geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: jamdox on Wed, 22 April 2015, 16:10:44

Title: pbt...
Post by: jamdox on Wed, 22 April 2015, 16:10:44
Got the vortex pbt doubleshot caps from mechanicalkeyboards.  I'm underwhelmed.

First, they didn't come in a nice can, instead they came in a plain plastic bag like the massdrop ones.  Second, they're not as thick as I'd like.  That, and all they really do is have a nicer matte fishish relative to the ones that came on the shine.  They don't change the "feel" of the keypress or anything esoteric like that.

Am I missing something?
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: CPTBadAss on Wed, 22 April 2015, 16:11:53
You didn't like something for various reasons. Shouldn't that prove to you that you don't like it and you can move on. That's like asking "oh I ate a rainbow and I didn't enjoy the taste. Should I like the rainbow?" Trust your own judgment. It's not like we're going to be typing on your board for you.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: nightdriver on Wed, 22 April 2015, 16:22:33
the biggest differences are the texture and the durability.  i like how they feel on my fingertip a little better than ABS, but it's not a real big difference.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: user 18 on Wed, 22 April 2015, 16:27:53
I've only ever tried thin ABS and thin PBT (with thick of both on the way). I don't feel a difference in general between ABS and PBT. Cap shape and profile makes much more of a difference IMO.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: ConscienceDrop on Wed, 22 April 2015, 16:44:04
PBT is love, PBT is life.

A keyboard with even one single key ABS is LITERALLY UNUSABLE.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: jamdox on Wed, 22 April 2015, 17:12:18
PBT is love, PBT is life.

A keyboard with even one single key ABS is LITERALLY UNUSABLE.

R-really?
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: Joey Quinn on Wed, 22 April 2015, 17:19:45
Thickness, profile, and texture have a way bigger effect than plastic type.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 22 April 2015, 19:24:52
I can't stand most PBT caps. Give me GMK double shot ABS any day. Or SP's SA profile.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: sethk_ on Wed, 22 April 2015, 20:38:37

I can't stand most PBT caps. Give me GMK double shot ABS any day. Or SP's SA profile.
I agree, GMK just feels right
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 22 April 2015, 21:30:18
PBT is love, PBT is life.

A keyboard with even one single key ABS is LITERALLY UNUSABLE.

HHKB owners unite against the heretic!
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: GenKaan on Thu, 23 April 2015, 09:52:49
The PBT on my G2Pro feels soooo good, cant use ABS anymore
But the thin PBT on my 88ub feels... Odd, they dont give the real PBT experience. Even the thin white blank PBT set I got feels better than the topre PBT caps I got with the keyboard :/

PBT is life tho, only heathens use ABS (unless its custom sets and non OEM profile, Ill allow that tho)
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: Hoaryhag on Thu, 23 April 2015, 10:23:14
If the keypresses don't feel any different I doubt you are missing anything.  Get something you like and sell the rest.  I have some thick blank white pbt keys and like them overall.  If I compare the stock Poker 2 caps with the thick blank white set the Poker caps almost look thicker but they don't seem to weigh as much and the difference in typing feel is night and day.  The density and finish of the keys just aren't the same.  Just cause its pbt doesn't mean its good pbt.  About the vortex keys idk.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: Special K on Tue, 28 April 2015, 15:44:42
I can't stand most PBT caps. Give me GMK double shot ABS any day. Or SP's SA profile.

How does the thickness of GMK ABS doubleshots compare to that of the Vortex PBT doubleshots?  I bought 2 sets of the Vortex PBT doubleshots when they were on sale on MD about a month ago.  They are supposed to be delivered this week.  I'm hoping they are thicker than  my stock Filco caps.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: nightdriver on Tue, 28 April 2015, 15:50:37
the vortex isn't that thick.  i don't have any GMK yet, but i'm expecting it to be thicker than the vortex PBT.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: Sygaldry on Tue, 28 April 2015, 15:52:16
I can't stand most PBT caps. Give me GMK double shot ABS any day. Or SP's SA profile.

How does the thickness of GMK ABS doubleshots compare to that of the Vortex PBT doubleshots?  I bought 2 sets of the Vortex PBT doubleshots when they were on sale on MD about a month ago.  They are supposed to be delivered this week.  I'm hoping they are thicker than  my stock Filco caps.

GMK DS ABS will be much thicker than the Vortex PBT (which is very thin). Nonetheless, the Vortex sets you have coming should be nicer than the stock Filco caps.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: Matias on Tue, 28 April 2015, 15:58:23
Thickness, profile, and texture have a way bigger effect than plastic type.

Totally agree.

In fact, PBT and ABS respond differently to texturing (probably because of the shrinkage differences).  PBT with little or no texture feels really good, whereas ABS needs some texturing to keep it from being too shiny.

Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: Data on Tue, 28 April 2015, 19:53:07
I'm gonna be that guy in these threads who says POM is king, just to get it out of the way.

POM is king.

I'd be willing to bet most people can't tell the difference between the 3 in a blind test. Joey Quinn is right.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: Snarfangel on Tue, 28 April 2015, 20:53:12
I'm gonna be that guy in these threads who says POM is king, just to get it out of the way.

POM is king.

I'd be willing to bet most people can't tell the difference between the 3 in a blind test. Joey Quinn is right.


I actually just ordered some POM front-printed caps off of Aliexpress.com. Since they are my first front-printed set,  even if I can't tell the difference, it won't be a total loss. :) I'm looking forward to it!
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: NorrisB on Tue, 28 April 2015, 20:54:32
I would not trade ABS GMK Double Shots for ANY PBT keysets
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: Special K on Tue, 28 April 2015, 22:26:29
How often do ABS GMK doubleshot group buys come around?  The last one I saw was for the Triumph Adler set, but I just wasn't a fan of the color scheme unfortunately.

Also do all ABS GMK doubleshots use Cherry profile and scooped F and J keys?
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: KnivesM on Tue, 28 April 2015, 23:49:04
BSP>>GMK with the exception of color options
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: Herothereu on Wed, 29 April 2015, 10:16:11
Where do you buy BSP keys?
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: nubbinator on Wed, 29 April 2015, 12:36:54
BSP>>GMK with the exception of color options

BSP has rotated stems.
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: KnivesM on Wed, 29 April 2015, 12:46:46
BSP>>GMK with the exception of color options

BSP has rotated stems.
I haven't noticed any rotated stems on mine, a couple of the longer keys are warped
Title: Re: pbt...
Post by: burn1nsun on Sat, 02 May 2015, 13:50:38
You'll get over the buyers remorse soon and then you will like them probably!