geekhack brand keyboard?

[Moogle Stiltzkin]

If your talking about custom cherry boards,

My suggestion is a geekhack custom metal plate for a G80-1000 series model modification part. They are hard to get, and i'm not too fond of pcb mounted boards because of durability/cleaning.

[JohnehJH]

I'm half on board for this. I've never bought a mechanical keyboard but if these were cherrys (blues/browns) at a reasonable price I'd be on it.

If there is going to be a logo, I don't think it should be on the face. The Rosewill 9000's logo was actually the reason I still haven't bought one. And no offense to geekhack, but from a typographic stand point, those e's are excruciating to look at (both "worn" in the same way, obvious font).

I think color should be voted on. I know there's more flexibility if it's beige / white, but I suspect more people are going to want black.

Yes for Tenkeyless, NKRO, if the the keycaps aren't blank they should be a respectable typeface.

[Madidas]

Are we actually making progress here in this community What I have read it`s almost impossible...

spolia optima put to gether nice board but I would like to give you an option.
"Dictator orders and it`s take it or leave it..."

-Tenkeyless keyboard (Filco look-a-like, maybe just a tighter package)
-Color would be snow white (freshly snowed snow) or just white/beige
-Cherry MX switches mounted on metal plate ( no idea what... blue/red/clear ??)
-Keycaps "blank" black, faint laser carved letters<- almost undetectable but you could feel it, if it`s possible
-Backlight: white LEDs (on+ some brightness levels and off possibility)
-Keycaps+LED: when off-> keycaps would be blank and when on-> white light would glow through carved letters
-Almost forget that orange ESC key
-NKRO of course
-Detachable USB-cord as an optional
-Geekhack logo lasered where Filco put their logo...

P.S. Sorry for some spelling and grammar mistakes

[iMav]

I was actually referring to this...but I like all the ideas.  

As far as geekhack branding is concerned, members are free to do so as long as it is a GH-community focused project.  And the forum graphic does not need to be used...feel free to come up with something else that you would find more appealing to the eye.  (the next update to the GH themes will have a different header graphic anyways)

[itlnstln]

I like where this thread is going, and I'd like to add my .2

How about a bunch of us get together and throw down on a custom Cherry build?
Say, a G80-3000 or G80-1800?

I'm sure a lot of us would agree on:
-Brown switches
-NKRO (will add a few $ per board but worth it)
-Beige / white color (leaves room for custom RIT jobs)
-Standard lasered PBT caps (again, ripe for the RIT dye)
-Orange WASD / ESC keys
-Classy, modern geekhack logo lasered on upper left or right

I don't think we need to go all-out on a "first" geekhack board. Besides, the miniguru is still on the table. No need to steal it's thunder.
A nice ANSI G80-3000 with NKRO and brown switches is a safe route and a guaranteed kickass keyboard to boot.

This would be a fantastic idea.  I would be in for one or two myself.

[spolia optima]

This would probably be a good time to mention that I have neither the time nor the organizational skills to manage such a project... I have no idea how to order a manufacturing run from overseas, trust me, I'm not the guy you want in charge! i was just spitballin' ideas.

But I'm glad you guys like it! I'm flattered *blushes*

I would be glad to take on a role in the process, though. I can do some things.

[bakageta]

I like where this thread is going, and I'd like to add my .2

How about a bunch of us get together and throw down on a custom Cherry build?
Say, a G80-3000 or G80-1800?

I'm sure a lot of us would agree on:
-Brown switches
-NKRO (will add a few $ per board but worth it)
-Beige / white color (leaves room for custom RIT jobs)
-Standard lasered PBT caps (again, ripe for the RIT dye)
-Orange WASD / ESC keys
-Classy, modern geekhack logo lasered on upper left or right

I don't think we need to go all-out on a "first" geekhack board. Besides, the miniguru is still on the table. No need to steal it's thunder.
A nice ANSI G80-3000 with NKRO and brown switches is a safe route and a guaranteed kickass keyboard to boot.

I'd easily be in for one, possibly more depending on price. I'd prefer blank PBT keys, but the standard lasered ones would be acceptable. If you do a colored esc/wasd, leave them as extra keys for sure.

(edit)
Actually, would only be in for an ANSI-ish layout, the ISO enter key drives me crazy so that's a dealbreaker... Don't know how many people feel one way or another about it though.

[itlnstln]

I would do it, but I can't get anything out of Cherry in the US, at least in my area.  It would probably have to be someone in a different part of the US or overseas.  Maybe Bruce with the Keyboard Co. could help and offer it on their site.

[sixty]

I sent a request for a custom board to Cherry a year or two ago, here are a few infos:

* Color keycaps are no longer being produced. White PBT, Black POM. Nothing else. No double shots, no color keys, no LED window keys.
* MOQ for a board with customization for anything besides the usual switch variants (black, blue, clear) and a different logo is 300 keyboards.
* You need to order from a registered business address

This data is from Cherry Germany and MOQ might vary outside of Europe.

[spolia optima]

Suprised so many GH members are on this early- ha ha i take it most of you guys aren't on the Pacific coast!

If brown isn't available as a "usual switch", I would definitely opt for clears or blacks.
Since the switches will be PCB mounted, it would also make for a great addition to the GH spring group buy... High modifiability for those with sub-par soldering skills.

GH spring + clears would give us somewhat of a "new" switch, given the larger tactile bump of the clear switches. That would be totally tits, guys.

edit: so how does this work... is there like an insured escrow kinda bank account we all would deposit our share of the money into, or what?

[sixty]

Should probably first contact Cherry again and find out actual costs and required order amounts. I can call them later today if I have the time.

[spolia optima]

Good idea. Don't want to go counting chickens before they've hatched.

[Fiasco]

Should probably first contact Cherry again and find out actual costs and required order amounts. I can call them later today if I have the time.

How about this one to be geekhack brand keyboard?

I think it is possible to engrave the "geekhack" in the side of spacebar.

[Senor_Cartmenez]

meh

I'd only be interested in a board with reds
don't u guys think that would be more desireable anyhow since reds are so rare to come by?

[tjweir]

I'm interested for sure.

I'd like reds or blacks as an option, if it's possible.

[Bern]

I would be interested too depending on price.

[tarc]

Arrow keys are easy on this layout.

The Divine People already have it.  The question is whether the HHKB3 will in ANSI, not JIS.

Show Image

Yes, it's a nice compact Layout with arrows, (the spacebar is small though). A bit in the spirit of the project linked in the first post.

Fkeys might be nice also..

Tarc

[gilgam]

Me too whatever a, reasonable, price.

I think it's important for those who ignore it that the price will be higher than 150 dollars.

Isn't it ?


About the mx
is it possible to get the choice ?


For the layout that one  is truly fantastic.

[sadbox]

I don't understand the obsession everyone has with reds. Is it just because they're so rare? Then again I'm obsessed with blues.....

[killy]

Is there any point to this? Most layouts are now available for reasonable prices. Quality is no guarantee, as it is set by the company you order from.

[Eclairz]

Yes, it's a nice compact Layout with arrows, (the spacebar is small though). A bit in the spirit of the project linked in the first post.

Fkeys might be nice also..

Tarc

Well that layout includes the Japanese keys which can be removed to make a larger spacebar.

[digitalleftovers]

I want to know who manufactured the miniguru/poker boards.  Cherry is probably the most efficient way to go, but if those mini boards were available at a competative price, I would want to know more about that option.

[digitalleftovers]

Is there any point to this? Most layouts are now available for reasonable prices. Quality is no guarantee, as it is set by the company you order from.

LOL.  Don't forget, you're talking to people who own titanium spacebars!

[Reaif]

I guess once pricing is figured out, we ought to figure out what switch we are going to be ordering. I figure that there will be quite a few people who won't get exactly what they want, but there should be one switch that a lot of people can still enjoy. Perhaps we ought to get a poll running with first and second choice for a switch type, then pick the one that most people would be fine with typing on.

[itlnstln]

I want to know who manufactured the miniguru/poker boards.  Cherry is probably the most efficient way to go, but if those mini boards were available at a competative price, I would want to know more about that option.

Member lowpoly manufactured the Miniguru.

[guilleguillaume]

I'm not a big fan of Full-Size keyboards anymore so If the idea it's to go with a Full-Size keyboard I must not agree at all.

[pitashen]

Update: I created a Poll to gauge interest: http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=15167

mm

[Shazb0t]

Tenkeyless Cherry Red.  Pleaseee?

[Reaif]

#1 result for "cherry corp us sales manager" though.  I bet his wife likes that.

Only because of your post lol.

Interestingly enough, when you search for "cherry corp us sales manager", 5 of the top 6 results are from geekhack.org.

[Ekaros]

Something else than \KL's Tenkeyless Clone with non-(brown/blue/black)...

I would personaly go for something more special, namely compact layout, still with some rarer switches like reds or clears.

[keyboardlover]

I really hope you didn't just refer to me as "MW"...

[Ekaros]

I really hope you didn't just refer to me as "MW"...

Sorry mate... Will fix it now...

[.XL]

Put me down for one, too. Compact layout with Browns/Clears would be perfect.

Is it really cheaper to get the keyboard custom from Germany? I know Chinese factories take custom orders (my dad does it all the time, but not with keyboards) if you're willing to order enough. If you could get some 200 people from here to put an order through I'm sure a chinese manufacturer would be willing.

Maybe something like the Choc Mini that would work on Mac with Home/End keys? In white? That seems to be what most people want.

I think a nice GEEKHACK on the space bar where the Noppoo logo is on the Choc would be sick.

[digitalleftovers]

compact + arrow keys + clears + a gh logo = WIN

[Lanx]

Asians do group buy the best, basically just dictatorship wins, too much democracy and nothing happens as is the case with 90% of everything here, except for the recent dolch signature keycaps (done by an asian, I assume being named whiterice). If geekhack is to succeed in doing another successful groupbuy, have it organized by an emperor like asian, choices=fail.

[.XL]

Asians do group buy the best, basically just dictatorship wins, too much democracy and nothing happens as is the case with 90% of everything here, except for the recent dolch signature keycaps (done by an asian, I assume being named whiterice). If geekhack is to succeed in doing another successful groupbuy, have it organized by an emperor like asian, choices=fail.

Or, someone who is a respected member of this forum and understands the general desires expressed in this thread, could narrow it down to three options. Something like...

1) Tenkeyless with brown switches, GEEKHACK logo on top right
2) Tenkeyless with clears, GEEKHACK logo on spacebar
3) 104 with reds, GEEKHACK logo on front (like the FILCO logo)

(All ANSI)

And then the community can vote from there. That way the choices are narrowed down to a small selection, and everyone will be satisfied.

My thinking is everyone puts a $25 down payment to vote, making the possibility of the people who chose the second-place selection not buying the first selection a non-issue. This way, if there are extra boards (say 200 needed for an order, only 150 ordered) the $25 buy in can help lower the cost of the extra boards if the people who put the money down in the first place don't just spring the extra cash for get a GEEKHACK board.

[Ekaros]

Or, someone who is a respected member of this forum and understands the general desires expressed in this thread, could narrow it down to three options. Something like...

1) Tenkeyless with brown switches, GEEKHACK logo on top right
2) Tenkeyless with clears, GEEKHACK logo on spacebar
3) 104 with reds, GEEKHACK logo on front (like the FILCO logo)

(All ANSI)

And then the community can vote from there. That way the choices are narrowed down to a small selection, and everyone will be satisfied.

My thinking is everyone puts a $25 down payment to vote, making the possibility of the people who chose the second-place selection not buying the first selection a non-issue. This way, if there are extra boards (say 200 needed for an order, only 150 ordered) the $25 buy in can help lower the cost of the extra boards if the people who put the money down in the first place don't just spring the extra cash for get a GEEKHACK board.

I would prefer some options which aren't available from other makers. I think it's bit pointless to make just rebrand, more of unique product could be ideal and I also would prefer compromise between Ansi and iso meaning the including of extra key somewhere in prosess...

Or maybe gather list of possible option in poll and let people choose from there and make compromise option then get people in for it...
MX Clear
MX Red
MX Blue
Tenkeyless
Mini 1
Mini 2
Mini 3
White
Black
Otaku

[.XL]

I would prefer some options which aren't available from other makers. I think it's bit pointless to make just rebrand, more of unique product could be ideal and I also would prefer compromise between Ansi and iso meaning the including of extra key somewhere in prosess...

I was just providing that as an example. But we're going with ANSI. Because America is the whole world.

I don't know how key remapping works, but if the manufacturer can provide us with both enter keys that would be great! However, if we had to settle on one, would be you okay with ANSI? It seems to me most users here are American, but I'm not sure.

I understand what you mean about the rebrand thing. Maybe a tenkeyless red or clear keyboard would be more desirable. I haven't used either personally, but from what I've read here most people seem to prefer clears.

Is there any way we could do this with Topre boards? If the price would be some 175 each, would people spring for them? I know I would, but it seems like Topre's aren't as popular, and may be much more expensive to produce than I think.

__________________________________________________

EDIT: Just saw your addition. I like that idea much better.

We could vote first on board size, then switch type, then font type. How does that sound?

That way it'd be 3 or more polls, and in the end we'd have a big compromise between all of us. It's the most democratic way.

[keyboardlover]

Asians do group buy the best

Racist!!

[WhiteRice]

oh herro

[sixty]

Everything I predicted in the very first post, explaining why I do not believe in this to happen has happened within the last 4 pages. People never change :redface:

Btw, news from Cherry:

MX Red Boards - No publishing rights outside of Asia - 500 MOQ in Korea and Taiwan, 1000 in Japan
Other MX Boards such as brown: 500 MOQ

[.XL]

Everything I predicted in the very first post, explaining why I do not believe in this to happen has happened within the last 4 pages. People never change :redface:

Btw, news from Cherry:

MX Red Boards - No publishing rights outside of Asia - 500 MOQ in Korea and Taiwan, 1000 in Japan
Other MX Boards such as brown: 500 MOQ

Wow, so much more than I thought...can we muster up 500 people?? Or is anyone willing to go to other forums to recruit??

[Ekaros]

Wow, so much more than I thought...can we muster up 500 people?? Or is anyone willing to go to other forums to recruit??

Try getting order from some retailers?

500 isn't too large run either, but for us it is...


Also my ANSI-enter works, as long as there is place on board for that one extra key. Might mean smaller shift-key depends realy on layout.

[Reaif]

Unless everyone here wants two, I doubt we will get Cherry to make them with that kind of requirement. Unless there are a lot more people who visit this forum than I thought.

In any case, I would recommend that anyone who has a connection with some sort of manufacturer or whatever start making some phone calls. I agree that someone needs to jump in and take charge. I don't mind making decisions, though I don't really have a lot of cred on this forum yet, and I am not in touch with anyone capable of taking on an order like what we need.

As far as deciding on a layout, the best idea put forth so far, I think, is to go with something that isn't already available. So I will go ahead and list a few factors which are fairly unique, which probably ought to go in.

1. Small form factor
2. Keycaps printed with both ansi and iso, different colors for distinction of course.
3. An uncommon switch. The most popular seem to be:
_    a. Cherry red
_    b. Cherry clear
4. Color scheme(the least important thing in my opinion, but still something that has to be decided) This probably ought to be something uncommon as well.
_    a. White
_    b. Something like Otaku.
_    c. Something custom.

[killy]

So why is everyone fixated on Cherry clears? The huge tactile bump with no auditory feedback is starting to sound more and more like a rubber dome to me. I guess it's because in Brown / Clears, the bump happens later compared to immediately with a dome?

[Lpb45]

Has anyone looked into the logistics of moving the keyboards to the US?  I work for a logistics company and we have offices all over east asia (25+ in China).  I can look into pricing for moving the shipment to the US even including clearing them aswell directly from the manufacturer's door.  If you have any questions or are just looking for a quote shoot me a pm.  I can help aswell with speaking to the manufacturer overseas, it's pretty much what I do all day at work.

I really would love to get one of these boards to,  something small form factor I hope.  Kinda want something smaller then my Filco 104 and love the look the the choc mini and hhkb, not to mention this looks to be something very unique and 1 of a kind.

[.XL]

Has anyone looked into the logistics of moving the keyboards to the US?  I work for a logistics company and we have offices all over east asia (25+ in China).  I can look into pricing for moving the shipment to the US even including clearing them aswell directly from the manufacturer's door.  If you have any questions or are just looking for a quote shoot me a pm.  I can help aswell with speaking to the manufacturer overseas, it's pretty much what I do all day at work.

I really would love to get one of these boards to,  something small form factor I hope.  Kinda want something smaller then my Filco 104 and love the look the the choc mini and hhkb, not to mention this looks to be something very unique and 1 of a kind.

I think the only way we can really do this is through regular airmail, which will be expensive. If we work with a 3PL on a one-time deal it will save shipping/customs but if they charge us a great deal we could end up being worse off for it.

I guess most people that I've seen want Clears/Reds, but most mods people do are ghetto reds. Maybe the red switch? Anyway, we could just hold a poll and see which one people would like better.

The biggest issue lies in the logistics...not just the how, but the cost. Getting a GEEKHACK branded keyboard is great, but not so great when you have to pay an exorbitant amount.

We might just end up being better off ordering a run of white Filcos and getting them customized post-production.

[Lpb45]

I think the only way we can really do this is through regular airmail, which will be expensive. If we work with a 3PL on a one-time deal it will save shipping/customs but if they charge us a great deal we could end up being worse off for it.

I guess most people that I've seen want Clears/Reds, but most mods people do are ghetto reds. Maybe the red switch? Anyway, we could just hold a poll and see which one people would like better.

The biggest issue lies in the logistics...not just the how, but the cost. Getting a GEEKHACK branded keyboard is great, but not so great when you have to pay an exorbitant amount.

We might just end up being better off ordering a run of white Filcos and getting them customized post-production.

This is exactly why I posted, I can do this at cost.  I would be the 3PL and can really really drive the rate down if everyone is patient enough to wait for it to move by ocean which is around 30 days transit not counting pickup and loading, if you guys are even thinking of moving it by AIR the price will be through the roof for something of the dimensions this order would have.  Exports out of East Asia right now are at a premium, the last shipment I did from Seoul was around 5 dollars a kilogram and thats just for non guaranteed normal service.  Just for funzies we should estimate an order of 250 and try and gather some dimensions of what the freight may look like and I can atleast quote it to see what the cost may be around.  No harm in it, it's not gonna cost anyone anything for me to quote it and see if it may be cheaper.

[.XL]

This is exactly why I posted, I can do this at cost.  I would be the 3PL and can really really drive the rate down if everyone is patient enough to wait for it to move by ocean which is around 30 days transit not counting pickup and loading, if you guys are even thinking of moving it by AIR the price will be through the roof for something of the dimensions this order would have.  Exports out of East Asia right now are at a premium, the last shipment I did from Seoul was around 5 dollars a kilogram and thats just for non guaranteed normal service.  Just for funzies we should estimate an order of 250 and try and gather some dimensions of what the freight may look like and I can atleast quote it to see what the cost may be around.  No harm in it, it's not gonna cost anyone anything for me to quote it and see if it may be cheaper.

If you're planning on freight consolidation then we won't have to pay by weight if they fit in the container...those things take 40,000lbs. And yeah, air would be way too expensive. By ship would be the best.

Oh, and put in a good word for me over there in Asia. I'm an International Business and Supply Chain Management major looking for a job in Korea/China/Taiwan

[Lpb45]

If you're planning on freight consolidation then we won't have to pay by weight if they fit in the container...those things take 40,000lbs. And yeah, air would be way too expensive. By ship would be the best.

Oh, and put in a good word for me over there in Asia. I'm an International Business and Supply Chain Management major looking for a job in Korea/China/Taiwan

You don't need to book a whole container to move something by ocean, you pay by the cubic meter if its LCL.  Well like I said I would love to help and get a nice unique mech board but I think I am gonna stop wasting my time from the responses.