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geekhack Community => New Members => Topic started by: illitirit on Thu, 11 September 2014, 02:16:52

Title: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: illitirit on Thu, 11 September 2014, 02:16:52
Greetings all!

After browsing many pictures of cool mechanical keyboards my addiction has started to sprout. 

I love all the cool ideas and different styles people with ideas have come up with and realized them through a keyboard.

I dont have a mechanical yet because I have been researching hardcore on just what I want.

I am torn between a few choices:

I really want a poker II , however do they not offer one with cherry mx green switches?  I am a big fan of green switches due to trying blues and liking them but really wanted a harder keypress.

The only keyboard that I somewhat like with greens already installed is the CM storm TK keyboards which seem extremely popular around here.  I still however would like the form factor of the poker II.

Would it be possible to buy the poker II and replace the switches with all cherry mx greens?  How hard would this be to a n00b?  I am very handy already with electronics and batteries.

The only other thing I have not been able to find is a certain keyboard shape which is bezel-less and the keys are raised so that you can see the switches. 

Example :  http://22kbd.com/129

That is truly what I am after

How possible would it be to make the poker II or Cm storm TK like that?  I like minimalistic design and would prefer if I purchased either the CM storm or poker II that I would somehow be able to make it frame-less / borderless.


Thanks for answering any questions!  I cant wait to buy lol.
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: azhdar on Thu, 11 September 2014, 02:42:21
Have you considered Kparadise v60
it exists with stock mx green .
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: kohi on Thu, 11 September 2014, 02:57:23
and your best bet of getting a bezel-less keyboard like the one in the photo would be to buy a custom case - perhaps a low profile tex case for your poker II (or other 60% keyboard)
something like this? https://www.massdrop.com/buy/tex-metal-case

if you choose to get kbp v60, they wrote on their facebook page that it will be able to fit some poker II cases.
good luck! :thumb:
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 11 September 2014, 05:37:34
Welcome to Geekhack!

You might be able to get a custom case for a Poker - they are popular keyboards.  I got an HHKB and kinda stopped looking after that :p

A GH60 might have been ideal for you, had you joined a little while ago.  You might still find one popping up in Classifieds, maybe.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41464.0

Something else you can do is peruse the Post your Poker (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=35152.0) thread for inspiration :)
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: illitirit on Thu, 11 September 2014, 19:14:31
Welcome to Geekhack!

You might be able to get a custom case for a Poker - they are popular keyboards.  I got an HHKB and kinda stopped looking after that :p

A GH60 might have been ideal for you, had you joined a little while ago.  You might still find one popping up in Classifieds, maybe.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=41464.0

Something else you can do is peruse the Post your Poker (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=35152.0) thread for inspiration :)

Hi thanks for your response man!  While I think a poker would be nice, I think I have settled on the CM storm quickfire stealth with cherry mx greens.  I see that you already have one.

I was wondering though, is it possible to switch all the keys the other way so that the printed font on the side of the keys is facing away?  I dont know if keyboard buttons are reversible since I have never taken one apart.  I am looking for a complete blank look.
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: FrostyToast on Thu, 11 September 2014, 19:16:17
Have you considered Kparadise v60
it exists with stock mx green .

I second this!
Same size, plus the 2-color LEDs are nifty!
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: Puddsy on Thu, 11 September 2014, 19:16:46
You can turn them around, but it would probably feel really weird.

You can buy an 87-set of blank caps for like $30 shipped from... somewhere. I forget :|
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 11 September 2014, 19:22:11
What the Head of the Keyboard Illuminati said :)

Plus you could get a cheap blank set from EK (http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,cherrymxkeys&pid=dmx_us104_blk_np), but it seems that they are currently out of stock on blank black.

They have all the other colours in stock, and printed black too, just not blank black :rolleyes:

For a bit more (ok, double) you can get a blank black set from WASD (http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keycap-set/87-key-cherry-mx-keycap-set.html).
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: Puddsy on Thu, 11 September 2014, 19:35:45
Thanks rowdy.

EK was the one I was thinking of
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: FrostyToast on Thu, 11 September 2014, 19:37:20
You can turn them around, but it would probably feel really weird.

You can buy an 87-set of blank caps for like $30 shipped from... somewhere. I forget :|

Flipped keys that feel weird? Unheard of! FLIP ALL THEM KEYS (or just the spacebar, that's cool too)
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: illitirit on Thu, 11 September 2014, 19:42:09
You can turn them around, but it would probably feel really weird.

You can buy an 87-set of blank caps for like $30 shipped from... somewhere. I forget :|

may i ask why it would feel wierd?  Seems to me that keyboard squares are all uniform shaped.  Would reversing the key cause some kind of wierd feedback from the switch?
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: illitirit on Thu, 11 September 2014, 19:51:26
the only reason I am asking about flipping the keys is that considering this is my first mech keyboard, and I do plan on modding it somehow or adding some flare to it I want to take it slow and research all my options before sinking money down into this hobby.  I am already into too many other obsessions, this mech keyboard one I can see is already putting thoughts into my head.  I know its going to get bad when I have dreams of it.  I already dreamt of my dream keyboard last night.  I can already see myself for the next 2-4 weeks researching everything about unique unicorn keyboards and obsessing over them until I get one.

An extra 30-40 bucks on keycaps alone seems like something I dont want to do right now, but I will eventually.  So for the time being if I can flip the QFS keys around to get a blank look and be happy for a while that would make my wallet extremely content considering the cherry mx green version of the board is 115$.

Doesnt mean I wont buy keycaps, I will eventually but I want to take it slow not kill my wallet.
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: Sent on Thu, 11 September 2014, 20:10:30
the only reason I am asking about flipping the keys is that considering this is my first mech keyboard, and I do plan on modding it somehow or adding some flare to it I want to take it slow and research all my options before sinking money down into this hobby.  I am already into too many other obsessions, this mech keyboard one I can see is already putting thoughts into my head.  I know its going to get bad when I have dreams of it.  I already dreamt of my dream keyboard last night.  I can already see myself for the next 2-4 weeks researching everything about unique unicorn keyboards and obsessing over them until I get one.

An extra 30-40 bucks on keycaps alone seems like something I dont want to do right now, but I will eventually.  So for the time being if I can flip the QFS keys around to get a blank look and be happy for a while that would make my wallet extremely content considering the cherry mx green version of the board is 115$.

Doesnt mean I wont buy keycaps, I will eventually but I want to take it slow not kill my wallet.

I commend you for this type of thinking.  Seriously.  It's nice to see this.
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 11 September 2014, 22:45:11
The keycaps are sculptured, such that there is a slight angle towards you. and a smooth curve from the back to the front of the keyboard.

Reversing the keycaps would (probably, I haven't tried this) reverse the angle, especially the front rows including the space bar, so that the keycaps were angled the wrong way).
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: Melvang on Thu, 11 September 2014, 22:53:31
The keycaps are sculptured, such that there is a slight angle towards you. and a smooth curve from the back to the front of the keyboard.

Reversing the keycaps would (probably, I haven't tried this) reverse the angle, especially the front rows including the space bar, so that the keycaps were angled the wrong way).

The reason they will feel wierd is because the actual typing surface of the cap is not perpenducliar to the travel of the key.  There is exceptions but for the most part it is one row or one "family".  Keep in mind that "Cherry" profile and OEM profile are similar to DCS in shape and type of sculpting.  Height is very similar between Cherry and DCS but OEM is fair bit different.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: illitirit on Thu, 11 September 2014, 23:49:43
The keycaps are sculptured, such that there is a slight angle towards you. and a smooth curve from the back to the front of the keyboard.

Reversing the keycaps would (probably, I haven't tried this) reverse the angle, especially the front rows including the space bar, so that the keycaps were angled the wrong way).

The reason they will feel wierd is because the actual typing surface of the cap is not perpenducliar to the travel of the key.  There is exceptions but for the most part it is one row or one "family".  Keep in mind that "Cherry" profile and OEM profile are similar to DCS in shape and type of sculpting.  Height is very similar between Cherry and DCS but OEM is fair bit different.

(Attachment Link)


Thanks for the picture, made it really clear I wont be able to reverse the caps and retain the same function. 

Does anyone have any information about the KBParadise v60 mentioned earlier in this thread?  I checked it out and it does look quite nice.  Is the build quality as good as the top brands?

Title: Re: Hi, noob here with questions!
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 12 September 2014, 05:51:33
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=55018.0