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geekhack Community => New Members => Topic started by: smeggysmeg on Thu, 26 March 2015, 23:28:43
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Hiya, smeggysmeg here. I'm a sysadmin in semi-rural East Texas, as well as a grad student in the humanities.
I've watched mechanical keyboards for years, but my poor wrists demand a split layout with negative tilt, so I've been stuck with a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000. I've considered building an ErgoDox more than once, but I lack both the skills and the time to build it. Other alternatives had wacky layouts or apparently very poor build quality.
I finally pre-ordered the Matias Ergo Pro and will soon be joining in on the mechboard fun. I picked up a Hyundai/Chicony KB-5181 at a local flea market for $3, and I've ordered some keycaps off of an Apple Extended Keyboard II so that I can dye them and add them to my board when it comes in. I wish I could have bought a board with Cherry MX switches, just because of all of the keycap choices, but I'm still very excited about the Matias Ergo Pro (and my wife will appreciate my getting something quiet). I'm hoping Matias switches take off and novelty/stylized keycaps start being made.
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Congrats on the Ergo Pro. I think I heard that someone's selling assembled Ergodoxes a while ago.
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Welcome to Geekhack!
AFAIK the Matias uses Matias switches, which are Alps-compatible.
The bad new is that there are not many Alps sets around these days.
The good news is that there are alps enthusiasts here who organised an Alps group buy: http://www.pimpmykeyboard.com/deals/delta-blues-alps-dcs-set/
The bad news is that there was not enough interest for it to tip.
If you want an Ergo Dox, there are a few people here who would assemble it for you, unless you could find a secondhand one for sale.
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I thought about trying to get someone to build one. I would like get something sooner rather than later, so ErgoDox EZ is out - plus, I'm a little hesitant with Kickstarter/Indiegogo type projects.
There was one site where you would buy parts from them and they would do a certain amount of the assembly for you. Unfortunately, I wouldn't know where to start for things like building a base for it, making it negative tilt, etc. I would rather someone experienced do it. With the level of labor and supplies necessary, it would cost a good deal more than what I might want to pay.
In the end, I think the Ergo Pro is a good compromise.
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Have a look through artisan services (https://geekhack.org/index.php?board=160.0) - you should find someone who would be able to assemble an Ergo Dox for you.
Then you'd only need to find a kit!
mechanicalkeyboards.com seems to have teh PCBs in stock: http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=537
Then you'd need switches, maybe some other components, and a case. And keycaps.
The Ergo Dox thread (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=22780.0) still seems to be very active - perhaps post there (if you haven't already) to ask about assembly services.