Author Topic: Whats so special about KMAC?  (Read 3950 times)

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Offline swill

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Whats so special about KMAC?
« on: Mon, 04 November 2013, 22:32:10 »
I am guessing it is just a programmable keyboard.  Why are they always like $400+?  What sets them apart from any other programmable PCB + Controller?

Offline bueller

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 04 November 2013, 22:33:14 »
I am guessing it is just a programmable keyboard.  Why are they always like $400+?  What sets them apart from any other programmable PCB + Controller?

You're paying for the case more than anything else, they are seriously solid. If you tried to purchase one separately you'd be looking at $250+ easily.
It's a good width!  If it's half-width it's too narrow, and full-width is too wide. 

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Offline moogle

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« Reply #2 on: Mon, 04 November 2013, 22:33:35 »
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« Last Edit: Fri, 18 August 2017, 05:26:48 by moogle »

Offline Photoelectric

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 04 November 2013, 22:36:41 »
Aluminum case, small number custom production.  I imagine if they were mass produced, they'd cost a bit less, but still, considering the case + finish, it'd be close to $300.  When you can have a plastic mass-produced keyboard for $150.
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Offline metalliqaz

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 04 November 2013, 22:37:23 »
They are the highest quality keyboard I've ever used.

Offline swill

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 04 November 2013, 22:48:06 »
Thanks for the responses, that helps me understand why they are so desirable...

Offline MKULTRA

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 04 November 2013, 23:51:55 »
Quality, rarity, status symbol.  Apparently the programming functions aren't all that great.

Offline hashbaz

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 04 November 2013, 23:56:48 »
Yeah programming it is kind of a pain.  The weight and solidity are what I love about it, plus the super classy titanium look.

Offline BliTzKiN

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 04 November 2013, 23:58:42 »
Collectors item, sort of?

Offline demik

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 04 November 2013, 23:58:47 »
for me it's the case and the weight of it.

also stepped caps lock and 1.5 alt/ctrl
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Offline moogle

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« Reply #10 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 00:00:32 »
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« Last Edit: Fri, 18 August 2017, 05:28:24 by moogle »

Offline okooko

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #11 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 00:01:33 »
KMAC2 base guaranteed to so through windows.

If I made my house from those bases - it'll be a nuke shelter.

Thanks for the responses, that helps me understand why they are so desirable...

Offline dorkvader

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #12 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 13:44:58 »
for me it's the case and the weight of it.

also stepped caps lock and 1.5 alt/ctrl

As far as I understand it, all KMAC's support either center stemmed or offcenter (stepped) capslocks. My KMAC has support of 87 key winkey layout.

The programming is terrible, but the case is very well made. That much CNC and hard anodyzing costs a bundle.

That said, it's not too expensive for a CNC metal case TKL keyboard.

I don't think it's that rare either, especially compared to other customs at the time. For a while the KMAC and the TYpeNow Solid were probably the only two metal cased keyboard you could get as a GH'er in America.

Ofcourse I am referring to cherry MX keyboards. Vintage metal keyboards have always been common.

Offline acantha

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #13 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 13:49:41 »
I've got the kmac mini and the kmac happy, and i love both of them. Crazy high build quality. the programming is super tetchy but once you get it, its not so bad. better than the phantom, i think.
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 14:01:52 »
The Kmac is the absolute BEST of the WORST keyboards....

The Egdx is the absolute BEST of the BEST keyboards....


Therefore   Egdx > Kmac

But.... If you're nostalgic, there is still some "merit" in owning obsolete-tech...

Just REMEMBER that when you post about it oh GH, it is out of the fond "Memories" and subsequent "Emotions".



If you are an OBJECTIVE human being, who aims to become a hyper-efficient cyborg one day... then the Egdx's superiority should be obvious...



Offline Puddsy

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 15:18:11 »
The Kmac is the absolute BEST of the WORST keyboards....

The Egdx is the absolute BEST of the BEST keyboards....


Therefore   Egdx > Kmac

But.... If you're nostalgic, there is still some "merit" in owning obsolete-tech...

Just REMEMBER that when you post about it oh GH, it is out of the fond "Memories" and subsequent "Emotions".



If you are an OBJECTIVE human being, who aims to become a hyper-efficient cyborg one day... then the Egdx's superiority should be obvious...


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Offline Moosecraft

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #16 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 15:21:11 »
Lets make a request for KoreaDox
I am bigfatmc over at other places!

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #17 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 15:40:31 »
Lets make a request for KoreaDox

This is a good idea.. but we have to improve the thumb cluster ever so slightly.. Make it 1.5 cm closer to the main cluster... then the Egdx will be PERFECTION.

Offline Hellmark

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 15:45:35 »
The Kmac is the absolute BEST of the WORST keyboards....

The Egdx is the absolute BEST of the BEST keyboards....
Therefore   Egdx > Kmac

But.... If you're nostalgic, there is still some "merit" in owning obsolete-tech...

Just REMEMBER that when you post about it oh GH, it is out of the fond "Memories" and subsequent "Emotions".

If you are an OBJECTIVE human being, who aims to become a hyper-efficient cyborg one day... then the Egdx's superiority should be obvious...
Show Image


Hey now, I thought part of the terms of your probation is to not talk about ergodox in threads not about ergodox. Don't want you getting banned. You've actually been cool lately.

Offline Linkbane

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #19 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 17:33:33 »
Lets make a request for KoreaDox

This is a good idea.. but we have to improve the thumb cluster ever so slightly.. Make it 1.5 cm closer to the main cluster... then the Egdx will be PERFECTION.

Just as a matter of wondering, why don't you type out 'ergodox'?
And you know, I'm actually considering starting the build of a Dox.
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Offline gameaholic

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #20 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 17:44:19 »
Lets make a request for KoreaDox

This is a good idea.. but we have to improve the thumb cluster ever so slightly.. Make it 1.5 cm closer to the main cluster... then the Egdx will be PERFECTION.

Just as a matter of wondering, why don't you type out 'ergodox'?
And you know, I'm actually considering starting the build of a Dox.
Egdx wnrs dnt nd vwls.  Lts y typ tht mch fstr.
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Offline swill

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #21 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 17:48:00 »
Go hijack (aka:dox) someone else's thread.  :p

Offline Morwrath

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #22 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 17:49:20 »
Lets make a request for KoreaDox

This is a good idea.. but we have to improve the thumb cluster ever so slightly.. Make it 1.5 cm closer to the main cluster... then the Egdx will be PERFECTION.

Just as a matter of wondering, why don't you type out 'ergodox'?
And you know, I'm actually considering starting the build of a Dox.

Maybe he want to pretend he is not spamming useless stuff about ergodox again, I don't get it....
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Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #23 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 18:12:47 »
Go hijack (aka:dox) someone else's thread.  :p

Your question is technically already answered...

So.. I don't see how it's hijacking....   Merely salvaging what is already a discussion-topic that's reached completion.

Offline swill

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #24 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 18:48:00 »
Go hijack (aka:dox) someone else's thread.  :p

Your question is technically already answered...

So.. I don't see how it's hijacking....   Merely salvaging what is already a discussion-topic that's reached completion.

Not sure that's a justification. Maybe other people have relevant things they want to add to 'this' conversation.

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #25 on: Tue, 05 November 2013, 18:50:12 »
Go hijack (aka:dox) someone else's thread.  :p

Your question is technically already answered...

So.. I don't see how it's hijacking....   Merely salvaging what is already a discussion-topic that's reached completion.

Not sure that's a justification. Maybe other people have relevant things they want to add to 'this' conversation.

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Offline dorkvader

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Re: Whats so special about KMAC?
« Reply #26 on: Wed, 06 November 2013, 12:31:23 »
I've got the kmac mini and the kmac happy, and i love both of them. Crazy high build quality. the programming is super tetchy but once you get it, its not so bad. better than the phantom, i think.

The programming is pretty easy to actually do on the KMAC, the issue is that many features (even those listed as options in the GUI) simply do not work.

I find the phantom's teensy-loader easier to use than the normal atmel flip program, but they both are pretty easy.