Author Topic: WASD keyboard first impressions and pics (Read 6996 times)

BababooeyHTJ · « **on:** Mon, 10 October 2011, 20:19:21 »

I've been wanting to go back to a full sized keyboard. WASD looked like the best option. I'm not big into a flashy keyboard so I went with white "lasered etched" keycaps with their classic lettering. It just hit my door step. Well, I have to say that this thing is as heavy as a Filco this is no aluminum plate like the Ducky uses. It feels like I'm typing on a Filco. The keycaps are also very similar. They have the same finish and the same sculpting. One thing that I did notice is that the bottom of the WASD key had a marking saying "R1" underneath the key and in the exact same spot my filco keycaps have the same marking.

I do have a few gripes, thankfully nothing too big. First of all when I heard laser etched I was expecting lasered keycaps. These are your typical lasered with inkfill caps. They do look very good though. Hopefully the lettering holds up. One other thing is that the cord is very short. Luckily I had a usb extension kicking around. The case isn't exactly as stylish as a filco. It looks like a unicomp spacesaver to me. The last thing that I noticed is that the keycaps are a bastard to pull. I'm not looking forward to swapping these out.

All in all I'm very happy with this keyboard so far. I'll be sticking with this one. For $120 there isn't a better option imo. I would take one of these over a Rosewill at the same price.

As promised here are a couple of quick pics with my crappy camera.

wasdkeyboards · « **Reply #1 on:** Mon, 10 October 2011, 21:39:44 »

I just wanted to clarify that the laser etching does NOT involve an inking process. The laser "burns" the plastic and gives a color change in the material. What you will notice though, especially is you have large letters or symbols, is that the surface of the key where the laser hits will feel slightly different.

I've scratched at these things with a knife and you need to get relatively deep to start scratching it off. It will definitely never happen under normal use.

TopazPie · « **Reply #2 on:** Mon, 10 October 2011, 21:50:47 »

The laser etching looks fantastic. I'm definitely going to get a custom set of those.

Glad you like the keyboard.

enoy21 · « **Reply #3 on:** Mon, 10 October 2011, 22:11:44 »

I agree with Topaz. I had considered white caps on a black board but I wasn't sure how much I would like it. That's pretty damn sexy right there.

kraise · « **Reply #4 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 00:01:58 »

That is quite the sexy 'board.

And like enoy21 mentioned above, I too have been looking into adding a white key cap set to mine eventually.

wasdkeyboards · « **Reply #5 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 00:56:51 »

Here is a white key etched with F8 in Arial, size 8. The laser goes about 0.005" deep. Which doesn't sound like much, but as you can see, you'd have to wear the surface of the keys down significantly to wear the letters out.
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 28365[/ATTACH]

Here is another key. I scraped it with my knife on the "6". So basically, if you don't wear sandpaper tipped gloves when typing, you should be good :smile:
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 28363[/ATTACH]

dorkvader · « **Reply #6 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 01:19:28 »

Excellent review, I agree with it (except the keycaps, 'cause I got the other style). The short cord is somewhat of a pain, but it is long enough to reach all my computers so I don't mind.

Thanks for the pic, WASD. That etching goes deeper than I expected. fun stuff!

squarebox · « **Reply #7 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 02:43:46 »

Nice work from WASD-Keyboard.

I once did a video comparing pad-printed vs ouble-shots

BababooeyHTJ · « **Reply #8 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 04:42:13 »

Quote from: wasdkeyboards;428673

I just wanted to clarify that the laser etching does NOT involve an inking process. The laser "burns" the plastic and gives a color change in the material. What you will notice though, especially is you have large letters or symbols, is that the surface of the key where the laser hits will feel slightly different.

I've scratched at these things with a knife and you need to get relatively deep to start scratching it off. It will definitely never happen under normal use.

Awesome, thanks. Thats exactly what I was hoping for.

enoy21 · « **Reply #9 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 07:42:47 »

WASD is proving to be one steller brand and quality. I love mine and the only reason I'm looking at choosing a different company is for a TKL .

spzz · « **Reply #10 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 08:22:17 »

Yeah and WASDKeyboards is working on a TKL aren't they ^^, can't wait

enoy21 · « **Reply #11 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 08:41:52 »

Yeah , He said it's likely going to be next year and dependent on current sales. From what I understand it's very expensive to get through all the business tape.

itlnstln · « **Reply #12 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 08:43:25 »

I wouldn't want to deal with it. That, and I wonder if Costar even has a tenkeyless mold for that design. That in and of itself may cause its own set of delays.

dpmcalli · « **Reply #13 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 10:00:12 »

Just wanted to say thanks for posting this. Im dying to pick up a WASD keyboard but am holding out for the ISO version and was planning on going for the white laser etched keys as you have done. I really wanted to see some "real life" pics before I took the plunge and was glad to see how good it looks. I think the white keys provide better contrast than the laser etching on black keys.

Tarkoon · « **Reply #14 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 10:05:33 »

Quote from: spzz;428832

Yeah and WASDKeyboards is working on a TKL aren't they ^^, can't wait

WASD TKL (ISO) = :hail::first:

sordna · « **Reply #15 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 12:06:06 »

Quote from: squarebox;428775

Nice work from WASD-Keyboard.

I once did a video comparing pad-printed vs ouble-shots

EXCELLENT video! The music was perfect too, went so well with the sad sight of keycaps being sacrificed ...

rodya · « **Reply #16 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 12:19:58 »

Thanks for the post Babahooey, for those of us considering WASD.

daerid · « **Reply #17 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 12:25:16 »

I was thinking of getting a Rosewill for the detachable usb cord, but if the WASD is that much better in quality, then I think I just changed my mind.

sordna · « **Reply #18 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 12:27:17 »

Exactly my thoughts, I like detachable cables too, but the recent reports from multiple users about Rosewills registering extra key presses is very concerning.

BababooeyHTJ · « **Reply #19 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 12:53:24 »

Quote from: daerid;428964

I was thinking of getting a Rosewill for the detachable usb cord, but if the WASD is that much better in quality, then I think I just changed my mind.

I would go with a WASD just for the keycaps. I've seen a fair amount of people mention that the lettering on their Rosewill wore off. That will never happen with these keys. On top of that these white keycaps shouldn't show any shine as much as a black key. I was also considering gray keycaps for the same reasons that I chose the white keycaps. I really love the job that WASD does with the lettering. These are the nicest keycaps that I own.

dpmcalli · « **Reply #20 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 14:40:03 »

Quote from: Tarkoon;428887

WASD TKL (ISO) = :hail::first:

Yeah i heard December as a rough eta. It seems like a long time to wait but Im doing my best to hold out!

dorkvader · « **Reply #21 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 17:12:36 »

They'll have ISO soon, but not a Tenkeyless one is ISO for a while

The only issue with lettering I've had is that the depression left by the laser gets dirty a little faster.

Tarkoon · « **Reply #22 on:** Tue, 11 October 2011, 23:30:07 »

I heard something about ISO in december too, but TKL???

TheProfosist · « **Reply #23 on:** Wed, 12 October 2011, 00:03:00 »

Quote from: Tarkoon;429305

I heard something about ISO in december too, but TKL???

TKL maybe next year later in the year.

daerid · « **Reply #24 on:** Wed, 12 October 2011, 00:16:23 »

Whelp, it's settled then. WASD brown incoming

minhtri · « **Reply #25 on:** Wed, 12 October 2011, 00:23:25 »

do WASD have red switch option ?

TheProfosist · « **Reply #26 on:** Wed, 12 October 2011, 00:24:14 »

Quote from: daerid;429317

Whelp, it's settled then. WASD brown incoming

if you plan on getting o-rings wait. the new ones should be here next month sometime probably later than earlier.

TheProfosist · « **Reply #27 on:** Wed, 12 October 2011, 00:25:39 »

Quote from: minhtri;429318

do WASD have red switch option ?

not yet should be coming late december along with white cases.

wasdkeyboards · « **Reply #28 on:** Wed, 12 October 2011, 02:45:17 »

There's no ETA for white cases. It will not be December. Will need to sell off some inventory first in order to place another order.

Cherry Reds and ISO layout will be December.

Fred · « **Reply #29 on:** Wed, 12 October 2011, 03:18:23 »

Gotta order that mx red iso board as fast as it is available, before either option runs out! lol

keyjay · « **Reply #30 on:** Wed, 12 October 2011, 05:05:52 »

Any thoughts on how a WASD (brown full-size) would compare to a Leopold?

itlnstln · « **Reply #31 on:** Wed, 12 October 2011, 06:19:19 »

Assuming that the Leopold is similar to Ducky in terms of stabilizers...

You probably won't feel that much difference on regular keys, but the stabilized keys will feel smoother and more "regular-key-like" as the Cherry-style stabilizers tend to feel a little stiff. In terms of other quality aspects, I'm not sure, but you certainly can't go wrong with a WASD.

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Author Topic: WASD keyboard first impressions and pics (Read 6996 times)