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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Shinx on Sat, 07 April 2012, 16:28:05

Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Shinx on Sat, 07 April 2012, 16:28:05
I don't see them recommended on here as much anymore and I was curious if someone ordered a keyboard and got scorpions or wasps or something instead of a keyboard in the box. I was about to buy one, but the lack of people buzzing (heh) about them has put me off from getting one. Is the build quality any good in them? What are people actually suggesting to get now?
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Shinx on Sat, 07 April 2012, 16:31:39
That would explain a lot. I haven't been lerking here so much recently and I miss out on this kinda stuff. Good to hear no scorpions were hurt due to actions of WASD keyboards. Keep our scorpions safe.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: funxion on Sat, 07 April 2012, 16:39:52
Definitely ordering a WASD with a white case and black PBT caps as soon as it's available.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: mkeeley on Sat, 07 April 2012, 16:44:37
So does that mean they'll be offering custom PBT key caps sometime then?  If so I might wait before ordering some.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: SBI on Sat, 07 April 2012, 16:46:58
Dito, will be placing an order soon, now that the ISO-Option has become available. This is just what I've been waiting for, seeing as how it's impossible to get cool keyboards with my native layout otherwise :D
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Shinx on Sat, 07 April 2012, 17:00:11
Please tell me they'll be making external numpads too, because then I could theme my numpad to be Garry's Mod related or something insane like that.

EDIT: I can't remember the general consensus about Cherry Clears and Gaming. Can someone confirm/deny if clears are good for gaming or not for me PUHLEEZ? <3
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: SBI on Sat, 07 April 2012, 17:03:02
It's always as good as you manage to adjust to it. With just about any switch. I find them to be absolutely unproblematic for gaming.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: 1391401 on Sat, 07 April 2012, 17:04:14
I was going to buy one except, as someone mentioned, they are out of a lot of stuff (keycaps and the boards themselves).  I would probably only buy a barebones board from them, however.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: stingrae on Sat, 07 April 2012, 17:07:04
Think when they get a tenkeyless layout there will be more people using them and ofc pbt caps would help edge them over say filco...Good boards by the looks of the reviews kinda want one due to the customization option...
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: SBI on Sat, 07 April 2012, 17:17:14
And a different set of springs *cough* ;)
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Sifo on Sat, 07 April 2012, 17:33:01
I have one :( And it's really good. Sick customer service as well. Still waiting for PBT + new colors + white casing, and I'll be getting myself a TKL whenever it comes out. It just sucks that they're out of stock on so many things as of recently.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: NorrisB on Sat, 07 April 2012, 17:43:53
how good are there keycaps compared to cherry double shots?
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Omerta on Sat, 07 April 2012, 17:44:51
They need to get PBT Caps that fit on topre boards so we can put our own custom designs, symbols, and color designs without having to pay 100's of dollars in keys you wont really use/shipping and wait for stock constantly.

I'd love a HHKB with a black/red PBT checkerboard style /w custom symbols over the dips :D.

I also agree on them getting a TKL board and start venturing into smaller board sizes and they'd pull ALOT of the market. Imagine them doing custom LED designs too /w keyboard case engraving lol.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Shinx on Sat, 07 April 2012, 17:47:20
How small can the custom designs be? theres one I want to cram on my capslock key but I'm not sure how small the lines can be and I might need to rescale it or thicken the lines or something.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: funxion on Sat, 07 April 2012, 17:47:44
If they did a Topre with custom designs for a significantly cheaper price than RF's or HHKB's, they'd have so much going for them.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sat, 07 April 2012, 18:08:11
Quote from: NorrisB;570132
how good are there keycaps compared to cherry double shots?

No comparison really. See closeup pics on my website. They're lasering technique is decent but the fonts are thin and faded compared to cherry corp ds.

P.s. it's "their" not "there".
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: NorrisB on Sat, 07 April 2012, 18:36:11
Quote from: keyboardlover;570146
No comparison really. See closeup pics on my website. They're lasering technique is decent but the fonts are thin and faded compared to cherry corp ds.

P.s. it's "their" not "there".

Does the thickness matter?  It looks like the cherry ones are a lot thicker.

ps its amusing that you used the wrong "their" as well lol
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: mehkat1974 on Sat, 07 April 2012, 23:05:19
I had no idea their releasing a TKL board and PBT caps. They're boards do look really good I have often thought about getting one but only use TKL, don't like fullsize boards.
There going to be raking it in when they get these new boards out, will be killer competition for Filco, Leo etc
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: mkeeley on Sat, 07 April 2012, 23:25:55
Quote from: mehkat1974;570332
I had no idea their releasing a TKL board and PBT caps. They're boards do look really good I have often thought about getting one but only use TKL, don't like fullsize boards.
There going to be raking it in when they get these new boards out, will be killer competition for Filco, Leo etc

They need to sort out their supply problems before they can rake it in but hope they can.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Awful on Sat, 07 April 2012, 23:37:33
Can't wait for PBT and Tkl stuff from WASD. Great guy/company. Can see myself at least ordering 1 board and 1 set of caps for a Filco I have.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Keyboarder on Sun, 08 April 2012, 00:07:56
What kind of keycaps does WASD produce?
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Nunez on Sun, 08 April 2012, 00:18:07
Quote from: NorrisB;570162
ps its amusing that you used the wrong "their" as well lol


lol'd


Quote from: Keyboarder;570366
What kind of keycaps does WASD produce?

ABS
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: noisyturtle on Sun, 08 April 2012, 02:55:41
They are doing clears? Wow that's unexpected, but highly satisfying.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: mehkat1974 on Sun, 08 April 2012, 04:34:54
Quote from: mkeeley;570339
They need to sort out their supply problems before they can rake it in but hope they can.

I think you mean "They're need to sort out there supply problems before their can rake it in"

Over hurr over thurr that's the catchphrase...

OK OK I'm done :)

I hope so too, I'm sure they will. Seems like a top company like Awful says. Just been having a browse of his sub forum. I have never used clears maybe that's the cherry
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sun, 08 April 2012, 07:05:33
Quote from: NorrisB;570162
Does the thickness matter?  It looks like the cherry ones are a lot thicker.

ps its amusing that you used the wrong "their" as well lol

Thanks! Glad I made you lol.

Thickness matters to some...personally I tend to prefer thicker keycaps.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: mkeeley on Sun, 08 April 2012, 08:56:25
Quote from: mehkat1974;570472
I think you mean "They're need to sort out there supply problems before their can rake it in"

Over hurr over thurr that's the catchphrase...

OK OK I'm done :)

I hope so too, I'm sure they will. Seems like a top company like Awful says. Just been having a browse of his sub forum. I have never used clears maybe that's the cherry

I know, it's amazing how many native English speakers get their theirs and there's wrong, it's not complicated.

I've contacted them a couple of times and they seem really helpful and personal so would be nice to see them become more recognised.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Omerta on Sun, 08 April 2012, 13:23:37
Quote from: keyboardlover;570494
Thanks! Glad I made you lol.

Thickness matters to some...personally I tend to prefer thicker keycaps.

There is a fuller feeling to thicker caps, i personally like them. Especially if they are a more gritty PBT.

I only dream of nice, thin, and clear translucent non-printed caps coated in a translucent PBT to add thickness. Clear/frosted PBT rippled rough caps that would distort LED's. Then a translucent/frosted switch board with tealish or white controlled dim LEDs that seep through the rippled PBT keys,translucent switchboard, and frosted/rippled TKL case giving it a hue that just screams "type on me, my beautiful white topre tits have perk and feel no other woman can give"

I'd type that board so hard, type it hard all through the night. For a see through board with topre switches, thick non-printed translucent pbt caps is a dirty girl just waiting for fingers all over. Now if only WASD would make that dream come into tuition.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Sun, 08 April 2012, 16:17:14
Am I the only one who finds their customiser really confusing and borderline broken?

What WASD really need though is a Mrs Tweedy machine – browns and clears go in, pies and ergo clears come out.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: tipo33 on Sun, 08 April 2012, 19:45:44
Now that they have the ISO layout,  I'm just waiting for a DIP switch to swap caps-lock and left control.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: rustybarnacle on Mon, 09 April 2012, 17:10:47
Quote from: tipo33;570987
Now that they have the ISO layout,  I'm just waiting for a DIP switch to swap caps-lock and left control.

This.  I have to have this feature anymore.  Even the switch key on the noppoo choc mini is sufficient.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Awful on Mon, 09 April 2012, 17:13:45
I read this thread the other day and got really excited about PBT's from WASD, but I looked into his future plans post on here and don't see any mention of going to PBT. Is it confirmed that he's going to start doing Pbt stuff?
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: wasdkeyboards on Mon, 09 April 2012, 18:25:07
Quote from: keyboardlover;570146
No comparison really. See closeup pics on my website. They're lasering technique is decent but the fonts are thin and faded compared to cherry corp ds.

I'm not sure how long you used the keyboard for, but please keep in mind that laser etching does need to be "broken in". Legends will actually get darker with use. Also, remember that the fonts can be changed if you want something thicker or you can just bold the characters.

Quote from: Awful;571760
I read this thread the other day and got really excited about PBT's from WASD, but I looked into his future plans post on here and don't see any mention of going to PBT. Is it confirmed that he's going to start doing Pbt stuff?

I haven't updated that thread yet, but yes, we are absolutely going to have PBT keys in the near future. I'm hoping we can get everything done and shipped to us by the end of May.

Also, I know our stock has been rather inconsistent for the past few months and apologize for the inconveniences. The business is still very new, so demand was hard to gauge. Also, we were unexpectedly hit with a 16+ week manufacturing time when it typically is 8-10 weeks. Inventory issues will slowly get ironed out as the business grows and I have more data to help with forecasting our inventory needs.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Awful on Mon, 09 April 2012, 18:29:25
You're the man. Can't wait to order some yellow pbts to replace the Filco ones my board came with. Then when you release the TKL totally getting one :D So excited for the stuff you've got coming in the future.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: 1391401 on Mon, 09 April 2012, 18:42:38
Quote from: Daniel Beardsmore;570813
Am I the only one who finds their customiser really confusing and borderline broken?

What WASD really need though is a Mrs Tweedy machine – browns and clears go in, pies and ergo clears come out.

You can get the hang of it and once you realize that your last settings you set are applied to the next keys that you select it gets easier to configure.  However I still opted to make my design in adobe illustrator and upload a PDF instead of the designer.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Mon, 09 April 2012, 19:31:30
Yeah I figured it out this time around :)

Unfortunately they don't do white printing. I'd like a FILCO official ISO RGB modifiers set with the correct font and white pad printing :)

The other problem I have with WASD—and IBM for that matter—is the gaudy colour range. There's just no subtlety whatsoever – no dark shades, no low saturation colours, and the only inbetween shades are grey and orange. Even for that RGB modifier set I'd like more muted colours, a little more dignified. Even if they did do, say, dark olive drab (BBC Micro editing keys), there's no white printing for the legends.

Sadly, the one system where I specifically want black text, a custom colour (http://www.commodore-amiga-retro.com/amiga/amiga_scuzz300.htm), and where mere laser burning is acceptable (the existing keys are lasered) … is an ALPS board … no love for ALPS :(
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: rknize on Mon, 09 April 2012, 21:06:37
Their custom designer is temperamental, for sure.  It's flash, afterall.  You can also design the keyboard offline, but it costs more to go that route.

The caps are ABS and are the exact same profile as my Rosewill, for FWIW.
Title: Do people still buy WASD keyboards?
Post by: wasdkeyboards on Wed, 11 April 2012, 03:54:05
Quote from: rknize;571946
Their custom designer is temperamental, for sure.  It's flash, afterall.  You can also design the keyboard offline, but it costs more to go that route.

The caps are ABS and are the exact same profile as my Rosewill, for FWIW.

Actually, it's the same price. You need to make your online design blank so the price goes down by $10 to offset the cost.

I know it's a little confusing right now, but we'll try to continue to revise both the designer and the options to make it more user friendly.