WASD Keyboards: any good?

[macguy80]

Hi,

Just tonight, I stumbled upon WASD. I definitely plan to get their switch sampler, so that I can at least get a vague idea of what each switch is like (I know it won't actually be accurate since it isn't mounted). But, not having any fully-stocked local retailers, it looks like it is my only option to get to know the various Cherry MX types...a shame.

But are their keyboards any good? I see that they have a v2 keyboard coming out supposedly next March, which looks like a significant upgrade, so I'll have to reserve *full* judgment until the v2 line comes out.

That said, how are their products to date?

Thanks!

[tp4tissue]

They are costar built. A trusted oem, maker of filco, cm quickfire, and rosewill 9000 series.

the V2 will be TKL I think, so make sure you're cool with that..

Though I prefer tkl with autohotkey.

[macguy80]

They are costar built. A trusted oem, maker of filco, cm quickfire, and rosewill 9000 series.

the V2 will be TKL I think, so make sure you're cool with that..

Though I prefer tkl with autohotkey.

Costar, nice! Actually, I have good news for you. Their page states: "Available in 104, 105, 87, and 88 key variants." so it looks like TKL will be an option. My Topre is TKL, but only because I could not justify the price premium for the 104 boards earlier this year.

Forgive me if this marks me as a newbie, but what's autohotkey?

Thanks!

[The_Beast]

Autohotkey is a macro program. Basically, you write or find macros you want and AHK runs it

WASD makes great keyboards. I'm really excited about the V2

[precarious]

never heard any complaints from the ~15 people at work using WASD keyboards with browns

[macguy80]

Awesome! Thanks, everyone! And a very Merry Christmas! 

[daerid]

There was a price premium for Topre 104's over 87s? Dafuq? I've always seen the RF 87's commanding a premium price.

[macguy80]

There was a price premium for Topre 104's over 87s? Dafuq? I've always seen the RF 87's commanding a premium price.

It seems there is. Right now, EK has a 104 for $275. An 87U is $239.

True, not a HUGE premium, but it put the 104U squarely out of range for me at the time.

I also wanted a uniform 45g board, which I think made the difference even greater, but I can't remember the exact pricing, because neither of the options I had then are listed there now.

[MarkPharaoh]

There was a price premium for Topre 104's over 87s? Dafuq? I've always seen the RF 87's commanding a premium price.

I'm pretty sure that's only for resale at places like here where almost every one prefers TKL and smaller.

[daerid]

I also wanted a uniform 45g board, which I think made the difference even greater, but I can't remember the exact pricing, because neither of the options I had then are listed there now.

I don't even think they offer the 104 in a uniform weight. At least not here in America.

[TotalChaos]

My 26 day old Rosewill started dying on me today.  I should have bought a WASD.  Oh well...   Sadly I have another Rosewill on the way...  I will try to stick it out with my Rosewills until they are 100% dead then probably get a WASD like I should have done in the first place.  Grumble grumble grumble.

[hoggy]

never heard any complaints from the ~15 people at work using WASD keyboards with browns

More companies should be like that. 

[precarious]

never heard any complaints from the ~15 people at work using WASD keyboards with browns

More companies should be like that. 

It took a lot more than a simple "hey, buy these" but yeah, it probably wouldn't happen at most places given the cost (even though it's worth it).  Supposedly the CEO / President / whatever got ahold of some report I wrote and basically told my boss to give him a few bullet points even though it was only two pages.  They were just for the data entry people, though.

[kbfreak]

They are costar built. A trusted oem, maker of filco, cm quickfire, and rosewill 9000 series.

the V2 will be TKL I think, so make sure you're cool with that..

Though I prefer tkl with autohotkey.

That is great info to know. I haven't heard too much about them other than key caps until now.

[Mountain Man]

I bought a WASD custom keyboard, brown switches, for Christmas, and first impression is that it's an excellent board.  One of the keys was printed wrong (centered instead of left-justified) and they immediately sent me a replacement key cap, so great customer service, too.

[rootwyrm]

I've heard no complaints about WASD except from me.
My complaints? They don't have a PBT keycap option so I can't really use the customizer, and the WASD v2 the way I want it pretty much exactly won't be available for quite some time still.
Really, that's the only complaint I've ever heard about WASD. And I've dug around. If they could do a v1 with MX Greens, green/red/amber LED, and PBT? I'd order two.

[dorkvader]

Fortunately, WASDkeyboards is looking to get PBT keycaps. I believe they had a plan for that, but there was an issue with sourcing.
Unfortunately, it's still just the one person, so these things take time. I will rejoice once they have PBT as an option.

[rowdy]

Just as importantly WASD seems to have very good customer relations.  They also have a vendor forum here, so you can browse that to see the sort of communication with WASD.  From what I have seen, they are highly recommended.

[rootwyrm]

Fortunately, WASDkeyboards is looking to get PBT keycaps. I believe they had a plan for that, but there was an issue with sourcing.
Unfortunately, it's still just the one person, so these things take time. I will rejoice once they have PBT as an option.

Yeah. There's the barebones route, but that leaves the Fn layer incorrect, so I'm hoping that'll be in place within the next 9 months. Which is probably about how long I'll have to wait - unless a very large batch of switches magically becomes available before then. (Or the MX White gets louder by some magic.. it's just not loud enough for me.)

[Vintage]

It stinks how 87-key boards are same price or higher priced than their 104-key counterparts, seeing as how they pay for 17 less switches, keycaps, less soldering, smaller case ad overall less material used. They just mark them up because demand is soo high.

[salmo]

I've been thrilled with mine.  Great quality board.  Basically I would consider it equally with a Filco, but instead of buying a board and then caps, you can just buy it as you would like... assuming of course, you want one of the options they have available.

[TotalChaos]

I bought a Rosewill RK-9000RE with Lasered keys (black keys with white legends).  The key legends are noticeably bumpy.

I bought a set of lasered keys from WASD (black keys with white legends).  The key legends are much smoooother than the Rosewills.  They are not perfectly smooth like a Dye Sublimation printed keycap but the WASD keys are nevertheless much more pleasurable than the Rosewill keys.  Why is that?

[uJalled]

WASD v2 is supposed to have a ton of new upgrades. I heard they are going to use a detachable USB and have a case upgrade. Whatever the case, WASD is a solid keyboard maker- very reliable with good customer support

[jabar]

Fortunately, WASDkeyboards is looking to get PBT keycaps. I believe they had a plan for that, but there was an issue with sourcing.

I use every opportunity I find to harass them about getting PBT.

[absyrd]

Fortunately, WASDkeyboards is looking to get PBT keycaps. I believe they had a plan for that, but there was an issue with sourcing.

I use every opportunity I find to harass them about getting PBT.

I would just be happy with Cherry profile ABS

I, too, am sick of all these boards coming with "OEM profile" height caps. As usual I hope these companies are listening to us and make this change.

[macguy80]

I, too, am sick of all these boards coming with "OEM profile" height caps. As usual I hope these companies are listening to us and make this change.

What's the difference between Cherry profile and OEM profile?

I hope you can forgive such a newbie question

[daerid]

I'm not sure, but I think Cherry profile is a little lower in height.

[macguy80]

I'm not sure, but I think Cherry profile is a little lower in height.

I guess one would have to own/use a Cherry-brand board to experience it?

[daerid]

Or get a set of Cherry profile double shots that popup all the time in the classifieds.

[macguy80]

Or get a set of Cherry profile double shots that popup all the time in the classifieds.

If I get a Cherry board, very few I've seen mention which switch is actually used (there are a couple exceptions on the Cherry site today, I see). Should one assume MX black in their own boards if the switch type is not mentioned?

[davkol]

I, too, am sick of all these boards coming with "OEM profile" height caps. As usual I hope these companies are listening to us and make this change.

What's the difference between Cherry profile and OEM profile?

I hope you can forgive such a newbie question

"More spherical", kind of low-profile — I guess you can find some photos somewhere around here.

If I get a Cherry board, very few I've seen mention which switch is actually used (there are a couple exceptions on the Cherry site today, I see). Should one assume MX black in their own boards if the switch type is not mentioned?

There's usually some kind of code (e.g. G80-3000LQCE), Cherry keyboards usually come with black/blue/clear switches.

[spacecase]

I, too, am sick of all these boards coming with "OEM profile" height caps. As usual I hope these companies are listening to us and make this change.

What's the difference between Cherry profile and OEM profile?

I hope you can forgive such a newbie question

Elite keyboards has an OEM vs Cherry comparison image relating to their new cherry-profile double-shot red and white escape key.
http://elitekeyboards.com/proddata/images/th/redesc_compare1000_th0x0.jpg

[macguy80]

There's usually some kind of code (e.g. G80-3000LQCE), Cherry keyboards usually come with black/blue/clear switches.

Ah, yes, I do recall those codes. Is there a place I can go to decipher them so I know I am buying the right switch type?

Thanks!

[precarious]

There's usually some kind of code (e.g. G80-3000LQCE), Cherry keyboards usually come with black/blue/clear switches.

Ah, yes, I do recall those codes. Is there a place I can go to decipher them so I know I am buying the right switch type?

Thanks!

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Cherry_article_numbers

there are plenty of inconsistencies out there, so if in doubt ask and someone here can probably give you a better answer.  those are generally accurate, though.