Poker II Dillema, Stock Thick PBT vs White Backlit Thin ABS

[Hyde]

Hello Geekhack,

A while back I did a backlit led mod on my Poker II with Tex aluminum case.  Pictures from last time can be seen here:  http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=35152.msg1265513#msg1265513

Or if you're too lazy to click the link here's one of the picture:



While I really liked the stock keycaps (because it's thick PBT and it feels nice and I also likes the grey color) I always wanted to try white backlit keycaps on it.

So I went ahead and ordered some white backlit keycaps through Taobao:





















Excuse my semi-potato pics, I'll take better pictures when there's better lighting (now it's too grainy).

While this looks really nice, I think I like the feel of the thick PBT keycaps a little bit better initially.  Though after 2-3 days I think now I'm getting used to it so I'm actually not sure which I like better anymore LOL.

At this point it just feels "different" instead of which is better.

Look wise, I also thought I'd like the white look better initially but now that I look at it the grey keycaps is actually not bad either even though most people frown upon the "stock" keycaps.  I also find that blue led really hurts my eyes even though I like blue, but to be honest red, green, orange, yellow, or even pink are much more soothing led colors.

I might give it a week before I give my full judgement.  But now I'm just wondering if anyone else ran into similar situation as me before?

[Beca]

I like the white keycaps better. Although I think some nice white thick pbt would look the best

like this:

[Hyde]

You mean this set?



I had it on my Filco but I swap it out because I realize I like OEM profile better than Cherry but I think I can try it out again and see how I feel.

[fknraiden]

I like OEM profile better than Cherry

sacrilege!

[Pacifist]

I like the white keycaps better. Although I think some nice white thick pbt would look the best

like this:

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If only olivetti was OG PBT dyesub....but that would cost a fortune anyways :'(

[Beca]

You mean this set?

(Attachment Link)

I had it on my Filco but I swap it out because I realize I like OEM profile better than Cherry but I think I can try it out again and see how I feel.

Yep! even though the imsto set is a beige-ish, I still think it would look nice with the blue light showing underneath, especially since you said the translucent caps were a bit too bright for you.

[Razor Lotus]

I like the white one more based on the pictures.

and as for LED colour, you can always remod them into another colour right? haha

[Hyde]

You mean this set?

(Attachment Link)

I had it on my Filco but I swap it out because I realize I like OEM profile better than Cherry but I think I can try it out again and see how I feel.

Yep! even though the imsto set is a beige-ish, I still think it would look nice with the blue light showing underneath, especially since you said the translucent caps were a bit too bright for you.

Haha yeah it's actually one of the reason why I got it in the first place for my Filco, its beige is actually perfect.  Though I'm not sure how I feel about light shining through the keycaps I think for that kind of application I'd rather it be fully opaque.

Maybe I'll test it out later haha.

I like the white one more based on the pictures.

and as for LED colour, you can always remod them into another colour right? haha

lol yeah I might leave the led alone for now though.

Ideally I want teal led but I can't find anywhere that sell them cheap enough to make the mod worthwhile.  Like it would cost me around $40 on led alone.

Maybe I'll redo it in the future. 

[retrochick]

I'm in the same boat as you. Just got a backlit poker II and I love it. I've got the stock ABS keycaps on there now with thick PBT modifiers and I think I'll probably go full thick PBT for this board, despite losing some LED coolness factor. The feels are just too good

[Lastpilot]

White caps look awesome man, congrats.

Backlight for life.

Show Image

[Oobly]

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I have to admit, that's a beautiful setup! I prefer the feel of thick and heavy caps, although my Cherry Legend Replicas set has somehow become my favourite despite being thin doubleshot ABS from SP.... go figure.  :D

Can't wait for my white LED's to arrive   :cool:

I guess in my case it's a matter of having modded the heck out of my board so any caps can feel "good enough" and the Replicas set just looks SO good to me. I'll be getting some black on black thick PBT caps when Ivan's GB completes, maybe I'll change my mind again then.  :-\

[Hyde]

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I have to admit, that's a beautiful setup! I prefer the feel of thick and heavy caps, although my Cherry Legend Replicas set has somehow become my favourite despite being thin doubleshot ABS from SP.... go figure.  :D

Can't wait for my white LED's to arrive   :cool:

I guess in my case it's a matter of having modded the heck out of my board so any caps can feel "good enough" and the Replicas set just looks SO good to me. I'll be getting some black on black thick PBT caps when Ivan's GB completes, maybe I'll change my mind again then.  :-\

LOL it's ok we're geekhackers we'll change our mind all the time.  That's how we get excuses to buy more stuff.  :p

And man Lastpilot your setup is really nice, I need to find myself some white monitor too lol.

My room's too dark to take nice pics now, I'll borrow my g/f's desk again when she's back from her trip.  :thumb:

[pichu23]

White caps look awesome man, congrats.

Backlight for life.

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I like the glow on the keyboard and the mouse.
Looks like a CLG DA ?  :))

[Puddsy]

I like the ABS a lot better

It looks so gooooood

[kohi]

the white ABS caps look nice with the blue LEDs, but I'd probably still go with pbt keycaps
I like the look of pbt keycaps with the led lights leaking light around the keys..

[ideus]

If I were you, I'd buy a second Poker 2 in the version with leds and keep both for use at any time. 

[Hyde]

lollll by principle I don't want to buy the same keyboard twice.  I even try to purchase keyboards with different switch each time haha.

That and I think I spent too much on this Poker II already, the keyboard itself + custom aluminum case + custom braided cable + white backlit keycaps + led for the mod.

I'm like in the price range of Korean customs lollll oh well >____>

Well my next board will be Topre and in theory it should save me money on mods.