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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: henz on Tue, 28 June 2016, 01:55:06
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Im thinking of ordering some keysets in the oem profile,
Id like to hear other peoples opinion on the matter, i myself dont like SA,DSA. So right now, cherry profile is all i use.
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I got some PBT Vortex caps as my first upgade from stock thin ABS and they felt great at the time, but they are white and ANSI and looked weird covering parts of my black ISO board so since getting other sets they're just sitting in a bag.
If you fancy a change give them a go, your fingers like what they like and our opinions won't change that :)
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feel like i will get some npkc to try them out, cheap and thick and cool colors :)
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Go for it, will be interesting to see what you think without expectation bias that whatever you just bought must be an improvement over what it replaced. Not sure OEM gets that chance very often!
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i know daerid has posted somewhere that he prefers proper OEM rather than cherry profile, would be nice to hear his opinion.
Ill do a write up when i get them =) im just thinking how many i should order.
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Most Tai Hao sets are OEM profile. I have a few of those in ABS and PBT.
I do rotate them in sometimes, I don't mind them.
Currently using SA though.
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Tai Hao keycaps are *not* the same profile as those “OEM” keycaps found on LED-backlit gamer boards.
Tai Hao keycaps are basically the Alps cylindrical profile from the mid–late 1980s, sometimes with an extra-tall function row (and sometimes not).
I recommend getting a mix of various different profiles, and using the taller keycaps for the further-away rows, so you get more step from row to row. That not meet your aesthetic goals though, especially since the best feeling layout will probably leave the legends wrong on most of the keys. :-)
For a photo comparison, check out https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=68550
(http://i.imgur.com/kFxqOm8.jpg)
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Tai Hao keycaps are *not* the same profile as those “OEM” keycaps found on LED-backlit gamer boards.
Tai Hao keycaps are basically the Alps cylindrical profile from the mid–late 1980s.
I recommend getting a mix of Cherry and “OEM” profiles, and using the taller keycaps for the further-away rows, so you get more step from row to row. That not meet your aesthetic goals though, especially since the best feeling layout will probably leave the legends wrong on most of the keys. :-)
Oh.
Well, more OEMish than Cherry profile, anyway.
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They’re reasonably close. I suspect other keycaps called “OEM profile” will also turn out to be subtly different from each-other, but I don’t really have all that many types of MX-compatible keycaps, so I couldn’t say for sure.
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alps taiho and oem are pretty similar by the looks of it.
I do have some taihos at home for alps, although i fear i wont get the switches for my board before the drop ends.
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They’re reasonably close. I suspect other keycaps called “OEM profile” will also turn out to be subtly different from each-other, but I don’t really have all that many types of MX-compatible keycaps, so I couldn’t say for sure.
Thanks for posting that chart :) Very handy..
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For the record, I like OEM profile.
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Only if it's mandatory. People who collect Clack blanks don't seem to mind, either.
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that chart needs IBM
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I prefer DSA. On a curved plate, if possible, but DSA.
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I have a couple of sets from TaiHao, that are in OEM profile abs, quite liking them, I think my varmilo kb is on Cherry profile.
I have to say OEM takes a bit of getting used to, get a bit more of mistakes, maybe cause they are slightly higher.
trying to find some nice thick pbt, in OEM profile with side printed, not sure if they even exist.
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Only if it's mandatory. People who collect Clack blanks don't seem to mind, either.
Basically this for me. I had OEM before I had cherry profile, and I sold my OEM set right after. The height difference is pretty noticeable, and I preferred the lower profile. But some nice sets only come in OEM/DCS like Toxic and the Bro set, so I would still use em for aesthetics mainly lol
I have a couple of sets from TaiHao, that are in OEM profile abs, quite liking them, I think my varmilo kb is on Cherry profile.
I have to say OEM takes a bit of getting used to, get a bit more of mistakes, maybe cause they are slightly higher.
trying to find some nice thick pbt, in OEM profile with side printed, not sure if they even exist.
Here ya go my dude http://www.geekkeys.com/grey-side-printed-pbt-104-keyset/ There's also a white set too
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I like the OEM profile and in my perception it falls right between DSA and SA. I need some ergonomics for my typing and gaming sessions so I gave up on both the flat DSA and super tall SA. Typing with a SA keycap set installed actually caused some wrist pain and since I never tried Cherry, at least for now, OEM is definitely the best option for me.
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I love the look of DSA, but I'm not good with actually using them. I'll try them again if I ever get my Novatouch fixed or have a spare MX keyboard laying about.
I'm not sure what profile keykaps the Varmilo VA87 I just ordered came with, but I'm hoping it's either Cherry or OEM. I'll find out when I get back from jury duty.
I'd very much like to try SA despite my hesitancy in buying ABS keycaps.
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I like sculptured; for me, it doesn't really matter what profile it just has to be sculptured.. definitely sculptured.. definitely. I want to try DSA on a curved plate though, that sounds comfy
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I strongly prefer cherry profile to any other.
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Same here.
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I strongly prefer cherry profile to any other.
I'm looking forward to try Cherry can you do a quick comparison versus OEM? The angles and heights of the keycaps look very similar, I wonder what's so different about Cherry.
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OEM is cylindrical. Cylindrical = no bueno for me.
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Only if it's mandatory. People who collect Clack blanks don't seem to mind, either.
Basically this for me. I had OEM before I had cherry profile, and I sold my OEM set right after. The height difference is pretty noticeable, and I preferred the lower profile. But some nice sets only come in OEM/DCS like Toxic and the Bro set, so I would still use em for aesthetics mainly lol
I have a couple of sets from TaiHao, that are in OEM profile abs, quite liking them, I think my varmilo kb is on Cherry profile.
I have to say OEM takes a bit of getting used to, get a bit more of mistakes, maybe cause they are slightly higher.
trying to find some nice thick pbt, in OEM profile with side printed, not sure if they even exist.
Here ya go my dude http://www.geekkeys.com/grey-side-printed-pbt-104-keyset/ There's also a white set too
OMG!!! I think I shouldn't have asked!!
:eek: :eek: :eek:
Thanks!
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Love the cherry profile for typing, but somehow prefer oem for gaming.
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The OEM profile itself isn't bad, but most of the resulting keycaps made in that profile are pretty lousy.
But what does it matter, I use Cherry most of the time.
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I ordered the purple Tao Bao drop, I'm looking forward on getting them installed and trying them.
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OEM is fine, pretty much the industry standard by now. Cherry profile is better, but OEM will do in a pinch.
They are a bit too high though. Do not like high profile caps >:D
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Never tried the OEM. but the step sculpture 2 (cherry profile as well) from Varmilo is just fine with me. I'd like to try the DSA, really like the low profile keycap. but not with rubberdome :p
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I guess for the majority of mechanical keyboard owners, our first board probably came with OEM profile keycaps.
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Prefer Cherry because of how it looks, but I started out with OEM. Nothing wrong with them, there is just better stuff out there for me.
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Same with other peeps, started out with OEM, and willing to try other layouts. Been keen to look out for SA or DSA.
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I've tried OEM, Cherry, DSA, and SA profile and I still like OEM the best. It feels "just right".
Cherry middle row (home row) feels too shallow, feels inconsistent compare to other rows, though I have no issues with other rows in Cherry profile.
DSA is not bad but since it's spherical the surface area at the top feels a bit smaller.
SA sculpted is too "sculpted" for me, I'll hit the edge of keycap when gliding up or down a row. However SA uniform is great and I like it.
So for me:
OEM > SA uniform > Cherry > DSA > SA sculpted
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I love OEM profile. Cherry profile is alright on my novatouch and linear switches. I also really like the varmilo keycaps as a sort of hybrid between OEM and cherry. I like OEM a lot. I'm still waiting to see if I can find my perfect profile, but so far I think my favorite's been what Varmilo does in between.
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The only issues Ive had with them is that lots of aftermarket caps are Cherry profile, not OEM, so finding replacements can be hard.
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no
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I like the so-called OEM profile in reasonable quality PBT, such as those made by Ducky.
As Jacobolus pointed out, there can be variations within a stated profile. For example, I have found that different sets claiming to be "Cherry profile" were actually of different heights on the same row when installed on a keyboard. This is because the "skirt height" could be the same, so that the caps would be the same height when placed on a level surface, but the stems can be of different heights, which results in different heights when mounted on the switch stems.
Note that Leopold has its own profile, and "Cherry profile" caps made by Gateron differ in installed height from some other Cherry profile caps.
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Same with other peeps, started out with OEM, and willing to try other layouts. Been keen to look out for SA or DSA.
Same.
The SA caps I've been able to get my hands on don't fit the color scheme I've got going so I'm still on stock Varmilo caps, although they're not bad.
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OEM isn't bad. If there's a nice looking set in OEM profile, I'd be fine picking it up.
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Same with other peeps, started out with OEM, and willing to try other layouts. Been keen to look out for SA or DSA.
I'd like to try SA as well, but the prices are big for trying them out.
I couldn't handle DSA and will be selling the PMK set I bought earlier. They look nice, but my fingers have issues with them. :shrug:
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Could you say that Model M keycaps are OEM profile?
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No.
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I like sculptured; for me, it doesn't really matter what profile it just has to be sculptured.. definitely sculptured.. definitely. I want to try DSA on a curved plate though, that sounds comfy
What's going on with your Novatouch?
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Could you say that Model M keycaps are OEM profile?
They are certainly a taller profile like OEM, but if you look at the caps, you can see that they're actually taller in comparison to OEM. The skirting, at least, goes down quite a ways.
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OEM profile is neat to for me to use for the WASD cluster while using a lower profile for the rest of the keys. Overall though, OEM seems a bit less refined of a fit than Cherry, but OEM has its place. I don't think it's bad, just a bit oversized. I think Cherry designed their profile for their switches to make the best synergy between the two since they wobble less together and feel tighter than OEM, but OEM doesn't interfere with LEDs like on Ducky boards. I tried putting Cherry and Leopold caps on a Ducky One and some of the caps don't bottom out properly because they hit the LEDs.
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OEM profile is neat to for me to use for the WASD cluster while using a lower profile for the rest of the keys. Overall though, OEM seems a bit less refined of a fit than Cherry, but OEM has its place. I don't think it's bad, just a bit oversized. I think Cherry designed their profile for their switches to make the best synergy between the two since they wobble less together and feel tighter than OEM, but OEM doesn't interfere with LEDs like on Ducky boards. I tried putting Cherry and Leopold caps on a Ducky One and some of the caps don't bottom out properly because they hit the LEDs.
OEM on WASD? I assume that's for gaming and not typing?
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OEM profile is neat to for me to use for the WASD cluster while using a lower profile for the rest of the keys. Overall though, OEM seems a bit less refined of a fit than Cherry, but OEM has its place. I don't think it's bad, just a bit oversized. I think Cherry designed their profile for their switches to make the best synergy between the two since they wobble less together and feel tighter than OEM, but OEM doesn't interfere with LEDs like on Ducky boards. I tried putting Cherry and Leopold caps on a Ducky One and some of the caps don't bottom out properly because they hit the LEDs.
OEM on WASD? I assume that's for gaming and not typing?
I think it'd be very peculiar if it wasn't for gaming. Yeah, ya know, I just like the aesthetics of a raised WASD. :P
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Comparing with higher keycaps.I'd prefer the lower one
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using some taiho dblsht abs, in sortta OEM profile, at work, have cherry profile at home, and I sometimes mistype using OEM when I'm at work, can't decide which set to stick to, but I agree the OEM do seem to be a bit taller, and without a wrist rest the arch upwards, is def more significant.
maybe will try a set of cherry profiles at work.
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i have taihao sunshine on oem profile and they are not too bad. i prefer the step sculpture 2 from varmilo (closer to cherry) and dsa's tho.
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Same with other peeps, started out with OEM, and willing to try other layouts. Been keen to look out for SA or DSA.
Same.
The SA caps I've been able to get my hands on don't fit the color scheme I've got going so I'm still on stock Varmilo caps, although they're not bad.
Yeah, the stock Varmilo caps are actually really great. I wish I could just order sets of caps off them without having to buy a whole 'nother keyboard sometimes.
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Same with other peeps, started out with OEM, and willing to try other layouts. Been keen to look out for SA or DSA.
Same.
The SA caps I've been able to get my hands on don't fit the color scheme I've got going so I'm still on stock Varmilo caps, although they're not bad.
Yeah, the stock Varmilo caps are actually really great. I wish I could just order sets of caps off them without having to buy a whole 'nother keyboard sometimes.
Well you could actually. Might still be able to. I'd check the Varmilo forum. Although Miya quit she posted an email there.
She's mentioned to me that you could by caps. Even custom ones.
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OEM sounds a little tough for me
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OEM sounds a little tough for me
Same material as non-OEM profile keycaps, just a bit taller than a lot of other sets.
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At home, I'm trying an OEM keycap set, after using DCS. So far, it feels a bit different, but not bad. I'm pretty sure I'll like it once I get used to it, and once I finish changing all the keycaps (it's a bit of a mess right now, with some keys upside down, because it was dark when I put them up, and I've been too lazy to fix them since then :P)
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I am really adjusting quite quick on the cherry profile caps on the stock Leopold caps. I guess they call them "step sculpture" but they feel cherry to me.
Definitely the best stock caps I've tried so far. Much better than the stock caps that came with my Ducky One TKL (DS ABS)
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I think Cherry's original nomenclature for the cylindrical profile was "stepped" while spherical caps were designated "sculpted" if they had different rows. I forget the terminology used for uniform rows. Saw this in an old ad brochure someone posted a while back.
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I prefer cherry profile or SA...
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I am really adjusting quite quick on the cherry profile caps on the stock Leopold caps. I guess they call them "step sculpture" but they feel cherry to me.
Definitely the best stock caps I've tried so far. Much better than the stock caps that came with my Ducky One TKL (DS ABS)
Step sculpture are pretty close to Cherry profile, I had an FC660M and its caps are almost the same height than the rows of Cherry, but the bottom row.
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Currently switching around ducky oem, varmilo step sculpture 2, Granite DSA, and taihao (im not so sure what profile they have now)
But all i can say is that tai-hao feels so cheap compared to the other sets, granite is thin but the spherical top compensates.
Tai-hao are just thin, and i got mine with lots of minor defects
Also, the taihao doubleshot keycaps im using tends to be incompatible with my varmilo va87 (this board has leds on the bottom of the switch) which is a bit annoying. so im selling this set ASAP :-\
on the bright side, OEM ducky PBT keycaps feels nice (mine is engraved so they feel pretty good)
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They do in a pinch, but ever since I got my hands on some GMK caps, OEM is dead to me... ;)
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They do in a pinch, but ever since I got my hands on some GMK caps, OEM is dead to me... ;)
OEM sucks, that is a fact, and facts are undisputed, you can tolerate it, live with it; if there is no option, but that does not change the simple reality.
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They do in a pinch, but ever since I got my hands on some GMK caps, OEM is dead to me... ;)
OEM sucks, that is a fact, and facts are undisputed, you can tolerate it, live with it; if there is no option, but that does not change the simple reality.
i do prefer my step sculpture 2 over my ducky oem. but whats with all the hate on OEM? hahaha
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They do in a pinch, but ever since I got my hands on some GMK caps, OEM is dead to me... ;)
Welcome to Geekhack!
You have seen the light :)
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They do in a pinch, but ever since I got my hands on some GMK caps, OEM is dead to me... ;)
OEM sucks, that is a fact, and facts are undisputed, you can tolerate it, live with it; if there is no option, but that does not change the simple reality.
i do prefer my step sculpture 2 over my ducky oem. but whats with all the hate on OEM? hahaha
Sometimes, I feel as though the hate is only there because of what's associated with OEM caps and not the profile itself - that they are stock, thin ABS, often printed, and sometimes have displeasing fonts. I wonder whether the hate would persist if boards came with thin Cherry profile caps as the standard and OEM profile caps were produced as thick doubleshot ABS.
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They do in a pinch, but ever since I got my hands on some GMK caps, OEM is dead to me... ;)
OEM sucks, that is a fact, and facts are undisputed, you can tolerate it, live with it; if there is no option, but that does not change the simple reality.
i do prefer my step sculpture 2 over my ducky oem. but whats with all the hate on OEM? hahaha
Sometimes, I feel as though the hate is only there because of what's associated with OEM caps and not the profile itself - that they are stock, thin ABS, often printed, and sometimes have displeasing fonts. I wonder whether the hate would persist if boards came with thin Cherry profile caps as the standard and OEM profile caps were produced as thick doubleshot ABS.
In a fantasy world we all love thin key caps in any profile with whatever font and printing process you may imagine, GH and DT run group buys for thousands of WASD sets and people love to show their almost transparent key caps with beautiful high resolution shots.
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They do in a pinch, but ever since I got my hands on some GMK caps, OEM is dead to me... ;)
OEM sucks, that is a fact, and facts are undisputed, you can tolerate it, live with it; if there is no option, but that does not change the simple reality.
i do prefer my step sculpture 2 over my ducky oem. but whats with all the hate on OEM? hahaha
Sometimes, I feel as though the hate is only there because of what's associated with OEM caps and not the profile itself - that they are stock, thin ABS, often printed, and sometimes have displeasing fonts. I wonder whether the hate would persist if boards came with thin Cherry profile caps as the standard and OEM profile caps were produced as thick doubleshot ABS.
FWIW, I am predominantly an Alps user and basically all available key sets, vintage or otherwise, are OEM-profile (with the exception of maybe one or two distinct keyboards with Cherry profile and vintage Apple boards).
Because good quality Alps key sets are hard to come by and often cannot be fully utilized due to wonky, often non-standard layouts, it is nice to be able to mix-and-match key sets.
I certainly agree with your point, that the actual profile is kinda irrelevant, albeit for different reasons. If Cherry or some other profile were instead standard for Alps, I think that would be my preference.
That said, I have also tried beam spring-profile sphericals and I cannot say I care for that profile very much, not sure why.
EDIT: After rereading the first few posts of this thread, I have been reminded by Jacobolus' post that Alps 'OEM' is actually its own distinct profile that is close, but not quite, to 'standard' OEM. Still, my opinion stands as long as there is uniformity among key sets I use.