Have we reached peak keyset?

[poodude]

I was just curious what other people think about the current state of keysets. I've been looking through a lot of the interest checks the last few weeks and in my opinion most of them are pretty fugly. Just in general really strange clashing color combinations. Granted they aren't as well known designers so that may have a bit to do with it. But in any case there are only so many color combinations that go well aesthetically together and can match standard keyboard colors. This ends up having the side effect where new sets are just slight variations of already existing sets.

Does it feel like we have reached peak keyset? How many GMK keysets can possibly be released in one year? How on earth did Handerbeit reach MOQ? It is a crazy time for keyboards folks.

 Gaze upon your crystal ball and discuss!

[romevi]

We reached peak keyset design on September 19, 2016.

[SpAmRaY]

We reached peak keyset design on September 19, 2016.

Hydro?

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[romevi]

We reached peak keyset design on September 19, 2016.

Hydro?

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[SpAmRaY]

To OP, yeah the signal to noise ratio is pretty bad.

I haven't bought a keyset in years, no reason to since leopold stock keycaps are great.

Things really peaked with GMK FEELING CUTE.

But I've got a really strong set I'm holding off on posting it'll be a game changer.

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[1391401]

Not yet.  Admittedly I've been gone from this hobby for a long time but if I remember the signature plastics days we were doing a lot of things like scrutinizing the font and kerning of the printing on each keycap as well as producing full keycap sets with custom typefaces (e.g. Sanctuary being a Diablo themed keyset).  Right now the GMK sets seem to be people coming up with a color palette and trying to hype and market the aesthetics of it.  There's probably a lot of room to grow there.  I do see some people starting to fix the awkward positioning of the GMK modifier legends which is nice and it would be good to agree on what a "base" set needs to include.  Finally we need to find a way to switch from ABS to PBT because the GMK ABS will shine and feel weirdly tacky in only a few weeks (to me).  IMHO.

[Sup]

Not yet.  Admittedly I've been gone from this hobby for a long time but if I remember the signature plastics days we were doing a lot of things like scrutinizing the font and kerning of the printing on each keycap as well as producing full keycap sets with custom typefaces (e.g. Sanctuary being a Diablo themed keyset).  Right now the GMK sets seem to be people coming up with a color palette and trying to hype and market the aesthetics of it.  There's probably a lot of room to grow there.  I do see some people starting to fix the awkward positioning of the GMK modifier legends which is nice and it would be good to agree on what a "base" set needs to include.  Finally we need to find a way to switch from ABS to PBT because the GMK ABS will shine and feel weirdly tacky in only a few weeks (to me).  IMHO.

I doubt GMK will ever switch to PBT since having the original ABS cherry molds is one of there strong point in this market. Also there is a problem with PBT you can't get the bright colors like ABS does with PBT.

[tp4tissue]

It's like with beany babies/ digimon/ pokemon/ yugioh,  comes in waves..

When people get bored of changing colors, they'll leave. 

When something hard in their life comes along, they'll escape back into keyset collecting.    Round and round.

Only the TRUE Collectors would never stop to take breath, Heroic !

[zslane]

I'm not sure if we've reached peak keyset yet, but I do feel the "golden age" has passed, as it were. I believe this was inevitable once SP's production queue got so long that it virtually guaranteed a long-term contraction of interest in the SA profile. Once the good designers stopped designing for SA, that was all she wrote. The flurry of uninspired GMK ICs is the result of enthusiasts getting access to cheap (free), easy rendering technology, only proving that merely using good tools does not make one a good artist/designer.

[wholypantalones]

The flurry of uninspired GMK ICs is the result of enthusiasts getting access to cheap (free), easy rendering technology, only proving that merely using good tools does not make one a good artist/designer.

There's more than quite a few out there now by professional "designers" that aren't really any better to be honest. Feels sort of like a see what sticks philosophy.

Slap some cadet or [inset language here] alphas on it and sell it.

[Sintpinty]

What about our bois SA, G20 and DSA? Give them some love!

[shadowku]

I don't care much about keycaps anymore. I got a bit overwhelmed with all the sets coming out and I just find it hard to enjoy them now. GMK sets can be nice but they shine easily. Some of the new ePBT sets are interesting so I would like to see some more ePBT sets.

Otherwise, I'm perfectly happy with stock caps on my Topre boards. It's another benefit of getting a good Topre board - good default keycaps such that I don't feel the immediate need to replace them.

[Sup]

Btw we already reached a peak set called GMK Skeletor 

[LightningXI]

Honestly I only see it continuously growing.

[packleadercho]

The thing is, even the less popular ICs are making it to GB and actually hitting MOQ. You can say what you want about the designs but it seems like the community just can't get enough right now.

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[funkden]

Although there are a glut of GMK sets nowadays with a new one every week, there are still some classic sets amongst them. Take for example Nautilus, it looked great, didn't feel so great and shined quickly as   ABS does. Also there have been some standout profiles such as Matt30s MT3 profile for /dev/tty, which although had it teething problems is a nice set to type on and now more sets are being produced in that profile.   SA doesn't suffer as much and doesn't seem so popular with only 15 sets so far in 2019 to ~38 GMK sets.

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[eniigma]

Nord, Solarized, Olivia, Modern Dolch are my 'peak' keysets right now.

[1391401]

Also there have been some standout profiles such as Matt30s MT3 profile for /dev/tty

I had no idea the story of MT3 - going to pick up a set now

[funkden]

Also there have been some standout profiles such as Matt30s MT3 profile for /dev/tty

I had no idea the story of MT3 - going to pick up a set now

/dev/try is an acquired taste, to be honest there were issues with first batch, but it broke ground and it's still my favourite for typing on. Real thoccing treat!

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[zslane]

Yes, /dev/tty is an amazing keycap set, not just in the looks department but also in the typing feel department:

[funkden]

Yes, /dev/tty is an amazing keycap set, not just in the looks department but also in the typing feel department:

(Attachment Link)

I had triumph mods for so long until I got the beige ones. God I got so sick of them. But yes I agree great set! I had a few spares but got shot of them on me market recently!

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[phinix]

I agree, most of the new IC sets look like Unicorn puked rainbows...
SA didn't have a nice design for a while now.
XDA Canvas was great but other once that came up in this profile looks blaaah.
Re-runs of good old sets are still very anticipated, but obviously happen every couple of years.

I had about 10 different sets in my collection, but got rid of those that I didn't put on my keyboards for at least 1.5 year. Kept 5 that I like and switch them every 3-4 months.
Same with keyboards - had 6 of them, sold those that didn't really bring much to the banch and left just 3 (stock RF 87u 55g, modded RF 88u 55g and NT).

I noticed more actual keyboard designs coming out lately, unless its just me.
Ordered myself KBDFANS8X Mk2 and Rama U80, but I guess will keep one of them...

[phedd]

I think it's just getting started. Perhaps the concept of group buys and stuff have peaked, but "keyboards/keycaps" as a hobby has just started it's way to becoming a big thing outside the US. So, yeah. I think we will see an explosion, lots of more new stuff. Sold in better ways than group buys.

Like GMK/Uniqey starting to stock all sorts of layouts in different colors. Getting the customer to be able to select the colors of the mods and everything.

So I think we'll get less "weird"/"unique" sets all the time, and more... "serious"/"timeless" kits being stocked and sold more efficiently. For the "unique" sets (personal projects) there will always be group buys. But it's not exactly viable as the only option for people in the hobby, and absolutely not when all this really becomes a thing in Europe. I feel like many kits now are just reinventing the wheel. We know what fonts (Helvetica), legends (classic Cherry) and symbols (also classic Cherry) most people want. Those could easily be simplified. Just pick colors and go.

And eventually, obviously, as technology continues to advance.. I mean, it would be weird if we in ~10 years could not do complete custom double shot kits as a one off, just for yourself. And not too expensive. Like you can get custom kits from Max and Wasd but... good. Kind of what Varmilo does but even better.

[HungerMechanic]

I think we're definitely past the period of "classic" GMK sets, and it's become what's called a "mature" market or industry.

GMK Handarbeit showed that things have gone too far.

But I'm glad that, with all the popularity, it's possible to get more reruns of classic sets like 9009. In case I need them, I'm really looking forward to how sets like Hyperfuse or Honeywell might make a comeback.


It could be that MT3 is competing with GMK. I've found myself putting money into GMK sets when it could be saved for a future MT3 set. So there's competition there.

Even though I think it's SA that's truly endangered by MT3. I would never buy an SA set, knowing that MT3 is available.

[funkden]

I think we're definitely past the period of "classic" GMK sets, and it's become what's called a "mature" market or industry.

GMK Handarbeit showed that things have gone too far.

But I'm glad that, with all the popularity, it's possible to get more reruns of classic sets like 9009. In case I need them, I'm really looking forward to how sets like Hyperfuse or Honeywell might make a comeback.


It could be that MT3 is competing with GMK. I've found myself putting money into GMK sets when it could be saved for a future MT3 set. So there's competition there.

Even though I think it's SA that's truly endangered by MT3. I would never buy an SA set, knowing that MT3 is available.

I love MY3 but I dont think they will ever get to challenge SA as they are not double shot and will always lack a black keycap, white legend. Also we dont know about wear on the pad printing yet. I use my dev/tty most days at work all day and am waiting to see the legends starting to wear.

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[DALExSNAIL]

Once this SA fad dies, only then will we have reached the peak.

[Benitone]

I became tired of gmk when I discovered how nice cherry POM keycaps feel. Nicer than pbt or abs. Just crazy nice.

And about the colours, well, these new sets are so mediocre that they find a reason to exist only because they share some similarities with existing and successful sets.

[zslane]

FYI: MT3 does come in double-shot ABS (not just dyesub PBT); that's what matt3o's Susuwatari set is.

[funkden]

FYI: MT3 does come in double-shot ABS (not just dyesub PBT); that's what matt3o's Susuwatari set is.

I stand corrected. I didn't know that one was double shot. I never went for Susuwatari because there was no international set. I use iso se/fi.

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[_rubik]

Once this SA fad dies, only then will we have reached the peak.

Unpopular opinion, but yeah. Every profile rides a wave; SA is crashing and GMK is peaking (in popularity).

I'm a little turned off by designers just throwing together a new colorway. I miss the days of designing new sets around an aesthetic ideal and actually working on new molds that the rest of the community can benefit from.

IMO SA Carbon until GMK Laser was peak.

[DALExSNAIL]

Once this SA fad dies, only then will we have reached the peak.

Unpopular opinion, but yeah. Every profile rides a wave; SA is crashing and GMK is peaking (in popularity).

I'm a little turned off by designers just throwing together a new colorway. I miss the days of designing new sets around an aesthetic ideal and actually working on new molds that the rest of the community can benefit from.

IMO SA Carbon until GMK Laser was peak.

I can agree from a popularity standpoint at least. Im picky with caps though, only really like WoB, Beige, and Dolch (with a recent exception given to EPBT Slate).

[Auxo]

Personally, don't think so.

It completely depends on where the market is heading or trending towards. Previously, classic colors were all the rage, and they are still highly respected (for perfectly good reason).

We had multiple iterations of classic colorways, GMK classic retro, 9009, hammer's sets, etc.

Then we saw that crazy color combinations saw a spike in popularity after the community showed there was an interest in expanding past that comfort zone. (laser, miami, rainbow, etc.)

Now we're seeing an influx of anime & game themed colorways make their appearance (metaverse, shoko, black lotus, alter, etc.)

Just from watching the market trend move and touch different interests, I wanna argue that it isn't peaking at all.

I think it's expanding.

[Vireca]

The problem is designer prefer to go with GMK because cherry is a good profile. GMK is easy to work with them and they are a popular brand/keycaps cuz the cherry profile and ABS doubleshot. So with this, the designer prefer to make his sets with GMK rather than any other and take the risk to not make MOQ

I would like to see other profiles and PBT sets, but these make some headaches because usually PBT brands are Chinese and its difficult to get a set perfect cuz PBT isn't an easy plastic to mold

I'm tired of GMK sets tbh

[Surefoot]

I love MY3 but I dont think they will ever get to challenge SA as they are not double shot and will always lack a black keycap, white legend. Also we dont know about wear on the pad printing yet. I use my dev/tty most days at work all day and am waiting to see the legends starting to wear.

They wont, since they are not pad printed. They used dye sublimation which actually transfers the color into the plastic itself.

[walletburner]

no

[mizzoperator]

We still haven't reached peak keyset, imo. We need to go deeper.
inb4 Fujitsu Sanyo keycaps in Space Cadet color scheme that spit fire

[typo]

This is why I had to use 3 GMK sets and 1 custom key for my completely customized Topre RGB(Seasonic). As usual, no pics. I do not want anyone copying it. I assure you they are reading this in China too and I have spent almost $12,000 building this keyboard. That, is not a typo. My entire current system is my end game now. Before you know it, someone wants to see the inside then copy the PCB ETC. as well and they have the whole thing. No thank you

[rxc92]

This is why I had to use 3 GMK sets and 1 custom key for my completely customized Topre RGB(Seasonic). As usual, no pics. I do not want anyone copying it. I assure you they are reading this in China too and I have spent almost $12,000 building this keyboard. That, is not a typo. My entire current system is my end game now. Before you know it, someone wants to see the inside then copy the PCB ETC. as well and they have the whole thing. No thank you

 
 
Oh my god this is so cringey

[typo]

I know I came off as a real jerk in that post but I am not the least bit embarrassed about stating my true feelings regarding the matter. Why I will not share photo's of it specifically. It should be understandable at least given such an investment in a keyboard of all things. Next thing I know they are being sold online for $75.

[funkden]

I love MY3 but I dont think they will ever get to challenge SA as they are not double shot and will always lack a black keycap, white legend. Also we dont know about wear on the pad printing yet. I use my dev/tty most days at work all day and am waiting to see the legends starting to wear.

They wont, since they are not pad printed. They used dye sublimation which actually transfers the color into the plastic itself.

I stand corrected!

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[Stupidface]

This is why I had to use 3 GMK sets and 1 custom key for my completely customized Topre RGB(Seasonic). As usual, no pics. I do not want anyone copying it. I assure you they are reading this in China too and I have spent almost $12,000 building this keyboard. That, is not a typo. My entire current system is my end game now. Before you know it, someone wants to see the inside then copy the PCB ETC. as well and they have the whole thing. No thank you

(Emphasis added.)

Have there been actual instances of someone posting pictures of a custom keyboard on GH and, next thing they knew, Guangzhou was producing copies?

[Gampela]

It's not like they can't design their own PCBs in China.