geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: nsrexler on Tue, 02 April 2013, 11:35:41
-
What would it take to create a modern capacitive buckling spring keyboard? The Model F patents have long since expired, so there shouldn't be any legal issues involved.
For that matter, I'm pretty sure the Model M patents have expired too. Why isn't anyone developing buckling-spring keyboards? As much as I love Unicomp for keeping the Model M alive, they really don't seem to be doing much to develop the technology and bring modern features/styling to buckling spring keyboards.
I'm not in a position to set up a keyboard manufacturing operation, I'm just asking out of curiosity.
-
While I have not conducted a research on the KB current market, I think a simple explanation is due ot the lack of demand for keyboards with prices over current cheapos based on rubber domes.
What would it take to create a modern capacitive buckling spring keyboard? The Model F patents have long since expired, so there shouldn't be any legal issues involved.
For that matter, I'm pretty sure the Model M patents have expired too. Why isn't anyone developing buckling-spring keyboards? As much as I love Unicomp for keeping the Model M alive, they really don't seem to be doing much to develop the technology and bring modern features/styling to buckling spring keyboards.
I'm not in a position to set up a keyboard manufacturing operation, I'm just asking out of curiosity.
-
While I have not conducted a research on the KB current market, I think a simple explanation is due ot the lack of demand for keyboards with prices over current cheapos based on rubber domes.
But mechanical keyboards are becoming more and more popular, as evidenced by the number of companies entering the market. There are now tons of companies making Cherry MX keyboards, and even a few making ALPS boards. Why is Unicomp still the only one making membrane buckling spring boards, and why is nobody making capacitive buckling spring boards? The capacitive boards would almost certainly carry a price premium, but Topre is evidence that there is definitely a market for "premium" keyboards.
-
See this thread: Would You Pay $300 For A Modern Capacitive Buckling Spring Keyboard? (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41285.0)
-
You should check these two projects out:
Samwisekoi's 60% Bucking Spring board (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40006.0)
mkawa's SSK Revival (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=33430.0)
There are SSKR's out in the wild now. You missed out on when he was selling the beta boards.
-
See this thread: Would You Pay $300 For A Modern Capacitive Buckling Spring Keyboard? (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41285.0)
I seem to have missed that thread somehow. Some interesting discussion going on in there, I'm curious to see if anything will become of it.
And yes, I'm aware of the SSK projects. While they're certainly a valiant effort, I don't think they're bringing anything significantly new. It seems to me that they're basically just hacking up a Unicomp Model M and putting it into a new case.
-
I might be wrong, but IMHO current mechanical keyboard revival is driven by gamer's market. Cherry MX Red and Brown are the most popular switches, while Blue would be the most comfortable for typing.
Model M and F would appeal the most to those who type a lot for living: programmers, translators etc. but there is an additional problem:
30 years ago office workers had vivid memories of typewriter's noise, dot matrix printers were common, nowadays the noise of would be unacceptable at the workplace.
-
I think cherry switches because of the eventual key chatter will cause gamers to want to switch to capacitative switches.
-
Model M and F would appeal the most to those who type a lot for living: programmers, translators etc. but there is an additional problem:
30 years ago office workers had vivid memories of typewriter's noise, dot matrix printers were common, nowadays the noise of would be unacceptable at the workplace.
I'd say this is highly YMMV. The most noise sensitive person in my office is a programmer who uses a vanilla Model M. He's surrounded by four other engineers who use cherry blues.
Oh, and about the whole Model F revival thing: I've outlined some of the current status in the linked thread.. still needs a lot of capacitive controller work, as well as eventually all the plastic essentials (barrel, flip plate, spring) would need to be recreated.