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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: eatfoodnow on Sun, 10 February 2013, 17:14:50
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Hi all, I'm planning to get my first mechanical keyboard soon, and thought I was for sure going to get the CM Quickfire TK with blues. However, at CES 2013, CM showcased some cool stuff, such as green switches. Should I wait to see what they release, or should I go ahead and get the keyboard I've been planning to get?
The Quickfire TK is $80-$90 on amazon (it was $80 last week, but right now it's $90) which I want to order through since I have a $25 gift card.
Is there any word on when CM will release new stuff? Should I even bother waiting, or just get the keyboard now?
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The Quickfire Stealth is supposed to be out sometime this month and the Quickfire XT is supposed to be in April I think.
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Does anyone know if the Stealth will be available with Greens?
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Does anyone know if the Stealth will be available with Greens?
Since CM makes everything with all switch types and they are the lone company using greens in the US, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say yes.
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Thanks! It looks like the stealth doesn't have the combined numpad, and the XT doesn't seem to have backlighting (just judging from how the pictures look). I think I'll go ahead and get the TK sooner rather than later.
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Hey there!
I'll be able to answer your questions:
Yes, we will be bringing greens to all our mechanical keyboard lineups.
XTS will be the XT with backlighting.
Stealth will first be in TKL style. We'll also have stealth versions of the 104 keys, but that is still a while away.
The TK is a very unique style, so there won't be anything like it for a while. We've gotten great feedback on it (surpassing expectations, even!) so I'd say get it while you can.
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Hey there!
I'll be able to answer your questions:
Yes, we will be bringing greens to all our mechanical keyboard lineups.
XTS will be the XT with backlighting.
Stealth will first be in TKL style. We'll also have stealth versions of the 104 keys, but that is still a while away.
The TK is a very unique style, so there won't be anything like it for a while. We've gotten great feedback on it (surpassing expectations, even!) so I'd say get it while you can.
Any update on when the Stealth will be out?
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No concrete ETA, but it's one of the next products we're launching
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No concrete ETA, but it's one of the next products we're launching
Any idea if it's going to be this month at least?
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Looking more at March due to Chinese New Year going on right now.
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Looking more at March due to Chinese New Year going on right now.
Yeah, that's the date I've been telling folks is "don't expect new stuff till March" - I used to work for a company that made the mistake of trying to launch a product manufactured in China during Chinese New Year. DOES NOT WORK. Oh, you wanted to ship your product to Port of Seattle so you can get it to distribution? Too bad, ain't happening!
Now that I've got a solid QFR, I'm actually somewhat anxiously awaiting the QuickFire XT. TBH, I probably will end up not buying one except to mod, due to the Costar stabilizers, but if I could get an XT with old Cherry plate-mount stabilizers? Oh gods, I'd buy a pallet.
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XTS will be the XT with backlighting.
Can we presume these are the long-awaited Costar-stabilized backlit boards? April? May? And, any plans for a TKL backlit board?
Thanks!
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Yes and Yes.
XTS (which I assume you're asking about) will see in probably April or May... I hope earlier because that's the keyboard I want for sure.
QFR's will see a backlit version, I can't share an ETA yet.
Carter is on a lot of business trips this week to have more customers carrying our full lineup (he's gone til next Friday) so I'll have to wait on him to confirm on the latest news on arrival dates.
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A backlit QFR will sell like hot cakes!
Especially if it is as competetively priced as the original QFR was (is?).
Any ideas on what colours backlighting will be available?
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The idea is to keep backlighting streamlined:
Blue = Blue
Red = Red
Green = Green
Brown = White
I mentioned in another post that we are able to bring in 'limited edition' styles... we can always get feedback from you guys on this when the time is right :)
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Oh, sorry, I remember you said that before.
So no yellow backlighting?
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Backlit QFRs? I'm setting aside some funds for one + keycaps.
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Oh, sorry, I remember you said that before.
So no yellow backlighting?
Right now that isn't on our list.... as I mentioned, it's something we can bring up for a special edition, limited quantity model.
Going to discuss a few ideas with Carter when he gets back.
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That would be cool, especially if they are available world-wide (Australia in particular) :)
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Are you suggesting selling keyboards and LED kits separately? That would be a cool idea :)
Or perhaps a build-to-order keyboard service?
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A good idea. It would only need some sort of socket on the PCB where the LEDs fit in, so tehy can be plugged and unplugged. But would that fit under the keycap?
Sounds feasible, actually. Wonder if anyone has done that yet?
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Keyboard-specific LEDs might not go down too well.
At the moment you'd have to solder the LED into the keyboard, hence the thought of some sort of socket on the PCB into which the LED could be plugged. Yes, as simple as remove keycap, insert LED (ensuring orientation is correct), replace keycap. Just a standard two wire LED would made replacements easier to source, including unusual or uncommon colours.
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Well crap, if you guys are up for limited editions:
Cooler Master QuickFire Wise. No backlighting. Get the exact Wyse keycaps (yes, including the lower profile) from Signature Plastics, put it in a light gray case, offer it with the heavy MX Blacks (~65cN or so).
You'll sell a few thousand to people who just want the keycaps, easily. :D Well, and another few thousand to people who just want to harvest the switches.
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The idea is to keep backlighting streamlined:
Blue = Blue
Red = Red
Green = Green
Brown = White
I mentioned in another post that we are able to bring in 'limited edition' styles... we can always get feedback from you guys on this when the time is right :)
While I'm not big on this "streamlined" idea because I want blue LED on mx red. I have to admit I'm really excited for costar based backlit keyboards :D
Maybe I'll wait for this combination when the "limited edition" styles comes out.
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Man... I already have 4x QFR's. Looks like I'm claiming bankruptcy this year... ;)
-Truday
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Hi Rajiv,
it is a bit OT and I don't know, if you have got any insight, but maybe I'm lucky: Do you know when the QFR with German ISO-Layout (MX-Brown or MX-Red) will be available in Germany again? Currently no German shop has the QFR in stock, so I guess it is a general "production/shipping problem" :(
Best regards,
McQ
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Man... I already have 4x QFR's. Looks like I'm claiming bankruptcy this year... ;)
-Truday
?? ah... even at full price for mx blue and all the rest, that's only $90x4, $360 = bankrupt? what are you 15? :D
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Hi Rajiv,
it is a bit OT and I don't know, if you have got any insight, but maybe I'm lucky: Do you know when the QFR with German ISO-Layout (MX-Brown or MX-Red) will be available in Germany again? Currently no German shop has the QFR in stock, so I guess it is a general "production/shipping problem" :(
Best regards,
McQ
I'm very sorry :/ The EU team is a separate division and I have no real contact window there at this time. I am working on it, as there is a lot of EU users here asking me similar questions. I hope to be able to pass on these info to them.
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lol so basically CM Storm is slowly taking over every category of mechanical keyboards.
King of bang for the buck keyboard (Previously Leopold and Rosewill)? Check.
Cheaper alternative for Filco Ninja? Check.
Soon to be king of backlit mechanical (Currently Ducky)? Check.
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Sounds pretty good to me.
lol so basically CM Storm is slowly taking over every category of mechanical keyboards.
King of bang for the buck keyboard (Previously Leopold and Rosewill)? Check.
Cheaper alternative for Filco Ninja? Check.
Soon to be king of backlit mechanical (Currently Ducky)? Check.
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Man... I already have 4x QFR's. Looks like I'm claiming bankruptcy this year... ;)
-Truday
?? ah... even at full price for mx blue and all the rest, that's only $90x4, $360 = bankrupt? what are you 15? :D
Hehe not quite. In the military though, we don't get paid much. :rolleyes: I'm also taking into account all my other tech gadgetry that I'm purchasing in 2013. :cool:
-Truday
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lol so basically CM Storm is slowly taking over every category of mechanical keyboards.
King of bang for the buck keyboard (Previously Leopold and Rosewill)? Check.
Cheaper alternative for Filco Ninja? Check.
Soon to be king of backlit mechanical (Currently Ducky)? Check.
Good customer support too :)