Recent Posts

Pages:  [1] 2 3 4 5 6 ... 10 »
1
Off Topic / Re: What's Bothering You? (The thread about what is bothering you.)
« Last post by tp4tissue on Sat, 18 October 2025, 22:42:40 »
Sodas are probably more addictive than coffee.
2
Keyboard Keycaps / Re: 13 years ago i bought these keycaps here from a group buy
« Last post by tapk69 on Sat, 18 October 2025, 22:14:27 »
Oh! A fellow old-timer... :3
Greetings, and welcome back!

Things really went out of control...
I was surprised myself after returning 2 months ago:

- Cherry MX patent ran out -> Over 9000 different variants of MX-style switches from China
- These little switch quick-swap thingies on PCBs (what to do with my solder iron now!?)
- Transition to gasket-mount keyboards (no more resonance PING! like in the old days...)
- Having more mech-keyboard brands than Filco, Topre, Cherry, IBM, KBC and Razer
- We still can't decide if LEDs should be mounted north or south facing
- Mech-keyboards became mainstream (are we still Geeks?)
- CNC-milled metal keyboard-cases became affordable
- MassDrop became keyboard-centric and bought GH
- You can get custom dye-sub printed keycaps (YUZU)
- Ripster selling his keyboard-collection
- People collecting artisan-keycaps


Oil-Kings are a great choice I think...
I have tested a heap-load of switches recently to catch-up.
For linear ones, Oil-Kings were my favorites. I also liked the Zjmehty ones. Both are superior to vintage MX-Blacks imo.
Finding a superior replacement for Ergo-Clears and Zealios V2 ended up much more complicated. Still not done testing.


Old timer yes but i was not that dedicated. This place was super lively years ago, now theres too much competitition.
Like you i was blown away by the amount of choice and affordability of 2025 compared to 2010.
Can´t wait to receive my keyboard, i miss the clack and funny colors.
3
Making Stuff Together! / Re: Are Kailh hot-swap sockets still fragile?
« Last post by LightningXI on Sat, 18 October 2025, 21:25:19 »
As someone who still builds boards, both hotswap and solder, my take:

1. Yes, hotswap sockets are still surface-mounted/soldered on the back of PCBs.

2. The design has changed iteratively over the years but largely the same -- precautions generally apply if you're using a hotswap PCB -- you should use two hands, or at least minimal but barely sufficient force in inserting switches into them, making sure pins are lined up and not overforcing the insertion process. The same risk of having sockets pop off from the back exists, since the surface-mount soldering of the sockets is still largely the same as before, even though the integrity of the sockets' inner metal parts themselves has gotten a decent bit better (they do not "fold out" as much as before).

3. The best way to support the sockets from behind, honestly, is to take out your PCB/plate combo outside of the keyboard case, and use two hands. One hand pushing the switch, and the other hand supporting the PCB + corresponding socket from the back. If you won't / can't do that (out of convenience), then the next best thing is to just wiggle as the pins of the switch insert and place themselves relatively easily into the socket.

4. Flex cuts will affect durability in the sense that it's easier to push back and bend portions of the PCB backwards, hence applying shearing forces to the socket joints. Overall, with flex cuts, socket lifetime is probably worse if you're not careful.

5. I can't really say much about brand-based differences, but the two main sockets I've seen are Kailh-made or Gateron-made.

All in all, while personally I don't really think the trouble of soldering + desoldering is all that bad, hotswap PCBs are indeed much more of a norm (with pretty decent compatibility as well), and should be durable if you're moderately careful.
4
Group Buys and Preorders / Re: [GB] DCS Pink Alert | Running Oct 17 - Nov 14
« Last post by Narcolepsy on Sat, 18 October 2025, 19:41:31 »
Any plan for 3/1/3 spacebar support?

You can get additional WFK DCS spacebars from Sneakbox for 3-1-3. https://sneakbox.com/products/dcs-minibars?variant=47739167375602
5
Interest Checks / Re: [IC] MB-44 v2 - A Fun 40% Keyboard Refreshed
« Last post by MelonBred on Sat, 18 October 2025, 19:15:07 »
I didn't reserve the first post like a dummy, but here's the Pre-Order Details!


MB-44 v2 will be a Pre-Order & In-Stock Sale




Pre-orders will be open from November 8th through December 8th, 2025 at a price of $325 USD
Excluding tax and shipping. VAT, import duties, and/or other fees will be applicable for international customers.


MB-44 v2 kits will be available at:
The MB-44 v2 kits will be available in:
  • Silver
  • Marimo (deep green)
  • Strawberry Milk (pink)

and the kits will include:
  • MB-44 v2 case (top, bottom and matte brass weight)
  • Mainboard PCB
  • S1 Unified Daughter Board
  • Molex cable to connect the mainboard and S1 daughterboard
  • FR4 universal plate
  • Hardware, Geon Tadpoles, and bumpons

Extra PCBs will also be available to add to your order.[/size]

So what does Pre-Order really mean?
Pre-order means that the manufacturers have already been paid, and production will start this week. We hope this is a better alternative to a group-buy where we do not have to rely an customer purchases to fund the project. However, this comes with one minor drawback. MB-44 v2 kits will be limited to around 50 units that are split between Melonbred Shop, Yushakobo, and KeebSupply.

What happens after Pre-Order?
Pre-orders will be between November 8th through December 8th, or until pre-order units sell out. This will give some time for us to prepare packaging through the holidays, and we estimate shipping to begin in January 2026. *Please note that this is an estimate, and we will update everyone if the timeline changes.

After the Pre-Order period and orders have shipped to customers, any remaining units will be available as In-Stock at a price of $350 excluding tax, shipping and other fees (import duties).

What about resource files?
  • Plate files will be available on our site and GitHub.
  • PCB (KiCAD) files will be available on GitHub.
  • VIAL/QMK has already been merged to VIAL main here
6
Group Buys and Preorders / Re: [GB] GMK Burgundy : FINISHED
« Last post by dvorcol on Sat, 18 October 2025, 18:25:31 »


More
today : 43set

now... total 47 set is joined.

Now total 53set joined

Today. 73 set.

Current status is 101 set. So I will start invoicing from tomorrow. Remained sets is 49 set. If you want, hurry up ;D

Current Status.
Total 114 Set.
Only 36 Set is available.  ;D

Current status 129 set. Remained only 21 set. :D

Current status. 142set. Remained set is just 8 set.  :D

Extrapolated 150 max met 3/14 07:40 EDT
<-- data
7
Group Buys and Preorders / Re: [GB] GMK Mictlán
« Last post by IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES on Sat, 18 October 2025, 16:00:24 »
From the designer on NK discord:

There’s gonna be a Mictlan edition Classic TKL, and Mictlan edition TGR 910. Possibly a third (hope for something w an XT column)
8
Group Buys and Preorders / Re: [GB] DCS Pink Alert | Running Oct 17 - Nov 14
« Last post by bibione on Sat, 18 October 2025, 15:00:27 »
Any plan for 3/1/3 spacebar support?
9
Keyboards / Re: My AEK broke
« Last post by iri on Sat, 18 October 2025, 13:33:02 »
It was the Tinkerboy controller.

What's the probability that it wasn't the PCB from 1987 that broke, but the controller from 2021? That correctly identified itself to my operating system?

Jesus ****ing Christ.
10
Ergonomics / Re: A 3-dimensional keyboard design
« Last post by TheSoulhunter on Sat, 18 October 2025, 13:25:11 »
Looks similar to how my mouse works...

314956-0

You have 3 buttons per main (index/middle) finger.
The upper one even works two-way (forward/backward).
On a keyboard, you could probably do two rows for the far-key.
Pages:  [1] 2 3 4 5 6 ... 10 »