75u and 13u layouts use a 1.75u LEFT shift. The 13u layout then uses a 1.25u RIGHT shift (though I suspect very few people would object to using the 1.25u Fn key in its place).
For full 40s support, you'd need to add a 1.75u shift in the dark blue colour. Then there's the issue of the bottom row. Unlike the other rows, 40% bottom rows are just literally made up on the spot using RNG. 1-3 spacebars, 1-1.75u bottom row keys in random places, knobs, etc. Your calm kit is a fantastic solution, because I don't think that the gradient would ever be feasibly supported with all the dumb options out there. As it stands, I think that most layouts will be okay with the gradient if people are cool using the ISO keys on their bottom row.
But yeah - for the base kit you'd either need to remove the 40s support and shift it to another kit, or add a 5th key (1.75u dark blue shift).
I like the 40s support but have to be a kill joy and point out that L->R gradient sets are a bit trickier.
The two most common layouts are 12.75u (aka minivan) and 13u. In non-gradient kits, 3-key 40s gives support for both assuming that people are willing to use 'end' as esc (or have a R1 esc in a R2 row).
For gradients though, you also need to consider the shifts. Both 12.75u and 13u layouts use a 1.75u LEFT shift. The 13u layout then uses a 1.25u RIGHT shift (though I suspect very few people would object to using the 1.25u Fn key in its place).
For full 40s support, you'd need to add a 1.75u shift in the dark blue colour. Then there's the issue of the bottom row. Unlike the other rows, 40% bottom rows are just literally made up on the spot using RNG. 1-3 spacebars, 1-1.75u bottom row keys in random places, knobs, etc. Your calm kit is a fantastic solution, because I don't think that the gradient would ever be feasibly supported with all the dumb options out there. As it stands, I think that most layouts will be okay with the gradient if people are cool using the ISO keys on their bottom row.
But yeah - for the base kit you'd either need to remove the 40s support and shift it to another kit, or add a 5th key (1.75u dark blue shift).
I was against adding 40's support in the first place so I may remove it from base entirely.
I'll consider it. I won't be adding a nordeuk kit though.
''I am keeping the kits minimal as possible to hit MOQs'' but you have 40s keys, UK-ISO kit and having UK-ISO instead of terminal ISO which would be more minimal. Also, gradient sets in 2023 really... can we not cuck keykobo too like we did with gmk...
The set looks really nice! Appreciate the HHKB support.
I may be in the minority but I would love to see a Home key in R2 and another pair of Page Up/Down in R3 and R4. As it is the set doesn’t fit my preferred 65% or 75% layout for lack of those keys. That and HHKB support are the first things I look at and noticed the lack of greater nav flexibility right away.
At any rate, best of luck with the set!
EDIT: I’ve noticed few sets have a Home key in R2, especially GMK, but many do have the extra Page Up/Down in R3/R4. I suppose novelty keys can often provide the flexibility I’m looking for, as long as there are novelties for every row.
Kitting should be slimmed down more but I settled for doing middle ground.
Maybe some more renders with existing boards?
Also I would love if the renders are consistent with the first 4 in the main post :DNot sure what you mean by this, all the boards exist lol.
there seems to be a mistake with your new renders, 40% keys are still in it?
Any chance of physical color samples prior to GB? This has been a thing Key kobo has been willing to do in the past, maybe we should continue this standard?
On that note; I don't see any information on pantones or anything, what colors are actually being used here? The renders seem a bit inconsistent in terms of colors so it's hard to tell what to expect.
Any chance of physical color samples prior to GB? This has been a thing Key kobo has been willing to do in the past, maybe we should continue this standard?
On that note; I don't see any information on pantones or anything, what colors are actually being used here? The renders seem a bit inconsistent in terms of colors so it's hard to tell what to expect.
I am not able to procure samples before the GB. I have had a sample kit made by IFK in the past and it's a good representation of what you may see You can find both the samples and colors on the original GH thread that I linked in the body.
Any chance of physical color samples prior to GB? This has been a thing Key kobo has been willing to do in the past, maybe we should continue this standard?
On that note; I don't see any information on pantones or anything, what colors are actually being used here? The renders seem a bit inconsistent in terms of colors so it's hard to tell what to expect.
I am not able to procure samples before the GB. I have had a sample kit made by IFK in the past and it's a good representation of what you may see You can find both the samples and colors on the original GH thread that I linked in the body.
Not being able to procure samples before the GB, what is the reason for that? Many KKB ICs have confirmed samples prior to GB, this isn't something that's not possible. If time is the issue, maybe it should be pushed back rather than rushing ahead without confirming KKBs color matching is accurate?
Here are 7 KKB ICs with samples prior to GB:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=119802.msg3160257#msg3160257
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120544.msg3164053#msg3164053
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120388.msg3162511#msg3162511
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120476.msg3163384#msg3163384
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120609.msg3164745#msg3164745
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=121022.msg3168411#msg3168411
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120680.msg3165306#msg3165306
Worth noting that the only major successful KKB GB that skipped the color matching phase prior to GB then faced significant delays due to this. Poltergeist ran in October last year and still has not yet shipped to customers.Show Image(https://i.imgur.com/6FFcBna.png)
I like the colors in the render, but personally won't buy from KFA. Any chance of another US vendor?so true it should run on the key company instead
I like the colors in the render, but personally won't buy from KFA. Any chance of another US vendor?so true it should run on the key company instead
I like the colors in the render, but personally won't buy from KFA. Any chance of another US vendor?so true it should run on the key company instead
You'd have to find someone who still has a job there to get it listed.
I like the colors in the render, but personally won't buy from KFA. Any chance of another US vendor?so true it should run on the key company instead
You'd have to find someone who still has a job there to get it listed.
TKC pettiness aside, why don't you elaborate on why you refuse to support KFA? Something substantial with sources would be helpful. It's becoming increasingly common to fabricate faults with X vendor without much factual evidence to back it up. Please explain?
Paul McKee
August 15
·
Has anyone had any experience with keebsforall's customer service?
I pre-ordered a stainless steel knob. I've been waiting over a month for this item. I finally got shipping notification that it was being mailed. They sent the wrong item. They are holding the correct item hostage until they get the wrong item back. This seems absolutely ridiculous.
José Antigua
Top contributor
I had an issue with KFA that left me unhappy with my buying experience. My FreeBird TKL was on shipping label created status for 20 days. I reached out to their customer service team and I was told the wait a week to receive a response from them, long story short after about 16 days of waiting for my tracking to update and without receiving a response from any KFA personnel, I decided to reach out to the owner via Discord, two days after that my order finally started tracking. I understand they were having a lot of buyers such as myself reaching out to their customer service team but leaving my order in the back of the warehouse for 18 days and the fact that nobody from customer service answered my ticket left much to be desired.
On the other hand, I've purchased switches from them and I received them without issues. Mind you the tracking issue also happened to a friend of mine to the point we created a rule of thumb, if it's something small we can buy it from KFA if it's a keyboard then we try our best to get it elsewhere.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/t1fvet/keebsforall_shipping_issues/
I like the colors in the render, but personally won't buy from KFA. Any chance of another US vendor?so true it should run on the key company instead
You'd have to find someone who still has a job there to get it listed.
TKC pettiness aside, why don't you elaborate on why you refuse to support KFA? Something substantial with sources would be helpful. It's becoming increasingly common to fabricate faults with X vendor without much factual evidence to back it up. Please explain?
So:
A) I wouldn't ask for the GB to be run with TKC. I'd be advocating for the GB to run at a vendor more likely to be in business for the duration of the production period, not less so. That person's comment was a slight against me for having worked there.
B) There are numeous examples of KFA having less-than-gold-standard business practices. The mystery box scandal would be the big one. There have been others in the Facebook MK group I'm a member of. I can copy and paste a couple for those that aren't members. It's really not hard to find some of this stuff if you just look up KFA.QuotePaul McKee
August 15
·
Has anyone had any experience with keebsforall's customer service?
I pre-ordered a stainless steel knob. I've been waiting over a month for this item. I finally got shipping notification that it was being mailed. They sent the wrong item. They are holding the correct item hostage until they get the wrong item back. This seems absolutely ridiculous.QuoteJosé Antigua
Top contributor
I had an issue with KFA that left me unhappy with my buying experience. My FreeBird TKL was on shipping label created status for 20 days. I reached out to their customer service team and I was told the wait a week to receive a response from them, long story short after about 16 days of waiting for my tracking to update and without receiving a response from any KFA personnel, I decided to reach out to the owner via Discord, two days after that my order finally started tracking. I understand they were having a lot of buyers such as myself reaching out to their customer service team but leaving my order in the back of the warehouse for 18 days and the fact that nobody from customer service answered my ticket left much to be desired.
On the other hand, I've purchased switches from them and I received them without issues. Mind you the tracking issue also happened to a friend of mine to the point we created a rule of thumb, if it's something small we can buy it from KFA if it's a keyboard then we try our best to get it elsewhere.
I know there was a third, very recent example in this group but the poster deleted the comment after KFA "made it right" so I can't document it for you here.Quotehttps://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/t1fvet/keebsforall_shipping_issues/
C) Anecdotally, the only time I ever purchased from KFA was from a marketplace listing. They took 30 days "inspecting" the item before shipping it out (note: I'm not including shipping from from the seller to KFA, just the amount of time where they had both my money and the item in posession) and were very dismissive when I inquired why it was taking so long to ship.
Good luck with your GB!
Any chance of physical color samples prior to GB? This has been a thing Key kobo has been willing to do in the past, maybe we should continue this standard?
On that note; I don't see any information on pantones or anything, what colors are actually being used here? The renders seem a bit inconsistent in terms of colors so it's hard to tell what to expect.
I am not able to procure samples before the GB. I have had a sample kit made by IFK in the past and it's a good representation of what you may see You can find both the samples and colors on the original GH thread that I linked in the body.
Not being able to procure samples before the GB, what is the reason for that? Many KKB ICs have confirmed samples prior to GB, this isn't something that's not possible. If time is the issue, maybe it should be pushed back rather than rushing ahead without confirming KKBs color matching is accurate?
Here are 7 KKB ICs with samples prior to GB:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=119802.msg3160257#msg3160257
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120544.msg3164053#msg3164053
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120388.msg3162511#msg3162511
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120476.msg3163384#msg3163384
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120609.msg3164745#msg3164745
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=121022.msg3168411#msg3168411
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=120680.msg3165306#msg3165306
Worth noting that the only major successful KKB GB that skipped the color matching phase prior to GB then faced significant delays due to this. Poltergeist ran in October last year and still has not yet shipped to customers.Show Image(https://i.imgur.com/6FFcBna.png)