Author Topic: Who's who? (manufacturers)  (Read 4303 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline sk00ma

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 3
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« on: Fri, 23 March 2012, 21:08:39 »
Hello, I figured this was a good place to find out some info about manufacturers. I've been trying to find various manufactures of the popular mech keyboards out there but I've been having little success. I found out that DAS is made by Costar (I also read that Filco is made by them as well in some thread on another forum... but then that would mean a few others are also made by Costar I think). Does anyone have a list or some info? I've tried contacting the consulates of various countries and thus far I've had only one response - Hong Kong which only gave me a link to an online database.

Also what is all of this business with KBC/KBT/Vortex? As I understand KBT is the online community, but what are the other two?

I'd appreciate any help with this.

Offline Nunez

  • Posts: 166
  • Location: Australia
  • BACK!
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 23 March 2012, 22:02:54 »
I don't know too much, but CM QFR, and WASD are also costar. Don't take my word for it though.
I miss Ripster :(
HHKB Pro 2 || KBC Poker || Filco MJ2

Offline sk00ma

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 3
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 24 March 2012, 00:38:40 »
Partly curiosity (KBC,KBT,Vortex) but mostly for a project I'm thinking of starting.

Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 24 March 2012, 14:10:08 »
Quote from: sk00ma;555109
Hello, I figured this was a good place to find out some info about manufacturers. I've been trying to find various manufactures of the popular mech keyboards out there but I've been having little success. I found out that DAS is made by Costar (I also read that Filco is made by them as well in some thread on another forum... but then that would mean a few others are also made by Costar I think). Does anyone have a list or some info? I've tried contacting the consulates of various countries and thus far I've had only one response - Hong Kong which only gave me a link to an online database.

Also what is all of this business with KBC/KBT/Vortex? As I understand KBT is the online community, but what are the other two?

I'd appreciate any help with this.
KBC = a keyboard community at China, and also a company that making keycaps(most pbt around GH are probably from them) and they are the Ducky distributor in mainland China.

Vortex probably = KBT

Offline laffindude

  • Posts: 1521
  • ( ̽ ¬ ˳¬)
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 24 March 2012, 14:43:54 »
Quote from: Human;555676
Vortex probably = KBT


Vortex is probably Costar's house brand. Definitely not KBT.

Offline REVENGE

  • Posts: 568
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 24 March 2012, 19:15:35 »
lol you contacted the consulates about keyboards? XDXDXD

I'm uncertain who's still doing what in the business nowadays, but:
Datacomp, Costar - I suspect they're in bed together.
Qtronix - Hit or miss in terms of quality.
Strongman SMK - Could be out of the keyboard business for good, you can inquire.
Monterey - Not sure if they still do mechanical, and even if they do, I don't know if they do designs with Cherry.
TG3 - Buy American: high quality, very expensive.
TVS - Indian, unwilling thus far to export to the US, not sure if their board is self-made.
HCL Peripherals / Infosystems - Indian, again, not sure if they're an OEM.
There's also Chicony / NMB. Although I'm pretty sure NMB is out of mechanicals for good, Chicony still lists mechanical reference designs on their website.
◕ ‿ ◕

Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 25 March 2012, 05:23:38 »
Quote from: laffindude;555695
Vortex is probably Costar's house brand. Definitely not KBT.

Why do you think so? Vortex is the first who posted, KBT Pure, KBT Race and KBT anodized aluminium keycaps.

Offline laffindude

  • Posts: 1521
  • ( ̽ ¬ ˳¬)
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 25 March 2012, 05:26:37 »
Because I asked 奕之華.

Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 25 March 2012, 05:30:00 »
Quote from: laffindude;556150
Because I asked 奕之華.

The guy they called 花大?

BTW, then why Vortex always the very 1st to land hand on those KBT stuffs at prototype stage?

Offline laffindude

  • Posts: 1521
  • ( ̽ ¬ ˳¬)
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 25 March 2012, 05:30:27 »
Yes.

Edit: he doesn't know who Vortex is either. He and I have the same suspicion that Vortex is a Costar brand/closely related to Costar.

Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 25 March 2012, 05:33:24 »
Quote from: laffindude;556152
Yes.

Edit: he doesn't know who Vortex is either. He and I have the same suspicion that Vortex is a Costar brand/closely related to Costar.

So those KBT stuffs are made by Costar? And Vortex get it directly from them(Costar)?

Offline laffindude

  • Posts: 1521
  • ( ̽ ¬ ˳¬)
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 25 March 2012, 05:38:43 »
I don't know about the aluminum caps, but Race and Pure is Costar. Vortex seems to be able to get their hands on stuff even sooner than 奕之華, that's why I think they're a brand by Costar.

Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 25 March 2012, 05:46:09 »
Quote from: laffindude;556155
I don't know about the aluminum caps, but Race and Pure is Costar. Vortex seems to be able to get their hands on stuff even sooner than 奕之華, that's why I think they're a brand by Costar.
Ok, nice info there. TIL KBT ≠ Vortex and Vortex ⊂ Costar

Offline laffindude

  • Posts: 1521
  • ( ̽ ¬ ˳¬)
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 25 March 2012, 05:50:06 »
I wouldn't definitively say Vortex ⊂ Costar unless there is positive proof. We do have very limited evidence.

Offline Exort

  • Posts: 70
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #14 on: Sun, 25 March 2012, 17:59:54 »
Quote from: Human;555676

Vortex probably = KBT

They are definitely not KBT.
Someone ask them if they are plan to sell through KBT, they said no.
It pretty much indirectly prove they are different entity.

Offline Exort

  • Posts: 70
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #15 on: Sun, 25 March 2012, 18:01:47 »
Quote from: laffindude;556158
I wouldn't definitively say Vortex ⊂ Costar unless there is positive proof. We do have very limited evidence.
I agree.
I heard rumor but nothing solid.


Vertox's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Vortexgear
« Last Edit: Sun, 25 March 2012, 18:05:35 by Exort »

Offline feng

  • * Vendor
  • Posts: 925
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #16 on: Sun, 25 March 2012, 23:11:24 »
IMK,
Vertox = JC. = 李哥 He's probably a member of KBT.
奕之華 and 花大 are the same person, and I think he's the head of KBT.
KBC is a keyboard community in mainland China. KBT is in Taiwan.
There's some cooperations between KBC, KBT, and Ducky.

Check this out, the first communication meeting among KBC and KBT held in Beijing.
http://www.chiphell.com/thread-387692-1-3.html

BTW, who is Costar?
« Last Edit: Sun, 25 March 2012, 23:15:55 by feng »

Offline Human

  • Posts: 596
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #17 on: Mon, 26 March 2012, 00:00:37 »
Quote from: feng;556807
IMK,
Vertox = JC. = 李哥 He's probably a member of KBT.
奕之華 and 花大 are the same person, and I think he's the head of KBT.
KBC is a keyboard community in mainland China. KBT is in Taiwan.
There's some cooperations between KBC, KBT, and Ducky.

Check this out, the first communication meeting among KBC and KBT held in Beijing.
http://www.chiphell.com/thread-387692-1-3.html

BTW, who is Costar?

力宝, the OEM for Filco.

Offline laffindude

  • Posts: 1521
  • ( ̽ ¬ ˳¬)
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #18 on: Mon, 26 March 2012, 05:03:23 »
立寶 http://www.costar.com.tw
Quote from: Exort;556542
They are definitely not KBT.
Someone ask them if they are plan to sell through KBT, they said no.
It pretty much indirectly prove they are different entity.

Why use circumstantial evidence when I already asked the head of KBT?

Offline Exort

  • Posts: 70
Who's who? (manufacturers)
« Reply #19 on: Mon, 26 March 2012, 10:52:10 »
Quote from: laffindude;557006
立寶 http://www.costar.com.tw

Why use circumstantial evidence when I already asked the head of KBT?
I just realize I mess up KBT and KBC.