geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ander on Tue, 26 September 2017, 18:44:16
Title: Super-cheap MKs—okay, what's the deal?
Post by: ander on Tue, 26 September 2017, 18:44:16
GHers have bought and tested some of the recent $25–30 level MKs, and found many of them surprisingly decent. But now MKs in the $16–18 range are appearing, e.g.:
So what's the deal with these? Can they possibly be real, usable MKs? Is the bottom finally falling out of the MK-vs.-membrane market? Anyone want to find out? I'd volunteer, but unfortunately I must stay married.
Title: Re: Super-cheap MKs—okay, what's the deal?
Post by: HotRoderX on Tue, 26 September 2017, 18:58:09
It does kinda make since we are seeing this there are places to cut cost on something like a a cheapo magic force board.
Case Caps
being the 2 biggest I would think! get rid of the case and just use a thin sheet of plastic cut to fit over the PCB add some cheap plastic molded legs to the bottom plastic screw/rivet it together boom you most likely saved 2-3 dollars off the price of the case materials being mass produced
Keycaps most likely one of the most expensive parts.. buy B-caps there in perfect legends cheap and most likely have minor defects. Otherwise just mass produce cheap-o plastic caps from what ever you can find..
I guess also there could be cost savings in the PCB quality also creating a cheaper lower quality PCB would most likely translate into a cheaper product in general.
I wouldn't mind seeing how stable/sturdy/quality one of these boards is its curious to say the least.
Title: Re: Super-cheap MKs—okay, what's the deal?
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 26 September 2017, 19:09:27
I keep telling ya'lls, that ya'llr collecting garbage, and that these things are worthless..
You've refused to believe me..
Here we are....
Title: Re: Super-cheap MKs—okay, what's the deal?
Post by: Zobeid Zuma on Tue, 26 September 2017, 23:03:00
Just do a search on "mechanical keyboard" on YouTube and look at what comes up. It's video after video reviewing the latest and cheapest generic black gaming keyboard, and reviewers gushing over how cheap they are, and isn't it amazing you can get a mechanical keyboard at this price? Buy it, buy it, buy it!
This is how fashions die. When mechanical keyboards were viewed as a step up from the typical mass-market keyboard, people wanted them. When they come to be viewed as super-cheap ugly plastic junk — pretty soon, the way things are going — then the whole idea of a mechanical keyboard will become a turn-off to most people, and the market will implode, and you won't be able to give them away.
Title: Re: Super-cheap MKs—okay, what's the deal?
Post by: ArchDill on Tue, 26 September 2017, 23:04:06
I would not waste the money on any of those.
Title: Re: Super-cheap MKs—okay, what's the deal?
Post by: Lepidus on Tue, 26 September 2017, 23:09:18
These dont seem to be mechanical at all. Probably just rubberdomes with sliders, like this:
Well, yeah... If any of you shop at Wal-Mart, you're already supporting that. I don't think kids are required. In countries that forbid collective agreements, protests or labor organization of any kind, adults must take whatever they can get, too.
Anyway, I agree: None of us would have any trouble doing a blindfold typing test and sensing the difference between a $30 knock-off MK and a Filco or Ducky. That said, I've typed on some real cheap MKs that were plenty fun, (e.g. here (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=90333.0)), seemed like they'd hold up just fine, and that I'd much rather use than any RD or membrane board.