Hello, first dip into mech keyboards!

[blai5000]

Hi! 

Just started to lurk around the past couple of weeks and decided to make an account.  Was thinking about getting a new computer soon and had everything outlined until I realized I needed to get a new keyboard!  I actually just ordered the TKL Noppoo Lolita Spyder White Case version with Blue Switches yesterday, absolutely love the floating-key design and I figured it was a cheap enough price for me to practice keycap and switch modding if and when I want to change things up.

I'm already looking forward to other floating-keycap boards like Varmilo and of course the custom Korean boards from GON.  And I'm already looking at all of these pretty keycaps.  I'm particularly interested in side-printed caps (sleek yet still functional for the unlearned typist), the jelly POMs, and DSA profile caps - fell in love with the Eve set when I first saw it a couple days after it sold out!

Anyway, that's my story on how i got here!  Here's hoping to a new hobby!

[Belfong]

Welcome! Are you sure you want a GON? That's a pretty awesome board but it could cost you your new computer, LOL.

[blai5000]

Haha, yeah.  I've been looking at the GON as my "end-game" keyboard.  Always want to have something to work towards, I say! 

Though I'm always willing to hear out suggestions, especially since I don't necessarily agree with the layered acrylic case design, and most of the non-layered cases that I've seen don't have the floating-key look that I prefer.  Maybe I just haven't been looking in the right places??

[omnipresent]

Welcome. If I didn't know any better, I would have said that I wrote that post haha!

I personally just joined the site a few days ago and am also considering the Lolita Spyder because I love the floating keys. But I am trying to find good keycaps to go along with it (ideally side-printed just as you like them). And the DSA profile is pretty awesome. Have you found any DSA sets that are side-printed?

[blai5000]

A fellow floating-key fan! 

Side printed DSA?  Can't say I've seen them.  From what I've seen and read, DSA profile is the shortest and flattest MX keycap around, so side-printing probably isn't too practical on it.  And the only DSAs I've seen are from Signature Plastics (did they invent the profile?) so I don't know where else to look.

The side printed caps I am currently looking at are theses ones from feng: http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/pbt-key-caps/104-105-pbt-white-side-printed/lid=41141095
And also this one from geekkeys: http://www.geekkeys.com/side-printed-pbt-104-keyset/

I might be heading over to the vendor sub-forums to ask about it.

[omnipresent]

The side printed caps I am currently looking at are theses ones from feng: http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/pbt-key-caps/104-105-pbt-white-side-printed/lid=41141095
And also this one from geekkeys: http://www.geekkeys.com/side-printed-pbt-104-keyset/

I might be heading over to the vendor sub-forums to ask about it.

Those are nice looking but I'm not sure I could do all white... I feel like it would get dirty too easily/quickly.

What I'd really love is to find out what caps are being used on the Varmilo VB87M. I think they look really slick with the white on gray.

And let me know what you find out from the vendors!

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

I've always wondered whether floating key keyboards would collect more dust (or at last the dust they collection would be more noticable), but I guess they'd also be easier to clean.

Either of the keycap sets you have linked should be fine - standard layout, and PBT too!

[blai5000]

Welcome to Geekhack!

I've always wondered whether floating key keyboards would collect more dust (or at last the dust they collection would be more noticable), but I guess they'd also be easier to clean.

Either of the keycap sets you have linked should be fine - standard layout, and PBT too!

Thanks, that actually answered the material question I was going to ask!

I assume the floating style would make it easier to clean too.  No having to pull the caps out to clean out hard-to-reach spots that you'd have in tray-style boards.  Doubly important since I've got cats that love shedding on my desk.

I might just be pulling the trigger on the caps soon...still what I would really like is white alphas with black mods, just like the Eve set that's no longer available.  I was thinking the whole black-and-white would go real nice with the all-white Spyder.

[meow a cat]

Side printed DSA?  Can't say I've seen them.  From what I've seen and read, DSA profile is the shortest and flattest MX keycap around, so side-printing probably isn't too practical on it.  And the only DSAs I've seen are from Signature Plastics (did they invent the profile?) so I don't know where else to look.

DSA is a Signature Plastics only profile, they did indeed design it and they're the only people who make it. DCS and SA are SP profiles as well.

I've never seen side printed DSA, I don't think SP has made any before.

Also, welcome to GeekHack OP! 

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

I've always wondered whether floating key keyboards would collect more dust (or at last the dust they collection would be more noticable), but I guess they'd also be easier to clean.

Either of the keycap sets you have linked should be fine - standard layout, and PBT too!

Thanks, that actually answered the material question I was going to ask!

I assume the floating style would make it easier to clean too.  No having to pull the caps out to clean out hard-to-reach spots that you'd have in tray-style boards.  Doubly important since I've got cats that love shedding on my desk.

I might just be pulling the trigger on the caps soon...still what I would really like is white alphas with black mods, just like the Eve set that's no longer available.  I was thinking the whole black-and-white would go real nice with the all-white Spyder.

You'd probably be looking at mixing and matching two sets to get the BoW alphas and WoB modifiers, unfortunately.