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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: eth0s on Wed, 18 September 2013, 13:24:00

Title: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: eth0s on Wed, 18 September 2013, 13:24:00
Hey peeps,

I searched for a thread on this, and couldn't find one.  But in case you don't know already, there is a massdrop sale of  Vortex PBT Double Shot 104-piece set for $32.99 (USD).

Price is incredibly low for PBT double shots.  Font is funky Vortex style, but w/e, for $33, I ordered a set just to see what PBT double shots are all about.  And I don't even like MX anymore. 

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/vortex-keycaps

I think the price is at the lowest tier already, so don't wait for deeper discount.  Only 6 days left!

[NOTE to MODS:  if this is a redundant thread, I guess merge it with the other thread, or lock it, or delete it, w/e, you won't hurt my feelings.]
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: CPTBadAss on Wed, 18 September 2013, 13:26:55
I can't see MassDrop at work but is this buy that you're referring to the same as this one (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47177.0)? I'm genuinely curious, not trying to put you down :D.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 18 September 2013, 13:29:13
Yes this is about the 4th thread :p

 search sucks.  :thumb:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48639.0


 
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: JPG on Wed, 18 September 2013, 13:31:02
I can't see MassDrop at work but is this buy that you're referring to the same as this one (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47177.0)? I'm genuinely curious, not trying to put you down :D.

Same set, but blue font.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: CPTBadAss on Wed, 18 September 2013, 13:32:02
Cool. The title of this post is much more helpful that the other post that I linked.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: keymaster on Wed, 18 September 2013, 16:08:52
With over 176 purchased thus far, Vortex will most likely to agree to another run with other colors. Maybe they will invest in new molds for normal legends. Once the legends are fixed, I can't imagine many people on this forum NOT buying a set.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 18 September 2013, 16:11:40
I can see the other colors but I doubt they will do anything about the legends. But we can hope!!
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: AuRinBei on Wed, 18 September 2013, 16:29:26
Imagine: someone saw that font and said "Yes. This will do. It is worth it to sculpt steel into these shapes."

As it stands, I would never buy these caps, no matter what color they were, unless I could get them for like $15. If they made them in a normal font (Futura, Veranda, Ariel, Helvetica, really any sans-serif) I would pay $100. Good looking PBT doublshots should not be that hard to achieve. Yet I've only seen Deck and Vortex, two kings of stupid looking fonts, make them.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: eth0s on Wed, 18 September 2013, 17:12:17
I can't see MassDrop at work but is this buy that you're referring to the same as this one (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=47177.0)? I'm genuinely curious, not trying to put you down :D.

These are blue-on-white.  They are nicer than red-on-white, IMO.  The font is ugly, it's true.  But the price is very low.  $33 is cheaper than any other 104-piece set you can get, AFAIK.  And it's double shot PBT.  Just for the novelty factor, I would think people would get a set.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: dragonxx21 on Wed, 18 September 2013, 17:14:10
Man, if I saw these earlier I would have bought them :C Ended up getting the dyesub ones from techkeys.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Linkbane on Wed, 18 September 2013, 20:44:26
A large question that I'd like to ask, are these the Vortex doubleshots that allow backlighting to shine through?
Otherwise, it seems like a dream buy; thick PBT, double shot, and incredibly cheap! Finding a PBT DS for this price was impressive enough, but if it let backlighting through I will get this like Pacman takes a power pellet.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 18 September 2013, 20:48:28
A large question that I'd like to ask, are these the Vortex doubleshots that allow backlighting to shine through?
Otherwise, it seems like a dream buy; thick PBT, double shot, and incredibly cheap! Finding a PBT DS for this price was impressive enough, but if it let backlighting through I will get this like Pacman takes a power pellet.

They have not transparent legends, but you should see a glow coming from under the keycaps.  If the LEDs are sufficiently bright you might see a glow through the top of the keycap.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Linkbane on Wed, 18 September 2013, 21:00:04
They have not transparent legends, but you should see a glow coming from under the keycaps.  If the LEDs are sufficiently bright you might see a glow through the top of the keycap.
Like these?
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1097742_541792725888442_379834252_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 18 September 2013, 21:11:55
They have not transparent legends, but you should see a glow coming from under the keycaps.  If the LEDs are sufficiently bright you might see a glow through the top of the keycap.
Like these?
Show Image
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1097742_541792725888442_379834252_o.jpg)


Those are actually designed for backlighting, particularly where the LED is above the switch.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Linkbane on Wed, 18 September 2013, 22:47:49
Those are actually designed for backlighting, particularly where the LED is above the switch.

That should be perfect, I'm going to order tomorrow and put the 33-key base set on a QF TK (with, nicely enough, blue backlighting) and maybe the rest if the backlighting meshes well.
Too bad it's going to take a while to ship, but I'm excited for my first order of keycaps.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Sniping on Thu, 19 September 2013, 00:34:20
Yes this is about the 4th thread :p

 search sucks.  :thumb:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48639.0

Aren't all the other threads locked?
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Loligagger on Thu, 19 September 2013, 01:19:37
Vortex just needs to take off italics, and make the fontsize on the modifiers/F row smaller and it would be perfect. Case in point (my poker in its original form):

(http://i.imgur.com/mhsoY0M.jpg)

Seriously, bring back this font and I'd buy a set in a heartbeat. Also, "PgUp" looks a whole lot better than "PU"
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: isaske on Thu, 19 September 2013, 07:41:44
Can someone tell me where to get those exact same caps, only with red fonts?
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Photoelectric on Thu, 19 September 2013, 08:13:18
Can someone tell me where to get those exact same caps, only with red fonts?

On TaoBao, I guess, and we'd need a proxy =/  I wish the MassDrop GB offered more options, as they already went far over the anticipated cap lowest price tier cap, so it would have only been beneficial.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: bahamot on Thu, 19 September 2013, 08:50:24
You can get those on different color here (http://www.mechkb.com/review/product/list/id/372/category/5/).
But they're located at OZ.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: V1ral on Thu, 19 September 2013, 14:03:39
They just closed off this groupbuy. It went way better than Vortex expected, and they currently only have enough materials for 205 sets.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: isaske on Thu, 19 September 2013, 15:03:53
You can get those on different color here (http://www.mechkb.com/review/product/list/id/372/category/5/).
But they're located at OZ.
Thanks a lot! I'm thinking of getting the red set, i really like it for some reason, i really don't mind the fonts. The fact that the set is thick and PBT DS is amazing. The price is also really reasonable.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: feng on Thu, 19 September 2013, 15:28:02
Other colors should be available soon in the group buy section once I've confirmed with Vortex. Hopefully I can get them at the same price as Massdrop or even lower.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Photoelectric on Thu, 19 September 2013, 15:29:25
Other colors should be available soon in the group buy section once I've confirmed with Vortex. Hopefully I can get them at the same price as Massdrop or even lower.

<3 as usual!
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: divito on Thu, 19 September 2013, 15:30:42
Blanks at that price would be fantastic.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: JPG on Thu, 19 September 2013, 15:34:38
Other colors should be available soon in the group buy section once I've confirmed with Vortex. Hopefully I can get them at the same price as Massdrop or even lower.

Do you know if they can make these with a base color different than white and if they can do them in cherry profile?
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 20 September 2013, 06:30:23
Other colors should be available soon in the group buy section once I've confirmed with Vortex. Hopefully I can get them at the same price as Massdrop or even lower.

Do you know if they can make these with a base color different than white and if they can do them in cherry profile?

Non-white should be possible, if there was enough demand.

Cherry profile is unlikely - they would need new molds.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Linkbane on Fri, 20 September 2013, 11:04:32
Wow, wanted to buy it two days ago but waited a bit because of work. Now there's no where else to get it.
Crap birthday present imo.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 20 September 2013, 11:06:52
Wow, wanted to buy it two days ago but waited a bit because of work. Now there's no where else to get it.
Crap birthday present imo.

There may be a group buy here soon.

Other colors should be available soon in the group buy section once I've confirmed with Vortex. Hopefully I can get them at the same price as Massdrop or even lower.

Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Linkbane on Fri, 20 September 2013, 16:18:54
There may be a group buy here soon.

Other colors should be available soon in the group buy section once I've confirmed with Vortex. Hopefully I can get them at the same price as Massdrop or even lower.

Ah, definitely looking forward to it. Hopefully they will be in soon.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: terran5992 on Fri, 20 September 2013, 21:32:38
Feng , See if you can get them to change to colors of the keycaps. It would look real good in grey
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: bahamot on Sat, 21 September 2013, 01:43:56
Feng , See if you can get them to change to colors of the keycaps. It would look real good in grey
+1! Please make it happen
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: ___q on Sat, 21 September 2013, 02:49:57
Feng , See if you can get them to change to colors of the keycaps. It would look real good in grey

Yeah, it's a little weird to do color-on-white as your first sets of doubleshot PBT, since you can get the same color schemes with dyesubs.  You would think they would do dark base colors that you can't dyesub well on top of, to show off their new process.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: terran5992 on Sat, 21 September 2013, 05:29:47
Feng , See if you can get them to change to colors of the keycaps. It would look real good in grey

Yeah, it's a little weird to do color-on-white as your first sets of doubleshot PBT, since you can get the same color schemes with dyesubs.  You would think they would do dark base colors that you can't dyesub well on top of, to show off their new process.

Vortex is just teasing us with their doubleshot pbt
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 21 September 2013, 06:02:36
Unless they are testing the market.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: terran5992 on Sat, 21 September 2013, 07:10:37
Then they've got a very solid response.

Sold 205 in less than 2 days
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: bahamot on Sat, 21 September 2013, 11:04:42
Then they've got a very solid response.

Sold 205 in less than 2 days
Even with the said "ugly" legends. Imagine how many he could sell with proper cherry legend.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Linkbane on Sat, 21 September 2013, 17:59:34
Then they've got a very solid response.

Sold 205 in less than 2 days
Even with the said "ugly" legends. Imagine how many he could sell with proper cherry legend.

Going to get hate, but I prefer their font over Cherry legends very much, they just seem so generic that it's not really interesting.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: fatmav on Sat, 21 September 2013, 18:28:19
Blanks at that price would be fantastic.

Blanks would indeed be great, and this option does not need double-shot technology so it could be even cheaper (but the current price is low enough). White for the letter keys and grey for everything else. (I can dream! :P)
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 21 September 2013, 19:40:39
I like Vortex and Cherry font, but the Vortex legends are not consistent.  If they had the same semi-bold mildly italic legends on all keycaps they would be much improved.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Linkbane on Sat, 21 September 2013, 19:58:29
I like Vortex and Cherry font, but the Vortex legends are not consistent.  If they had the same semi-bold mildly italic legends on all keycaps they would be much improved.

I agree. While the italic is an interesting touch, the inconsistency irritates me; I'd rather have non-italic, but if they do have italics it should at least be ubiquitous.
However, because I might only replace 33 keys instead of my whole TKL keyboard, it could possibly be not that big of a deal.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: ___q on Sun, 22 September 2013, 14:02:14
Yeah, italic fonts can look fine when they're consistent (at least IMO).

Case in point, the SGI granite:

 (http://www.clickykeyboard.com/2006/sgi_keyboard/sgi_keyboard-004.jpg)
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 22 September 2013, 17:37:59
Yeah, italic fonts can look fine when they're consistent (at least IMO).

Case in point, the SGI granite:

 
Show Image
(http://www.clickykeyboard.com/2006/sgi_keyboard/sgi_keyboard-004.jpg)


That one is very well done.

The Filco yellow keycaps have slightly italic fonts, and slightly smaller legends.  They are also consistent across the board.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: terran5992 on Mon, 23 September 2013, 03:57:30
I really like the fonts on the deck keyboards

(http://www.deckkeyboards.com/userfiles/deck82_ice.jpg)
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: feng on Mon, 23 September 2013, 08:07:09
Feng , See if you can get them to change to colors of the keycaps. It would look real good in grey

They said they can. But they don't have plan on making those yet. It always takes a long time  for them to make things happen. :/
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Hyde on Mon, 23 September 2013, 09:19:40
I really like the fonts on the deck keyboards

Show Image
(http://www.deckkeyboards.com/userfiles/deck82_ice.jpg)


LOL good one.  :p

Feng , See if you can get them to change to colors of the keycaps. It would look real good in grey
They said they can. But they don't have plan on making those yet. It always takes a long time  for them to make things happen. :/

I'd be happy with just the regular white with color letters.  I'm one of the few that liked the blue letters.

So if you can put together a group buy soon then I'm definitely buying it.

:D
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: feng on Mon, 23 September 2013, 09:41:48
I'll launch the group buy tonight and only 5 colors will be available: green, dark-green, pink, orange, and red. They are out of blue fonts.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Hyde on Mon, 23 September 2013, 09:55:38
Nooooooooooo are they gonna restock the blue ones at some point?  Or is it like you said Vortex are slow on things...  >___>

Sighhhh I didn't jump on the MassDrop because I've never used it before and didn't had an account for it.

Life is hard.  *First World Problem*

lol
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: JPG on Mon, 23 September 2013, 09:56:16
I'll launch the group buy tonight and only 5 colors will be available: green, dark-green, pink, orange, and red. They are out of blue fonts.

Will they be cherry profile? Is the base color only white?
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: feng on Mon, 23 September 2013, 10:00:21
Nooooooooooo are they gonna restock the blue ones at some point?  Or is it like you said Vortex are slow on things...  >___>

Sighhhh I didn't jump on the MassDrop because I've never used it before and didn't had an account for it.

Life is hard.  *First World Problem*

lol

They said they will restock the blue ones, but who knows when it will be. :( I should have bought a blue set for myself on the MassDrop.

Will they be cherry profile? Is the base color only white?

No they will only be OEM profile. The base color will be only white.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Photoelectric on Mon, 23 September 2013, 10:10:21
Thanks, Feng!  I'll probably be in for pink and orange or red!
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Linkbane on Mon, 23 September 2013, 10:49:49
I'd be happy with just the regular white with color letters.  I'm one of the few that liked the blue letters.

So if you can put together a group buy soon then I'm definitely buying it.

:D

I'd be quite happy with the blue on white, they look quite good to me. But if you want the other keycaps, MechKB.com is selling them in several different colors, for $39.99; they ship about October 15th, I believe.
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Hyde on Tue, 24 September 2013, 23:04:47
Noooooooo mechkb.com only ships within Australia.

No luck with blue one.  :(
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: MechKB on Wed, 25 September 2013, 01:17:59
Noooooooo mechkb.com only ships within Australia.

No luck with blue one.  :(

heh. Yeah, sorry about that :P . We might open up the key caps to international shipping if there's enough interest, but before we do any of that, we are waiting for the key caps to land first... let's just say logistics is not Vortex's strong point  :rolleyes:

EDIT: my grammar is retarded :(
Title: Re: Vortex PBT Double Shot 104 Set for $32.99 (USD) on Massdrop
Post by: Linkbane on Wed, 25 September 2013, 08:38:41
heh. Yeah, sorry about that :P . We might open up the key caps to international shipping if there's enough interest, but before we do any of that, we are waiting for the key caps to land first... let's just say logistics is not Vortex's strong point  :rolleyes:

EDIT: my grammar is retarded :(

Aw, American problems. I would be ecstatic if your shipping was open to international customers, though. Your prices are very reasonable.