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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: xpistalpetex on Thu, 15 August 2013, 00:36:06

Title: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: xpistalpetex on Thu, 15 August 2013, 00:36:06
http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access#cherrymxkeys

Red, Lime Green, Lavender, Black, Black blank, light Blue
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 15 August 2013, 00:44:04
What is "Tampo pad printing"?

Marketing hype aside - are these likely to last the distance?
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: The_Beast on Thu, 15 August 2013, 00:44:27
Nice colors, but pad printed  :-X
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: Photoelectric on Thu, 15 August 2013, 00:44:36
Pretty cool, but yes... Tampo pad printing?
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: MarkPharaoh on Thu, 15 August 2013, 00:49:00
What is "Tampo pad printing"?

Marketing hype aside - are these likely to last the distance?

They're $20, of course not.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 15 August 2013, 00:49:31
I'm tempted to get a green set just because.

A shame there is no pink - my daughter would love a set of those.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: PointyFox on Thu, 15 August 2013, 00:57:10
Tampo pad printing / tampoprinting / tampography all mean pad printing.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 15 August 2013, 01:13:34
What is "Tampo pad printing"?

Marketing hype aside - are these likely to last the distance?

They're $20, of course not.

Tai Hao is $9 and DS :p
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: gnubag on Thu, 15 August 2013, 01:47:09
blanks would be interesting but pad printing is more of a waste... even if they are $20
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 15 August 2013, 01:51:50
blanks would be interesting but pad printing is more of a waste... even if they are $20


There are black blanks.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: yasuo on Thu, 15 August 2013, 01:53:39
pad printing=blank :))
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 15 August 2013, 01:54:27
pad printing=blank :))

Copy/paste ;)
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: gnubag on Thu, 15 August 2013, 01:58:51
blanks would be interesting but pad printing is more of a waste... even if they are $20


There are black blanks.

i actually meant the colors but I guess blank black is ok for $20.

pad printing=blank :))

true in the long run but why even bother pad printing and not offer a blank set instead or at least on the side. :|
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: yasuo on Thu, 15 August 2013, 02:01:42
Copy/paste ;)
no copas
true in the long run but why even bother pad printing and not offer a blank set instead or at least on the side. :|
:thumb:
and cheaper than WASD
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: elton5354 on Thu, 15 August 2013, 02:17:10
You're better off buying Tai Hao key caps at that price! ;) Well too late for that now.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 15 August 2013, 08:22:39
There's another discussion thread here for these as well

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47056.0
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: yasuo on Thu, 15 August 2013, 08:43:36
There's another discussion thread here for these as well

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47056.0
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47046.0 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47046.0)
Thu, 15 August 2013, 00:36:06 »
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47056.0 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47056.0)
Thu, 15 August 2013, 07:18:03 »
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 15 August 2013, 08:51:22
There's another discussion thread here for these as well

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47056.0 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47056.0)
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47046.0 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47046.0)
Thu, 15 August 2013, 00:36:06 »
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47056.0 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47056.0)
Thu, 15 August 2013, 07:18:03 »

I didn't say the 'other' one was first, I was just sharing the fact there was a discussion thread on them :p

Since this is the 'great deals' sub forum it's likely to get buried.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: yasuo on Thu, 15 August 2013, 10:56:15
Sorry sir,I also didn't mean to such it:'(
but in DT or forums in my country , the same thread may have been deleted,the 'other'
it will only meet the forum and could cause overposting but does not apply in GH
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: keymaster on Thu, 15 August 2013, 10:58:29
These are pretty good for $20. The padprinted keycaps will prevent legends from fading much longer than laser-etched keycaps. In other words, these are great low-budget keycaps for those who aren't looking to spend $50-$120 on a set of keycaps.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 15 August 2013, 10:59:37
Sorry sir,I also didn't mean to such it:'(
but in DT or forums in my country , the same thread may have been deleted,the 'other'
it will only meet the forum and could cause overposting but does not apply in GH

overposting?

never! ;)
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: Grim Fandango on Thu, 15 August 2013, 11:02:17
Yeah saw the page update.

Pretty cool colors and a nice price. For 20 I do not mind either the ABS or the pad printed. The only time I really dislike pad printing is if the printing is uneven and ugly. That is my number one dislike about the standard Filco caps for example.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: herbyscrub on Thu, 15 August 2013, 11:36:39
Reusable keycap case!

Got me that blue set.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: CPTBadAss on Thu, 15 August 2013, 11:40:16
Tempted to get a set just to try it out. Always wondered if silk-screening was better than the stamping method. It *is* really affordable...
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: TheQsanity on Thu, 15 August 2013, 12:05:09
Comes with a reusable case!
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: Phillip_J_Fry on Thu, 15 August 2013, 12:19:06
Did anybody order them?
I've ordered Filco TKL and it will come in a week or so (I hope...). Are these keycaps worth buying or should I scratch up more money?)
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 15 August 2013, 12:21:42
Comes with a reusable case!

I hope they aren't just trolling us and its just a plastic bag haha
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: TheQsanity on Thu, 15 August 2013, 14:21:37
Might be nicer than what we expect. Buy it for the case!
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: Binge on Thu, 15 August 2013, 14:35:11
googly??? http://www.tampoprintusa.com/

Quote
Pad printing (also called tampography) is a printing process that can transfer a 2-D image onto a 3-D object.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: do_Og@n on Thu, 15 August 2013, 17:33:51
That Lavender set might go well with my soon to be Purple Poker.

Off Subject....does anyone know if MX stems are PBT plastic?
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: kenmai9 on Thu, 15 August 2013, 18:40:52
i think ima pass.. and use the $25 towards a realforce :D
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: hashbaz on Thu, 15 August 2013, 18:54:25
I like the lavender set.  Too bad these are printed. :-/
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: dante on Thu, 15 August 2013, 19:02:53
To be fair the blank blacks are 1/2 the price that WASD charges; if that's your thing.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: Jocelyn on Thu, 15 August 2013, 19:06:31
Is it safe to assume these are OEM profile?
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: dante on Thu, 15 August 2013, 19:07:54
Is it safe to assume these are OEM profile?

Yes.  The textured space bar is for sure OEM.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: Photoelectric on Thu, 15 August 2013, 21:31:07
If you mean the universal spacebar, Samwisekoi posted that the spacebar is between Cherry and OEM. 
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39776.msg783667#msg783667

- It has a different profile, somewhere between OEM and Cherry.

If not--please ignore this post :)
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: dante on Thu, 15 August 2013, 21:37:55
weird.  I had one of those space bars and it matched WASD's.  Perhaps a different production run?
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: Jocelyn on Thu, 15 August 2013, 21:40:33
If you mean the universal spacebar, Samwisekoi posted that the spacebar is between Cherry and OEM. 
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39776.msg783667#msg783667

- It has a different profile, somewhere between OEM and Cherry.

If not--please ignore this post :)

Yes, but Leopold caps are also between Cherry and OEM. Thanks for the reply, but I'm not sure if it's made by the same vendor as these sets. Who knows, you could be right :)
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: mkawa on Fri, 16 August 2013, 01:32:27
pad printing doesn't last very long. i don't care if your machine is a genuine tampo or not. pad printing is not permanent. every other printing method we're familiar with (dyesub, 2-shot, deep engraving) is _permanent_.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 16 August 2013, 06:58:49
pad printing doesn't last very long. i don't care if your machine is a genuine tampo or not. pad printing is not permanent. every other printing method we're familiar with (dyesub, 2-shot, deep engraving) is _permanent_.

So what your saying is these are good starter caps for those who want to learn to touch type because by the time they learn the keys will be blank? That's like a win, win situation.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: Phillip_J_Fry on Sat, 17 August 2013, 04:41:00
So keycaps on my cheap Logitech K120 are painted with the same technology as these keycaps? right?
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 17 August 2013, 05:01:53
Heh Logitech says "The keys can last up to 10 million keystrokes** so you can keep typing long after many keyboards have called it quits." - most keyboards discussed around here would be barely worn in by then ;)

But yes, probably, most cheaper keyboards use pad printing to reduce costs.  Probably explains why these ones are so cheap.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: Phillip_J_Fry on Sat, 17 August 2013, 08:05:57
So I can expect these keycaps would last for 2 years or so?
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: therecorder on Sat, 17 August 2013, 08:18:23
If you mean the universal spacebar, Samwisekoi posted that the spacebar is between Cherry and OEM. 
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39776.msg783667#msg783667

- It has a different profile, somewhere between OEM and Cherry.

If not--please ignore this post :)

Yes, but Leopold caps are also between Cherry and OEM. Thanks for the reply, but I'm not sure if it's made by the same vendor as these sets. Who knows, you could be right :)

Jocelyn...  I asked the same question in the other thread (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47056.0), Reply#28, and, if you read to the end, you will see that we will soon have an answer.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Sat, 17 August 2013, 11:47:17
I would quickly jump on both the light blue and lavender sets if they were blank.

Unfortunate, that.

Maybe we should start an email campaign?
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Sat, 17 August 2013, 11:49:01
give 'em a shout! Let 'em know what we want!
sales@elitekeyboards.com
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 18 August 2013, 04:55:02
So I can expect these keycaps would last for 2 years or so?

With normal usage that would be doubtful.  With strictly limited usage - possibly.

It is the pad printing that lets them down.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: Phillip_J_Fry on Sun, 18 August 2013, 07:03:26
So I can expect these keycaps would last for 2 years or so?

With normal usage that would be doubtful.  With strictly limited usage - possibly.

It is the pad printing that lets them down.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Mon, 19 August 2013, 03:37:34
Hey guys, I actually just got an email back from Brian at elitekeyboards. He says that there are blanks in these colors on the way. The majority of the shipment was sent by boat, to include all of the colored blanks, with a limited number of the colored printed sets, and black blank sets, sent by air. He wanted to get them debuted as quickly as possible, since they're 8 months overdue. But given another 3 or 4 weeks, the same colors will be available in blanks.

Also, he mentioned the reusable keycap packaging, saying that they'd recently patented it. He was very excited because this is the packaging debut as well, and expects the packaging to be more popular than the keycaps that come in it.

He was very receptive and thankful for the feedback I sent them, and I have to say that this interaction with them has led me to decide that they'll be getting my business. Even if I was on the fence about the blanks (which I wasn't, assuming they were an option) this has definitely made my decision for me.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 19 August 2013, 05:26:59
Ok fine, so I'll post here too, but something different.

On the EK home page it says "Economical universal Cherry MX keycap sets in multiple colors are now available. (More colors to come!)" - I wonder if the "more colors" bit just means blanks in these colours, or whether there are different colours on the way, like yellow, for instance.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 19 August 2013, 08:48:20
Hey guys, I actually just got an email back from Brian at elitekeyboards. He says that there are blanks in these colors on the way. The majority of the shipment was sent by boat, to include all of the colored blanks, with a limited number of the colored printed sets, and black blank sets, sent by air. He wanted to get them debuted as quickly as possible, since they're 8 months overdue. But given another 3 or 4 weeks, the same colors will be available in blanks.

Also, he mentioned the reusable keycap packaging, saying that they'd recently patented it. He was very excited because this is the packaging debut as well, and expects the packaging to be more popular than the keycaps that come in it.

He was very receptive and thankful for the feedback I sent them, and I have to say that this interaction with them has led me to decide that they'll be getting my business. Even if I was on the fence about the blanks (which I wasn't, assuming they were an option) this has definitely made my decision for me.

Good to know. I've never managed to get anyone from EK to reply to an email!!

Definitely interested to see this packaging, especially if they 'patented' it.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: nubbinator on Mon, 19 August 2013, 13:58:03
If I can't find an affordable CCnG, I may have to make a ghetto set with either the green blanks or this set (http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,cherrymxkeys&pid=dmx_us104_grn_tw).  Good prices on a full set.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: kenmai9 on Mon, 19 August 2013, 13:59:10
If I can't find an affordable CCnG, I may have to make a ghetto set with either the green blanks or this set (http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,cherrymxkeys&pid=dmx_us104_grn_tw).  Good prices on a full set.

You should wait until CCnG round 2 gets shipped. I'm sure people will be trying to sell their stuff  from this round when it arrives.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 19 August 2013, 13:59:50
If I can't find an affordable CCnG, I may have to make a ghetto set with either the green blanks or this set (http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,cherrymxkeys&pid=dmx_us104_grn_tw).  Good prices on a full set.

I believe I know someone who would be willing to sell these for a good price. Minus the 'packaging'.  ;)
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: Niomosy on Tue, 20 August 2013, 09:44:08
I would quickly jump on both the light blue and lavender sets if they were blank.

Unfortunate, that.

Maybe we should start an email campaign?

They'll be blank eventually ;)
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 12 September 2013, 23:04:13
Blank are now available in all the same colours as printed.

Same price.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: do_Og@n on Thu, 12 September 2013, 23:37:43
Blank are now available in all the same colours as printed.

Same price.

Well now that's more worth it....if only they were PBT.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: uzoc on Fri, 13 September 2013, 01:02:13
Thanks for the tip!
P.S. The shipping is kinda high at $11.
But, if you order two sets (for example what I did, green and red) the shipping remains the same
so that each cap comes out to around 25 cents each.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 13 September 2013, 01:06:58
Thanks for the tip!
P.S. The shipping is kinda high at $11.
But, if you order two sets (for example what I did, green and red) the shipping remains the same
so that each cap comes out to around 25 cents each.

Remember that shipping includes the large flat plastic case that the keycaps come in - they are not just chucked into a padded bag.

You can see the plastic case here (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47311.0).
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: uzoc on Fri, 13 September 2013, 01:38:45
Thanks for the tip!
P.S. The shipping is kinda high at $11.
But, if you order two sets (for example what I did, green and red) the shipping remains the same
so that each cap comes out to around 25 cents each.

Remember that shipping includes the large flat plastic case that the keycaps come in - they are not just chucked into a padded bag.

You can see the plastic case here (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47311.0).

Nice case, getting two (or more sets?) keeps the shipping the same, so you pay 25 cents (or less) per cap.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: dragonxx21 on Fri, 13 September 2013, 01:46:04
If you were to get the blank sets, would it be worth the $20?
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 13 September 2013, 04:54:38
If you were to get the blank sets, would it be worth the $20?

Have a read of this (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47311.0) and decide for yourself.

The biggest criticism is that they are pad printed and thus the legends will wear off in time.  Exactly how much time no-one knows, as the sets were only recently released.

But if you don't mind OEM profile and ABS - $20 is not bad for a full set, plus a plastic box to keep them in.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: dante on Fri, 13 September 2013, 09:47:23
If you were to get the blank sets, would it be worth the $20?

It was worth it for me.

I've wanted a Leopold FC200R MX Black Otaku for the longest time.  But not only has EK never imported MX Black Otaku's - they cancelled the Otaku line in favor of buying blank caps if you want them.

On the other hand, these keycaps offer three things that IMO are better than the Otaku's:

1) The OS keys are flat and do not have the annoying bubble.
2) No LED windows means no annoying light and a stealthier look.
3) The thick 1.3 abs spacebar is really nice.

For $20, it's half the price of WASD and you get a nice case.  No brainer!

Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 13 September 2013, 09:48:34
Off Subject....does anyone know if MX stems are PBT plastic?

No, they should be a single material.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: dragonxx21 on Fri, 13 September 2013, 09:51:29
Thanks for the replies guys. I think I might be picking up a set of blank caps in the near future.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: xavierblak on Fri, 13 September 2013, 10:17:20
Remember that shipping includes the large flat plastic case that the keycaps come in - they are not just chucked into a padded bag.

You can see the plastic case here (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47311.0).

Those plastic cases look pretty nice. Anyone know if they've thought about selling empty cases?
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 13 September 2013, 10:20:51
Remember that shipping includes the large flat plastic case that the keycaps come in - they are not just chucked into a padded bag.

You can see the plastic case here (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47311.0).

Those plastic cases look pretty nice. Anyone know if they've thought about selling empty cases?

From what I heard they are going to sell just the cases eventually.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: xavierblak on Fri, 13 September 2013, 10:35:53
From what I heard they are going to sell just the cases eventually.

Cool. Whoever gets some cheap keyset storage to market soon will get my money. These are a nice option because they are clear.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 14 September 2013, 04:19:57
FYI overseas shipping is silly for these.

If anyone wants a case but not the keycaps, you might see if you can arrange a proxy arrangement with someone not in US.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: do_Og@n on Sat, 14 September 2013, 14:13:18
I was hoping someone out there will be able to design a stack able version that can fit tsangan, extra caps lock, 7x space bars, so on so forth.

I would pay a good chunk of change for that.
Title: Re: Elitekeyboard 104 set $20
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 14 September 2013, 18:27:48
I was hoping someone out there will be able to design a stack able version that can fit tsangan, extra caps lock, 7x space bars, so on so forth.

I would pay a good chunk of change for that.

Coincidentally a couple of keycap boxes appeared around the same time.  IIRC KeyPop and GasMasks both have one at the moment.