geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: dorkvader on Wed, 05 November 2014, 20:30:18
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Looks like sonicrevolution has been busy with the qwerkywriter
you may remember it from here (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56546.msg1277245#msg1277245)
or the pictures of keycon 2014 (http://blog.keyboard.io/post/93901487184/what-you-and-i-missed-at-keycon-2014#keyboard-photos)
So the last update we had was back in May
(http://i.imgur.com/5gyOYNw.jpg)
(I think this was also the prototype shown off at keycon)
Check it out now!
(http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0557/2745/files/unnamed-5_grande.jpg?515)
(http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0557/2745/files/unnamed-6_grande.jpg?516)
This was posted earlier today on the qwerkywriter blog (http://www.qwerkywriter.com/). It's looking awesome so far, and I can't wait for those renderings to become real photographs. I really like the metal and the screws. Gorgeous.
Anyway, post here about the design aesthetic, discuss the pre-order price, etc.
Personally, I want it to be wireless (IR and bluetooth), be a 60% with a detachable 75% and 110% sections, have backlight LEDs, Diamond-like-carbon keycaps, come with a real typewriter for backup, make toast, and cost under $100 (shipped). :p
But, failing all that, this is the next best thing.
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Can't say I'm a big fan of the logo above the board, but otherwise continuing to look promising :thumb:
Have there been any impressions from Keycon?
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Can't say I'm a big fan of the logo above the board, but otherwise continuing to look promising :thumb:
Have there been any impressions from Keycon?
I little. I got to try it and I really liked it. The old design was based on a normal keyboard: this new one is a departure from it. The keycaps aren't too hard to get used to, especially if you are coming from a flat board (I type on DSA sometimes and am currently on flat-profile-for-the-alphas solarized SA). I didn't get to try out the wireless but I hear it's supposed to be pretty good. (better than the neo zelia 87)
Put it this way: I was impressed enough that I wanted to get one when they come out. There's not too many cherry MX boards that I think are innovative enough to say that about. This was even before I got to meet with sonicrevolution and talk about it.
If I got one I'd put heavier springs in: typewriter is more "mx green" than "MX blue" to me. That and a solenoid. Ooh, that's a good idea.
I am sure the logo placement hasn't been finalized, so that's a good suggestion for sure.
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Cool, thanks for the impressions. Sounds like it's a pretty decent board.
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I like the retro-styling also, I am not sure about functionality. Is there a review on the keycaps somewhere? The vendor is selling them as a set to fit an standard Cherry board.
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I tried it at Keycon. It was a fun novelty. I thought it was supposed to be like a modern typewriter that worked over USB. Closer to something like the HemmingWrite (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=64616.0). Especially with that metal bar and knob.
But I guess it's just a typewriter styled keyboard? Not that that's a bad thing, just not what I was expecting. Someone correct me if I'm misunderstanding.
The keycaps drove me ballistic. I couldn't touch type at all on them...but maybe that's the point. It felt like I was hunting and pecking as I do on typewriters.
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I tried it at Keycon. It was a fun novelty. I thought it was supposed to be like a modern typewriter that worked over USB. Closer to something like the HemmingWrite (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=64616.0). Especially with that metal bar and knob.
But I guess it's just a typewriter styled keyboard? Not that that's a bad thing, just not what I was expecting. Someone correct me if I'm misunderstanding.
The keycaps drove me ballistic. I couldn't touch type at all on them...but maybe that's the point. It felt like I was hunting and pecking as I do on typewriters.
I had the chance to try an old type writer recently and it felt weird to me. I think the keycaps evolved from the button type into current modern shapes for ergonomic reasons as they did for economic and technological ones.
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This looks so fun! I'm not sure I could type on it everyday, but it sure would look great sitting on my desk. As someone who has to type a lot, it is beneficial to have objects around that are inspiring. This design would be exactly that.
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I had the chance to try an old type writer recently and it felt weird to me. I think the keycaps evolved from the button type into current modern shapes for ergonomic reasons as they did for economic and technological ones.
mechanical typewriters require a huge amount of force and also have a long travel, electromechanical ones (usually) require a lot less force but still have a long travel (making them a lot harder to touch type on). Electric typewriters are basically the same.
So touch typing on typewriters is a lot harder than on keyboards, mainly due (I think) to the longer travel. This has the same travel as a normal KB, so I was able to type on it fine. Your mileage may vary.
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Aesthetically, the long black keys break up the styling of the keyboard. On a typical manual typewriter keys like Shift are slightly oversized in the same styling to help the fingers find them and I wonder if that could be implemented on this machine. Oversized circular keys would have some stability issues, however, if one did not press the key near the center.
From a switch standpoint, I always thought MX black would be most appropriate to emulate a typewriter. The feel of a manual typewriter comes from the impact and sound of that hammer hitting the paper after a forceful, linear, downward typing motion. There are manual, portable typewriters out there that have a more pleasurable, lighter touch, while maintaining a sturdy feel, but those tend to be the most sought after and can get expensive in working condition.
In general, it's difficult to re-create the feel of the typewriter with keyboard switches. Re-creating the look is an interesting concept and I wish the people behind this the best of luck in making a marketable product.